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I, for one, am very glad that spring has sprung here, and the humans have played their semi-annual game with the clocks.  Sadly, not every dog is as happy as me.  They are not happy about spring, because spring traditionally brings waves of thunderstorms, and they suffer from a fear of thunderstorms or loud noises.  This is a condition known as noise phobia.  This malady is quite common in dogs, and it typically gets worse as a dog ages.

For dogs that exhibit this phobia, you may notice that they react to a pending storm before it actually arrives.  This is due to dogs’ sensitivity to smells they have associated with the pre-storm activities, like the changes in barometric pressure.  There are breeds that are more likely to have a noise phobia: Collies, German Shepherds, Beagles and Basset Hounds.  I thought that the retriever breeds would not be on that list.  Here in the South, retrievers are often referred to as “gun dogs.”  They assume that retrievers are not afraid of things like gun shots, fire crackers, or lightning.

Tell that to my nephew, Harley…  He is a Yellow Labrador that suffers terribly during thunderstorms.  One time, he got into the clothes dryer in an effort to seek extra shelter from an especially loud thunderstorm late last fall.  This is an area humans are still studying among dogs.  It’s thought that the phobia may be, in part, genetic.  This phobia can also develop when a dog has been left outside during a particularly bad storm.  I have said it a million times, and I will say it a million more, dogs need to be indoors with their human.  After all, you would not leave your two-legged children outside during a thunderstorm, would you?

How do you know if your dog suffers from a noise phobia?

Some signals that a fear-phobic dog may exhibit include drooling, chewing, panting, pacing, trembling, not eating, accidentally soiling, and expressing their anal glands during a phobic event.

What can you do if your dog has a noise phobia?

There are many methods that have shown positive results, and your results may vary.  Across the choices, the first thing you need to do is remain calm yourself.  It is very important that you not reinforce the fear by coddling your dog and telling him that every thing is okay.  You should also speak directly with your vet if your dog exhibits any noise phobic behavior.

• Counter-Conditioning:  This involves re-creating thunderstorm noises in your home.  The idea is that you have it occur at a natural volume, observing whether the noise is what triggers the noise phobic behavior.  Some dogs may not have a reaction strictly to the noise.  Keep in mind, that it could be other senses’ stimulation that frighten these dogs.  If it is the noise that evokes a reaction, you can treat your dog through systemic desensitization, where a therapist aids in reducing anxiety to the stimulus by using relaxation techniques.
• Mom and I suggest that to before undertaking such a long, arduous counter-conditioning process, that families procure a loud fan, television or radio to drown out the noise that stimulates the phobic behavior.  It is possible that these noises may also distract the dog from the thunderstorm.
• There also some sprays and defusers that are said to contain a calming element in them that can reduce the stress of the phobia.
• Some dogs may only be treatable with medication. If your vet has recommended putting your dog on such a medication, do it!  For an interesting perspective on medicating your dog, check out this guest article about it.  Since some storms cannot always be predicted, it can be very difficult to administer medication on an occasion basis, so your vet may elect to put your dog on a daily medication. These medicines may include canine versions of Valium. Prozac, Elavil and Buspar.  With dogs, it takes time for theses medications to begin working, just as in humans. It could be three to four weeks for the medicine’s effect to be noticed.  Though it can be expensive, medicine’s cost can be far less than letting your dog go untreated.

Noise phobias are serious business.  You should be very concerned if your dog suffers from this condition.