You may dread every time a storm comes in, but there’s no doubt that your four-legged friend hates it even more. And they prove that when your dog barks at the thunder seemingly non-stop. But why does thunder scare dogs so much? And more importantly, how can you help your dog through the anxiety caused by thunderstorms?

Are there tools out there that are okay to use if your dog barks when it thunders? Well, don’t worry and wonder any longer, because in this article “How to Stop Dog Barking at Thunder” we’re going to give you the answers to all these questions and of course, we’ll even tell you how to stop this frustrating behavior and end your dog’s stress for good. Let’s get started!

How Do I Stop My Dog From Barking at Thunder?

To stop your dog from barking at thunder:

• Crate your dog (consider laying a blanket over the top) or place them in a small, closed-off room.
• Play music or turn on the television to help drown out the sound of the thunder.
• Distract your dog by giving them a chew toy or by playing indoor games with them.
• Allow them to cuddle with you on the couch while giving them pets and praise to reassure them.

These steps will get your dog to stop barking at thunder, but it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issue (anxiety) that was causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address that, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“Well, how do I make these changes last?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog barks at thunder and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog barking at thunder ever again!

Why Does Thunder Scare Dogs So Much?

Thunder scares dogs so much because they do not understand it. To your dog, all they are hearing is a very loud noise with no obvious explanation. And with their sense of hearing being much better than ours, the loud crack from the thunder hits them even harder than it does you.

Your dog then gets scared by the thunder because not knowing the source of this loud sound causes them all kinds of anxiety and fear. When they don’t know how to handle these negative feelings properly, they’ll then do things like hide under your couch, hide under your table, or hiding under the house.

While it may not seem like a big deal if you don’t have thunderstorms often, it actually is because you don’t want to put your dog through that fear even occasionally. And if your dog is proving to you that they have anxiety issues, then they’re likely occurring at many other times, many of which won’t be so obvious.

To help your dog learn how to handle the stress caused by thunderstorms and just the world in general, go back to the first section where we’ll go over this more.

What Helps Dogs With Thunderstorms and Anxiety?

To help your dog with thunderstorms and anxiety, here are a few things that should help. First, try crating your dog or putting them in a small room where it will be more closed-off and quieter so that they feel safe. You can also try playing music or turning on the television to somewhat drown out the sound of thunder.

You should avoid medications, however. While they may keep your dog calm during thunder, they have numerous side effects which you don’t want. Medications that help dogs deal with anxiety have been shown to also make them not want human contact and to just cause them to have a loss of energy in general.

Should I Use a Bark Collar on My Dog During Thunder?

You should not use a bark collar on your dog during thunder or at any other time. Bark collars are cruel and work by delivering a painful electric shock to your dog whenever they bark. They are inhumane and you will only create trust issues with your dog if you place them in one.

The only way to get your dog to stop barking at thunder in a humane and lasting manner is through behavioral training. There’s no need to resort to quick-fix methods like bark collars, which will only cause you even more problems with your dog. Continue to the next section where we’ll go over the teaching methods you should use.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing these changes in your dog and taking all of that stress off their little shoulders, so I’ll let you get started. Good luck with everything, and thank you for reading “How to Stop Dog Barking at Thunder.”