My dog is scared of storms and loud noises

Training & behaviourPart of · Training & behaviour

My dog is scared of storms and loud noises

9 min read

Does your dog shake, drool or hide at the first clap of thunder or firework? It's a common fear, not a flaw, and it's not your fault. In the moment, stay calm and let him take shelter wherever he wants. The real work happens afterwards, in a calm setting, in small steps.

Why your dog is scared of storms and fireworks

It has nothing to do with a weak character or being silly. A fear of noises often has several roots: a hereditary part (noise-sensitive parents), a lack of exposure to sounds during puppyhood (country dogs, less used to urban din, are actually more affected than city dogs), and sometimes a striking bad experience. And a storm isn't just noise: it adds signals that thunder alone doesn't, a drop in pressure, lightning, static electricity, all of which your dog senses well before you do.

During the storm or fireworks: your only job

In the moment, the aim isn't to "cure" anything: it's to get through the episode safely and calmly.

Keep your behaviour as normal as possible

Your dog watches you to gauge the situation (social referencing, Merola et al. 2012): a composed owner reassures him, an owner who gets flustered confirms the danger.

Let him reach his hiding spot

Under the bed, in the bathroom, a cupboard: a hiding spot is a coping strategy, never a whim. Don't drag him out of it.

Stay available, without making a drama of it

Talk to him softly, stroke him if he comes to press against you. Comforting him calmly does not reinforce his fear.

If you were already playing, carry on

Carrying on with a pleasant activity already underway (play, chewing, treat-hunting) helps cover the noise as it arrives.

Storm forecast, Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve: a few simple steps, prepared earlier in the day, change everything.

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A calm evening

The deeper work: relearning that the noise is harmless

The root of the problem is sorted out off-season, calmly, in very small steps. You always work at a level where your dog perceives the noise but stays relaxed: too much stress blocks learning (Sandi 2013).

Step 1 / 3

A dog who lives in a varied world of sound reacts less to a new noise.
- Keep some background sound going day to day (radio, music, TV on low) so that total silence isn't the norm.
- Take him to lively places, a market or a busy street, where the hubbub becomes ordinary.
- Reward calm all the way through, not just when a noise crops up.
Move on when: He stays relaxed in an everyday noisy environment.
The storm sound starts to predict food or play, no longer danger.
- Play a recording of a storm or fireworks at a very low volume, barely audible.
- Offer food or start a game 4 seconds before the sound, so the noise announces something pleasant.
- Check: as long as he's eating and looking at you, you're at the right level. If he suddenly refuses food, lower the volume.
Move on when: He turns his head towards you, full of hope, as soon as the sound starts.
Build up a reserve of calm before the real storm season or Bonfire Night.
- Raise the sound by one notch only when the previous stage is serene.
- Step back without hesitation the day he loses the plot: it's not a failure, it's the information that you went too fast.
- Favour short, regular sessions over long, rare ones.
Move on when: A realistic volume leaves him unbothered, busy chewing or playing.

The deeper work

A recording doesn't reproduce everything: a storm adds the drop in pressure, the lightning and the static electricity that audio can't convey. It's a large part of the work, not all of it. Pheromone diffusers or an anti-stress vest can help at the margins, but they support the work, they don't replace it.

How far you can go on your own, and when to call a professional

You can support him yourself

The fear stays moderate: he's tense, looks for a hiding spot, but can still eat and settle.
It's triggered by an identified noise (storm, fireworks) and eases off once the episode is over.
You have time to do the deeper work off-season, in steps.

This is a job for a professional

Extreme panic: he injures himself, destroys things, tries to flee and puts himself in danger.
He no longer settles, even long after the noise, or anticipates it as soon as it rains.
The fear appeared or worsened in adulthood: a veterinary behaviourist puts a proper plan in place, and a check-up rules out pain.

To get a sense of where you stand, and when to hand over.

Manageable

Shakes, pants, seeks contact or a hiding spot
Calms down once the noise has passed
Still accepts a treat

Needs serious support

Refuses all food, drools, freezes
Takes a long time to settle
Starts anticipating: panics as soon as it rains or preparations begin

A job for a professional

Panic that puts him in danger: flight, injuries, destruction
An entrenched phobia that spills over into daily life
A fear of noises that is new or clearly worsening in adulthood

Lopes Fagundes et al. — Noise sensitivities in dogs: an exploration of signs in dogs with and without musculoskeletal pain, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2018)
Position Statement on Humane Dog Training, AVSAB (2021)
Merola et al. — Social referencing in dog-owner dyads? (2012)
Sandi — Stress and cognition (2013)

Going further

guideRebuilding trust with a fearful or mistreated dogIf the fear goes beyond thunderstorms, here's how to rebuild confidence in a nervous or previously mistreated dog.Read the guide guideMy dog growls and reacts: understanding and helpingThe step-by-step desensitisation method, useful too for easing fear-driven reactions.Read the guide guideReading your dog's body languageLearn to spot stress signals before the storm hits, so you can step in earlier and more effectively.Read the guide guideA Dog That Trembles: Understanding and RespondingA trembling dog isn't always scared: this guide helps you tell an emotional reaction from a health concern.Read the guide guideTeaching Your Dog to Stay Home Alone Without AnxietyNoise phobia and separation anxiety often go hand in hand: here's how to ease his time alone too.Read the guide guideExercising and keeping your dog busyA well-exercised, occupied dog copes better with sudden noises: practical ideas to help him channel his energy.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

How do you reassure a dog that's frightened?

Stay calm and as normal as possible: your steady voice is an anchor for him. You can comfort him in a soft voice and let him press against you, it doesn't reinforce his fear. Also let him reach his hiding spot if he's looking for one.

Why are dogs scared of storms?

Several causes combine: a lack of exposure to noises, a hereditary part (sensitive parents), and sometimes hidden pain. A storm also adds signals that thunder alone doesn't: a drop in pressure, lightning and static electricity, all sensed before you.

How do you calm a stressed dog?

In the moment: tire him out beforehand, give him a calm refuge (a dark room, background sound) and stay serene. In the long run, the only real lever is to re-pair the trigger with something positive (food or play) at low intensity. If the stress is a daily thing, talk to your vet about it.

Does reassuring my dog reinforce his fear?

No, it's a persistent myth. Fear is an emotional response (Pavlovian), not a behaviour you reinforce by giving attention. What really matters is not getting flustered yourself: your dog reads your state and falls in line with it.

My dog shakes and hides during storms, what should I do?

Let him reach his hiding spot: it's a coping strategy, not a problem, and you never drag him out of it. Stay available, steady voice. If you were already playing with him, carry on: the positive activity covers the noise.

How do I get my dog used to firecrackers and fireworks?

In steps and off-season: a recording at a very low volume, paired with food or a game, always at a level where he stays relaxed and eats. You turn the sound up only when he's calmly anticipating the treat. An entrenched phobia is worked on with a veterinary behaviourist.

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