UK households who have a dog warned 'shut all blinds and curtains' until Thursday

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning effective from Wednesday until 3pm Thursday - with the entire UK facing bad weather towards the end of this week. And as dog parents, it is important to be prepared for their safety, pet lovers have been warned.

Thunderstorm anxiety and noise phobia affect many dogs. Not only due to the fact it’s loud and unsettling but also due to the fact that dogs can hear at a much greater distance than us humans and are probably far more sensitive to changes in pressure.

Carolyn Menteith, Behaviourist and Dog Trainer at tails.com, said: “A lot of dogs are afraid of loud noises, especially unpredictable ones such as thunder or fireworks, which causes them fear, stress and anxiety, and as an owner, it can be distressing to watch them suffer every time the weather turns stormy.

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“Without having been habituated to loud and unpredictable noises during the unique developmental period in their puppyhood when new things are accepted as being ‘a normal part of life’ and nothing to be afraid of or worried by, many dogs can grow up to suffer from noise phobia.

“While we know what thunder is, and that it isn’t something dangerous or terrifying, our dogs don’t know that. All they know is that it is loud, unexpected and scary. And something that produces a strong emotional response, such as fear, won’t habituate, it will sensitise. In other words, they won’t get used to it, they’ll just get more scared and more worried about it every time it happens

“It’s not just the noise either. The air pressure changes before a storm, and because our dogs are much more sensitive to these changes than we are, they can detect them early and begin to get stressed as they know what is coming - often long before we do."

Try and exercise your dog beforehand, she said, and make sure that your dog has a space they can go to during a storm. Be there to give your dog the support and comfort they need and try and mask the noise of thunder.

She said: "As well as minimising noise, you should also consider closing curtains or blinds to block out flashes from lightning that may be additionally unsettling for your dog. If your dog is showing excessive fear of thunder, and especially if it is getting worse, you should talk to your vet. Your vet may be able to suggest medication or complementary therapies that might help in severe cases as this is an area where there are several new treatments available.

“One thing you can be sure of is that thunder happens - as do fireworks and other loud noises. This is a behaviour problem that isn’t going to go away without help. It is far better to work to prevent the distress and fear that noise phobia brings than to have to deal with a panicky dog when it does. Find an accredited behaviourist who can help you work on your dog’s noise phobia to help make future storms… less stormy for you both."