Why Your Dog Freaks Out During Thunderstorms—And What to Do

Thunderstorms—And What to Do
With summer around the corner, we looked into what causes storm anxiety, and how to soothe our canines.

Picture of a chihuahua
Cinny, a three-month-old Chiahuahua, poses for a portrait. Static buildup and a drop in barometic pressure during thunderstorms may give some dogs anxiety.
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK
By Liz Langley
PUBLISHED APRIL 28, 2018
Summer weather is just around the corner—and with it thunderstorms that may freak out your dog. We looked into what causes this anxiety, and how to soothe their rainy-day feelings.

Signs of anxiousness in dogs are "ears back, tails down, eyes wide, panting, lip-licking and yawning," says Terry Curtis, a clinical behaviorist at the University of Florida College of Veterinary medicine.

Sometimes, their panic escalates to dangerous levels during thunderstorms. "I've had cases where the dog has dug through walls, all the way through the drywall," Curtis says. "Another dog jumped through a sliding glass door."

So what gives?

ELECTRIFIED
Dropping barometric pressure—which dogs can sense—coupled with darkening skies, wind, and the sheer noise of thunder can cause fearful reactions in dogs. (Read how scientists are trying to crack the mystery of nighttime thunderstorms.)