Dog storm anxiety: a common problem

If your dog panics during thunderstorms or fireworks, you're not alone, and you didn't cause it. Large owner surveys suggest that roughly one in four dogs shows fear responses to loud noises. Fireworks top the list, with thunder and gunshots not far behind. The short version: noise anxiety is common, it cuts across breeds, and it often rides along with other worries like separation issues. (ScienceDirect)

What it looks like

Owners describe all kinds of reactions: pacing, hiding in a bathtub or closet, shaking, drooling, vocalizing, or trying to escape. Some dogs glue themselves to you. Others act normal until a low rumble rolls through and then--switch flipped.

My dog, Juniper, starts panting, drooling and whining, and then roams the house scratching at doors, about 20 minutes before the storm hits.

How common is this, really?

Two well-cited papers give a good sense of scale. One looked at more than 5,000 dogs across 17 breeds and found about 23% showed fear of noises overall, with fireworks most frequently reported and thunder not far behind. Another large study found similar patterns and noted that if a dog reacts to one type of loud noise, reactions to others (like thunder and gunshots) often co-occur. Different methods produce different exact numbers, but the headline holds: this is a widespread issue. (ScienceDirect)

You'll also see papers and reviews cite ranges that are higher, into the 30–50% band for fireworks specifically, depending on how questions are asked and which dogs are sampled. Point is, if your dog struggles, you're in big company. (PMC)

Does it get worse with age?

Short answer: it can. Several analyses suggest noise sensitivities often intensify over time, especially if nothing is done to change the dog's emotional response. There's also nuance: brand-new thunder fear appearing late in life is less typical and can flag pain or another medical issue, which is worth a vet visit. (PMC, ScienceDirect)

One vet tech describes her 10-year-old pit mix Tippi, who was completely fine until age 7, then suddenly developed severe storm phobia with no warning: "One stormy day she was fine & the next she was terrorized." Years later, during a brief trip to the store, Tippi tore through a metal storm door trying to escape, shredding her paw pads, breaking teeth, and gashing her face. Yet when the storm passed, she was napping peacefully with the cats. (Patricia McConnell blog)

Breed, sex, and other "risk factors"

Some breeds show higher odds in population surveys, and there are effects of sex/neuter status in certain datasets. But don't overthink it: any breed can be affected. What matters more is your individual dog's learning history, environment, and whether they've had support--things like training, safe spaces, or medication when appropriate--during scary events. (ScienceDirect)

Why thunderstorms trigger such big feelings

Fireworks are a loud, sudden sensory blast. Thunderstorms are a sequence. The sky darkens, wind kicks up, pressure drops, rain starts, then the thunder arrives. Dogs are quick pattern learners; once a dog links those early signals to feeling terrified, the body gears up sooner each time. That's what happened with my dog--it got worse every storm.

That's classical conditioning doing what it does best. The flip side is encouraging: gentle desensitization and counter-conditioning can teach the brain a new pattern. (Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies)

Thunderstorms are also multi-sensory in ways that are hard to replicate: barometric pressure shifts, wind, rain on windows, flashes, deep rumbles you can't hear, even possible static buildup. Things that tell your dog "uh oh" before you hear the first thunder. That's why some dogs get anxious long before the storm arrives.

One dog owner describes her 8-year-old St. Bernard who would hide in the bathtub hours before thunder arrived, pulling the shower curtain closed: "During the actual storm, he would be catatonic. Nothing I did to him would generate a response... His eyes were unfocused and seemed to just stare straight ahead." Through patient work, she eventually helped him improve. (Patricia McConnell blog)

That blog post, by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell, has a comments section with 60+ detailed stories from dog owners worldwide--a treasure trove of real experiences that show you're not alone in this.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman at Tufts University observed multiple German Shepherds independently seeking bathroom sinks during storms--sitting bolt upright in porcelain sinks to ground themselves. His theory: dogs are escaping static electricity buildup. That would explain why they react before you hear thunder--they're sensing electrical field changes in the air. (Psychology Today)

You didn't cause this

It's tempting to replay that one storm years ago and blame yourself: "If only I'd stayed calmer," or "I coddled her and made it worse." There's no evidence that comforting your dog creates the fear. Fear is an emotion, not a misbehavior. You can't reinforce panic with empathy.

What to do about it

The good news: there are real, evidence-backed ways to help your dog. The approach that works best combines management (reducing the sensory impact of storms), training (changing your dog's emotional response over time), and--for some dogs--medication on high-risk nights.

We've put together detailed guides on each approach:

• Training and conditioning -- Desensitization and counter-conditioning protocols that change your dog's emotional response to storms over time. The most evidence-backed behavioral approach.
• Non-prescription options -- Safe rooms, pressure wraps, pheromones, and supplements. How to stack small wins into a storm-night plan.
• Medications -- Evidence-based options for event-based and seasonal medication, and why timing the dose matters.

The key insight across all of these: starting early matters. Most tools--training, wraps, supplements, medication--work best when you act before your dog's fear spikes. That's why Dog Thunder exists: a simple evening heads-up if thunder, lightning, or heavy rain are likely overnight, so you can prepare while your dog is still calm.

When to call your vet

Storm anxiety can become life-threatening. One German Shepherd owner lost her healthy 6-year-old dog Eva during a severe thunderstorm--the dog worked herself into such a frenzy in her kennel that she overheated and died. "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take this type phobia seriously and take every precaution you can to protect your dog." (Patricia McConnell blog)

Contact your vet if your dog shows:

• New storm fear in a senior dog
• Self-injury, escape attempts, or severe shut-down
• You've tried management and training and your dog is still miserable

There are effective, humane treatments. You don't have to white-knuckle through storm season.

References & further reading

• Storengen & Lingaas (2015): large survey across 17 breeds; ~23% noise-fearful; fireworks highest, thunder common. (ScienceDirect)
• Blackwell et al. (2013): prevalence, risk factors, and co-occurrence of fireworks/thunder/gunshots reactions. (ScienceDirect)
• Riemer (2019/2023): severity/progression data and a practical review of prevention/treatment. (PMC)
• McConnell, P. "Thunder Phobia in Dogs" blog post with extensive owner stories. (Patricia McConnell blog)
• Dodman, N. "Thunderstorm Phobia in Dogs" - static electricity theory. (Psychology Today)