What non-prescription strategies help dogs during storms?

Desensitization and counter-conditioning over weeks, plus a night-of management plan: a prepared safe room, white noise, early start, and calm presence.

Do pressure wraps like ThunderShirt work?

They help some dogs as a low-risk adjunct. Fit and acclimation matter. Results vary across studies, so treat as one tool among several.

Are pheromones useful for storm anxiety?

Dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP/Adaptil) has controlled trials with benefits for some dogs; best used alongside training and environmental management.

Which supplements are worth trying?

Melatonin timed 1–2 hours before, L-theanine, and alpha-casozepine are commonly used; evidence varies. Always consult your veterinarian.

When should I talk to my vet about medication?

If your dog still shows severe distress despite training and management, or if new fear appears in a senior dog, speak with your veterinarian.

How to help your dog during storms, without a prescription

Here are some practical things that reliably help a lot of dogs, plus a plan you can reuse for the next storm. For timing your routine, Dog Thunder gives you a simple evening heads-up if thunder, lightning, or heavy rain are likely so you can act before the first boom.

The long-term fix: training that changes the emotion

If you can only do one “non-prescription” thing, make it desensitization and counter-conditioning (DS/CC), which is gradually exposing your dog to storm sounds at a level where they’re not scared, and pairing those sounds with great things (food, play, calm massage). Over weeks, you inch up the intensity while keeping your dog below threshold. This is the most evidence-backed non-drug approach for noise fears. (PubMed, ScienceDirect)

Here’s a starter protocol:

Pick your sounds. Thunder/firework tracks from Dogs Trust’s free Sounds Scary program work well and include a how-to booklet. (Dogs Trust)
Set the floor. Play at a volume where your dog is bored. Feed high-value treats during the sound; stop treats when the sound stops. Sessions should last 3 to 5 minutes.
Creep, don’t leap. If your dog stays calm for a few sessions, nudge the volume up a little. If they start scanning or freezing, you went too fast, so drop back.
Generalize. After a week or two in one room, repeat in other rooms so the new “sounds = good stuff” association sticks everywhere. (Dogs Trust)

Two notes that keep this humane and effective:

Your dog decides the pace. If they’re worried, you’re above threshold; lower intensity and try shorter, happier sessions.
Don’t punish fear. You can’t reinforce an emotion with reassurance, but you can poison training by making storms feel unsafe. (If you want a trainer, look for one who uses reward-based methods.)

The night-of plan: stack small wins

Even great training needs a management plan for real storms. Think: reduce sensory impact, give the body something else to do, and keep arousal from spiking.

Make a safe room. Interior room or closet; add a bed, water, and a food puzzle/lick mat. Close blinds to cut flashes. White noise or a box fan helps mask rumbles. (Storms are multi-sensory: pressure, wind, rain, light. So blocking multiple cues helps.) (PubMed)
Start early. If Dog Thunder says tonight looks rough, set the room up and start your routine before the first rumble. (Once fear spikes, everything works worse.) (PubMed)
Comfort is allowed. Sitting with your dog is fine. You’re not “rewarding fear”; you’re being a secure base while the plan runs.

Pressure wraps & vests (set expectations)

Gentle, constant pressure (ThunderShirt-style) helps some dogs. Studies show benefits for certain measures (e.g., heart rate or owner-reported calm), but results are mixed and bias is a risk, so treat wraps as a useful adjunct, not a cure. Fit and acclimation on calm days matter. (ScienceDirect, Veterinary Evidence, PMC)

How to use: put the vest on before the storm, pair with treats/play for a few minutes, then let your dog settle in their safe room. If they seem bothered by the garment, skip it.

Pheromones (Adaptil/DAP): low-risk adjunct

Dog-appeasing pheromone products (diffusers, collars) have controlled trials showing reduced fear behaviors during simulated thunder for some dogs; other studies are neutral. These can be worth a try, best as part of a bundle with training/management. Start a diffuser in the safe room a few hours ahead of the noise, or use a pheromone collar. (PubMed, ScienceDirect)

Supplements: what’s worth trying (and what we don’t know)

Supplements aren’t magic, but a few have enough data or clinical experience to be reasonable adjuncts. Always run new supplements past your vet, especially if your dog is on other meds.

Melatonin. Commonly used off-label for situational anxiety and sleep; veterinary guidance notes onset in ~1–2 hours, which is perfect for a “storm tonight” plan. Evidence specific to thunder isn’t robust, but it’s inexpensive and generally well tolerated. (Avoid in pregnant dogs; check for interactions.) Time it so it peaks before the storm. (Vca)
L-theanine (e.g., Anxitane/Composure). An open-label prospective study found improved storm sensitivity scores after daily L-theanine; limitations include small size and lack of blinding. A fair take: safe, may help, worth a try in a bundle. (ScienceDirect, skeptvet.com)
Alpha-casozepine (Zylkene). Early work suggested anxiolytic effects; newer data show weak but possible benefit in short-term stress contexts. Again: safe adjunct, not a standalone fix. (ScienceDirect)
CBD/essential oils. Evidence is incomplete and quality control varies; some oils are toxic to dogs. Skip these unless your vet specifically recommends a product and dose.

If you use any calming chew, try it for a few weeks before judging. Many need time-on-board to show an effect. (ScienceDirect)

A simple timing template (plug in your tools)

On forecasted heavy-risk nights (from Dog Thunder):

T-120 to T-90 min: Set up safe room; start white noise; offer a long-lasting chew. If using a pheromone diffuser, it should already be running; if you use a pheromone collar, pop it on now.
T-90 to T-60 min: If using melatonin or a calming chew, give it now per your vet’s advice. Put on pressure wrap and do three minutes of easy treat games. (Vca)
T-60 to T-0 min: Low-key play or snuffle mat; keep everything predictable and boring.
During storm: Stay calm, keep white noise going, feed a stuffed Kong/lick mat. If your dog wants to hide in the bathroom tub, fine. Bring a mat and water in there.

Common pitfalls (and easy fixes)

Playing storm sounds too loud. If your dog stiffens, you’re flooding, not desensitizing. Go back to “this is boring” volume and rebuild slowly. (Dogs Trust)
Only trying one thing. The win is from stacking small, low-effort tools (safe room + white noise + wrap + pheromone + training). (PubMed)
Waiting until panic hits. Most tools (wraps, melatonin, even your dog’s brain) work best before arousal spikes—hence the value of an evening alert.

When non-prescription isn’t enough

If your dog still shakes, drools, or tries to bolt, or if new storm fear shows up in a senior dog, loop in your veterinarian. There are effective event-based medications that can be used alongside everything above, and they work best when timed in advance. (PubMed)

Quick references if you want to read more

Review: Riemer S. “Therapy and Prevention of Noise Fears in Dogs” – practical evidence overview across training, management, and adjuncts. (PubMed)
Training program: Dogs Trust Sounds Scary (free audio + booklet) – step-by-step DS/CC. (Dogs Trust)
Pheromones: Landsberg et al. 2015 (DAP collar RCT); Cracknell & Mills 2008 (DAP RCT). (PubMed, ScienceDirect)
Pressure wraps: King et al. 2014; Veterinary Evidence summary (2018); 2024 systematic review. (ScienceDirect, Veterinary Evidence, PMC)
Melatonin: VCA Hospitals overview (onset ~1–2 h). (Vca)

Disclaimer: Informational only, not a substitute for veterinary care. If your dog shows severe distress, or you're considering supplements with other meds, talk to your veterinarian.