If your dogs sprint to hide under your bed the second they hear a rumble of thunder in the distance, you're going to want to read this
Why Are Dogs So Scared of Thunder?
Updated on Apr. 28, 2025
The air feels heavy and humid. The sky grows dark. By the time you hear the first crash of thunder, you realize that not only is your afternoon golf game canceled, but poor Max is already panic-pacing with his tail down. And if Max is a talkative breed (like my dog, Lewis the beagle), he’s probably doing his famous high-pitched whine. You can enjoy a surprise summer storm only so much if your furry bestie is having the worst time. But exactly why are dogs scared of thunder?
To find out, we went straight to the experts. They had some good news for us: There are many effective ways to calm your anxious dog when it thunders.
Read on to hear what six canine experts, including veterinarians and doggy therapists, have to say about our dogs’ behavior during thunderstorms and how to manage them best.
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Why are dogs scared of thunder?
As pet parents, it’s natural to dread thunderstorms because of how much they can scare our fur babies. Whether it’s the loud, unexpected thundering, the startling flashes of blinding light or a mix of both (and more), thunderstorms are absolute bad news even for the calmest dog breeds. But the key to finding the right remedy lies in learning why dogs are scared of thunder in the first place.
Here are six things that have your dog running for cover during storms:
Loud noise
As you might suspect, noise is a big reason why dogs are scared of thunder. A 2023 study published in Animals indicates that roughly one in every two pet dogs is likely to be sensitive to the sudden, loud booms of thunder.
And considering that dogs have a lower auditory pain threshold than humans—potential discomfort beginning at 85 to 90 decibels instead of the 120- to 140-decibel range for humans—loud sounds like thunder (which are usually 130 to 200 decibels) are all the more scary to them.
“Thunderstorms can be a trigger for dogs with noise phobia,” confirms Kelly Ryan, DVM, a veterinarian with Cityscape Vets on Excelsior. “It is an irrational, intense fear of a noise or sound that poses no real threat. If your dog has a noise phobia, you will probably see it with other loud noises, such as fireworks.”
Noise phobias can start at any age and worsen over time if left untreated. Certified pet therapist and author Sally Morgan suspects that the phobia may stem from a dog’s innate survival-based need to hear what’s going on in its immediate vicinity. Not only do extremely loud sounds interfere with that, but they also confuse the dog into believing that something of fight-or-flight proportions is happening.
Static electricity
During a thunderstorm, static electricity in the clouds builds up, eventually bursting into lightning. Dogs can sense this, even from inside our homes and often before the storm reaches our neighborhood, says Lazhar Ichir, the founder of Breeding Business, an educational platform for ethical dog breeders. “Specialists now understand that static electricity is felt by dogs through their fur, generating an unpleasant tingling sensation,” he says.
A survey published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association confirms this idea; static electricity from thunderstorms might give dogs tiny shocks, making them even more anxious during stormy weather. “For this reason, pets feel agitated and seek a spot they hope might isolate them from the static charges,” he says.
Change in barometric pressure
Dogs with thunderstorm phobias can often sense a drop in barometric pressure (which is basically the weight of the air in the atmosphere) that accompanies these storms, says Wendy Hauser, DVM, a staff veterinarian and the vice president of veterinary relations for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Usually sensed through their ears and sinuses, this subtle shift in the air tips them off that something big—and scary—is about to happen, making them anxious even before the first rumble of thunder rolls in.
Change in ions
During a thunderstorm, the ions in the atmosphere change and build up, causing an electrical imbalance in the air that dogs can sense. “Dogs may experience that as increased vigilance as external signals travel through their nervous system more quickly. These signals include the sounds of rain and thunder and flashing lights,” Morgan says. This explains why dogs search out ways to ground themselves.
Change in our behavior
“Dogs are sensitive to their people’s reactions to the environment,” Morgan points out. A 2024 study published in Nature also explains that dogs’ detection of human stress (through the odors they pick up while sniffing) can affect their cognitive responses and emotional states. “If [you’re] running around the house to close windows, complaining when the power goes out, etc., your dog is going to feel that something is wrong and that he needs to be on alert,” she says.
Genetics
According to another study published in Nature, dogs—just like humans—can have noise sensitivities passed down to them through genetics. Dogs can have hereditary reactions to “certain frequencies, intensities or types of sound, associated with strong feelings of dislike, fear or even aggression,” the study’s authors write.
Different dog breeds can have different levels of anxiety during storms, and those that seemed the most anxious were working and sporting breeds, such as German shepherds and collies. That makes sense, considering they were bred to take care of other animals, including herding them out of nasty weather.
What are some signs your dog is scared of thunder?
As the rain starts to pound on the windows, you may find your dog hiding under a low piece of furniture, like a bed or a sofa, or perhaps in the basement. Morgan tells Reader’s Digest it’s not unusual for a dog in the throes of a thunderstorm freak-out to attempt to become grounded—literally and figuratively—by seeking the lowest place in the house or someplace adjacent to the house’s plumbing.
According to the study published in Animals, there are some other panicked-dog behaviors to watch out for:
- Excessive shaking or trembling
- Restlessly pacing back and forth
- High-pitched whining or continuous howling and barking
- Exhibiting destructive behaviours (that they don’t usually do)
- Excessive drooling or panting
How to calm a dog during a thunderstorm
In addition to keeping your own anxiety in check (trust us, that’s a major one), here’s what you can do to make your pups feel comfortable and safe during a thunderstorm:
Move them to a secure place
It could be helpful to gently lead Max to the bathroom and into the bathtub, suggests Patra de Silva, the president of NHV Natural Pet Products, which makes veterinarian-approved herbal and plant-based supplements. Morgan also points out that this is one place that your dog might like to be during a storm. As de Silva explains, the porcelain may help block static electricity.
At the same time, try not to give him too much positive reinforcement for his freak-out. Although it’s a natural human response to pet your best friend and tell him it’s going to be OK, he may think you’re telling him you’d like to see him take these actions again.
Another place your dog may prefer to be during a storm is in a dark, quiet room with quiet, calming music, says Kelly Ryan, DVM, the director of veterinary services at the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. If your dog is trained to sleep in a crate, you can try encouraging him to go there, as he may feel safer.
Use a compression vest or wrap
Dr. Ryan also recommends trying body compression options such as the ThunderShirt. These compression vests, wraps and blankets provide gentle and consistent pressure that helps soothe dogs during stress situations. The ThunderShirt, in particular, is a jacket with adjustable fasteners that fits dogs of most sizes. It is made from durable and washable fabric that compresses much like spandex does for humans.
Put them in a comfortable environment
Just like the loud noises, the preceding flashes of light add to your dog’s anxiety during a thunderstorm. Sarah Nold, DVM, a veterinarian with pet insurance company Trupanion, suggests closing the window blinds or curtains and leaving a light on to minimize flashes of light from the storm.
Give them antianxiety medication
Some dogs will do best with antianxiety medication, Dr. Nold says, and Dr. Ryan agrees. But these are prescription meds that you must obtain from your veterinarian after discussing the treatment options that will be best for your dog. Or try a natural supplement, like Adaptil. “Pheromone products can be great options for some dogs,” Dr. Ryan says. Essential oils may be of some help as well; same with herbal dog collars.
When you’re wondering why dogs are scared of thunder, just remember: Your dog does not choose to be scared of thunderstorms, says Jonathan Leshanski, DVM, a veterinarian with At Home Veterinary. For a dog scared of storms, fear is not a failure or a flaw—its an instinctive reaction to something that just doesn’t make sense to them. Remember, you have fears too!
About the experts
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Sources:
- Animals: “Therapy and Prevention of Noise Fears in Dogs—A Review of the Current Evidence for Practitioners”
- Veterinary Sciences: “Determining Hearing Thresholds in Dogs Using the Staircase Method”
- Comparative Cognition and Behavior Reviews: “A comparison of hearing and auditory functioning between dogs and humans”
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association: “Thunderstorm phobia in dogs: an Internet survey of 69 cases”
- Nature: “The odour of an unfamiliar stressed or relaxed person affects dogs’ responses to a cognitive bias test”
- Nature: “Two novel genomic regions associated with fearfulness in dogs overlap human neuropsychiatric loci”
- Kelly Ryan, DVM, veterinarian at Cityscape Vets on Excelsior
- Sally Morgan, certified pet therapist and author of Dances of the Heart: Connecting with Animals
- Lazhar Ichir, founder of Breeding Business
- Wendy Hauser, DVM, founder and president of Peak Veterinary Consulting
- Patra de Silva, president of NHV Natural Pet Products
- Jonathan Leshanski, DVM, veterinarian with At Home Veterinary and the former president of the American Association of House Call and Mobile Veterinarians
