Animal behaviorists are not certain what part of the storm frightens the dog the most. Is it the loud noise, sudden light, or wind? Some behaviorists believe it may be the drop in air pressure or a change in the electrical charge of the air. Mildly affected dogs will exhibit signs such as trembling, hiding under furniture, and/or soiling in the house. More severely affected dogs will exhibit destructive behavior of chewing through walls, breaking through windows, and in the process, hurt themselves, as was the case with the little girl pictured here. Andi was outside a few weeks ago when a thunderstorm came through and, by the looks of this picture, Andi wanted inside.
What exactly is a phobia? By definition, a phobia is an illogical fear of an object or event where the fear is of greater proportion than the actual event or object. Bailey's phobia is of thunderstorms. Other animals may have phobias of things like a loud train, a vacuum cleaner, or the hair dryer. As a general rule, a phobia in an animal will only continue to worsen if not addressed.
If you think your dog has an abnormal fear of thunderstorms, please call for an appointment for a consultation. Keeping a written journal is oftentimes helpful along with taking videos of the animal's behavior while the phobia is being exhibited. As stated earlier, these situations can be overwhelming and frustrating to owners; there is no need to wait any longer and have you and your family pet suffer. We can help.