What is the best way to calm my dog during a thunder storm?

[monadavis]

I have a dog, who hates bangs and thunder storms, and jumps into my lap, which is not good as she is a labrador. Any ideas of how to calm her down during these times

[B00]

I read somewhere, that the best way to deal with this is to totally ignore your dog, apparently if you make a fuss i'e trying to reassure them it just makes the problem worse. Sadly, I've never put this theory to practice and cuddle mine like a baby.....

[divegirl]

There are herbal remidies that could help.....but as you can't predict a storm they probably won't be of much use [I used Valerian root and Serene-um on my dog for the firework period with good results]. As Boo says...ignore her if she panics....pandering to her needs will only reinforce that she should be scared! Another thing to try is getting a tight t-shirt and putting that on her when the storm starts[it's a comfort thing!!!]. Desensitising can also work wonders....get her involved in a fun training session and play the sounds she hates [you can normally find these for download on the net].....make her concentrate on you....play the noise....and ignore any un-wanted behaviour then distract her with the next command...theory....if you're not bothered, why should she be! Also make sure she has a safe place to hide but not on your lap....lol. My Great Dane pup [9 months and 31 inches on the shoulder] decided she would hide under the pc table....all 6 inces of it!!! Someone posted this link a while back and theres some really good info on there....huge site though, but quite informative....have a trawl through it!

http://www.4pawsu.com/articles.htm

Lisa x

[Bellringer]

Try DAP (dog appeasing pheronomes)
It works with my friend's lab but not my spaniel.
Get it from your vet or even cheaper on line at vetuk.

[YvonneM]

You have my sympathy our last Lab was frightened of fireworks and thunder, but the new pup now 6 months old does not have any problem with loud noises at all yet they are both from working strain

[fredpuli47]

Boo is right.
The odd thing to anyone who keeps several dogs is that you do find that pups from the same litter , and others, all brought up in the same home will be frightened or totally calm as adults. The tendency must be in the blood.You can get the opposite extreme to fear: I had a standard poodle bitch who got so excited at a thunderstorm that she would demand to be let out, just to be in it. Every time there was a flash of lightning, off she would dash in its direction, rushing to 'catch it' or see where it had landed! That she never caught one was much to her evident disappointment.She wouldn't come in until the storm was over..Meanwhile, the senior dog, another poodle, was trembling under a table.