With spring here and the many storms that come with it, it’s a great time to prepare your Puggle for loud thunder and crackling lightning. Many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms. It is not uncommon for your dog to have problems associated with phobias.

A dog’s ear is sensitive and specific sounds will scare it off. The rapid onset of thunder is definitely one of those sounds. Because your Puggle is part of the Beagle family and Beagles’ ears tend to be more sensitive to hearing loud, unfamiliar noises, your dog may go the same way.

Unfortunately, for you, trying to calm him down is like trying to calm down your child after waking up from a terrible nightmare. Fortunately, there are ways to calm your Puggle so he is not upset by a storm.

First, you may want to pick up your Puggle and give him a hug so he feels safe; however, don’t do it. This really enables your dog’s thunderstorm phobia. You are letting your dog know that it is okay to be afraid of this big bad noise. It’s okay to have your dog on your lap during a storm, but exaggerating what you would normally do at any other time will only reassure your dog that the behavior is accurate for the situation that is occurring.

Second, you may want to keep your dog busy during the storm. Consider keeping a bucket of dog toys and taking it out only for special occasions like thunderstorms. This will stop your Puggle from thinking about thunder and big rumbling noises. Fight with your baby and spend quality time with him.

Third, turn up the volume on the radio as much as you can hear it yourself. The noise from the radio will eliminate the noise from the storm. Try playing soft music over loud rock music, because it can defeat the purpose if the music is too loud, such as heavy metal or hard rock.

Finally, if after all these tips don’t work and after being consistent with them, you can call your vet and consider medication. I would only do this if it was your last resort to calming your Puggle.

Your Puggle has feelings and phobias that are very similar to humans. Remember that they may be afraid and will want you to comfort them. Be consistent with each storm and the way you comfort your dog. Over time, they will calm down and get used to how they are supposed to behave during bad weather. And, whatever you do, don’t punish them for having these phobias!