Nature vs. Nurture: The calm before the storm

The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA, July/August 2001) describes an Internet survey of owners of dogs suffering from Storm Phobia. The authors discovered through this study, that some breeds may be genetically predisposed to being Storm Phobic based on their primitive instincts. For example, Herding dogs, such as Collies and German shepherds, and Hounds, like Beagles and Basset hounds, seem to have an increased likelihood of developing Storm Phobia than other dogs. Storm Phobias also seem to be more common in the Sporting and Working groups.

The authors suggest that this apparent predisposition may be explained in terms of the dogs' genetic instincts as they trace back to their original jobs. For example, Herding dogs were bred to react quickly to the environmental stimuli around them, like sheep splitting off from the herd, without being aggressive. It could be this same sensitivity in Herding dogs that creates strong reactions to startling noises and environmental changes associated with storms and that their instinct to repress aggressive responses creates the tendency for the feelings to manifest as anxiety.

The same JAAHA study went on to propose that dogs adopted from rescue groups or shelters may also be more likely to develop Storm Phobia. These dogs, it was suggested, were more likely to have been abused, scared or abandoned by a former owner and/or may not have been properly socialized to a variety of sights and sounds as young puppies. Trauma and unsettled experiences in early psychological development can make dogs generally more anxious and increase their chances of developing all forms of fear and phobia.

There is a possible behavioural component to Storm Phobia that was not addressed in the JAAHA article. Many dogs will exhibit startle or fear responses as young puppies when they are confronted by novel stimuli in their environments. Many owners inadvertently reinforce these normal reactions in their attempts to soothe and comfort their puppies. Providing comfort to an anxious, fearful or stressed mind will only reinforce that psychological state thereby increasing the likelihood of similar responses, often with increasing intensity, in the dog’s future. This well-intended owner interference has the power to change a health puppy response, from which most puppies will recover, into a developing Storm Phobia.