Fear of noises is easier to prevent than cure. Q: Can you suggest some ways for us to cope with our dog’s fear of loud storms? — K.R., via e-mail

A: Some breeds and types of dogs seem to be more highstrung and sensitive to noise, but the truth is that any dog can become terrified of storms. After all, a storm is more than just thunder: The atmospheric pressure changes, the sky lights up, static electricity builds, and rain pounds on the roof. The smells in the air are so different that even we scentchallenged humans say, “Smells like rain.” Imagine what an incoming storm smells like to our dogs.

Sometimes all you need to do is to eliminate the static electricity in the air: Try wiping your dog with a dryer sheet. It can really help.

For other dogs, fear of thunderstorms increases because their people mishandle the early signs of fear — either by soothing the dog or by punishing her. Soothing a dog (“Poor baby! Don’t be afraid. Come here and get a hug.”) rewards the behavior, while punishing a dog makes a scary event even more frightening.

Sensitivity to loud noises is easier to prevent than to cure, unfortunately. When puppies and young dogs show concern, one strategy is to distract them. Give them something positive to do, such as starting a training session with lots of treats or playing a favorite game. In other words, ignore the storm, distract the dog and set the tone by acting unconcerned. With a new dog, the first time there is a storm, pretend it is an invitation to a “storm party.” With every crack of thunder, respond, “Whoopee! That was a fun one. Here’s your storm cookie!” Couple this with happy requests for simple obedience commands.

Once a dog has developed a full-blown phobia, though, the fear of storms is quite dramatic and can be dangerous. Some dogs may tremble, others may destroy their surroundings, and still others may bite out of fear.

If your dog is afraid of loud noises that you can predict — fireworks on holidays, for example — ask your veterinarian to prescribe a sedative for your pet just for those days.

For fearful dogs, your best bet is asking your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist. — Dr. Marty Becker (Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)