Our Pomeranian, Chloe, is a very easy going dog, always happy and friendly. But when there's an approaching thunderstorm, she begins to get nervous. Storms with lots of lightening and thunder make her especially anxious. Thankfully, her reaction is not extreme. She begins to pace and pant, and tries to sit very close to one of us. Last night was a very busy weather night, with one storm after another blowing through with vivid lightning and frequent thunder. I don't think she slept a wink all night, as she was restless, panting and pacing. She is crated in our bedroom, which is her normal routine, but last night, she could not settle down. I let her out and she finally sought safety under the bed. Ironically (and thankfully), she is not bothered much by all the fireworks. And even more ironic, my tiny dog, Minnie, who has separation anxiety, is not bothered one bit by storms or fireworks. She slept soundly in her crate all night.
If your dog is storm or noise phobic, make sure you discuss this with your dog's vet. To learn more about these phobias, I've included some informative links to look at. Also of interest, a recent product has become available on the market called "Thundershirt". It is based on a therapeutic principle used with humans. Compression/deep pressure has a calming influence on the nervous system. It's success with human application is well documented. (I'm a retired therapist, and have used deep pressure and compression in my practice) You can read user reviews on the Thundershirt to see if it's right for your pet. It has a money back guarantee, so there's no reason not to try it. My vet even has it available for purchase in his office, and it's available in local stores as well as online. I haven't tried it yet, but if your dog is having alot of trouble with storms and noise, it's an option you might want to check it out. If you do, please feel free to comment on it's effectiveness.
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dog-storm-phobia
http://veterinaryteambrief.com/sites/default/files/sites/cliniciansbrief.com/files/VPL_CN10_November_FNL.pdf
http://www.thundershirt.com/Product/Thundershirt.aspx?item_guid=ad60b946-f758-45e2-a589-331dda09637e