Joey's breeder says that she takes her pups out in the storm if we have one when the dogs are young. Joey will grow at loud thunder, but most of the time it doesn't phase him. It does scare me and I have to try my best not to show the dogs that I'm scared, no coddling. You should distract as much as possible, but no babying. When you baby your dog, you are telling him he's right to be afraid. Turn the TV up or turn music on, get a white noise machine, or play this over and over until they get use to the sounds.