How Tornado Drills Became Part of Our Dog Training
I recently read that Illinois is leading the nation in tornadoes this year — a contest I personally have no desire to win. As a New Jersey native, no matter how long I’ve lived in the Midwest, I will never be like the Midwestern lifers (my husband included) who stand out on the driveway during Illinois tornado season looking to see if something is headed our way. I am in the basement with all of my electronic devices and my dogs, the moment the tornado warning sounds on the community sirens or my weather app.
Since Illinois is not only “winning” the tornado count this year but has now logged 100+ tornadoes for four consecutive years — a historic streak — it felt like a good time to share my own personal tornado test drill that I do with my dogs each month, as well as some tornado preparedness for dog owners.
Tornado Drills with Dogs
Yes, I do tornado drills with my dogs. No, I am not crazy.
My tornado drills started with Jackson back when he was a young dog, and I had just begun working from home a few days a week at my corporate job. The first time the tornado siren sounded on a clear day, he jumped up and looked at me, and I was a little startled too. I had never been home on a Tuesday morning before.
We had spent his puppyhood socializing him with every single thing we could think of, so in that split second when I realized it was a test, I saw a training opportunity. I called him in a joyful, excited way. He ran to me, and I praised him and gave him a handful of treats.
After several months, the first Tuesday tornado test siren drill became a habit. I added the process of having him follow me to where I kept his harness and leash, and then to the basement door. My goal was for him to view the siren as a cue to listen to me and pay attention to my instructions. From his perspective, he quickly began to associate the siren with “find mom and get treats.”
When Tinkerbell joined the family, she learned from Jackson. By then, I had left my corporate job and was home most days for the siren. Month after month, year after year, the second they heard it, they jumped up from a deep sleep, ran to me, followed me to the harnesses, then the door, and then got showered with praise and treats. When Quill joined the pack, he learned from Tinkerbell, and now he, too, jumps up the moment the siren sounds.
How to Train Your Dog for Tornado Warnings
Training your dog for tornado drills is simple: call your dog in a happy, joyful way so they want to come to you, then reward them with treats. From there, have them follow you to wherever you go for tornado alerts or to the place where you keep their leash or harness. The goal is to teach your dog that the siren = following their human’s instructions = fun and treats. When a real warning happens, that automatic response — and the fact that they’re already used to listening for your instructions during sirens — becomes incredibly helpful.
If you’re not home when your municipality tests its sirens, you can find a variety of options online to mimic the sirens in your part of the country. If you live in Illinois, this one from Elk Grove Village is similar to what you might hear each month. I just tried it out, and Quill recognized it immediately — which meant we ended up doing an impromptu tornado drill right there in the living room.
Why a Harness Matters in Tornado Emergencies
Even if you use a slip lead or a traditional collar and leash for everyday outings, I prefer a harness for emergencies. I’ve had dogs back out of collars before, so a dog emergency harness gives you more security when you need it most.
Here are some escape‑proof harness options that also have lift handles for emergencies. The lift handle can be especially helpful if you have a dog who needs assistance going up or down basement stairs.
These options are also cost‑effective enough that you could keep one in your basement and another in a bedroom in case of a fire or other emergency, already sized and ready to go.
Of these options, I prefer Ruffwear, and Quill wears a different model for everyday use. Our buddy Chewie wears a Rabbitgoo harness, and it’s been a great purchase for his humans.
•Huntboo Escape-Proof Dog Harness
•Rabbitgoo Escape-Proof Dog Harness
•Ruffwear Flagline Dog Harness
If you have a very small dog, you can invest in a carrier similar to what you’d use for airline travel or a small hard‑sided crate so you can easily carry them with you.
Dog Supplies to Keep in Your Tornado Safe Space
You can also plan ahead and keep an emergency dog kit in your basement or tornado‑safe space for entertainment and extended power outages. We’ve found ourselves hanging out in the basement for as long as an hour during some storms, and I recommend keeping the following on hand, especially if you don’t usually spend much time in that part of your home.
•New toys: Keep a selection of new toys so your dog is excited about them. Include squeaky toys, balls, or treat‑dispensing toys depending on your dog’s play style.
•Lick toys: West Paw Toppls, Kongs, lick mats, or other lick‑based enrichment toys are great for keeping your dog occupied. Shelf‑stable options like West Paw Creamy Dog Treats are more gut‑friendly than a big glob of peanut butter.
•Chew toys/antlers: I only purchase moose antlers from Acadia Antlers for my dogs, but Benebones or the Kong chew ring are also good options. Keep something brand new in your kit to increase interest.
•High‑value training treats: Food‑motivated dogs will appreciate rewards for calm behavior during a warning. Practicing basic commands is also a great distraction. Jackson and Tinkerbell both spent time as very young puppies in our basement during tornado warnings, and these things were invaluable. Our favorite treats are Stella & Chewy Freeze Dried Wild Weenies.
•Water and an extra bowl: Keep bottled water in your emergency area and swap it out after every Midwest tornado season. You can also purchase long‑term shelf‑stable water depending on your level of preparedness.
•Extra harness and leash for each dog: If your budget allows, keep an emergency harness and leash in your tornado kit.
•Dog bed or blanket: Make the space comfortable for both you and your dog. It’s also smart to dog‑proof the area in advance to ensure there’s nothing your dog can get into while you wait out the storm. We have a giant “dog bed for humans” that would be great in your tornado shelter area.
•Flashlight and extra batteries: Not just dog related, but keep flashlights, extra batteries, a weather radio, and portable mobile device chargers. You can also purchase devices that serve multiple purposes, like this FosPower NOAA Emergency Weather Radio
Tornado Prep for Dogs with Storm Anxiety
It’s also worth remembering that many dogs are genuinely afraid of storms, and a real tornado warning often comes with thunder, wind, pressure changes, and flashing lightning — all of which can heighten their fear. A calm Tuesday‑morning siren test is very different from the sensory overload of an actual storm. I’ve been able to expose my dogs to loud noises when they were young, so storm‑fear isn’t something I personally navigate with my own dogs, but I absolutely understand that many dogs struggle with it.
If your dog is storm‑fearful, make sure your tornado kit includes whatever you normally use to help them stay calm — whether that’s calming pheromones or chews, a favorite comfort item, or medication prescribed by your veterinarian. Every dog is different, so I don’t offer advice on what to use, but having those familiar tools ready can make a stressful situation much easier for both of you.
Why Tornado Preparedness Matters for Dog Owners
Tornado season in Illinois or the rest of tornado prone areas isn’t slowing down, and while we can’t control the weather, we can control how prepared we are. Practicing tornado drills with your dog may feel a little silly at first, but building those habits during calm moments makes a world of difference when the real warnings hit. A prepared dog is a safer dog — and a calmer human, too.
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