Fear of Thunderstorms

[GreyhoundGirl]

I reasearched this a while ago for my whimpy little girl and thought it might be helpful for some people. (I've already gotten some feedback from friends for some of the tips ) Fear of thunderstorms is common and sometimes quite difficult to fix. Here are some suggestions to help you dog until you can get more serious help.

*Turn on some music or TV to mask the noises until the storm is over.

*Ask your vet about medications to help your dog through it.

*Keep all doors and gates closed so that your dog cannot escape. Trying to escape is a common reaction to thrunderstapms.

*Keep the windows covered (and closed!) so he can't see out the window.

*Don't crate or confine him, he might panic in small spaces.

*Don't leave him outside in a storm

*Rub his coat with a fabric softener dryer sheet thingy to decrease static. Dogs learn to associate this with storms.

*If your dog likes the car try lettting him "ride out" in the car. (I didn't try this one because Jenny doesn't care about the car much)

*Make sure you ignore his fear. Don't cuddle or coddle him, just be confident like tehers nothing to worry about, ( even if you're a bit worried yourself )

You can work on desensitizing after, these are just suggestions for your first storm and such, not for perminent use. Hope these help!

[c0_re]

When Molson\Harley were a puppies and up to about a year old we jogged\walked in the thunder storms purposly every chance we got(real rain gear and misquito netting are great small investments) and I've never had a problem with either of them. I take every opertunry to try and desensitize them to stuff like that and gun shots, fireworks and now they act like nothing is even happening. In spring\summer\fall Minnesota has lots and lots of t-storms and even tornados that don't ever really become tornados.

[Sheltiemama]

Another tactic you might try if you dog is receptive to taking food. It's called shoveling. In other words for as long as the stimuli (the storm) is happening continue to hand feed the dog so his sensation of anxiety is replaced with the sensation of pleasure that comes with having a full meal. Each time you have a storm feed the dog as much as he will take and sooner or later the storm will make a lesser impact on the dog. We've tried it and it works.

Brandi and Judy

[GreyhoundGirl]

Originally Posted by Sheltiemama

Another tactic you might try if you dog is receptive to taking food. It's called shoveling. In other words for as long as the stimuli (the storm) is happening continue to hand feed the dog so his sensation of anxiety is replaced with the sensation of pleasure that comes with having a full meal. Each time you have a storm feed the dog as much as he will take and sooner or later the storm will make a lesser impact on the dog. We've tried it and it works.

Brandi and Judy

That's a very good idea! Nothing fixes a fear like food.

[Flutterby]

My Beagle (11 years old) has been terrified of storms at least since I've had her (9 1/2 years), and I would assume for quite some time before that. I wonder if this is because she was forced to live in a small rabbit hutch for nearly two years (from puppyhood until I got her).

I've done just about everything possible to try to desensitize her, all to no avail. She continues to be abnormally scared of storms. Many owners would look to medication to get her through the storms (her fear is that severe), but I prefer not to medicate my dogs unless absolutely needed. I have found the best way to manage Sissy's phobia is to pretty much ignore it, and try to make her surroundings as peaceful and stable as possible during a storm. I do not give her extra attention, and I do not snuggle her, pick her up, coddle her or reassure her fear in any way during a storm. I go about my regular business. I keep the radio or TV on for regular background noise (the radio is almost always on, so these sounds are familiar and regular in our home). Sissy follows me around the house like a shadow, shaking and panting the whole time, but I do not encourage her fearful behavior in any way. She will never get over her fear, but it is not debilitating, as it was in the first couple of years after I got her. (She would go absolutely bonkers and make herself physically ill whenever it would rain.) As long as she knows Mommy's here, and the storm doesn't upset Mommy in any way, she feels safe and can control her fear quite well.

If I do have to leave the house during a storm, I will NOT crate her, as this amplifies her fear tenfold. Shortly after I got her, I was away from home when it stormed and Sissy was crated. I came home to a gnawed up, broken crate, a trashed house, and a dog with two broken teeth and some lacerations (from escaping the crate) and was so insanely scared I couldn't get near her for a couple hours. So GreyhoundGirl gives very good advice about not crating during a storm! LOL

(PS - Sissy had also just started crate training (at 2 years old, after moving into a new home with a new family and a completely new way of life) so I'm sure that contributed to the total wig-out that day, but even now, after several years of being fully crate trained, will freak out if kenneled during a storm.)

Anyway, I'm just rambling on and on and probably not helping anyone that's looking for advice, so I'll just bring this to a close! LOL


Lanie
And The Zoo
Royal Star Estates
freewebs.com/royalstarestates

[Cassiepeia]

Buying a storm CD from a new age store and playing it to them for short periods of time, to begin, at low volume can help desensitize them too. You increase the length of time and volume gradually.
Of course, while you're playing the CD you ignore it completely and act like nothing is wrong. Because that's the message you want to send to the dog.

Cass.

[c0_re]

Originally Posted by Flutterby

My Beagle (11 years old) has been terrified of storms at least since I've had her (9 1/2 years), and I would assume for quite some time before that. I wonder if this is because she was forced to live in a small rabbit hutch for nearly two years (from puppyhood until I got her).

YIKES no wonder she's scared, poor thing sorry wish I could help this seems to be a pretty common problem for dog owners.

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

Buying a storm CD from a new age store and playing it to them for short periods of time, to begin, at low volume can help desensitize them too. You increase the length of time and volume gradually.
Of course, while you're playing the CD you ignore it completely and act like nothing is wrong. Because that's the message you want to send to the dog.

Cass.

Great idea, I'd love to hear the results as my parents weiner dog does the same thing.

[borzoimom]

Hottie was always worried in thunderstorms. It happened because when he was younger I had an alarm system. And the sudden power surge set the alarm off and we could not get it to shut off for a few seconds.
I tried the dryer sheet on him, and it works. To the point now if a storm is coming he will come find me to rub it on him. Then contently goes to lay down.. I have been using this method for now about a month, and no more stress to hottie in storms. I really do believe he feels the static from the storm in his coat.

[ginastags2315]

Muffin used to panic during thunderstorms. She'd jump on me and follow me everywhere. She's still scared of thunder, but now when she hears it, she goes into my basement bathroom and lays down between the side of the toilet and the wall until it stops

[GreyhoundGirl]

Originally Posted by ginastags2315

Muffin used to panic during thunderstorms. She'd jump on me and follow me everywhere. She's still scared of thunder, but now when she hears it, she goes into my basement bathroom and lays down between the side of the toilet and the wall until it stops

Awww! That sounds really cute. You should try and get a picture, I'd love to see it