Thunder Storms

This is going to sound cruel, and will be hard, but, if all she's doing is whining and shaking some, try simply ignoring her.  Talking to her will re-enforce in her mind that she has a reason to be scared.  She may very well come up with her own "coping skills".  My old guy used to go behind the recliner.  When we got rid of that, he started going in the bathroom and sticking his head under the tank on the toilet.  I know someone whose dog used to go in a cabinet under the kitchen counter (when they realized how it helped him, they emptied the cabinet and left the door open for him).  If ignoring her fails, try rubbing some Rescue Remedy in her ear.

One of my dogs is afraid of thunder.  I also ignore and let him go wherever he feels safest.  He's not in a major panic but if he was I would consider a Thundershirt.  There are also dvd's of thunder that can help desensitize your dog to storms.  These are sometimes helpful but not always. 

 The ex's dog, Dingo used to put himself in the closet. I also just ignored the pacing and whining. Now, Tootsie my corgi is bomb proof.

I'm dealing with this myself right now.  My Harry is thunder-phobic.  I have been employing the same technique others have mentioned above, however I cannot ignore the shaking/shivering.  Those physical signs of extreme stress, IMO, could lead to health issues.  Stress takes a toll on the body.

I've recently (as in, yesterday, lol) started using valerian.  This evening we had storms and Harry did not shake at all.  He did go to his safe place for a bit, but then came out and even played with my other dog, all while it was thundering outside.

This may be something you wish to speak to your vet about, or an animal behaviorist.  Good luck!!

Valerian works well for calming dogs in many stressful situations.  Melatonin has been studied and found to be effective in reducing thunder-phobia in many dogs.  I keep both Valerian and Melatonin in my dog medicine chest, but Melatonin is usually what I choose when a thunderstorm is imminent.  My dogs are only mildly bothered by thunder, but I don't want their fear to escalate.

Ignoring can make sense if a dog is only mildly bothered by storms, but IMO when a dog is exhibiting signs of severe stress other things should be tried (providing a dark place for the dog to huddle, medicating, trying a Thundershirt, etc.).

Greta is terrified of thunderstorms. I usually try to sit in the floor with her and just pet her until she calms down. 

Myra

Valerian works well for calming dogs in many stressful situations.  Melatonin has been studied and found to be effective in reducing thunder-phobia in many dogs.  I keep both Valerian and Melatonin in my dog medicine chest

Like I said, I'm new at this, but I also have a melatonin/l-theanine combo that I gave Harry one of this evening.  I knew there were storms in the area, so I gave him that in addition to the valerian.  But I could tell a difference before I gave him the melatonin combo capsule, so I know the valerian was working as well.  I'm hoping these herbals will be an aid in getting him over the fear, so that eventually we may not have to do anything at all.

 Thanks for the information. Valerian sounds like a good idea. Where can I get it? Any where local? The rain has calmed down now and Joy is okay. I tried to ignore her whining, perhaps I'll do better next time.

Health stores carry it. GNC has it. Walmart may...

When you use herbals get the best quality you can find.  Oddly enough, Wal-Mart actually carries a darned good herbal for an inexpensive place.

 Valerian caps take about 45 minutes to an hour to work.  Give at least TWO ... valerian is a bit tonic-like -- in that "more" isn't more potent -- it merely allows the body to store it and last longer. 

Valerian, passion-flower, St. John's Wort -- all 3 are really good for this (all 3 are "nervine herbs" - relaxants essentially). 

However -- for storm phobia get the tincture, not the "capsules" of the ground herb.  Tincture works faster -- and try, if you can, to get one in glycerite rather than alcohol based -- merely because it's more pleasant to take.

 Any of the three work very well either in a tiny bit of peanut butter or tahini .. or even a bit of yogurt.  In fact, if you can find the one in the glycerite base you can just squirt it in the mouth behind the canine tooth (hold the mouth loosely shut -- and put the tip of the dropper behind the canine and squirt gently so the dog can work its tongue to swallow). 

I don't normally encourage folks to use peanut butter (it's really a bit hard on the kidneys) but for something like this it makes it completely painless to give.  Valerian actually tastes GOOD this way (and it's a potent smelling herb for sure).

 But the tincture is gonna work in about 5 minutes ... not an hour.  Valerian is easy to find.  But most health stores have racks of herbal tinctures. 

Also snag some Hylands Calms Forte -- that's a homeopathic (completely different than an herbal) -- and it can be used WITH those relaxants I mentioned.  It's a tablet (and unusually for a homeopathic it's made to be absorbed in the stomach). 

If you search on here for "storm party" -- I've typed it out many times (and it's 1:00 a.m. here and I gotta get some sleep).  If you can't find it let me know and I'll get it to you.  I've had severely thunder-phobic dogs and I'm not at all comfortable "ignoring" them ... but it's a really positive way to train them and I've had super good luck doing that.

 Well, any of those herbals will work fine, but I looked at Walmart online and it didn't show any of them. Is it only in stores where you can find them? We have a GNC around here, I looked there online, but there was no Valerian for dogs.

    Last night, it stormed real heavy again, and Joy kept me up. I tried putting her in the closet but she wouldn't stop whining and shaking. Finally, when the storm was over I brought her out of the closet, she was still shaking and didn't stop till she sat for a while and noticed that there was nothing to be afraid of. She's okay now, but sleeping. 

ADog'sBestFriend

We have a GNC around here, I looked there online, but there was no Valerian for dogs.

You want the human version.  It will be less expensive, and most likely much higher quality, than anything marketed for dogs.  If you want tincture you'll probably have to go to a health food store or some place like Vitamin World or The Vitamin Shoppe, although it's possible GNC would have some.

 Oh okay, sorry. Well, then maybe soon I'll go to GNC. They have some of that. :) Unless I find some at Walmart which online it doesn't show so I'm not sure.