Dog Community

Thunderstorm tips?

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:01:27 PM

Almost 2 weeks of hot, humid weather is catching up with us and forecasts are predicting a pretty wicked thunderstorm here sometime in the next few days. They may be wrong because they usually are, but just in case they get it right for once, how can I make this easier on Ben? I hear stories all the time of dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms and want to help him get through it as smoothly as possible.

Any tips would be very helpful.

Kate

dogslyfe

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:11:00 PM

Well, for one thing I wouldn't borrow any trouble. While yes, many dogs are afraid, many dogs are not. I have one dog that will actually go OUT into the storm and play, if you'll let her, one that is nervous, but OK, two that don't care either way, and one that will run blindly in panic mode. So. What I would do for starters is first storm go about your business, pretending like you don't notice anything.

I wouldn't cuddle, coddle, or anything else, and would just go about normal stuff pretending like there is nothing out of the ordinary happening. Keep watch over him out of the corner of your eye, but don't obsess. See what happens, and then you can decide what to do - if anything at all needs to be done.

Has he been through a storm before? Do you have anything to compare it to?

Debbie R

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:19:15 PM

Laura is !1000% correct, Brando will go out in lightening and thunder, but Trixie was deathly afraid, I did the desensitzing thing and that worked for a while, but then we had thunder storms for one week every day, and acted like it was fine, played gave treats, completely ignored and she is fine now sleeps through them. Can't hurt to have some white noise like tv or radio.

Benedict

Posted : 6/11/2006 6:25:49 PM

Thank you - that is pretty much what I figured, just not sure of what to do if he DOES panic. We haven't had a thunderstorm here since before he was born, so no, he has never been through one before.

If I turn up the protein skimmer on one of my fishtanks it is really effective white noise, so I will do that. I'll also do my best to take him outside to do his business during the storm. (Don't mind getting wet, at this point I am so boiling hot I'd dance naked in the rain given half a chance.)

Kate

dogslyfe

Posted : 6/11/2006 8:29:36 PM

It will depend on how he reacts as to what you should do - IF he reacts. Small stuff, I would just ignore (mild panting, difficulty getting comfortable, snuggling up with you). If he's running around blindly (in danger of hurting himself) and he's crate trained, I would catch him up and crate him for the remainder - while keeping an eye on him. Some dogs can NOT be crated during storms. Its all just going to depend on what happens. It may very well be that NOTHING happens. I hope that will be the case!

Debbie R

Posted : 6/13/2006 7:58:48 AM

I don't think I would bring him out in it the first time if you can help it, just go about your business in the house the skimmer will be perfect, as long as he is ok going out in the rain that's a good start.

Benedict

Posted : 6/13/2006 8:17:29 AM

He did have to go out, but he wasn't bothered by it, the storm had pretty much ended by then. I spent most of the time just playing with him and giving him belly rubs - which we do so much of the time anyway it wasn't out of the ordinary. It wasn't a really long storm and the only sign of him being affected by it was when he got tired from playing and had a little trouble settling down to sleep, and didn't sleep too long. However, it could have been worse and I think since I stayed relaxed that helped him.

Thanks everyone, the coast is clear now.

Kate

Karen

Posted : 6/13/2006 11:17:24 AM

It depends on the dog. At first they may be fine with storms then all of a sudden panic.
Mine as a pup didn't care then the last 12 months he goes stupid, he will do laps of the yard running between our two back doors until you let him in. As soon as we know we are in for a thunder storm we make sure he is inside. As long as he is in with us he is fine.

My husband use to have a german sheppard and she would pull screen doors off the hinges to get inside.

Debbie R

Posted : 6/13/2006 3:35:29 PM

I think the trick here is for you to stay calm. I'm glad he did so well and you too.
mally Try the desensitize thing you can google sounds of thunder and play it very low on the pc, then every once in a while a little higher if you see him getting stressed go back to the volume you had it at when he was ok. You need to act like nothing is going on, play, train something. You are probably a nervous wreck from the time you hear the weather report now, I know I was w/ my first dog, and they sense it. You can also google dog afraid of thunder and you get a lot of great links w/ tips.