afraid of storms now

[Ann]

With multiple dogs, I've found that unfortunately they can "catch" storm stress from each other. The result is a houseful of pacing, panting nervous dogs. It helps Lacey to be in her crate, but she's the only one of mine who is calmed that way.

I've tried the thundershirt and it didn't work for my dogs, although many people have had great success with it. What I do have terrific results from though, is the Homeopet Thunder/Loud Noises Anxiety drops. It's a holistic remedy targeted to dogs with storm phobias. The key is you have to get the drops into the dog before the storm starts. After it's going, it doesn't work nearly as well. When I know a storm is coming, I give the fearful dogs a few drops and they're so much better. Here's a link.
http://www.amazon.com/HomeoPet-BC60...=8-2&keywords=Homeopet+anxiety+drops+for+dogs

 

[Cooper'sMama]

Vodka? No wait, that was for gluing/un-gluing ears. . .

Perhaps Rescue Remedy? It seems to really mellow out the dogs and I even took some myself when I was taking the CGC with Melli. I liked it.

Maybe a Thundershirt and Rescue Remedy in conjunction?

You are sooooo right btw Jades ear came undone today

I also hear the thunder shirts work very well.

 

[Shelby's mom]

With Hollie there was nothing we could do to calm her not even prescriptions.

Shelby is just odd when it comes to storms. She will run around and bark at the thunder (she is not afraid of it), if we are camping and sitting outside she just lays down and doesn't bother, if it is night time she doesn't move an inch nor make a sound. I can't seem to figure it out. She drives us crazy when she starts the pacing and barking/crying. I usually end up giving her a bully stick and then she will settle down.

I am almost thinking she is associating the storms with getting a bully stick so maybe she is actually begging for the bully stick and not reacting to the storm. Who has who trained.

So maybe a favorite treat can help settle your little one.

 

[Harbour]

Koffoy was never fearful of thunderstorms until we had a really bad microcell hit and now he is very fearful. I had bought him a thunder shirt because of the fireworks and it is helping with the thunderstorms when I am home.

In talking with my vet, he mentioned that it could be the change in the barometric pressure that is causing the some of the reaction and not the thunder itself. Not sure, but I am now working on some deconditioning (using high value treats for calm behavior) along with using the thunder shirt (when the storm goes on for a long period or at night and I need to sleep.

 

[Caro]

When I was working Deska's storm phobia I read that dogs usually worsen or develop fears of storms as they get older, although I can't remember the reasons why. Of course this worried the heck out of me as Deska was already trying to break through glass windows and having panic attacks. It took a lot of work to get him to the point he is at now - still scared but not in full attack and panic mode.

I suggest playing soothing music during the storm (Deska actually responds really well to my relaxation CDs that have whale sounds). If you don't have relaxing music then put the radio on a classical station. Keep her confined in one room with you. Talk to her, say her name, reassure her that you are there and get her to focus on you. Regular touching, patting and even grooming helps a lot.

Now depending how long the storms go on you can give treats - but I find with the usual length of storms a treat doesn't last (I give Deska a lamb shank as that's about the only treat he will focus on and if he holds it in his mouth he can't bark). Playing games also helps, if it's a long storm you may just need to play a game, have a break, play another game...

For middle of the night storms, shut yourselves in the bedroom, leave the light on (so they don't notice the lightening), put on a soothing radio station and put her on the bed with you. I've actually managed to fall back to sleep through Deska's barking when they've gone on for hours.

 

[JessicaR]

Thank you for the suggestions! I will have to try them 1 at a time of course
She isn't so fearful that she would need a prescription. If the storm isn't too close usually a "go lay down" will work, its when they are closer to us that she starts really pacing!

My husband is a certified weather spotter so if the storm is getting on the bad side we are usually outside looking at the sky, unless there is lots of lightening The door is open so the dogs do have access to the fenced in yard during the storm. Belle will follow us outside unless its raining hard, her royal highness cant get wet When she is outside, she is mostly fine unless the thunder gets too loud then she runs inside.

I think I will try the drops Ann was talking about first. Then maybe the thunder shirt.

 

[jomuir]

Do you have a fenced in backyard? Maybe she's just offended by the storm now and wants to go yell at it some...

Honey gets antsy any time it rains, her behavior is very similar to what you're describing. I put on her leash, and we run around the backyard while she tries to bark the storm away. After about a minute, she's wet enough that she comes back in and settles right down.

Maybe if you let her out to bark at the storm she'll realize it's nothing worrisome and calm down?

Unconventional, low chance of success....but it works for my girl.

My DH recently decided that Forrest wanted to go potty while fireworks were blowing off nearby, and he jumped the fence trying to escape the noise! If you put your fearful dog outside while a scary event is occurring, PLEASE go outside with it. I am still mad at DH, and from now on, I go out with them whenever there's a possibility of scary things. Inconvenient yes, but much less so than spending days searching & worrying.

 

[JessicaR]

I am outside with her during the storm, but I don't think she could jump the fence anyways. She is only 14 inches and the fence is 48 inches