Where do you dogs go when it is raining and they are afraid?

Callahan was terrified of lightning and thunder his whole life till a trainer friend explained how to modify the behavior using high value treats every time it rumbled. He probably picked up the fear from me cuz I'm pretty much a fraidy cat during our monsoons.:hide What I didn't do was treat out on the patio as well as in the house, so while he stopped being a total nutjob during the storm, he did think he needed to be inside. If Fillion shows any sign of being afraid of storms I will be out with him and a bunch of chicken asap.
 
Hollie would freak out during storms. The older she got.the worse it was. To the point we had to sedate her. I now know it was all our fault by feeding into her fears. I did not want to repeat this with Shelby and we learned from our mistakes with Hollie. From day one we would take her out in the rain and thunder. Now we can't get her to come in. She loves the rain and wind. She does tend to chase the thunder during the day but at night doesn't even move. We just acted like nothing was going on. I did the same thing when she decided she was afraid to walk over the train tracks, just told her "lets go" and kept walking.
 
Shelby's mom said:
Hollie would freak out during storms. The older she got.the worse it was. To the point we had to sedate her. I now know it was all our fault by feeding into her fears. I did not want to repeat this with Shelby and we learned from our mistakes with Hollie. From day one we would take her out in the rain and thunder. Now we can't get her to come in. She loves the rain and wind. She does tend to chase the thunder during the day but at night doesn't even move. We just acted like nothing was going on. I did the same thing when she decided she was afraid to walk over the train tracks, just told her "lets go" and kept walking.
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They generally take their cues from their people!
 
My parents sheltie does not like wet weather and will refuse to go if you put him out when he doesn't want to go. You could leave him outside and he WILL not go.

When the weather is bad and he doesn't want to go outside he'll limit his food and water in-take (my parents free feed him) and he will only relieve himself ever 12 hrs. or so. This dog is WAY too smart for his own good. :smile2:

Toby is afraid of Thunder but I still make him go outside. Usually he's ok and will go. I just try to bring him out when the thunder has paused and I stay near him as he goes. This routine is fairly normal routine for us since Toby has anxiety and has trouble being outside alone. I stay calm and if he gets scared I try to reassure him.

They are very sensitive to your feelings so if you're worrying and concerned you'll only heighten their anxiety. Staying calm and keeping to your regular routine is key.
 
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My first sheltie Jasmine didn't like going outside when it was raining, and barked every time it would thunder. She was quite dramatic about it. Missy doesn't seem to care. We've had a couple of pretty bad storms this last week or so, and I've woken up to the thunder, but Missy doesn't seem to care. She'll go outside if it's raining no problem.
 
Rhiannon, the terv, is terrified of thunder and lightening. She won't go potty, eat, take treats - even her favourite ice cream, and is generally miserable. The thundershirt has helped a lot indoors - she no longer shivers and drools. She had a terrible experience as a 8 month old and it has had a lasting effect. I wait until there is only rain and then go out with her and keep telling her to go pee. We don't have to worry about defecating as she won't eat from hours before the storm even starts.
Often I have to put her on Metronidazole to get her eating again as her stomach gets pretty unsettled.
Forcing the issue made it worse - no longer listen to those people so I just wait it out with her and once the scary lights in the sky finish, she goes out.
 
thanks Tagg, were doing pretty good here but I have seen mild small thunderstorms and I know we have our hurricane rainy season we live with every year, and I was unsure what we will do. I did notice he wont eat or drink and he can hold it a long time. 3 weeks and no accidents so I am grateful and not complaining. I guess were both just learning one another. He is such a good boy, but he has taken my soft-heartedness and uses it against me. He knows all his commands only with steak in hand and the store treats get spit out whole from his mouth when he loved them the first week, lol. No treat no command response.
Seems in the 3 short weeks I have learned already any issues they have seems to be Mothers fault, shame they don't have therapy for dogs to overcome parents causing all their anxieties like kids.
 
Tagg said:
Rhiannon, the terv, is terrified of thunder and lightening. She won't go potty, eat, take treats - even her favourite ice cream, and is generally miserable. The thundershirt has helped a lot indoors - she no longer shivers and drools. She had a terrible experience as a 8 month old and it has had a lasting effect. I wait until there is only rain and then go out with her and keep telling her to go pee. We don't have to worry about defecating as she won't eat from hours before the storm even starts.
Often I have to put her on Metronidazole to get her eating again as her stomach gets pretty unsettled.
Forcing the issue made it worse - no longer listen to those people so I just wait it out with her and once the scary lights in the sky finish, she goes out.
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Poor girl. :cry:

No, forcing the issue definitely isn't always a good thing. With Toby too it would do more harm then good to try and make him potty while he's that scared.
 
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