Is anyone elses dog afraid of thunder and lighteneing?

Question

got a funny dog here and there is a big storm outside with loud rolling thunder and flashes of lightening.what do you do for your dog when they get so scared they shake uncontrollably? (please include any funny stories if you'd like) cheers!

i know that it isnt funny when they are scared but they do some pretty funny stuff when they are scared like the hiding under the bed. my dog ally never goes into the laundry room but today she is in there hiding from the nasty storm outside.

Answer 1

Our dog jumps into the bathtub and shakes when it starts to rain, in anticipation of the thunder. We stay calm and show him there is nothing to be scared or anxious about.

With our new puppy, when it started to thunder we made a big fuss 'o0o thunder!! YAy!!" and clapped and played, even sat with her in front of the glass door and watched the rain and made her little tail wag. She isnt scared of anyting, and her being there has helped our older dog to not get as anxious about storms-since she is not.

The most important thing is to stay calm and remain like nothing is going on, they can pick up on your energy. Just encourage him to come sit with you, or try to engage him in a game or some tricks/training to get his mind off of it.

Answer 2

Lots of dogs are afraid of thunderstorms and other loud noises. The most important thing is not to coddle them and pet them and love on them when they're scared. It won't calm them down, it only shows them it is okay to be scared. Instead, when the weather is nice, get a good CD of a thunderstorm (usually available as a relaxation album!) and play it at low volume, low enough that your dog isn't bothered by it. Give the dog treats for not being scared. Slowly, over several days or even weeks, play the tape at increasingly louder volume, each time giving the dog treats for being calm, until eventually you can play it at "life-like" volume and the dog isn't afraid. This is called "desensitization" and it works very well.

We had a dog that was never afraid of thunder until one day we were standing in the garage watching a storm and lightning blew up the tree in our front yard! After that he was terrified and would hide in the basement during thunderstorms. Luckily, he was already really old and he went deaf a few months later!

Answer 3

I had one in the past and I've got 1 greyhound now who's afraid of thunder. I tried vet prescribed tranquilizers but don't like the side affects. What I use now is Bach's Flower Essences, Rescue Remedy which has no side affects and is enough to calm the dog. Takes about 20 minutes to take effect and is available from holistic vets, health stores and some drug stores. He's 70 pounds and gets 4 drops.

The other thing that's helped my dogs is if they can squeeze themselves into a small space so they feel a bit more secure. But with the Rescue Remedy, they've been calm enough to be able to sit with me.

I don't have any funny stories because I don't see anything amusing about a terrified dog shaking himself to pieces.

Answer 4

Well my German Shepherd is afraid of both but hasn't always been. Lightning hit a fence poll once in the yard he was looking out the window and the thunder was super loud since then he has been scared we used to let him in bed with us or if we were awake get down on the floor with him and it just made it worse now we just make him come lie down near us like at our feet next to the couch or right next to the bed (it is a water bed he can't get under it) he seems to do better when he is told what he should do and we don't foster his anxious behavior

Answer 5

My dog is the same...Only..not so much shaking. Just vibrations I'd call it. She usually just hides under my bed or, she crawls under this HUGE dog bed we have in the living room if we're all out there. Pretty much anything she can hide under, she does. But she gets better when it starts to go away. She only gets nervous when its loud and very obvious that is storming.

Answer 6

My dogs bark if the thunder is really loud like a pop. When my dog duke gets scared his hair stands up. Its funny to watch.

Answer 7

yea. My dog is.i Brought him to the cabin and there was a storm . he ran into the bathroom and started shaking very badly. After it was over he would come out so he slept in the bathroom all night. The next day i found him in the bathroom with a pile of poop right next to the toilet.I brought him out to show him it was ok(and to pick up the poop) and he took one look and saw the wind still going. needless to say i had to pick up 2 piles that day. What i do is i take him into the bathroom because he knows it is the safest place and he just sleeps there all night. or he sleeps on my bed.

Answer 8

My old dog used to shake, pant, and whine during storms. He was so scared! He would either hide under our computer desk, or I would sit on the couch and put a blanket over him, and he calmed down. During a storm he would follow me around and never let me leave his sight!

Answer 9

Having a trained dog isn’t the same as having a balanced dog, but if your dog knows a few basic commands, it can be helpful when tackling problem behaviors — existing ones or those that may develop in the future. Learn here https://tr.im/uwPmA

So where do you start with dog obedience training? You could take a class, but it’s not necessary; you can do it yourself. In fact, with the right attitude, it can be fun for both you and your dog!
Step 1 : Sit
This is one of the easiest dog obedience commands to teach, so it’s a good one to start with.
• Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose.
• Move your hand up, allowing his head to follow the treat and causing his bottom to lower.
• Once he’s in sitting position, say “Sit,” give him the treat, and share affection.
Repeat this sequence a few times every day until your dog has it mastered. Then ask your dog to sit before mealtime, when leaving for walks, and during other situations where you’d like him calm and seated.
Step 2 : Come
This command can help keep a dog out of trouble, bringing him back to you if you lose grip on the leash or accidentally leave the front door open.
• Put a leash and collar on your dog.
• Go down to his level and say, “Come,” while gently pulling on the leash.
• When he gets to you, reward him with affection and a treat.
Once he’s mastered it with the leash, remove it — and practice the command in a safe, enclosed area.
Step 3 : Down
This can be one of the more difficult commands in dog obedience training. Why? Because the position is a submissive posture. You can help by keeping training positive and relaxed, particularly with fearful or anxious dogs.
• Find a particularly good smelling treat, and hold it in your closed fist.
• Hold your hand up to your dog’s snout. When he sniffs it, move your hand to the floor, so he follows.
• Then slide your hand along the ground in front of him to encourage his body to follow his head.
• Once he’s in the down position, say “Down,” give him the treat, and share affection.
Repeat it every day. If your dog tries to sit up or lunges toward your hand, say “No” and take your hand away. Don’t push him into a down position, and encourage every step your dog takes toward the right position. After all, he’s working hard to figure it out!

Answer 10

I thank it is more of the loud noise then anything. I had a dog that when it would thunder, he would go form room to room searching for what that noise was. then he grew up and did not care anymore!!