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I have a dog - 51/2 years old and terriffied of thunder!

Urgency:S.O.S.!

Category: Behavior & Training

Asked by: michelle b. (michel) 1 year ago

She shakes and pants from the first rumble. And is very clingy before the thunder starts. What can I do to help calm her or to relieve her anxiety.

Answers from Zootooers

5 answers(s) found.

Thumbs Up: 0

Answered by: Brenda P. (BDP) 1 year ago

Brenda P.

I agree that you should not coddle her during storms. Do you enjoy music? play it a little louder during a storm and play with the dog. Make storm time play time. Keep very upbeat. Hopefully she will soom associate storms with a good time.

Thumbs Up: 0

Answered by: Ellen K. (EllenK115) 1 year ago

Ellen K.

Some dogs do not do well with storms, loud sounds, etc. First off -- the worst thing you can do is coddle them and tell them it'll be OK. What that is doing is reinforcing the behavior to act scared -- and over time -- it could escalate. During the height of storm season (summer) you might want to be prepared... Ask your vet if there is anything that can be given to your pooch prior to the storm coming -- some type of sedative to calm the dog -- so while it's storming, pooch is kinda in a daze. Also -- during non-storm season -- you might want to get a tape of thunder sounds and work with your dog to desensitize her. It might be storms now -- but it could lead to being sensitive to other loud sounds... Good luck!

Thumbs Up: 0

Answered by: suzzieQ 1 year ago

suzzieQ

my black lab maggie [RIP] did the same thing. someone lite a firecracker in front of her when she was less than a year old. our vet gave us D.A.P. or dog appeasing pheromone spray. we took two hanker-chiefs and tied them together. whenever a storm came around, we sprayed it and put it loosly around her neck. it really helped.

Thumbs Up: 0

Answered by: JaNeen H. (marleyman) 1 year ago

JaNeen H.

My Lhasa Marley is afraid of rain, lightening and thunder. What I have found to be helpful is I have a loud HEPA filter, that when I turn it on High, it drowns out all outside noise. Couple this with turning the lights on so they don't see the lightening also helps. So, if you have something loud like like this to create "white" noise, I have found it works best. I have tried other items such as calming pills, aromatherapy, etc, and they just don't work.

Thumbs Up: 0

Answered by: Jill R. (DocJill) 1 year ago

Jill R.

Some people use Rescue Remedy as a natural calming agent. If that isn't helpful, you can speak to your vet for a prescription sedative.

I had a dog that would become very upset with storms too. I would try to get her mind off it by turning up the tv or try to get her to play. She usually just went in the closet and hid until it was over.