Lightning/thunder anxiety

[jenn D]

For those who have doodles who are fearful of lightning or thunder, how do you help them through it? We just found out Mac is terrified of lightning and thunder and the crazies who are already starting to light fireworks. We haven't had a lot of lightning or thunder storms since we've gotten him at the end of August but we are getting them now and he is petrified. He freaks out in his crate if he see lightning and starts whining and clawing at his crate. We basically just have him go into a lighted room during the storm so the lightning doesn't seem as bad and he seems to do better. But if he's not near a person he paces.
We took him on a walk tonight and kids were lighting off firecracker somewhere in the neighborhood and we had to cut the walk short as Mac was panting started yawning and pulling on the lead.

Worried about his first 4th of July with us, poor guy.

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

We do not have one but I hear that the Thunder Shirts (think that is what they are called) works wonders. My girls are not fond of fireworks and we live near the river where all the campers like to set them off, Polly puts herself behind a chair and peaks out.  She is getting better but those rumblings and bangs are not her favorite.  Meg likes to get close and curl up with us during those times, but her head is always at the alert.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Years ago I had an 85lb golden retriever that was scared to death of storms. He would know it was on its way long before I heard the first roll of thunder. For some reason he felt safe in our master bath shower stall. That is where he would hide out until it was over. I remember one morning about 6am I heard him do his scared bark and figured it was going to storm soon so I got up to bring him in. As soon as I opened the back door, I saw about a dozen swat team members with their guns drawn at me. I screamed, Charlie came running to me, made sure I was ok, then proceeded to the shower stall. Anyway they were looking for a guy that had just killed my neighbor and the k9 dog followed the scent to my back yard. So far Annabelle isn't afraid of storms, but we haven't had anything with a lot of thunder and lightning since we got her last fall. I am worried about fireworks but we haven't heard any yet.

[BG and Gavin]

That is a crazy story! It was nice of your golden to check on you (however breifly lol).

[jenn D]

That's crazy

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Scary for you Amy!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Yes it was crazy and scary. Good they had the word SWAT on their vests or I might have had a heart attack. It was also good to hear it was domestic and not some crazed random killer. Creep killed his girlfriends dad. Charlie was a rescue and was beaten by his former owner so I let a lot of things slide with him, like using my shower as a safe place.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

That's so crazy! I would have panicked! Loki likes to use the tub as his safe spot- not sure why since he hates baths in that same tub but hey whatever.

[Three Doodle Life]

That must have scared you to death! Crazy!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You really need to be sure you don't reinforce his anxiety by coddling him and letting him know you think there is something to be afraid of.  Our girls don't like fireworks so we just try and keep them inside and keep the TV on or something.  If there is a thunderstorm at night we do let them come into our room to sleep but we don't like pet them and say ok, it's ok etc.  I have seen the thunder shirts work as well.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

One of the other dogs at training wore a thunder shirt last night (storming when they got there) and the owner said that it really was working at calming her down.

[jenn D]

Thanks everyone. We are really trying not to reinforce but I want him to feel safe. He has been a very shy and fearful boy since we got him. We believe he was a puppy mill dog based on behavior.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Poor Mac.  Eloise has developed fearful behaviors in the last 9 mos.  When she was a puppy, I cheered like an idiot and said "yay, thunder!!" in my most happy voice when it stormed, trying to preempt any anxiety she might've had.  She was totally unaffected by storms/loud noises for two and a half years, until late last summer when she started reacting to fireworks.  This spring, she started barking at thunder and she's put herself in Beasley's crate a few times to feel safer.  One night she was completely trembling during a particularly bad thunderstorm, and she was freaked out for a few hours after.  My "it's a party" voice isn't having the same effect now...  I feel bad for her, so I'm considering the Thundershirt, too.