Afraid of thunderstorms

[mrsholstein]

My 3 year old boxer. Kira, is terrified of thunderstorms. We live in Michigan and the night before last was our first big storm of the season. All night long Kira was panting like crazy, jumping off and on the bed and wandering around. She was shaking so bad that the bed was shaking and rattling right along with her. I know I should go to the vet and get some medication, but I really would like to use something else. (if there is anything)
At night we try to hold her and calm her down, but it doesn't work. During the day I work close enough so I could come home and give her something. When I left for work yesterday I turned the TV on for her and left the volume up high.

I read this board all the time and have found bunches of information that has helped me out. I couldn't find anything on thunder, so if anyone has any ideas I sure would appreciate it. I know Kira would too. She's our baby and we all feel so bad for her when she gets like this because we can't help her. :(

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

We moved to Oklahoma where each Spring there are literally hundreds of storms, many very violent. The dogs had not experienced this sort of wild weather before and Susie was absolutely terrified. She would whine, turn in circles, run and cower in the bathroom and shake and shake and drool buckets. I felt so badly for her.

But we changed her reactions to storms. Each time a storm started, I would instead of trying to comfort her, engaged her in a game of fetch (her favorite game) and although it took several storms to get her out of her fear enough to go and fetch the ball, eventually she got the idea, and when a storm comes, we play fetch, thus replacing her fear of the storm with something fun.

Now, when a storm starts, Susie goes and gets her tenny ball and brings it to daddy because to her now, instead of a storm meaning fear to her, it means she gets to play fetch with Daddy!

Worked very well for us. Just be patient, loving and consistent.

Good luck.

 

[mrsholstein]

What a great idea! I never would have thought of that. I'll definately give it a try. I would much prefer to do something like that than give her meds. Thanks so much for the advice. It may take a while, but I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[AntJan]

When Nikki experienced her first thunderstorm, she also showed some fear not knowing what it was. Even though it was hard, we did not coddle her & we had to show no reaction, as if there was no thunder. It was funny because she used to look at us as if to say "Ummm, didn't you guys hear that?!?".

She's fine now, and has learned that thunders are nothing to fear. Just be patient... just make sure not to "comfort' Kira. She'll be ok!!

 

[sdma]

I had a similar problem with Judah when he was a young pup. Living in Darwin (Australia) we get really nasty tropical storms during our wet season. The vet suggested that I buy a tape recording of thunderstorms and play it to Judah inside gradually increasing the sound level over a period of a few weeks. He also said not to pay any attention to him when he began to get upset, but to treat it as though the sound was an everyday thing. It took a bit of tough love, but he is fine with them now and they don't bother him anymore. This might help you if nothing else does.

 

[niteworm]

What a good subject to bring up, My sabastian was never scared of thunderstorms, But one day in ohio we were sitting out on the porch watching the lightning when a burst of lightning hit right close to where we were, like across the street! Of course with the lightning right there so was the loudest crack of thunder I ever heard! I thought for sure sabastian had a heart attack. Just someone banging a hammer now scares him into a running frenzy. He is scared of gun fire, anything that has a bang to it. So thanks for posting this subject I'll try different things also to try to get rid of his fear of it. Thanks!

 

[jaimie]

The storms we had a few nights ago here is Michigan were pretty rough. Not our typical storms-we had thunder and lightning one right after another with hale and lots of wind. I had a bed full. Here I am 7 1/2 months pregnant with my cat laying across my side onto my belly, Baylee stuck to my butt (literally she was so close she was a part of it) she was panting pretty hard and shaking and then there is Brit pacing, panting and trying to find a place she can fit to hide. She ended up going into my closet and hiding under the blankets in there (I keep the door closed usually cuz my kitty likes to lay on my clothes). :rolleyes: Then there is all 3 of my kids (ages 8, 6, & 3) all piled in my bed then my hubby. It was VERY crowded and a restless night-we also had no electricity. I have tried everything to calm my dogs down during thunderstorms and nothing has worked (I have NOT and will not try drugs on them)! I just give them a lot of reassurance and petting they eventually relax. I think my kids make it hard on the dogs because they are afraid of thunderstorms so it doesn't make things any easier. So, I am working on the kids, we talk to them before a thunderstorm is going to come to get them prepared. So, once I get my kids under control during storms I think the dogs will do better.

Jaimie

 

[mrsholstein]

I know exactly what you are talking about Jamie. I use to have those nights, but now it's my 2 granddaughters, Kira, and Sam my cat. My husband decides to just sleep in the other room.

All the ideas sound really good. I think I will start with the tape of the thunderstorms and playing with her. Hopefully that will work. I should have been working on this during the winter, but I didn't think of it. Oh well. I let you know how it works. The hardest part is not babying her.

Kathi and Kira

 

[basak]

Oh storms!!! I love storms!!! I love the sounds and lightnings as long as they are not close to me though:p

I don't know about Krose though..... Seriously, I still can't figure out if he's scared or not. But everytime a storm starts, he would stand between my legs if I'm standing, if not, he would come by me, put one paw on my leg:D looking at me 'what should we do?' and I act as if nothing is happening. Then he is OK. We sometimes watch the lightnings together but after 5 minutes he gets bored and finds himself a toy:D

basak