Huge storm and my dog is freaking out

[AGBF]

Date: 6/7/2005 10:34:57 AM
Author: fire&ice
Don't encourage any reaction by consoling the dog. Cuddling and speaking in a calm voice can ease their stress level. Also, let them deal with it.

As I have said, I am lucky in that my current dog (unlike all my other dogs) does not mind even the loudest noises. I do want to learn everything I can about dogs, however, since I love them and hope always to have them in my life.

Can you explain more specifically what human behaviors you think are helpful to a frightened dog and which are not? I do not know that I would be able to know the difference between "consoling" a dog and cuddling him. My off-the-cuff suggestion had been to hold him in a closet. Do you see that as helpful or as something that would reinforce fear?

Deborah

 

[partgypsy]

My family''s dog was scared of thunderstorms and the only thing that helped was let him in the basement. As long as he was down there he was fine, so if you have a basement that''s an idea. In general I would think dogs don''t want to be held as much as find a place they find safe. My cat who has since passed away, was very traumatized by being at the vet. The only way to break through to him when we were at the vet (he would be yowling, growling, panting, scared out of his mind) was to keep up a calm running conversation with him. You have to remember that animals are very sensitive to body language, voice, etc, and if you are freaking out, they will sense it, just as if you are calm and relaxed they will sense that also. Talking to them both distracts them (they are trying to figure out what you are saying) but also shows them it''s not a big deal.

 

[Mara]

One other thought...

We do alot of 'training' with Portia where I will just stop a movie or an activity and sit on the ground with her and do some training re: sit, lay down, rollover, bed, sit up, speak, etc. It's fun for her and us, she never knows when it is going to happen and I can keep her 'skills' intact by doing it every so often. We use this one treat for her, Liver Biscotti, it's small and crunchy and she LOVES it.

So when I get out the LB bag, she knows what it's time for..if you have anything fun like this that you do with your dog or a special treat youu love, it may be a good time during the thunderstorms to start using it. I have a feeling if I did that with P and she was freaked out about something, she'd be so distracted by her fave treat and the commands I was giving her, it would keep her from focusing too intently on the storms or anything else unpleasant.

Just a thought! Or maybe start doing something like that with your dog now, aka tricks and a fave treat so that he is already experienced with the routine the next time it comes around. It may even give him POSITIVE association with the storm, aka oh when this happens, Mom brings out the treats!!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 6/7/2005 12:29:44 PM
Author: AGBF

Date: 6/7/2005 10:34:57 AM
Author: fire&ice
Don''t encourage any reaction by consoling the dog. Cuddling and speaking in a calm voice can ease their stress level. Also, let them deal with it.

As I have said, I am lucky in that my current dog (unlike all my other dogs) does not mind even the loudest noises. I do want to learn everything I can about dogs, however, since I love them and hope always to have them in my life.

Can you explain more specifically what human behaviors you think are helpful to a frightened dog and which are not? I do not know that I would be able to know the difference between ''consoling'' a dog and cuddling him. My off-the-cuff suggestion had been to hold him in a closet. Do you see that as helpful or as something that would reinforce fear?

Deborah

Sorry, I could see how that could be confusing.

Dogs are always in the moment. You want to calm them; but, at the same time not reinforce the fear response. Yes, I think holding him in a closet would reinforce a fear response ( of course it would be advisable if the weather was indeed violent enough to warrant all of your safety to be in question

). Letting him go in the closet is fine. Putting a towel over their kennel is fine. They''ve got to work it out themselves w/ only a bit of your help. You''re not going to be home for every storm even to administer medication even in the form of comfort. It''s only natural we would want to solve our dog''s fear; but, by being calm yourself is the best remedy. Kinda hard to do when the skies are hurling quater size hail stones at your windows.

It''s basic B.F. Skinner stuff - though not the easiest of problems. I''m working on this very thing with our girl. This is where having two is a good thing. An atom bomb could be dropped in front of my male & if it''s wasn''t on his agenda, he wouldn''t flinch. She is taking his lead. Kind of like - if your not worried about it - maybe I shouldn''t.

In a perfect world, dogs should be exposed to loud noises at an early age.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 6/7/2005 12:58:33 PM
Author: Mara
One other thought...

Just a thought! Or maybe start doing something like that with your dog now, aka tricks and a fave treat so that he is already experienced with the routine the next time it comes around. It may even give him POSITIVE association with the storm, aka oh when this happens, Mom brings out the treats!!

True enough. Dogs are all about association. Our rescue girl wouldn''t go out in the rain. Well, mommy can''t always make it be sunny

. I''m not sure how she developed this "fear". But, we broke her rather quick with treats, diversion & praise. Going out in the rain wasn''t a bad thing anymore.

 

[cflutist]

Kaleigh, so what did the vet say? Just curious.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 6/7/2005 1:12:00 PM
Author: fire&ice
Yes, I think holding him in a closet would reinforce a fear response ( of course it would be advisable if the weather was indeed violent enough to warrant all of your safety to be in question

). Letting him go in the closet is fine. Putting a towel over their kennel is fine. They've got to work it out themselves w/ only a bit of your help. You're not going to be home for every storm even to administer medication even in the form of comfort.

Well...I am not an expert on dog behavior (although I keep learning) but this makes sense to me. We always let our spaniel do her thing (go behind the toilet, curling around it) and let our Golden stick her head under the bed. I don't recall intervening. I just never saw anything as *extreme* there as what kaleigh described, so my thought was that more hands-on comfort might be needed. Of course one is *NOT* always home when the dog is, though. Perhaps making a closet or basement *available* at all times would be a good way to go. Then the dog can find his own place to feel safer whether or not the owner is there.

Deborah

 

[icekid]

kaleigh! i did not know that you were in philadelphia. i live in center city!!

that storm last night was seriously something else though. no wonder your poor pooch was freaking out! (i don''t have any useful advice though

)

 

[Kaleigh]

icekid,
You are just 20 minutes away!!! Cool!!
ETA: I am still waiting to hear from the vet. We had my son's graduation today and I just got home. I'll let you guys know what she says.

 

[Libster]

Kaleigh,
I''m glad you were there for your little one

We had a wicked storm here in Atlanta late yesterday and I was glad I was home for it. As you know, we added a new pup to the home Friday and I wondered how he would react to thunder and lightning. He was a bit concerned, but didn''t exhibit the super stressed panting like your baby. I have always tried to act as nothing was happening when there are storms, hoping that would alleviate any stress they were feeling. As Fire & Ice said, they really can "smell" fear in you and will behave accordingly.

Let us know what your vet recommends, I''m curious too.

 

[Kaleigh]

Still waiting. We were very calm during it and my other dog was just fine. Casper has never acted like this before, so that's the weird thing. Today he's acting very normal and happy. I will let you know as soon as the vet calls. Thanks everyone, I really apprecaite all your ideas and suggestions!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

My vet just called. She said that in older dogs it is not uncommon for them to develop a thunderstorm phobia. Soetimes they don''t hear as well and the vibrations can scare them pretty good etc... She also mentioned desensitizing him by getting a cd and playing the sound of thunderstorms and gradually turning up the noise etc... She also mentioned a light tranquilizer that would take the edge off and make him sleepy. I am taking him to see her in a couple days and will go from there.

 

[Libster]

Kaleigh,
I forgot to post this earlier. Our previous miniature schnauzer, Dieter, was fine with storms up until he was around 10 yrs old. Almost overnight we would find him hiding in the bathroom, and near the toilet now that I think of it. I have no idea why after all those years that he started this. Soon after, Chelsea began to act a little concerned about the storms, but nothing like him. A couple of years later his hearing began to go and it was a blessing as he didn''t know when the storms were here unless he happened to catch a flash of lightning.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 6/7/2005 4:21:45 PM
Author: kaleigh
My vet just called. She said that in older dogs it is not uncommon for them to develop a thunderstorm phobia. Soetimes they don''t hear as well and the vibrations can scare them pretty good etc...

Wow. Fascinating. I sure hope my guy doesn''t develop such a phobia! As I have said, ad nauseum, my other dogs ALWAYS feared thunder storms. It never occurred to me that Biscuit, also, might one day develop a fear of them! I sure hope he doesn''t. He''s a Lab and they are pretty insouciant! Plus he is already nine.

Deb

 

[Kaleigh]

Libster,
Thanks that makes me feel better. AGBF, I grew up with labs, and they are gentle souls. I bet it won''t happen to your dog.