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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: My dog is terrified during storms!
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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 05-30-2008 06:30 PM
I have what has become a big problem with my little dog. My Beagle/mix is about 7 1/2 years old. I don't know what he is mixed with, but due to recent events, I would guess he is about 1/3 Great Vagina.
In the last year-and-a-half or so, he has become very frightened during thunder storms. He never used to be this way, but it is become more severe it would seem. The stages are:
Distant thunder - constant shivering and hiding under the bed Close thunder - constant shivering on the bed with rapid panting Close, loud thunder with visible lightning flashes - constant, severe shivering with rapid panting less than an inch from me accompanied by hot dog drool dripping on my face/leg/wherever.
He doesn't bug my wife, he always comes to me (she had made the executive decision years ago to let him sleep in the bed with us because it made her less lonely with my late night theatre hours). Up until last night, it was just an inconvenience, making it difficult to sleep. If we try to shut him in the bathroom or kennel, he chews frantically at whatever he can, risking damage to property and his teeth. So we went through this, storm after storm, sleeping little and getting more and more annoyed. Last night, however, it reached new heights. The dog refused to go out to potty due to the rain (it wasn't even thundering at the time), so he held it all night and when he couldn't any more, wet all over the floor at about 6:45 this morning. Late night theatre hours already cited, I didn't enjoy getting up so early to clean up a pet mess, as my wife had to leave for work.
So I'm looking to see if anyone has any experience with anything like this or things my wife and I could try. He was a dog we rescued from the Humane Society and I think he was probably beaten as a puppy. He also gets real scared of fire-crackers and gun shots. We have another dog, a two year old male Black Lab/Chow mix, who doesn't get scared of anything. I don't like vets any more than I like doctors, so I thought I would try here first. Any ideas?
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 05-30-2008 11:37 PM
Dogs can become afraid of storms for a lot of reasons.
Their ears are more sensitive than humans. Sounds we don't think are anymore than bothersome can HURT some dogs' ears.
Many dogs are also more sensitive to barometric pressure than humans. That's the reason why some scientists believe animals flee from tornado areas even before the storm hits.
Consider, maybe, that your dog's sensitive ears and its ability to sense a falling barometer may trigger your dog's instinct to flee when a storm comes. But, since it is a domesticated dog, it "knows" that the only place to flee to is under the bed.
It is possible for a dog to become afraid of storms even though it wasn't when it was a puppy. There are lots of reasons but one popular belief is that the dog was home alone when a storm hit. Its humans weren't there to protect it from the "big noise" and it learned to be afraid.
They say it is possible to de-condition a dog from being afraid just the way it is possible to condition/de-condition it from anything else.
Some dog experts recommend playing some thunderstorm sound effects on the stereo, starting at a low level and gradually getting louder until the stereo can be played at top volume without the dog becoming afraid. They say you should play with the dog, feed it doggie treats and pet/praise it until it becomes comfortable with the noise at a certain level. When the dog isn't afraid of the sound at a low level, turn the volume up a notch or two. Repeat the feed/play/praise routine until you have reconditioned the dog to not be afraid of storms.
If you have a real storm in the mean time, just continue as if you are only having one of your "play sessions" with the stereo turned on. Try not to act any different than you would at any other time.
They say this works if you have the patience.
As I'm writing this, I have an interesting thought: We're all movie technicians! Wouldn't it be cool if you could take the dog to the theater (after hours, of course) and play a movie of a thunderstorm? I bet people could make money conditioning dogs not to be afraid of storms that way!
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