Thunderstorms and dogs....

Having a major thunder/lightning storm here and my dogs are clustered around me. I am lucky that I don't have a dog who experiences high anxiety during these storms, but still, they are both scared and needing reassurance. My aunt has to give her Austrailan Shepherd tranquilizers!
Patty

We have had thunderstorms every afternoon this week. They are about 3 (just when you have to leave to go grocery shopping) and last until 7 or 8. Today nothing but predicting more for the weekend.

Our dog hides under the kitchen table. But then she doesn't need a thunderstorm.....motorcycle going down street, lawn service working next door, kids playing in the yard behind us.....just give her a reason and she heads there.

You may have said before, Keb, but what kind of dog do you have?
Sounds like she is a skaredy cat! and I know manyi dogs are like this!
Love
Patty

She is an overweight miniature beagle. She is my husband's dog actually no we about it. I just feed her, walk her, bath her. Just little things like that.

keb

LOL, Keb!

beagle.. so cute...

I read something where they said you shouldn't coddle a dog when it's afraid of a thunderstorm. For instance, if it goes into a closet, don't go in there with it and sit and comfort it. The advice was to act normal, play outside where the dog can see you, and show that everything's ok. If it looks like fun outside the closet, the dog will eventually come out, and not be afraid of the storm.

While I think it's great advice to act normal and playful to entice the dog out and allay its fears, I don't think there's anything wrong with comforting the animal, at least for a while. It's my instinct to go let the dog know it's ok.

I could tell you a very sad story about a dog and a storm, but I'll not, so as to keep this thread on a mostly high note.

While it may not be good to follow the dog into the closet.....I for one am not going to play outside in a thunderstorm.

I know that's not what you meant.