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Comment by Wynne Phillips on June 6, 2008 at 3:32pm

Thanks for the advice. I guess I do tend to coddle a little-I'm going to try the chair thing. He loves to sit on the couch with me when I read & watch tv! I wouldn't use prescription drugs-he is not violent or destructive-just quiet and scared. When he walks he kind of tip-toes! Thanks again-
Wynne

Comment by Charlie on June 6, 2008 at 11:40am

Sorry for the typos...should have proof-read. : - )

Comment by Charlie on June 6, 2008 at 11:38am

Poor Gus! I hope the storm passes soon. You probably know to be very happy and upbeat yourself, and don't coddle or try to verbally comfort the dog. They do pick up on your emotions.

You could try interesting him in a fun indoor game to get his mind off the storm. Also if you two have a favorite chair where you sit together daily for petting/grooming, you could try sitting there and see if Gus follows you there. A lot of dogs will calm down by cuddling with you. (This is different from coddling where you approach the dog and try to calm, and should be treated as just continuing with normal daily routine happy things...like petting and affetion.)

Some dogs may feels shocks of static electricity generated by the thunderstorm that we humans don't feel. You could try putting Gus in a bathroom. There is a theory that the plumbing may "ground" the dog so they don't feel shocks.

He may also feel safer in his crate during a storm if that is a normal "safe place" and den for him.

Some dogs will just be terrified of storms their whole life and none of the above suggestions will be really effective. Some folks swear by Rescue Remedy given before the storm hits (enough time to take effect). http://www.rescueremedy.com/pets/howToUse.asp

My neighbors are vet techs with two dogs afraid of thunder. They give them prescription tranquilizers about a half hour before a storm hits. I would only do this as a last resort. The last couple of years, their now senior-citizen dog has a hard time recovering from the tranquilizers and waking back up, obviously very concerning. I believe that prescription drugs should only be used in extreme-fear cases.

Comment by Laurie on June 6, 2008 at 9:27am

Rosie could care less about the thunder, but poor George flipped his dog bed over and crawled under it. I guess he felt safer that way. Kind of like a bomb shelter. I had a conversation with him trying to convince him that it was the angels bowling in Heaven, but he refused to believe a word of what I said. Maybe its all the angel doggies playing at the great big dog park in Heaven that is creating the thunder.