Is your dog frightened of thunderstorms?

[cadburysmom]

My 12 yr old female chocolate lab was NEVER frightened of thunderstorms until this summer. Last night we had some flashes of lightening and some rumbling thunder, not loud at all, and my dog was terrified. In fact, I would have slept through it had she not awoken me.

She was so scared that her teeth were shattering so I let her sleep in my bedroom. She's always slept downstairs where she knows she can sneak up on the couch without getting caught.
Last night was the first time she's ever been so scared in the middle of the night. Naturally, she kept me awake with her whining and heavy breathing, but I love her, and was glad I could comfort her.

Has anyone else had a dog who suddenly became frightened of thunderstorms? Or is this just the way all old dogs act?

Thanks!

 

[Regina]

It must be an age thing. The same thing happened with my chocolate lab mix when she was around 11 years old. (Her age is a guesstimate since we adopted her from a shelter.)

She'll try "digging" into the carpets, so we have to be certain to be here during bad weather. If we try confining her to a room, she'll chew at the doorframe.

 

[disney4us2002]

My beagle is terrified of storms. So much that she actually lets us know one is coming about an hour ahead of time. We adopted her and the vet said more than likely she was left outside during bad storms before ending up at the kennel. She actually has a prescription for valium or the equivalent if she gets going too bad. Last year when Hurricane Isabel swooped down on us, we kept her medicated for nearly 48 hrs. She was uncontrollable to the point of vomitting and wetting herself. Typically she does best in her travel kennel in the basement where there are no windows and doors.

 

[cynsaun]

cadburysmom, since you are in NC as well, that was our puppy you heard barking at that storm all night last night!

Needless to say, I can barely open my eyes today.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

No, my Yorkie suddenly became scared of storms. She just turned 4 in July. Anyway, she'll pace and shiver during storms, and she keeps me up all night, even if its just a lightening without thunder.

The last storm we had, I had to admit she was cute. We were on the couch and the when the first thunder rumble came, she was under the couch so fast I almost didn't know where she went. Then I hear a "Ruff!" from under the couch.

My Maltese, however, who is scared of everything else, including going for walks, sleeps like a log through thunderstorms.

 

[ziggystardust]

My yellow lab was always scared of thunderstorms - she would always make her way into the basement and hide under a table. My chocolate lab that we have now sleeps right through them (with the exception of about 2wks ago she was very confused by the thunder running all over and looking terrified).

An odd thing about them though- Dusty (the yellow lab) loved the hair dryer. If you had it on she would come running from the furthest point in the house to br "dried". She would roll over and wouldn't let you dry your own hair. Kadie (the chocolate lab) is terrified of the hair dryer. She starts by barking and then runs away and then comes back to bark again.
Weird things these dogs do!

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

Two of mine, Tucker and Dot, are petrified of storms. Tucker is actually scared to death of rain too. I have found the best thing for their anxiety is Rescue Remedy - you can buy it at health food stores. I use it too for anxiety/stress.

The only time I really medicate them is if it's something like fireworks...if Tucker gets an idea a storm or something is coming and I don't get his pills to him two hours prior then they don't help him at all. The Rescue Remedy has really been great.

 

[Sandy V.]

My Norwegian Elkhound Tundra has always freaked out when we have severe thunderstorms or fireworks. She's 5 now, but has done so since she was a small puppy.

She works herself into a frenzy and will bolt through the electronic fence (taking a MAJOR shock with her collar) if we don't confine her to her kennel or let her lay right at our feet.

I think it's not necessarily an age thing - depends on the dog.

Our poor doggies . . . mine gets a lot of extra pets and hugs to try and help her through. Plus a little bit of peanut butter - her favorite food on earth!

 

[Crankyshank]

My brave little boy is afraid of thunderstorms enough that he'll shake when they happen, but he insists on staying with me in a protective stance through out the storm to protect me.

The other one doesn't care. She naps through them

 

[iluvwdw_2002]

A couple of years ago, my DH and I adopted two little senior dogs from the shelter. My little guy that is 14 is terrified of storms and will wake us up whining and breathing heavily. I always feel bad for him, so I put him on the bed and he just cuddles up next to us. He still will pant heavily, but he doesn't whine as much.

My other little guy will sleep right through. But he should, because he can't really hear all that well.

I think it's nothing unusual for dogs to get a little frightened during storms.

 

[adamak]

My 11 yr old started to panick this summer too. He will pant, circle uncontrollably and cry, then bark, then just go nuts. I heard somewhere that I can learn a special back-of-ear massage trick to calm them down. Does anyone know of such things? I don't want to give him drugs...

 

[decker96]

When I was a kid we had an Irish Setter. She would go and hide under my parent's bed whenever there was a thunderstorm. She did this from the time she was a puppy on.

 

[Skywalker]

I have two dogs. The little 10 pounder is not afraid of storms now and never was. The big 80 pounder is petrified of storms, and has been since he was a puppy.

He has changed in older age though, even though he was always afraid of storms, he developed a new fear within the past year. He is afraid of the dark! He won't go outside to do his business if it is dark out, unless one of us goes out with him.

 

[mermaidlady]

my dog is not afraid of storms, sleeps happily through them. However she is afraid vacumms, hair dryers, the grill and anything else that makes a loud noise