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 #1766510


Imageckosmiley20
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 Fear of thunderstorms

Hi I am owned by a male Sheltie named Timmy. He is seven years old, and I love him very much. The problem with him is that he like many dogs has anxiety issues, especially with thunderstorms. He hates loud noises and goes into a trance where he pants, drools, and acts "wild". He is not destructive, but he does not respond to you unless you have food. This lasts for about a day or two, and it breaks my heart to see him like that. My parents tell me to leave him alone when he is in his trance and I do, but is there something that can help him? I have read about melatonin, calm collars, drops, medication, DAP (hormones) and using recorded sound to build a tolerance to it. I have also read about dogs being shocked from storms and using anti-static products on them. Which method or product is the best, and how do you deal with a dog that hates storms?

Oh Timmy also has separation anxiety, so any help on that topic would also be appreciated. Thank You.



06/19/08  04:56pm

 #1766553


1baikim
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   Message To: Imageckosmiley20   In reference to Message Id: 1766510


 Fear of thunderstorms

What I have always done at home is put the dog somewhere where he feels safe. My dogs are kennel trained and so thats usually where I put them. I usually put the kennel in a room with either a television or radio and then turn that device on. That has seemed to work the best for me. Even at work (I work at a vet’s office that also does boarding) we have a radio installed in the kennel area that we turn up on the fourth of July To help keep the dogs calm. It seems to help. If it were me I’d try something like this before trying the other solutions.
06/19/08  05:29pm

 #1766601


Imageckosmiley20
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   Message To: 1baikim   In reference to Message Id: 1766553


 Fear of thunderstorms

Well Timmy has free roam of the house as he doesn’t sleep in a crate or a kennel. But will putting him in one room with the door closed help? When Timmy is in his trance he seems like he wants to escape from the house and would paw on the door to get out. Luckily he isn’t able to escape, so I might try your idea of putting him in a secure place during a thunderstorm.
06/19/08  06:05pm

 #1767403


Vinnyd27
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   Message To: Imageckosmiley20   In reference to Message Id: 1766601


 Fear of thunderstorms

My Dog also is scared of thunderstorms She ran away last Tuesday during that bad storm we had in Florida I miss her so Much



06/20/08  11:30am

 #1767725


Senshokukiba
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   Message To: Vinnyd27   In reference to Message Id: 1767403


 Fear of thunderstorms

Fear can be a big problem to overcome. It is a very basic instinct that is there to keep us all safe from danger. When dogs are scared, they can literally fear for their lives. The best way to prevent fear is to ensure that dogs are exposed to absolutely every stimulus that they may come into contact with, during their lives.

The best way to overcome fear, is to gently expose dogs to the things they are frightened of. The exposure needs to be frequent and short, and must never cause more fear than is already there. The best way to achieve this is to expose them to their fear in very small doses, little and very often.

For instance, if a dog is afraid of thunder or fireworks, take them outside for a few seconds but repeat this every 15 to 20 minutes. Overcoming their fear can take anything from one day to several months, but eventually there should be a changed reaction to the exposure.

Either they will accept the noises and not worry about them too much, or they may accept that it is safer to stay out of the way. Either way, exposing them to the source of their fear should produce a situation that is far more manageable.

An owner’s attitude and reactions are very important while solving this problem. They should never reassure a dog when they are frightened. They should also understand that fear takes over entirely. Dogs will not respond in the same way that they would normally. This may appear to make them disobedient or obstinate, it is extremely important that owners do not react to this negatively.
The best attitude to adopt is to think that owners are a part of solving the fear and that they are doing it together. This can be very difficult but if you introduce any more anxiety, this will only increase the fear.

While they are frightened, dogs will learn very little, all they will be concentrating on is relieving the fear. As the fear subsides, they will start to learn from the experience. This is why we need to expose them to the fear for short periods, so they can have positive experiences as the fear subsides.

The ideal situation is to aim for a time where the fear can subside while the stimulation is still present. That way, they should overcome it reasonably permanently. If their fear is so great that this isn’t going to happen then the next best thing is to realise that going to a safe place makes the fear subside.

It is impossible to say how each dog will react to being fearful of things but repeated short exposure to the source is the best way to start looking for a solution that suits them.

In some instances, owners may be advised to use drugs to help overcome fear. This is never an ideal situation, as drugs can only mask the problem, they can never resolve it. It could be argued that drugs are useful for a one off situation, where fear needs to be reduced. But if a dog is continually subjected to a fear stimulus, the only long term solution is to overcome it or teach them to seek a safe haven from the fear.



06/20/08  04:16pm

 #1767829


KrazyKelli
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   Message To: Senshokukiba   In reference to Message Id: 1767725


 Fear of thunderstorms

My corgi is also afraid of thunder. So his problem doesn’t get out of hand, I take him on walks twice a day - even when it rains. A poncho will work wonders for you. What you should not do is go outside during a t-storm. I don’t care if anyone else tells you to, it’s dangerous. Just think, the dog is wearing a collar with a metallic piece to it. And if you’re using a choke chain or a similar walking device, it’s even more on the bad side.

Definitely enclose the Sheltie to one room during a storm, preferably a bedroom or a den. Some place you will be mostly in during the time. Present the dog with a bed to lay in and even outside of storms you should teach your dog to lay in it on command. During the storm, direct the dog to lay in the bed, roll up a chair, and do some work with the radio on. Every few minutes that the dog is in the bed, and every time it thunders, present the dog with a small piece of kibble. This will, over some serious time, show the dog that thunder results in a good thing. To make this easier, put the food in the same place (or pocket) and make sure the dog knows that you have the food. Ie, if you touch your pocket, the dog’s ears should perk up and attention will then be on it.

Another thing to keep in mind is you and your parents. Don’t be tense, nervous, or exited. At the same time don’t expect the dog will go into a stupor. So long as you work near the dog, while ignoring the dog (so long as it’s in the dog bed), and give off a calm energy, it will help immensely to calm the animal down. Don’t make a big deal if the dog gets up and leaves the bed, simply take it by the collar and put it back. You don’t even have to say any words in the end, so long as you physically show the dog what it needs to do and correct the dog every time it doesn’t.



06/20/08  06:19pm


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