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  1. #1
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
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    Scared to death of thunder

    I'm not sure where this should be posted. Dakota's fear of thunder is getting worse. Until about 3 years ago there was never an issue but here we are she's 13 years old and tonight was crazy. The thunder was super loud and her teeth were literally chattering. Last night even just the hard rain had her up and panting and poking with her cod wet nose. And now the crazier part- China was afraid tonight too. She has never shown any fear she's so even tempered its truly lovely but tonight she nearly climbed into the fridge when I went to it getting dinner ready. I wonder if she was reacting to Dakota's energy?

  2. #2
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    The same storm rolled through here earlier, and it was a bad one. It's 10:15 and I'm still hearing thunder. Luckily my two aren't bothered by it, wish I had some advice for you.

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    MontananDakota (08-19-2017)

  4. #3
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    My two started having thunder issues about three years ago after a horrible July 4 fireworks experience (super loud and quite a few days).

    We've been putting the dogs in the basement when the thunder/fireworks were around and putting their calming collars on them.

    This year, we had fireworks for eight days (!!!) and then sporadically for a few days during the next two weeks. Police don't come out for illegal fireworks displays any more and people have been getting more involved with setting them off every year since three years ago. Just horrible.

    Anyway...basement/collars kept the dogs calm. AND the thunder yesterday didn't faze them at all with just wearing their collars. But they definitely had to be "protected" for a long while after having their nerves jerked around so much three years ago.

    I highly recommend the collars. My dogs are afraid of ThunderShirts. (go figure)
    Herbal Calming Collars - Calming Collars

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    MontananDakota (08-19-2017)

  6. #4
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    My daughter's dog has taken acepromazine before on July 4 and it really knocks her out cold for several hours. For thunderstorms, which you can't predict, she goes into a walk-in closet in the bedroom that has no windows and is not against an outside wall of the house. She seems happier there. Someone on here, I think, said their dog would lie down across the front of the sofa or maybe on the sofa against the back of the sofa and the owner would lean back against the dog pretty firmly, kind of squeezing him/her like a human Thundershirt. It is sort of a similar concept to the squeeze chutes and squeeze boxes Temple Grandin developed. The hug machines can be used for kids on the autism spectrum but initially were developed for use in cattle. You or your daughter could be Montana's human hug machine! Some calm tv show or movie or music to provide alternative noises to the thunder and some nice firm pressure from a loved family member. It may be worth a try anyway, she'd probably prefer being squeezed by you guys than put in the Thundershirt.

    Hug machine - Wikipedia

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    Annette47 (08-19-2017)

  8. #5
    Senior Dog MontananDakota's Avatar
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    Thanks guys. So strange because Dakota was trained with guns and has hunted! Of course her hunting days aren't gone. It was super loud though this one right?
    Going to look into those collars.

  9. #6
    Senior Dog
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    Yes...our storm was super loud, too.

  10. #7
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    Sad good Luck maybe the vet might have something to relax her.

  11. #8
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    hopefully it was just worse due to a particularly bad storm poor girl. My last family dog was fine with storms until he got old. then slowly he became more and more fearful. by the end a very windy day could cause anxiety My dad spent many sleepless nights sitting next to him.

    Would definately talk to vet about trying something to help calm her down (maybe staring with a calming pheromone collar/natural calming herbs).

 



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