Scaredy Cat = My Dog

loveheartsweets

My dog seems to get scared over the silliest things. In other words, he is a big wuss.
I was wondering if there’s any advice you can give me about my dog when it comes to thunder? I think for some reason he can sense it coming, and when it starts raining heavily, he gets very scared, and shakes rapidly, he basically vibrates on the floor.
He follows you around and constantly wants to be by your side if it starts thundering. He is the same like this when he is in the car.
He shakes for a long time and stays by your side even after the thunder has finished!
My dog is a Lhasa Apsos and his name is Ziggy! Love him to pieces, but I wish he'd lighten up.
What can I do to help calm him back down when he gets really scared? Crying or Very sad

jabbro

Oh dear...I have one like that too. Scraps at the carpet up in the corners...try's to get into spaces that are far too small for her. I end up putting her in her cage...somewhere she feels safe until the thunder has stopped. Rolling Eyes

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Dogs: Katie and Holly
Rabbit: Buffy and Georgie
Hamster: Kipper

littlelab

Its a toughie, I have a dog who does the same, even to the point of jumping out of windows and sitting outside in the rain Shocked

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The worse thing you can do is comfort or soothe them, hard though it maybe, let them find somewhere ssafe to hide/lay and leave them be, I ahve to say, i don't know of any dog that fully gets over the fear of thunder once they are scared
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Natalie and Co xxx

Hcollie85

Theres hardly any thunder up in the west coast, if there is its usally at night when every one is in bed and the dogs are in one room. If there is thunder earlier then one dog goes behind the tv.

Shes fine after a while.

Heather
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Violette

They definitely can feel it coming - long before we can hear any sounds - and presumably can sense the same thing (whatever it is) after we think it has gone.

Meg isn't bothered that much by thunder (ditto fireworks - she loves to watch the show!) but is a big wuss about other things. Previous dog (Tess) though, was terrified by it and all loud noises.

Seems to be generally accepted that soothing them, comforting them, or making any big deal of it is the worst thing you can do - they take the attitude "if (s)he's scared too, then it must be really awful". Best attitude to take is all jolly-hockey-sticks, games mistress at school.... "Now don't be silly, all ok, everything as normal, nothing to worry about....".

Kindest to allow them to go somewhere they feel safe - dark room, under a bed (Tess's favourite hidey hole), and just wait until it is over.

You can get DAP sprays, and plug-in-socket diffusers, from vets etc. Forget what it stands for, but it is supposed to be the same smell as they would have got from their mothers, and it soothes them. Never used them myself, because they are a new thing and we don't need them for Meg, but others have said that they help. Don't understand the details, or anything, but if your dog is really miserable it might be worth a try.

I think you can spray inside the car as well, if that also frightens your dog.

Paula

i don't know if you are supposed to give this to animals or not but when i was a kid we had the same problem with our dogs when it came to fireworks, thunder etc my mum used to put a few drops of Bachs Rescue Remedy (buy from Holland and Barrett) on the dogs tongue (you can put it in their water or food but if they are in a state it is unlikely they will eat or drink anyway).

Does anyone know if this is ok for animals? It didnt seem to do the dogs any harm and it calmed them down a bit

littlelab

Rescue remedy is great for dogs and cats, you give them the same dose as humans Very Happy

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Natalie and Co xxx

Paula

oh thats useful to know then, i've got some at home somewhere. Molly wasn't bothered by the thunderstorms we have had in the past couple of weeks so hopefully it will stay that way......

as for my family dogs, they were awful when it came to fireworks, thunder and loud noises. there is a sports centre and an ethletics stadium not far from my parents house and every weekend they had the loud speaker going which used to upset the dogs, they hid behind the sofa. the rescue remedy helps but I agree with littlelab, once they are scared of thunder, loud noises, fireworks etc thats it, it never really goes away....sorry