Dog fears

**Bandit's mom** · 09-22-2003, 12:03 AM

It's raining here tonight and when it rains and gets windy or thunders and lightening, Bandit pants and just gets all nervous. I don't want to make a sissy out of him, so I won't baby him. Bandit is not a dog that likes to cuddle. Does anybody else have a dog that doesn't like strong storms. This rain is not scaring him too much. It's not too windy. He also does NOT light fireworks. He won't go outside when firecrakers are being set off? Does this sound familiar to anybody?

**wolf_Q** · 09-22-2003, 12:07 AM

Yes, my schnauzer, Reggie, has always been terrified of thunderstorms, fireworks, etc.

**anna_66** · 09-22-2003, 07:35 AM

Sounds familiar to me.

Angus really doesn't like storms at all. It's not that he's really afraid, he just doesn't like them. If he's outside and a storm is coming, he'll let us know right before it starts by barking to get in.

And as far as fireworks, both of my girls despise them....and also gun shots

**KYS** · 09-22-2003, 06:04 PM

Sheba/Rocky are both afraid of thunder.
Sheba gets very scared and has to be left inside
the house during bad weather.
She doesn't like rain or wind either.
She requires perfect cool weather.

**pitc9** · 09-25-2003, 01:15 PM

Sierra can and has slept through thunder, fireworks, gun shots...etc..... she's no sissy!

But Buddy..... he's another story!!
He'll start getting nervous about an hour before the storm rolls in and once the storm hits..... LOOK OUT!! If it's during the night, he'll jump right on me (and 85lbs.... landing on your stomache while your sleeping hurts like hell!!!) So.. he won't get off the bed, and pants so hard it moves the entire bed, and lets out little cries... then once the storm is over, he will not go outside for a few hours!!
It's crazy!! I have pills to chill him out, but don't like to use them to much. Plus, in order for the pills to work, I have to give them to him at least 30 mins before the storm starts!!
Fireworks and gun shots all that stuff freaks him out too!!!

**G-Diddy** · 09-26-2003, 08:42 AM

My GSD (who looks remarkably like Buddy) couldn't care less about fireworks, thunder, gunshots, etc. Very little phases her.

However, my wife and I are expecting a baby in two weeks so we were practicing setting up the Pack 'N' Play and for some reason that scared the crap out of Gracie. We took it out of the bag and she took off running It was so weird b/c that dog isn't scared of anything. Granted 3 minutes later she sniffed it and all was well, but it was funny nonetheless.

**lizbud** · 09-26-2003, 11:46 AM

My dog Buddy was not afraid of t-storms. Even firecrackers
didn't faze him. He would look in the direction they came from
but never ran away or showed fear at all. Smokey however has
always been afraid of loud noises. Thunderstorms would send
him into panic mode with panting & endless pacing from room to
room.I finally put his leash on him & sat with him on the couch.
I would not let him pace b/c it didn't help ease his fear, just
seemed to make it worse. I would just walk around the house
trying to act normally & he could move when I did. We've had a
lot of storms this summer & I think he's learned to cope much
better now. I never use the leash anymore & he never pants
or paces, just lays under the dining room table or near me under
my chair. He's still doesn't like the noise, but doesn't make the
fuss about it that he used to do. I never used medicine with
Smokey, but since he copes much better now, I didn't have to.

**Adge Gibbs** · 10-09-2003, 08:18 AM

Seven couldn't care less if there is thunder and lightning going on outside. He just doesn't want to get wet and will hold it until the rain stops.

The only thing he gets worked up about are guys that fit a certain profile, but I've been working on that with him and he's getting MUCH better.

My childhood dog Midnight's nerves got so bad from thunder and lightning (and even the sound of the water pipers warming up), that we had to put her on medication. Eventually it became too much for her during a nasty storm we had one year and she had an attack and died.

It was so horrible that I wouldn't allow my parents to bring another dog in the house for years because I didn't want to go through anything that hurt that much again.