Christy's Dalmation, Destiny is very scared of thunderstorms. She is always a velcro dog but during a thunderstorm she becomes velcro dog with shivers. We usually put her in Jack's crate when it storms because it is not near any windows that she can see the lightening and she seems to do all right in it. Christy says that the people who had her before them kept her outside all the time so she thinks she was outside during some and has come to fear them from that. She was just over a year when Christy got her so I imagine a young pup would fear being out in rain and thunder. Her other dog, Sierra, is also afraid of storms but she is also afraid of any loud noises. She runs and hides though in the laundry room if she can get in it or the bathroom where there are no windows at all.

We have had Jack from 5 years now and I think that it has only been in the last couple of years that he has started to react to thunder and lightening. He sleeps on a bed under a window on Carl's side of the bed. When he gets scared he comes around to my side of the bed, needs a few ear rubs and he lays down and sleeps on the floor next to me. We know he was left outside a lot too when he was younger. If it is a really long, loud storm, Taggert will start barking like he can make it stop.

I did copy an article for Christy about storms and dogs and it said what Phred said about basically ignoring them and not acting nervous yourself. I think our dogs do pick up alot on how we react - if we seem to be anxious - you know running around looking for flashlights, radios, bottles for water - then they seem to pick up on it and are anxious too. If we just go about our normal business they seem to settle down quicker. That really doesn't work very well for Christy's dogs - but I am pretty sure letting them near fireworks or other loud noises won't work either. Sierra escaped from Christy and I one time and I didn't think we would ever catch her - she was so panicked she wouldn't quit running or let anyone near her!