Dogs hide in corners during thunderstorms
10 posts across 6 communities in the last 60 days; 30% from r/dogs.
“I have an aussie and everything terrifies her. The worst is the sound of fireworks. I'm in Indiana where they are legal to light off and when I mean she can't handle that sound... she goes full PTSD crisis mode. But now that she's 5, I'm noticing every sound that could sound…”
“Mine doesn't need the thunder to start. Sometimes the whole vibe changes beforehand and I know we're probably in for an evening. So now I've become the person checking the weather way more than I ever did before owning this dog, mostly because knowing something is coming changes…”
“Hey! We have 6 dogs, 3 of whom are Australian Shepherds. The oldest is 9 and the twins are 8. The oldest has always been scared of storms, and living in the Midwestern US, we have plenty of them. Suddenly, in the last few months, the twins are scared of storms. Could someone…”
Multiple dog owners report their dogs experience extreme fear and hiding behavior during thunderstorms, even with medication like trazodone or calming aids. Owners are seeking advice on how to help their anxious pets.
SOURCES (12)
“so this has been going on for about a day or two now. whenever a slight sudden movement from me or either family members, he jolts. lately he has been hiding under tables or under the sink in our bathroom (this is what he is…”
“Anyone ever try putting the dog bed in a small tent for thunderstorms? My dog shakes. He gets trazadone but can’t relax. I thought maybe the covering over his head would help. submitted by /u/This_is_my_year_2024 [link] [comments]”
“I have an aussie and everything terrifies her. The worst is the sound of fireworks. I'm in Indiana where they are legal to light off and when I mean she can't handle that sound... she goes full PTSD crisis mode. But now that she's 5, I'm noticing every sound that could sound like a firework sets her off. The other day a truck got loaded in the flat bed and the thud sound of metal dropping sent her flying and hiding. What used to be great walks or runs as she would run alongside m”
“When my now 3 year old dog was a pup, I made a big effort to desensitise her to thunder & fireworks. Lots of positive associations with play & treats etc. For the first year she was totally fine, but the next year she developed a phobia. Panting, shaking etc. My guess is it’s because there was almost a year with no storms, so she had forgotten her desensitisation. My question is, is it possible to desensitise her again? Amy advice how? She shuts down completely now so my previous methods”
“So my dog LOVED being outside. She loved to just lay there and watch, bark and chase delivery trucks along the fence line and she loved to hunt lizards and gophers in the yard. Then one day a few weeks ago something scared her. I honestly think it was a bird because now she is always looking up at the sky acting weird..I think it was a hummingbird maybe….she’s way too big to be any kind of prey, she’s the hunter lol… She rarely wants to go out now and I feel so bad. She goes out a bit and does h”
“Mine doesn't need the thunder to start. Sometimes the whole vibe changes beforehand and I know we're probably in for an evening. So now I've become the person checking the weather way more than I ever did before owning this dog, mostly because knowing something is coming changes how I plan the day. I'd rather get our longer outside time done earlier and have the house settled before things get noisy than realize whats happening once he's already worked up. The annoying part i”
“My dog seems much more unsettled when the weather is windy or rainy, especially when our usual walking routine changes. I’ve been trying to create a calming evening routine with a quiet space, gentle brushing, enrichment and plenty of time to settle. It seems to help them relax before bedtime. Does the weather affect your dog’s behaviour too? What helps them feel calm on those unsettled days? submitted by /u/Petsintentions_store [link] [comments]”
“Hey! We have 6 dogs, 3 of whom are Australian Shepherds. The oldest is 9 and the twins are 8. The oldest has always been scared of storms, and living in the Midwestern US, we have plenty of them. Suddenly, in the last few months, the twins are scared of storms. Could someone please let me know why and what I can do? Our normal vet has had an prolonged illness so I can't ask him. What can I do to help them? What is Suddenly causing this? submitted by /u/bestnanaicanbe [link]”
“Hey everyone! My dog and I have been facing a problem recently, and I don't know what to do or how to handle it anymore. I don't even know if it will ever get normal again. I'd be super grateful for any experiences, tips, or words of reassurance that we are not doomed forever. Sorry if it is long; I just wanted to give as much context as possible. I read the guide and clicked through all the relevant links, but it didn't address my issue (btw, I just discovered this /r and it'”
“I mean in terms of potty time. There's a thunderstorm going on right now. I can't take the pup out to poop. This is his usual time but he doesn't want to go out. I tried with an umbrella but that didn't work. I put the pee pad out but he hasn't used one of those in months and I doubt he's comfortable with it anymore. just hold it til the rain eventually stops? submitted by /u/Lake-America [link] [comments]”
“Our dog randomly just started getting scared of thunderstorms this past year (we have had her 6 years, this just started up for some reason). She sleeps well in her crate every night EXCEPT when there's a storm. I know she just wants comfort and will calm down if I let her in the bed but that's a habit I do not want due to various reasons. So last night the storms went from 2am until 7am... she whined/howled all night. The calming supplements do nothing, any one have any advice? su”