Thunderstorms and scared Corgi

[LogDogMom]

As a novice Corgi owner I'm reaching out to the forum to let me know if what I did yesterday was okay - and not reinforcing improper behavior....

Yesterday afternoon, we had a sudden thunderstorm, with heavy rain (which isn't unusual in Seattle), along with loud thunder and lightning bolts.
Chief was very frightened... he ran over to me and sat by my feet and was just shaking like heck! Each shake was timed just prior to the thunder booms. He never left my side during the hour or so storm, I reassured him, petting him, telling him it was okay...but he was really scared.
I thought maybe he was hanging out by me thinking if a bolt was going to strike it would hit me first 'cause I was taller (LOL!) than him, but then I thought, maybe I was reinforcing his fear....

Did I do the right thing by stroking him and offering calm words??? I'm worried about when the next storm hits and he's in his crate while I'm at work...I don't want him to freak out if I'm not there...(I'm returning to work after 2 months at home on leave)...so I have a concern there.

[ParisandFozzy]

Fozzy and Paris have been through ALOT of thunder storms since I moved to Lamar.. Neither one of them seem to be bothered by them. Odd...
When something scares my dogs I reassure them to a point ( a pat on the head and an its ok or if they want to sit real close/ in lap thats fine to) but I wont coddle them. I would say that the next time you guys have a thunder storm try putting him in his crate. If he likes his crate alot he might just find comfort being in there and then your problem is solved! Mind you our furry little friends tend to be a bit on the melodramatic side about being a crate when mom and dad are home! So on the other hand don't be to supprised if he really doesn't like being in his crate knowing that you are home and the thunder scares him!
Good Luck!.. I'm sure he will be just fine :0)

[glencorgi]

This study that indicates that having another household dog around may
be more
comforting to thunderphobic dogs than hanging with their owners, no matter what
the
owner did:

ScienceDirect - Applied Animal Behaviour Science : Physiological and behavioral reactivity to stress in thunderstorm-phobic dogs and their caregivers

Physiological and behavioral reactivity to stress in thunderstorm-phobic dogs
and their
caregivers .
Applied Animal Behaviour Science , Volume 95 , Issue 3 - 4 , Pages 153 - 168
N . Dreschel , D . Granger

This study addresses interactions between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)
axis
activation in response to stress, relationship quality, and behavior in
thunderstorm-
anxious dogs and their owners. Using a controlled repeated-measures design, we
experimentally manipulated exposure of individuals to a stressor they were
highly fearful
of, and assessed both their own and their caregivers' physiological and
behavioral
responsiveness. Saliva samples were collected from 19 dog–owner dyads before, 20
and
40min after exposure to a simulated thunderstorm and were later assayed for
cortisol. In
response to the challenge, the dogs exhibited classic signs of fear (i.e.,
pacing, whining,
hiding), their cortisol levels increased 207%, and these levels did not return
to baseline
within 40min. There were no effects of the owners' behavior or the quality of
the dog–
owner relationship on the dogs' HPA or behavioral reactivity. However, the
presence of
other dogs in the household was linked to less pronounced reactivity and more
rapid
recovery of the dog's HPA response. On average, the cortisol levels of the
caregivers did
not increase. Owners' mood (e.g. depression, anger) affected their behavioral
response
towards their dogs. These findings are among the first to study the HPA
responsiveness of
anxious canines in response to stress in a home setting, and the physiological
and
behavioral effects of problem canine behavior on their caregivers.

Debbie

[Chip's Mom]

Taffy was really afraid of thunderstorms and she would run to either me or my husband when a storm began and shake all over. We tried everything including holding her, petting her, talking to her, etc. to calm her down. One night we had a bad storm and nothing seemed to quiet her so we put her in her little crate and it was to small for her so we got out a large crate that we have and set it up. Chip & Dale love this large crate. anyway, as soon as we got it set up, we put Taffy in it and she went clear to the back and before we could zip up the door, Chip and Dale ran into the crate and started a good ole fashioned corgi wrestling match romping and playing with poor Taffy on the bottom. Not sure what happened in that crate but Taffy hasn't been afraid of storms since. She will still come and sit on our laps or lay at our feet but no shaking or panting. Other then that I am not sure what to tell you. I think Chip & Dale showed her they weren't afraid and she took the cue from them.

[Louwants]

My dogs don't like thunderstorms or firecrackers. Whenever that happens, they run to my husband and I; which I give them a quick pat and say it's okay, but that's it. They don't shake, whine or anything, but they stay real close to us while the noise is going on. I've always heard and read, just reassure them, but don't coddle them.

[LogDogMom]

Thanks everyone for the information (especially, the study on thunderphopic dogs!) - I'll bet he'll be fine in his crate when the next storm hits - he's quite comfortable there...

[MyPemCharlie]

Neither Charlie or Desta have that phobia. I do notice though that when a storm hits, Charlie will usually make eye contact with me at the first boom. It seems like he is looking at me to see how he should react. I'll usually give him a calming signal like yawning, sighing, or blinking my eyes like I'm about to fall asleep. Seems to make him immediately relax and not worry over the storm.

I've read that some thunderphobic dogs are actually feeling an electrical charge through their body with every lightning strike. Many will run into the bathroom and wrap themselves around the toilette or lie up against the tub, which acts as a ground to neutralize the electricity. If the crate doesn't work, you might try taking him to a bathroom and see if that relaxes him.

[sofapup]

It's that time of year again. I have tried using DAP pheromenes, but am unsure of how much that helped. Anyone else tried that?

[K9skennel]

Dax was petrified of storms. we probably warped him by taking him to fireworks when he was just a baby.
anyway, yes, he would hide and try to get as close to you (or under...) as possible. Esp in the middle of the night. he just hated them.
i tried to calm him, and figured it couldnt hurt.
we took to locking him in the bathroom- ok, he'd go in there and hide on the laundry, we just closed the door- and that seemed to help. he couldnt see the lightning and i think that helped.
the crate, in your case, is probably the best idea. he'll be happy and safe in there.

[Booski59]

We have almost daily thunderstorms this time of year and Leo's response is to run outside and bark at the sky (to warn me of the danger I guess). I always go out and "check it out" and let him know there is no danger. This does not always convince him though. Randy seems to ignore the storm, but does react to Leo's warning by staying on the patio and watching what brother does. I hope by the end of the season Leo will understand there is no real threat from the thunder except maybe torrential rain and stop warning me. I call them in right away if there is a threat of hail as it can be quite damaging and dangerous.

[LaRogue]

Many will run into the bathroom and wrap themselves around the toilette or lie up against the tub, which acts as a ground to neutralize the electricity.

My last corgi would do this. Mr, Pip, on the other hand, wants to stay with me and HIDE (under the couch that he's too big for or the bed-blocked with stuff, because he gets stuck) whenever there are big boomers and close lighting. Actually, I really don't blame him for feeling that way, to me it seems hiding would be an instinctual response. I've put him in his crate, before, but these last big boomers, I put him in the bathroom. He seemed to like that better. He's not too bad, just wants to be a velcro dog. I distract him with a game of fetch and he's usually fine.

[molly14]

Our trainer at PetSmart says that dogs aren't good at multitasking. She said that if our puppies get scared during a storm, we should practice training commands like sit, come and stay. As well as others as we learn them. Playing with her would also help. This way when she hears the storm, she will associate it with playing, or will at the least be able to be distracted and won't think about being scared. We have not had to try this yet, but we plan to if we get a storm. My Husband and I love thunder storms, and our cat isn't bothered by them, so we hope our "vibes" will help keep her calm as well.

[DarkSephiroth]

Speaking of being scared, is anyone preparing for Independence day? Do Corgis often fear the fireworks?

[Dillydoodle]

Dillon and gus do not act afraid of thunder at all.. I will get the occasional barking from them if it is an extra loud clap but Fireworks are a totally different situaiton. Dillon HATES fireworks (if they are close)... he barks a lot, he runs around in circles and is clearly aggitated by it, but doesn't act frightened. Gus doesnt seem to get upset by anything.. thunder is no problem , fireworks brings barking but only becuase his brother is barking!

Emilie

[Booski59]

This year will be the first fireworks for the boys and I am a little worried about it. They are illegal inside our city limits, but you know that doesn't stop anyone. I am hoping the reaction is no worse than with thunder.