Dogs and thunder/fireworks

RepSpec · 26-02-2013, 03:11 PM

hey guys need a bit of help

i have a ridgeback X collie that when we are not home and during thunderstorms or fireworks (new years) likes to destroy her bedding

.
she has done it 3 times now, with 2 foam mattresses destroyed and now today an old doona that we gave her to replace the mattresses.

so what do i do besides taking away anything soft from her during storms that she would normally use to sleep on, and another dog is not an option.

Rodge · 26-02-2013, 03:28 PM

Hi Mate,

There are specialist animal behaviour experts out there but i'm not sure whether they could help you with that problem to be honest.

We have three Sydney Silky Terriers and they're brothers from the same litter. You'd think they'd have a similar termperament coming from the same litter and all but they're each very different and one of them is extremly anxious whenever there's fireworks or thunder.

The other two don't like it either but they don't have anything like the anxiety attack that their brother has.

Some dogs are really anxious, it seems to be in their nature. Have a chat with your vet. Maybe there's something type of medication, similar to anti-anxiety medication for humans that have anxiety attacks ?

Glad you brought this up, I might have a look into this myself proir to next guy fawkes night. Good luck.

coupecouple04 · 26-02-2013, 05:52 PM

My dog goes crazy as well she is a poodle cross snauzer and will scale a 6 ft 4 fence to get out.New years eve is a night mare have to take her with me wherever I go.Nothing will calm her done .

u2canb12 · 26-02-2013, 06:05 PM

We have got a Siberian Husky that is twitchy at the best of times but throw in thunder/fireworks and she is uncontrollable. What we found was this product called Thunder Shirts, don't laugh it is the real name and they reckon 80% of time their shirts work. here is the link http://www.thundershirt.com/. It explains the theory and how it works.

I am no way connected with the company nor endorse it, just offering a possible solution for your pets anxiety

**Mont5.0** · 26-02-2013, 06:42 PM

i just lock my heeler in the garage. Sick of her getting out or destroying the fences trying to get out.

LG17 · 26-02-2013, 07:51 PM

My Border Collie is well trained for thunder!

Sox · 26-02-2013, 08:05 PM

Try the following.

1 - Leave heaps of toys in the yard to hack into instead of the bed.
2 - Leave the old chewed up bedding near the proper bed, maybe she'll continue ripping that to pieces instead of the new one.

All dogs are different and you'll need to try various things to see what works best.

**Captain Stubing** · 28-02-2013, 08:54 AM

You can buy storm coats for dogs now. They fit really snug against the dogs body and calm the dog down.
My better half has a Staffy that freaks out from storms, she has this uncontrollable urge to jump the fence, chew through the fence or she dig under it, and run away at the sound of thunder.
We put a storm coat on her, and nearly slept through a storm!

atec77 · 28-02-2013, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RepSpec

hey guys need a bit of help

i have a ridgeback X collie that when we are not home and during thunderstorms or fireworks (new years) likes to destroy her bedding

.
she has done it 3 times now, with 2 foam mattresses destroyed and now today an old doona that we gave her to replace the mattresses.

so what do i do besides taking away anything soft from her during storms that she would normally use to sleep on, and another dog is not an option.

Get hold of a copy of Caesar Romero's book and read the relevant section , our Rotties used to be a little jumpy but now they just go have a sleep during inclement weather and watch the lightening with a look of "isn't that attractive"
and have another sleep . Caesars book is excellent and very incitfull

RepSpec · 28-02-2013, 03:13 PM

thanks for the suggestions guys! glad im not the only one

tankclare · 28-02-2013, 04:13 PM

Our Maremma x border collie hates loud noises. The first sign of thunder or any loud bangs and she will bolt into the shed or try and get in the house. We have her kennel setup pretty well with plenty of blankets etc for her to hide in. The thing she hates the most though is sirens and she will howl off her head for ages.

Our staffy x bull mastiff on the other hand couldn't care less about anything besides ripping the yard to shreds and being hypo lol.

comagutsa · 28-02-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2canb12

We have got a Siberian Husky that is twitchy at the best of times but throw in thunder/fireworks and she is uncontrollable. What we found was this product called Thunder Shirts, don't laugh it is the real name and they reckon 80% of time their shirts work. here is the link http://www.thundershirt.com/. It explains the theory and how it works.

I am no way connected with the company nor endorse it, just offering a possible solution for your pets anxiety

haha i recon they are a load of crap (im a farm boy and dont believe in that stuff) but my mrs is a ranger and dog lover and she believes in them ...she got one for our mates dog (brought it online from US from thunder shirt makers and best service ever) and their dog is like a new dog (so i been told)
with wind and loud noises now

snowcone · 01-03-2013, 03:02 PM

I have a Staffie/Ridgeback that would tear your arm off if you came into my place, but is scared shitless of thunder. She can pick the static up in the air hours before a thunderstorm. We bought a thundersuit for her but you have to be there hours before storm to put it on her for any affect which is a bit hard to predict.

Alan D Segal · 01-03-2013, 03:15 PM

Our dog is pretty much scared of nothing, and I think that causes more behavioural problems than if he was a sook.

4stanger · 02-03-2013, 06:52 PM

My border collie cross always tries to bash in the screen door at the back door, to come inside, when there is thunder erupting in the distance, he hates the thunder and the fireworks. The females of the house hold feel sorry for him and let him in and he hides behind the couch in the louge or under the computer table.
Recently in his old age, any sign of rain coming, he is just as desperate to come inside the house, as if a thunderstorm was coming.
He is 11 years old and it is now getting harder to get him back outside after the event!

03 GHIA · 02-03-2013, 07:46 PM

Seems to be a lot of Boarder Collies affected by this!
We have 2 dogs from the same litter, Boarder Collie x Kelpie. One male and one female.

Both dogs howl at any sirens, not scared of them, more curious I think.

The male dog is fine with lightening and thunder, but has learnt how to open the door and come in at will when it rains... little ****.

The female however goes ballistic at any loud sounds. Rips doors apart and makes as much noise as possible by jumping on things to get let inside.
A vest as mentioned wouldn't work for her, because even if we hold her she just won't settle, she constantly has to be moving or crawl into the smallest possible place.

Would be very grateful if anyone has useful suggestions for dogs that suffer this badly! Love them and all, but it is incredibly annoying to have a dog that is so agitated by storms.

greenfoam · 02-03-2013, 07:55 PM

Get a floppy eared rabbit like me, he's 90% deaf and 10% can't care less about anything. Then you can make all the noise you want

in fact if I left the door open in a storm he'd be outside playing in it and probably wouldn't come back if he got onto the scent of a woman rabbit.

MRG6ET · 02-03-2013, 08:01 PM

I have an 11yr old Cattle Dog that howls at sirens and hides under the laundry cupboard during thunder storms.

Our border collie cross cattle runs around the backyard barking at the thunder and fireworks.

2 dogs more different you couldn't get in all ways.

TATT2 · 02-03-2013, 08:20 PM

My cattle dog used to go straight to the bathtub and lie in it whenever a atorm was around

xr gr8 · 02-03-2013, 11:57 PM

Haha, what a topic

our Rotti goes hard at it in a decent storm.
Eyes like the Omen child!
Runs non stop launching into one fence then the other barking and generally going nuts. But doesn't destroy anything...except herself

We usually try give her some tranquil formula tablets prior to crap weather coming which slows her down a bit.
One things for sure she always stuffed for two days afterwards

NickyN · 03-03-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swanny

You can buy storm coats for dogs now. They fit really snug against the dogs body and calm the dog down.
My better half has a Staffy that freaks out from storms, she has this uncontrollable urge to jump the fence, chew through the fence or she dig under it, and run away at the sound of thunder.
We put a storm coat on her, and nearly slept through a storm!

I heard those Thunder Coats work well too but we never tried it. I think it's supposed to help them feel secure and unexposed.

We used to bring our German Shepherd into the house and we'd sit with her and she'd be ok that way. We tried those vet prescribed tranquilizers but it just made her woozy and we worried about her though the vet said no side effects. Fireworks are illegal now but she's no longer here with us. RIP. *sad*

ELEPHT_70 · 30-03-2013, 06:45 PM

I bring my StaffiexRotty inside. He's a nightmare stress-head when it comes to thunder...

XW WA · 30-03-2013, 07:29 PM

My dog rips up his bed at any opprtunity . I wish it was only durring storms. Had to get him a full size matteress so he couldnt drag it around and hump it haha

ELEPHT_70 · 30-03-2013, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XW WA

My dog rips up his bed at any opprtunity . I wish it was only durring storms. Had to get him a full size matteress so he couldnt drag it around and hump it haha

Hahahaaa!!! I just PMSL!!!

robbyj · 31-03-2013, 12:24 PM

our miniature pomeranian shakes and digs her way out under the dence and runs away, let her inside and she's fine. Our king charles cavalier will sleep through it.

BigJamo · 31-03-2013, 06:03 PM

RESCUE REMEDY ... Thats what I use with our Staffy.

http://compare.ebay.com.au/like/2711...PriceItemTypes

Also comes in a spray applicator

Alan D Segal · 02-04-2013, 11:17 AM

I've got a mate who uses that rescue remedy on his staffy as well. Reckons it works.

GT · 03-04-2013, 12:01 AM

Buy a Thunder Shirt - recommended by thousands of Vets and Trainers and now me. I bought one recently, when I was showing at Crufts Dog Show in the UK, and it is fabulous. I have a 9 year old Swedish Import boy who is a mental mess with Thunder (and now even rain - in anticipation of the thunder) and this helps him tremendously.
www.thundershirt.com

Cheers
Gaela