Thunderstorms are here and Bailey is NOT happy!

[babygrace]

my babygrace is afraid to she shakes real bad and pants i fill really bad for her. i hold her and sing to her it helps sometimes.

[red98vett]

Mine were very scared of fireworks (and Thunder) but especially Fireworks - and here in Texas they light them off is someone farts it seems

During all the 'firework' holidays - (I lived at the time outside the city limits where they aren't banned) but what I did was take my 2 and sit on my porch (back when I had the house and my husband) .....I would hold both of them - and clap at the really loud ones and kind of make it SEEM Fun - I sounded like an idiot but would ooooow and aaawww over the loud or pretty ones - and in the case of a boomer I'd say "WOW that was a BIG one ! ....Clap my hands alot etc anything to make it sound like this was something mommy really liked - (like I said - I sounded like an idiot) BUT....it worked like a charm.....

each of my 2 eventually started acting normal and no more shaking......they even started hanging in the yard during one of our Texas Celebrations and this was when they were both pretty young

It seems that would also work well with storms right ? When we have big Storms here I do the same (only not outside) and my 2 are just fine - no shaking and they know now that it's nothing to be afraid of. I guess they feed off OUR emotions so just try to make it seem like it's just a new fun thing that YOU enjoy and maybe your puppy will feel your feelings and start to relax.....

[red98vett]

ps...didn't mean to write a novel !

My best advise is to make it seem fun....the more happy YOU act the more relaxed they'll feel......if you baby them then that'll only serve to make them feel there's a reason they need protecting and while it's HARD to not want to hold them and make them feel better - acting normal and trying to play with them seems to be the best way to help them overcome the fear

and you could always act stupid like I did ! Just remember - you're doing it for the DOG lol

[chandracz]

thanks everyone great advice!!!