For dogs with Thunder-Phobia, this is that cat's meow
I have 2 min Poodles and a White German Shepherd Dog (WGSD), they are inside dogs. Though the poodles are active and the younger one (7 yrs old) is hyperactive, they sleep like babies through storms and fireworks. Alex the WGSD is 4 years old and up until recently had also been fine with these sounds, I thought.
We moved not far, so we still have frequent night thunderstorms. Since I'm often up most of the night I noticed this almost panic or anxious behavior at the sound of thunder. She pants and paces the length of the house constantly.
I tried everything I read to help her; loud 'white' sounds (the air purifier, a fan, the air conditioning, even music) to muffle the thunder. I tried distracting her by playing with her, brushing her and singing, yep! As soon as she would see the flash of lightning she would go back into panic mode and would temporarily retreat to the safety of the bathroom with no windows.
FINALLY, I figured out that in the old house we had her kennel set up in a side hallway and she would seek it's safety when there was a storm. That's probably why I never noticed her thunder-phobia! She has her bed (her own space), but we don't have the space for her huge kennel near the family hubs in the new house, as we did in the old house.
I got online and read in several articles about Bach Rescue Remedy for dogs. Hesitantly, I ordered a small bottle at 4am! What we parents will do for our babies!? It arrived, the very next day! I was so grateful and surprised. I used it that very same night, another t-storm. A few drops on a treat. Within a few minutes it calmed her down tremendously, not 100% BUT enough that we could all get some sleep, yay!
Yes, this product is wonderful. I have not tried it on the ear or paw, so I don't know how that works. I only use it once a night during the t-storms. My boyfriend, put it on the outside of her ear and it did nothing, but I did the few drops again on a treat and it worked again! If you haven't tried this, it is definitely worth a try if you have anxious dogs during storms, fireworks, they don't have their safe 'place' or even if they do. My girl seems grateful, I know we are!
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