Are dogs afraid of thunder & lightening?

Cal Sibley · #1 08-04-2006, 07:49 PM

My dog Franklin is not a hunting dog. He's a 100lb black, Giant Schnauzer and quite a load when agitated. The other evening I was siting with him on my front steps. Lightening was raising merry olde hell, and I was about to go in the house when I noticed that Franklin who usually sits right next to me was almost hiding behind me. Are most dogs afraid of thunder and lightening? I personally don't have a clue. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

DelDuck · #2 08-04-2006, 08:36 PM

No facts here just opinon, but I would say some are. My 2 labs don't pay it any mind, but my Cocker she barks a few times and hides. And I have had other dogs that wanna get real close when it starts to storm.

gumpokc · #3 08-04-2006, 10:07 PM

Our current "muttweilier" could care less about storms, except that she shows her "lab" cause she loves to play in the rain.

Our previous "muttweilier" was a big male, almost 100lbs.
Whenever it thundered, he'd run to which ever end of the house it came from, and bark at the thunder, then come back all proud, cause he "scared" it away.

I've seen dog that were afraid, and some that aren't. I think alot just depends on the personality of the dog in question.

Jack · #4 08-04-2006, 11:09 PM

In my experience, most dogs are afraid of thunder and lightning.

rubicon · #5 08-05-2006, 07:46 AM

My male lab, Rusty could care less about thunder but if he sees a flash of lightning its Forrest Gump all over again. He just runs and runs and runs. This is always a big problem. There is no catching him on foot -so- its in the Rubicon and try to ambush him. this little trick is interesting too cause he has another little quirk. This dog who is normally obedient, and obeys all my commands, will not come to an automobile with the motor running. He will literally hide when he sees a car coming. When I am finally able to get ahead of him, shut the motor off, and get outside, he will come to me and load with no problem. I think the record was during a severe thunder storm my son, my neighbor, my neighbors wife, and I rode for 3 hours until we got him. This was when Rusty had only been a part of my family for two months and after I had moved to a new neighborhood only two weeks prior so I was afraid he would be leaving Maryland and heading back to South Carolina. Oh, and by the way it was before I knew he could get out of the house by opening the back door. Never a dull moment at Rubicon's

L. Cooper · #6 08-05-2006, 10:03 AM

Many dogs I have known were afraid of thunder and lightning. With training I think most who are afraid can be taught to behave properly in spite of the fear.

Others seem to absolutely ignore all the commotion.

I have not been able to come up with a reasonable theory about what exactly it is that makes the difference in their behaviors.

We could probably blame it on their mothers, couldn't we?

BradC · #7 08-06-2006, 08:53 AM

You know, its funny. My yellow lab (over 100lbs.) will sit next to me when hunting or when I'm sighting in my rifle on the bench all day and the noise never bothers him. However, he does get nervous and begins to pace just before a storm hits. If the thnder gets too close for him he gets right under my recliner or worse trys to climb in it with me. This dog has never shown the least inclination towards gunshyness so it is interesting why the thunder bothers him so.

Brad

Mil Dot · #8 08-06-2006, 10:19 AM

My current lab could care less about T&L, when I was growing up my muttly "mini lab" got so scared she'd dive under my folks bed to the point of getting stuck. We'd have to lift the bed to get her out. fortunately it was only during the really big bangers that this would occur.

fabsroman · #9 08-07-2006, 01:08 AM

A lot of dogs are scared of thunder. I know some people that have to sedate their dogs during thunder storms. My wife hears about it a lot at the pharmacy she works at.

royinidaho · #10 08-16-2006, 12:50 AM

It depends on the dog.

During the first T&L afer I got my lab pup he at least looked to where the T&L originated. I noticed that and went out and played some games with him. Soon he figured what the heck about the T&L.

I'm a little afraid though that I'm going to have to down a bird for him before he is totally comfortable with a shotgun blast. We'll see. Dove opens at the end of the month.