This is Callie.
She’s my dog. She’s a rescue. She’s 7. Maybe 6. Whatever.
She’s a cool dog, she’s part basset hound part lab. Equal parts. Basset hound feet and nose, lab body. Ya, i know. It’s an interesting combo.
Callie has Astraphobia. That’s the fear of Thunder and Lightning. Of course, she’s not the only dog that has it.
Its been getting worse every summer. It’s a well known fact that dogs sense a drop in air pressure before we do and they know when storms are coming. So she’ll let us know an hour before by pacing and acting nervous – then when it rains – she’ll pant and drool and shake. New this year – her teeth chatter. It’s kinda cute and sad at the same time.
When the storm passes she’s better. Floor gets mopped and life is good. We havent tried the thunder shirt yet, haven’t gone to the vet for a sedative…. we just live through it but its getting worse. Last night. Tried something new.
We had steak on the bbq for dinner. With a bone. DING!
Pacing started…..storm was coming….. gave her a bone. A tasty one. She took up her spot on floor and didnt notice the storm. BINGO! Problem solved.
Well, it creates a new problem – cause now I have to bbq steak with every thunder storm – it’ll get expensive. But it worked.
Share your remedies on the Facebook comments – i’m sure there are many to try.
In the meantime – we got through last night. And dinner was good. Callie can go back to hunting squirels in the backyard today until the next low pressure system rolls through.
~John