[Boomer's Mom]

Was just wondering how your bassets do during thunderstorms, especially those of us with younger bassets.

We have a storm going thru right now (I know, I know, I shouldn't be on the computer!), and Boomer was standing at the front door looking out and barking back every time it thundered. "Oh yeah, buddy? Well, the same to you!" I could almost swear he is giving the storm the finger.

The rest of the time, he is lying on the floor sleeping like nothing is going on.

 

[Soundtrack]

None of mine seem to notice storms.

 

[MollyMcFrecklesMom]

Mine tend to get upset, but sudden noises often startle them. My husband was outside with Molly the other day and a thunder clap came. She ran in circles in the yard scared. This afternoon, they were less scared. Concerned, but not scared. I think they'll grow out of it as they get older. My mom had a dog that heard storms coming long before they arrived and was a mess, shaking and pacing. Luckily, Molly and Winston aren't that fearful.

I think when they sense my calmness, they calm down. They tend to reflect my moods quite a bit.

 

[roscolaylamommy]

My dogs aren't bothered by storms but Breezy is terrified by the lawn mower. The poor thing shakes and cries anytime one in the neighborhood starts up.

 

[CatherineM]

My last basset before this new puppy went through Hurricane Charlie just fine. When the eye went over everyone in the neighborhood was out walking their dogs.

 

[Annie714]

Storms haven't ever bothered Annie. Fireworks, however, are quite a different beast...

 

[shallhb]

Pearl could care less about noises. Bella is sound sensitive--lots of things, like banging pots and pans, loud dog show, and the like, bother her. But thunderstorms and fireworks don't even get a sideways glance. Strange.

 

[Wworm]

Hmmm... not even sure we've had a thunderstorm here this season to be able to tell w/Worm.

But. he is afraid of rocks. Large rocks and other inanimate objects. (like a bar stool today, used in puppy class).

ps. Worm has this to add: "Am not. I'm no 'fraidy cat. Boomah, hope you survive da thundah storm and make it go away."

 

[Chadwick0211]

Drifty doesn't seem to mind the thunderstorms. Living in Florida, I would hope it wouldn't have bothered him too much anyway.. Seems we get a good wash out everyday around the same time in the summer time haha

 

[Geekerbell]

Molly doesn't seem to be bothered by the actual storm.
But yesterday all morning long she was barking, running in circles, jumping all over. I thought she was going crazy and she was going to certainly take me with her! Around noon it got dark and then the storm started. She was fine then. I guess she could sense the rain coming?

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Worm, me and momma got the big bed all to ourselves last night, daddy had to be gone truckin' overnight (and didn't take me; harumph), so I protected her from the storm. I fell asleep actually, but the storm is gone this morning! So, HA!

 

[Esther]

they used to have to drug lulu. it started when she was about 7--about when a big tree fell outside. thinking the sound musta triggered it. she was a good storm barometer too bc, as was said earlier, she could sense the storm coming. she'd start pacing about 45 minutes before. and during the storm she would shake and drool uncontrolably.

i, however, am fine with them. in fact i don't have sense enough to come in out of the rain they said. good thing i'm not scared. with all the rains and flooding we've had around here, I thought I was gonna have to get some water wings. (a set of four, please)

 

[Kirska]

Anabelle won't go outside when it's storming. So stormy nights mean messes to clean up in the morning...

Unless she falls asleep outside. A few weeks back it started storming and we couldn't find her. Checked outside and she was fast asleep in the rain. We woke her up and she came running in.

 

[Mikey T]

I have had three that were some what bother by thunderstrom. One was in the house when a tree fell on it during a storm. The second was loud noise phobic thunder, fireworks not so much pots pans and the third lived with the second and over time became sensitive to storms but not to the same extent as the second. I do believe they can feed of the fears of others around.

 

[Esther]

incidentally they said that before the tsunami they had a few years back (haiti?) they saw animals moving inland en masse--and QUICKLY. supports the idea that animals can sense weather before it gets there. pretty amazing stuff.

 

[Wworm]

Play after every storm!

Yes, just heard today that there are atmospheric changes before earthquakes, and I bet animals are prob better barometers than we are in sensing them, as you say, Esther:

Study Suggests Atmospheric Changes Signaled Japan's Monster Quake | KQED News Fix

--------------------------------------------------
Worm & I were watching Oprah today. Worm likes Oprah because she exposed some puppy mills and is into rescuing dogs and animal welfare.

anyways, we thought of this thread, and wanted to remind our basset friends to "Remember to play after every storm!"

That quote is from Mattie Stepanek, young boy who has already passed away but had enormous capacity to live. This was said about him at his funeral...

"We have known kings and queens, and we've known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek. His life philosophy was 'Remember to play after every storm!' and his motto was: 'Think Gently, Speak Gently, Live Gently'. He wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played"."

 

[Annie714]

Yes, just heard today that there are atmospheric changes before earthquakes, and I bet animals are prob better barometers than we are in sensing them, as you say, Esther:

Study Suggests Atmospheric Changes Signaled Japan's Monster Quake | KQED News Fix

--------------------------------------------------
Worm & I were watching Oprah today. Worm likes Oprah because she exposed some puppy mills and is into rescuing dogs and animal welfare.

anyways, we thought of this thread, and wanted to remind our basset friends to "Remember to play after every storm!"

That quote is from Mattie Stepanek, young boy who has already passed away but had enormous capacity to live. This was said about him at his funeral...

"We have known kings and queens, and we've known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek. His life philosophy was 'Remember to play after every storm!' and his motto was: 'Think Gently, Speak Gently, Live Gently'. He wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played"."

Cute. Made me cry a little. I tell Annie, about 10 times per day, to be gentle with herself

 

[dreamons]

Daisy seems ok but Maggie shakes for hours and will hide. It was so bad we got some calming meds from the vet.

 

[mhvonalmen8908]

Thunderstorms don't faze our two in the least. It also helps I think that we constantly have F-16 figter jets flying over the house. We're about 5 miles from the base so it's an almost everyday occurence. We were worried about Virga but the first time she heard the jet she was looking all over the sky trying to find it.

My husband had a basset hound growing up who was absolutely terrified of thunderstorms. He'd pace, drool, chew stuff up. Whatever he could do to relieve his stress. He got a hold of the aluminum foil box once and cut the hell out of his mouth. My in-laws got home to a kitchen floor covered in blood. Not fun at all. He also had a tendency to climb up onto people's shoulders. That got him closer to the storm so we didn't understand that decision. Luckily he eventually lost his hearing and so slept through the storms unless the thunder was close enough to make the floor boards vibrate. I guess it all depends on the individual hound.

 

[JayBee]

A violent storm with blindingly bright electrical flashes and ear piercing thunder, no problem.
The tiniest fly spotted anywhere in the house, get Mr. Buddylee out of here, now!