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So, I guess this will be the make or break post for me.
Part of me is ashamed to say two of my three live outside. The other part of me knows I do the best I can for my dogs, and I know plenty of indoor dogs who live worse lives.
But I do need help.
A little bit about our Daily routine:
At around 9 or 10 in the morning, we go for an hour long walk. They were playing for about 15-20 minutes before this walk, and about an hour after but they've stopped, so I don't waste my time anymore. On this walk they have the change to sniff and watch, we stop by a small creek and get a drink on our way back.
Throughout the day at random times and depending on the weather and if I have to run errands, we will go for swims or hikes, or play in the hose. I've taken now to put them on "lunge lines" and letting them run on the hill next to my home.
In the evening around 5 or 6, we go for another walk which, again, lasts about an hour. They DO play for a short time before this and after it. I let them play until they drop, usually, then if I notice they have some energy left over, I'll 'lunge' them again.
Then at night, before we all fall asleep, I go and sit with them for a while, brush them or whatever. Silly as it sounds, I sing to them or read to them.
They have toys out there, thing to chew, things that make noise.
For the past 5 years, Aleu has been fine with noises and rain and storms, etc etc.
Back in, March I believe it was, she started getting very anxious anytime the rain would start. She has never had a bad experience with rain or storms, so I don't understand where this is coming from.
Last summer she became afraid of Fireworks. Diesel has always been afraid of them, but she didn't show any signs of anxiety until last summer.
We had a bad tornado scare in March and we have nowhere to go when these come through. We also don't have a basement. It was serious and for our direct area we kept hearing 'take immediate shelter, get to a safe place as quick as possible.' all I could do was cover the windows pile into the tub with Diesel and Aleu and pray. The house was chaotic with 3 frightened/excited dogs, 2 frightened rats and a cat in a panic. But it passed and we all survived.
Then Aleu's problems started.
A couple weeks after that, we had another storm and at about 3 a/m I had a very odd dream which woke me up. Having this terrible feeling, I walked outside and Aleu was nowhere to be found. I ended up running barefoot in my gown through a storm in the dark at 3 a.m hoping to find her. Thankfully I did. I brought her in and washed the muck off her and went to sleep. She remained inside for the next few days while the storms finished off.
That was not the last time she managed to run free during ANY sort of rain, and I'm afraid it won't be the last.
It has hit the point now where every time it starts to barely even sprinkle, if she begins to pant, I just bring her in and wade through the shit storm that awaits me inside.
You see, my mother is very sick and, once again, is facing breast cancer. She will have none of Aleu or Diesel coming inside. Every time I bring Aleu in, there's a new fight that does not stop until hours after she's been put back out the next day. I push through it the best I can but it's stressing her out and disrupting the home. A lot.
I cannot keep bringing her inside every time a hint of rain washes through. I've also tried sitting with her to calm her, but quite frankly, I can't fit in the dog house with her and have no desire to sit out in the pounding rain.
She does have shelter, and her doghouse isn't leaky or anything else.
So, what I'm asking is, is there anything I can do, aside from medication, to help her no be so scared? I hate seeing her so afraid, and I know she is.
Aside from that, I'm so paranoid now that I think I hear thunder while I'm showering or about to fall asleep or cooking and panic, but it'll just be a car starting up or something. I can't leave my house to go shopping or out or even to the post office if there's any HINT of a shower, even a shower whether the weather calls for thunder or not. I have to start looking for a job soon, and I certainly can't be calling in every time it rains.
The weather controls my dog and my dog controls me. It's getting to be too much.
~~
To add, a couple of times it's rained and she's actually slept right through it. Once I accidentally woke her up and she just yawned, decided to have a small freak out, then go back to sleep.
She is still afraid once she's inside, with pacing and panting when the thunder/lightening actually rolls through.
Please do not tell me to bring my dog inside to live or re-home her. Options that have been exhausted.
Part of me is ashamed to say two of my three live outside. The other part of me knows I do the best I can for my dogs, and I know plenty of indoor dogs who live worse lives.
But I do need help.
A little bit about our Daily routine:
At around 9 or 10 in the morning, we go for an hour long walk. They were playing for about 15-20 minutes before this walk, and about an hour after but they've stopped, so I don't waste my time anymore. On this walk they have the change to sniff and watch, we stop by a small creek and get a drink on our way back.
Throughout the day at random times and depending on the weather and if I have to run errands, we will go for swims or hikes, or play in the hose. I've taken now to put them on "lunge lines" and letting them run on the hill next to my home.
In the evening around 5 or 6, we go for another walk which, again, lasts about an hour. They DO play for a short time before this and after it. I let them play until they drop, usually, then if I notice they have some energy left over, I'll 'lunge' them again.
Then at night, before we all fall asleep, I go and sit with them for a while, brush them or whatever. Silly as it sounds, I sing to them or read to them.
They have toys out there, thing to chew, things that make noise.
For the past 5 years, Aleu has been fine with noises and rain and storms, etc etc.
Back in, March I believe it was, she started getting very anxious anytime the rain would start. She has never had a bad experience with rain or storms, so I don't understand where this is coming from.
Last summer she became afraid of Fireworks. Diesel has always been afraid of them, but she didn't show any signs of anxiety until last summer.
We had a bad tornado scare in March and we have nowhere to go when these come through. We also don't have a basement. It was serious and for our direct area we kept hearing 'take immediate shelter, get to a safe place as quick as possible.' all I could do was cover the windows pile into the tub with Diesel and Aleu and pray. The house was chaotic with 3 frightened/excited dogs, 2 frightened rats and a cat in a panic. But it passed and we all survived.
Then Aleu's problems started.
A couple weeks after that, we had another storm and at about 3 a/m I had a very odd dream which woke me up. Having this terrible feeling, I walked outside and Aleu was nowhere to be found. I ended up running barefoot in my gown through a storm in the dark at 3 a.m hoping to find her. Thankfully I did. I brought her in and washed the muck off her and went to sleep. She remained inside for the next few days while the storms finished off.
That was not the last time she managed to run free during ANY sort of rain, and I'm afraid it won't be the last.
It has hit the point now where every time it starts to barely even sprinkle, if she begins to pant, I just bring her in and wade through the shit storm that awaits me inside.
You see, my mother is very sick and, once again, is facing breast cancer. She will have none of Aleu or Diesel coming inside. Every time I bring Aleu in, there's a new fight that does not stop until hours after she's been put back out the next day. I push through it the best I can but it's stressing her out and disrupting the home. A lot.
I cannot keep bringing her inside every time a hint of rain washes through. I've also tried sitting with her to calm her, but quite frankly, I can't fit in the dog house with her and have no desire to sit out in the pounding rain.
She does have shelter, and her doghouse isn't leaky or anything else.
So, what I'm asking is, is there anything I can do, aside from medication, to help her no be so scared? I hate seeing her so afraid, and I know she is.
Aside from that, I'm so paranoid now that I think I hear thunder while I'm showering or about to fall asleep or cooking and panic, but it'll just be a car starting up or something. I can't leave my house to go shopping or out or even to the post office if there's any HINT of a shower, even a shower whether the weather calls for thunder or not. I have to start looking for a job soon, and I certainly can't be calling in every time it rains.
The weather controls my dog and my dog controls me. It's getting to be too much.
~~
To add, a couple of times it's rained and she's actually slept right through it. Once I accidentally woke her up and she just yawned, decided to have a small freak out, then go back to sleep.
She is still afraid once she's inside, with pacing and panting when the thunder/lightening actually rolls through.
Please do not tell me to bring my dog inside to live or re-home her. Options that have been exhausted.