Let the rain fall on your skin

[lizblackdog]

Storms. And torrential rain. I feel guilty, because I only gave the dogs a quick on-leash walk instead of a full-on park romp this morning. But two out of three of us didn't want to be out in that weather, and once that thunder gets louder Spike won't be so keen either. I gave him a melatonin tablet wrapped in cheese in case it gets worse later

Comments

[sweet_tea79]

What does the melatonin do for Spike in thunderstorms? I love a good storm, but they make my spaz-tastic beagle even more spazzy. She absolutely flips out, and its really quite annoying. Anything I could do to help the beagle relax would be a good thing!

[lizblackdog]

it's been a lifesaver for high-strung noisephobic Spike, during thunderstorms and firework season. I give him one 3mg tablet; if it's a real heavy firework night like new year I'll give him another four hours later. I have lost the link I had that laid out the safe dosage/dog weight table - googling would probably find it. I do know that you'd have to go very high to get near to a dodgy overdose.

It doesn't help all dogs - one of my friends had no luck with her noisephobic pit bull with it. The effect on Spike is just to make him calmer; he doesn't get stupid or drugged or clumsy, just less upset by things. Definitely worth a try.

The only trouble with using melatonin for storms is that it takes a couple of hours to kick in properly; if you're like me and rely on looking out the window rather than weather forecasts, the worst of the storm's usually over by the time it starts working. That could just be me being useless though.

[sweet_tea79]

A quick google search shows that 1.5-3mgs is good for a dog Bella's size (20ish lbs). My poor beagle not only hates hates hates storms, but she hates my upstairs neighbors. Every night when they get home at 10pm they bang around, they make a huge amount of noise, and they freak my little dog out. I'm going to pick some up for her today. Thanks!

[revolution_grrl]

I feel really badly too, that the dogs didn't get a romp this weekend. We were planning to take them to a big national park thing on Saturday, but then it was pissing down all day here too. I would have been willing to go anyhow, because then we wouldn't have had to share the place with anyone and the dogs could have gone off-leash with impunity, but they don't much care for rain. Yesterday, we just flaked.

Baaaad doggie parents!

[lizblackdog]

Spike wasn't pleased with me. He really needs a good romp every single day in order to remain on best behaviour the rest of the time; but I can get away with missing the odd day.

Spike loves all weather except hot sun, but Squish really hates wet and wind. He doesn't even like damp grass, the big fairy.

[yesididit]

the thought of squish's ears flaring out like wings is too cute.

puppy was happy to hear one of those inflatable santas bit the dust. he hates those inflatable things that people stick in their yards. two years ago a retarded neighbor put up an inflatable snowman in their BACK yard, and puppy barked non-stop at it all winter long. those things are pure evil as far as he is concerned.

[yesididit]

heres a 5 second video of that evil snowman
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y10/yesididit/video/?action=view¤t=1-02-07026.flv

[lizblackdog]

haa! Both my dogs ran to the window to see who was barking XD

I was pleasantly surprised that Squish wasn't frightened of Santa. I suspect he would have been if it had been inflated. We once came across a toy plushie snowman in a hedge and he freaked out so hard he slipped his collar and ran for it. Silly puppies.

[yesididit]

wonder what it is that makes snowmen so evil to them!

[santaman]

Its indeed stormy, here in Holland as well, and indeed it rains a lot *whine, bitch, moan.*

[lizblackdog]

keep out of the wind! There's one Santa I never want to see wrecked in a hedge. :D

[rozae]

I found a perfectly functional pair of nail clippers lying on the pavement.

Yesterday I found a perfectly functional pair of dog nail clippers laying on the sidewalk near my house. I left them there in case the owner who (I presume) dropped them comes back. Today they are gone.

Interesting week for nail clippers :P

[lizblackdog]

Why would anyone take their nail clippers on a walk, though?

People are fuckin' strange.

[mudshark58]

To keep from having to sweep up afterwards?

[lizblackdog]

...and I thought I was lazy!