Thunderstorm desensitization?

[pittilove29]

So, I'm moving from western Washington where there aren't thunderstorms to southern Missouri where there's LOTS of thunderstorms. I'm not worried about Tonka, but Keona is sound sensitive. I got some sheet metal to try to recreate the sound of thunder to see if I can possibly try to desensitize her before she has to experience the real thing. I personally don't think it sounds anything like the real thing.

Has anybody ever moved from a place with no/few thunderstorms to a place with lots? How did your dogs react? Has anybody ever tried to desensitize their dogs to thunder before? I just got all of Keona's sound sensitivity issues fixed. Now I'm afraid they're going to pop up again. She was awesome on the 4th of July. I was so proud of her! Am I worrying too much? Both of my mother's Golden Retrievers are afraid of thunderstorms. I'd really love them to not influence my dogs. Any tips there?

If I had a choice I'd just not move, but that's not a possibility. Help!
Here's a picture that I think shows their personalities well....lol. Tonka is all relaxed and lounging on the couch. Keona is alert and ready to go (notice how she's not completely sitting on the couch).

[sugar]

Well, Chubby has a very severe thunderstorm phobia. I think if you have a little time then desensitizing them would help (vs. trying to treat it after its gone full blown). Have you considered those 'sounds of nature' type cds? They have some that sound like thunderstorms and you can try and play it very low and lots of treats and slowly bring the volume up?
I was thinking of trying that with Chubby along with his thundershirt and some benedryl to relax him a little (the vet recommended that since its not as heavy duty as something prescribed).

[pittilove29]

That's a good idea, Kaleena! I didn't even think of that. I could probably find sound bytes on the computer too. I'm going to go look now.

My mom got a thundershirt last summer for Tucker who freaks out royally when thunderstorms come. It helped him SO much. Now he doesn't run to the bathroom, lock himself in, and then start crying to be let out only to do it all again. He still pants and whines a little, but he's nowhere near as bad as he used to be. Penny was influenced by Tucker, so she is also afraid of thunderstorms. All she does though is lock herself in the bathroom. She just figures that's the safest place to be since that's where her big brother has been taking her all her life. My neighbor's vet recommended Benadryl for one of her dogs during the 4th of July. It helped a little, but he has not been well trained, or socialized, so he's a mess to begin with.

Thank you for the help! I hope you can help Chubby with his fear of thunderstorms. My mother wishes she had gotten the thundershirt much sooner. lol

[pittilove29]

I found this site right at the beginning of my search for thunder sounds: soundbible.com/tags-thunder.html. I'm in the process of playing every one at pretty much full blast to see if I even get a reaction. I just finished the 2 minute storm clip and got nothing. I'll keep playing them at different times and when Keona is doing different activities. Right now she's sleeping and I had to plug my ears for the thunder claps since I'm right next to the speakers. Hopefully she continues to not react and the computer sounds are close enough to the real thing for her. The house shaking thunder claps I'm afraid I can't prepare them for.

[perfectpit]

Thunder shirts work great too. I know several people use them with great results.