Woke up at 3am ...

[Works4me]

Woke up at 3am this morning to a thunder storm ... with my 90 pound german shepherd sitting on my head! She had the most pathetic tiny little "woof" I have ever heard. Petted her and told her everything was okay - next thingI know she next to me at attention in full guard dog mode and barked loudly each time there was thunder! Too sleepy to make her get down I went back to sleep and awoke with her curled up behind me, looking quite self-satisfied in her sleep.

I have NO clue how she got up there! She is a big girl with perfect markings - huge for a female but not fat. She is over 10 years old and has bad hips which she gets pills for. Normally she just puts her head under my blankets when it stroms but this is rediculous. For her sake it is a good thing I wash was planning to wash my bedding today.

Not that she's spoiled or anything but she has an expensive orthopedic doggie bed in my room and a second, less expensive orthopedic "daybed" in the living room - coordinates with the new furniture. She's my baby dog but I prefer not to sleep with here even in a king size bed as she is just BIG!

Any thoughts on how to make sure she stays on the floor tonight?

[movingforward]

www.thundershirt.com/

[Works4me]

Wonder if that might help.

ETA - this is the first time she has done something like this. Normally she is almost pverly well behaved and isthe one on security patrol. It was the funniest thing though to wake up with 90 pounds of dog on my head.

[movingforward]

I think DramaQ has used the thunder shirt on her dog.

ETA: Your dog sounds adorable

[Works4me]

Does it help?

[movingforward]

I think it helped. You might PM her about it. My dad almost ordered one for his dog. She was 14 and was scared to death of thunderstorms. She actually passed away before he had a chance to order it though

[Works4me]

She is adorable and has a wonderfully gentle temperament for a GS. Normally she has to "secure the premises" as in will literally look in the closets if we go out and has to make sure nothing is out of place in the yard.

Something about waking up with 90 pounds of dog on my pillow is just over the top = even for me!

[dannylion]

Aww, the poor baby. She sounds like a sweetie pumpkin. I hope you can find something that comforts her in thunderstorms (and keeps her off your head while you are sleeping).

[movingforward]

Oct 11, 2012 17:07:58 GMT -5 Works4me said:

She is adorable and has a wonderfully gentle temperament for a GS. Normally she has to "secure the premises" as in will literally look in the closets if we go out and has to make sure nothing is out of place in the yard.

Something about waking up with 90 pounds of dog on my pillow is just over the top = even for me!

Yeah, my 14 pound cat is enough for me

[Works4me]

Many years ago (back when I was married and living on a ranch) we had a pair of Great Pyrenese that had puppies. One of them escaped into the bedroom and found a "new" puppy he had never seen before in the mirror. He barked so loudly at himself that he literally flipped over backwards. I had to pick him up and show him that the puppy in the mirror was ok.

[movingforward]

Too cute!

[Works4me]

Almost40 - my last cat was a little 7 pounder was cute and entertaining but not exactly the sharpest crayion in the box. Still miss her sometimes even though it has been 8 years.

This dog - Tara - was rescued by my former fiance as a young dog. She came to live with me August 2010 when he was transferred out of the area and he could not take her. Funny thing to me is how she has so thoroughly bonded to me at this age.

Miss M - that must have been one handsome pup he saw!

[zibazinski]

Better than having to order a diaper for your cat!

[movingforward]

I think my cat is part dog. He likes to fetch and guard the front door - weirdo ;D

[Works4me]

Zib - diaper for your cat? Please explain more - whould premmie pampers work or?

Meghann - the 7 pound cat - used to play fetch with q-tips. Funniest thing though was the first time my former fiance slept over at my place she was NOT amused. I was rather conservative and she had never seen a man on her side of the bed before. Walked up and down his chest, claws out but not scratching him but definitely communicating that SHE was in control. They never did get along very well.

ETA - we ought to all start posting cute pet pix on the Doxie thread!

[movingforward]

Oh goodness, I have no idea what is going on over on the doxie thread. I have gotten to where I avoid them

[Works4me]

Almost40 - any cute 14 pound cat stories?

[zibazinski]

He sprays.

[zibazinski]

They're arguing whether Doxie is cm.

[Deleted]

Cute stories guys!

I.do.not.do.Doxie.threads!

[Works4me]

Boo-ey - What about your cats from Germany? Any cute stories?

And did you ever get your many back from your financially agressive LL? ETA - love that term!

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Oct 11, 2012 16:53:50 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Wonder if that might help.

ETA - this is the first time she has done something like this. Normally she is almost pverly well behaved and isthe one on security patrol. It was the funniest thing though to wake up with 90 pounds of dog on my head.

Maybe she was on security patrol. Maybe she wasn't hiding behind you but standing guard?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I've found that one of the best ways to keep pets off one's bed is to remove all the human beds from the home and to just make happy blanket nests in strategic places around your home. While uncomfortable and a bit unconventional, that would keep pets off one's bed. (grin)

Most nights, I've got three cats strategically spaced out on our Queen sized bed. One of them won't hesitate to bite my toes if they accidentally poke or disturb her, so I tend to sleep at weird angles.

When thunderstorms are forecast, you might try turning on some music with a fair amount of bass in another room of your house, loud enough to hear it in your bedroom. Don't worry, you'll still fall asleep, but try to pick music you REALLY like. The sound of the music helps mask the thunder, so animals don't freak so much.

[lynnerself]

My poor 14 yo beagle is total deaf. So no thunderstorm problem for him. He has always slept in his crate at night anyway (he snores!)

[Peace Of Mind]

Oct 11, 2012 17:15:13 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Oct 11, 2012 17:07:58 GMT -5 Works4me said:

She is adorable and has a wonderfully gentle temperament for a GS. Normally she has to "secure the premises" as in will literally look in the closets if we go out and has to make sure nothing is out of place in the yard.

Something about waking up with 90 pounds of dog on my pillow is just over the top = even for me!

Yeah, my 14 pound cat is enough for me

And an 18 lb. girl and 16 lb. boy and 10 lb. girl and 9 lb. boy - who fight to see who can smother mommy the best. #6 is outside eating now.

So I guess what I'm saying is I'm no help. I can't say no to them even when they steal my pillow. I'm only staff and at their service.

I hope you are stronger than I. Good luck!

[Deleted]

My dog is a lab/german shepherd mix and he barks at thunder too. His hair will stand up and he will bark every time he hears it. Oh and he does this from the safety of the corner. Yes, he will go hide in the corner and then bark like a bad ass at the big bad thunder.

[zibazinski]

;D

[movingforward]

Oct 11, 2012 18:00:35 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Almost40 - any cute 14 pound cat stories?

Oh, he is cute all the time - I guess the cutest thing he does is carry this small stuffed mouse around with him everywhere. It is a toy I got at the Dollar Tree. This thing is like a friend to him I guess. He takes it and sits it in the window with him while he looks out. He also takes it to bed and sleeps with it. It is getting so used now that the stuffing is coming out so I went to the Dollar Tree and bought 3 more.

[imawino]

I have no good suggestions. I often wake up to find myself smooshed between my sweetie and a yellow lab, with a cat lying on my foot for good measure.

[ZaireinHD]

Oct 11, 2012 16:53:50 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Wonder if that might help.

ETA - this is the first time she has done something like this. Normally she is almost pverly well behaved and isthe one on security patrol. It was the funniest thing though to wake up with 90 pounds of dog on my head.

oh so this really is not a problem.
I find that when paying money for toys or beds for pets is a hit or miss. but give them something that costs next to nothing - they love it!

like ball up aluminum foil and roll it across the floor and the cat will play for a while and much longer that the cat toys purchased. cut down a card board box from like an appliance and put a t-shirt or socks in it with 1 or 2 pillows for a dog bed and they sleep in that much longer than the purchased bed.