Stormy Nights for Scaredy Dogs

As breeds go, Australian Cattle Dogs are great. They're smart, hard-working, and get along real well with people. In competition, they're members of the working breeds . . . which means that as a breed, even if they're born in the city, they still have pretty strong instincts and can herd cattle, if you drop them in a farm.

There's one thing that these dogs can't stand: thunder. It scares them viscerally.

Honey is no exception. She is scared of thunder, and she doesn't know where to hide or what to do when a Texas thunderstorm hits. If I am home, I usually call her over and hold her in my arms while I reassure her that it is going to be fine. The poor little pooch shakes so hard, it feels like she's vibrating.

The other night, a thunderstorm rolled in, and I was woken up by Honey, who was running around all over the room, looking for shelter. It took me three times as long to calm her down, because without the lights, every lightning strike would light up the room.

I finally managed to hold her down, and started to tell her how everything would be OK. I spent about 30 minutes with her, soothing her. After what seemed like an eternity, she was still vibrating, but as we drifted off back to sleep, I heard her give a big sigh of relief, because I was holding her.

Honey finally drifted off to slumber land, and all was well in the world.