OP here. I'm actually dogsitting these two for almost 2 weeks, so it's my daily responsibility to check the forecast. I forgot today, and by the time I remembered and checked I was at work. I didn't realize there would be such an explosive reaction. :P

I also heard that if you rub a dryer sheet (like a bounty sheet) on their fur it takes the static away and they calm down; which is implying the same thing I guess. Of course I don't know if that's a myth or not either.

Why assume I know nothing about dogs? I work in a grooming salon and I've owned dogs since I was a child. I've researched all sorts of things to do with dogs; and yes I know what not to feed them. If you read the FML, I just didn't realize that thunder was in the forecast. And the last sentence is there because it was such a strong reaction. ;P

Not all dogs are afraid of thunder. And the ones who are usually just bark or hide under the table, not lose complete control over their bowels like this. Unless the dog's owner warned her that the dog had such an extreme reaction to thunder, there was no way she could have known this would happen.

You realize that OP said she forgot right? She knew the dogs were afraid of thunderstorms but she forgot to check the forecast (which isn't always right anyways) and by the time she got home it was too late. Not a big deal, she just forgot. Plus there isn't much she could've done anyways even if she was home.

My dog doesn't care about thunder storms or fireworks, they don't phase her at all. Some dogs aren't scared of them you know, just because they forgot to double check the weather doesn't mean they're completely incompetent. Over reaction much?

You just had to, didn't you?

What does being from the northwest have to do with anything? We get thunder and lightning too...

It depends on the dog. My dog is a beagle and she is crate trained and stays in her crate while we are working. Beagles are pack hounds and tend to get bored and/or anxious when left alone so if we left her free we would probably come back to a destroyed, soiled house. As it is, we have had her for three years and she still sometimes howls for hours when we leave. My family, however, has a little mutt (part Yorkie but she was a stray so they aren't sure what else) and that dog can roam the house by herself all day and the place will still be pristine when someone gets home.

Interesting. I have a little dog, a yorkipoo, and although he is scared of practically everything else, he isn't afraid of storms at all. I've never known another dog that wasn't afraid of storms.

My own personal dog actually isn't scared of thunder. She's petrified of fireworks and guns, but thunder she's fine with.