does anyone know how dogs react to earthquakes (earthquake, living in)

[rlsilcox]

I have a dog that has extreme noise phobia. She reacts badly to thunder, fireworks, gunshots or anything that sounds anything like those noises. I worry that because she is generally anxious that she would react badly to earthquakes. I know people say that you don't feel most of them but because dogs senses are so much more acute than ours, I bet she would feel a lot of the smaller ones that I wouldn't even notice. I don't want to go from the frying pan into the fire as far as her problems go.

[Hemlock140]

We have had 1-2 dogs since we got married in 1974, and during the first 19 years after were living in the SF Bay Area, including the devastating Loma Prieta quake of 1989. While most of the dogs had some fearful reactions to thunder, none ever had any reaction to an earthquake. Since moving here in 1992, there have not been but 2 quakes that were even noticeable, but again, no reactions for the dogs, though all of them have still been afraid of thunder and fireworks.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

No dog I've ever had was bothered by earthquakes, but then, they weren't bothered by thunder, gunshots, or fireworks, either.

If you get tense and make a fuss about it, the dog will learn to fear earthquakes, too.

[505HPC6Z06]

There are bigger problems to worry about. After spending more than two decades in SoCal having 3 dogs, earthquakes were not an issue for them. One of which (Springer Spaniel) would bark at a feather moving that only moved in response to his breath from barking. He'd bark at a pizza box, orange tree (having a rat or squirrel). Never a problem with quakes.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

My dogs slept through them (SoCal). Birds were another story...

[greyhorsewoman]

Have you tried a 'thundershirt' for your dog? My corgi had extreme reactions to t-storms. This was recommended to me by a friend and I figured it was worth a try. It worked slowly at first, then she almost asked for it at the beginning of storms. We are years later now and she no longer needs it !!

[rantiquity]

My dog (Jack Russell) only reaction to either thunder, fireworks or earthquake was raise her head think for a moment and go back doing what she was doing, being the nut case she is.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

No dog I've ever had was bothered by earthquakes, but then, they weren't bothered by thunder, gunshots, or fireworks, either.

If you get tense and make a fuss about it, the dog will learn to fear earthquakes, too.

That I can agree with 100%.