Dogs and Anxiety: How Lava, Hela and Lajka React to Everything

Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two crossbreed dogs, Lava and Hela.

Having three dogs with totally different personalities is quite fun. It’s interesting to observe each one’s reaction to a common event, such as visitors, or a more uncommon and stressful one like sudden thunderstorms. And it’s also peculiar that with the three of them spending all of their time together, they don’t seem to be picking up on each other’s confidence when dealing with certain phobias. You would think that one of them being calm and composed would reassure the others, but I have not noticed this so far. And of course, there’s always that one dog unfazed by everything.

Lava the Fearless

Lava is my favorite, in all honesty. I’ve had her the longest and she is such a character. Stubborn, independent, sweet, and persuasive, but also a menace at times. It’s impossible not to love her. And she is also one of the most fearless dogs I’ve ever had. Nothing phases her. She can sit outside in the heavy rain, with thunder and lightning, and not seem bothered at all. I am the one who rushes her inside hoping to keep her safe and dry. One would say fearless, but I can’t help to wonder if it’s just a pure lack of common sense with her.

However, it does make me feel content knowing she isn’t scared and can endure the worst of thunderstorms while cozily sleeping on the sofa. But one thing she did teach the other two dogs, and I wish she hadn’t, is barking at the visitors. As we live rurally and rarely see any cars coming up, every guest is special and deserves a loud welcome. And the dogs do their best to express their hospitality during such exciting times. Luckily, there are no neighbors to complain about the noise.

Hela and Her Fear of Thunderstorms

Hela is a different story altogether. She’s now been with us for almost 2 years, and initially, she didn’t seem too fussed about thunderstorms. She wasn’t as relaxed as Lava, but she appeared fairly comfortable. This poor dog must have endured quite a few unpleasant weather events while she lived in Greece, tied to a tree. But in the last year of living with me, as we’ve had a summer with quite a few nasty storms, she started becoming very anxious. Despite me turning the music on, distracting her, giving her a licky mat, slow feeder, or a chew, this is the only time I see her genuinely scared. She will eat the treats but will then retreat under a table or bed, anywhere she can fit in, and she is not that small. It’s sad looking at her so distressed. She doesn’t shake, but by her facial expressions, it’s clear that she is scared. And unfortunately, she doesn’t take any comfort in seeing how relaxed Lava is.

Lajka and Her Loud Disapproval of Being Left Alone

Little Lajka has only been living with me for two months, and we have experienced a mild thunderstorm since, during which she seemed reasonably calm. However, in her eyes, me leaving the house and her staying with the other two dogs alone is the absolute worst. She is kept in a crate when I’m not there, as she can’t be trusted around cat food, although she’s slowly getting the hang of things. She is fine sleeping in her crate otherwise and this is where she is fed, so the only issue arises when I decide to leave. Most times, I haven’t even gotten as far as the car parked just outside the house, and I can hear her barking. I have a pet camera and can see that both Lava and Hela, and even the cats, are sleeping peacefully, and there is Lajka, barking constantly. For the first few times I left the house, every time I checked the camera, she would be barking. But in the last week, there was silence. I would go to the store or to see my family, and every time I turned on the camera, there was no noise. Bliss. She is quite an intelligent little dog and also very adaptable to her new living arrangements.

Each One Is Unique

With all their quirks and phobias, or lack of them, each dog makes such a special character that seems to complement the others. Lava and Hela have accepted Lajka so quickly and smoothly, and Lajka has already found her spot on the bed, that it feels like they’ve been a pack for years. I hope their bond continues to grow and that they somehow find comfort in each other, especially during stressful times, or when I’m not around. Otherwise, I’ll be there to reassure them myself.