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Ombrophobia is the fear of rain. This is important to today’s post because Frankie suffers from ombrophobia.
Long-time readers know that Frankie has always had astraphobia – a fear of thunder. His thundershirt is a huge help in allowing Frankie to maintain some calm during thunderstorms, but he also strongly wants to avoid rain (probably associating rain with the possibility of thunder, but who knows the exact cause?).
To be fair, phobia is probably too strong of a word. He doesn’t shake or hide from the rain. He just wants to stay inside. Periodically, he will ask that we open the door so he can check to see if it is still raining, but will immediately go back inside if it is.
We should note that Frankie is blessed with the world’s biggest dog bladder. Unlike other male dogs who must mark every object on a walk, Frankie will just walk and walk until the time is right . . . and then everyone stands around and waits while he unloads. Trust us that this can take quite a long time.
Anyway, take ombrophobia and add the world’s largest dog bladder, and Frankie’s solution to rain is just to wait until it stops raining before going outside to the bathroom. He has been known to wait quite a long time, but we are not sure this is going to work this week.
At several points yesterday, Hu-dad shared this weather forecast with Frankie and asked him what his back-up plan was.
** Note – For the English majors, Ombrophobia is the Greek derived word for fear of rain. Pluviophobia has the same meaning if you prefer Latin over Greek origins. Since “phobia” is Greek, we go with Ombrophobia. You may now argue amongst yourselves as to which is the proper term.
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My Shiba Inu mix, Bandit, who crossed the Bridge in 2011, was very noise sensitive and was terrified of thunder. She would retire to The Only Safe Place In The World (under my bed) and hide for hours until she felt it was safe.
If she absolutely ‘had’ to go out, she would take care of it as quickly as possible and then run back through the dog door to hide again.
The Thunder Shirt wasn’t available until after she was gone. RIP Bandit girl.
I have dogs that have associated rain with thunder (they too are afraid of thunder) so it takes some convincing to get them out when it is just raining. Usually if I just stand there a few minutes to allow them to listen to the fact that there is no thunder or scream “squirrel”, that helps.
Frankie was Suave even then, while he waited out the rain! ?
I feel for you Frankie, we have had so much rain this year I am developing ombrophobia as well. Ruby only hates the hot weather.
Our husky mix Bradley has NO fear of thunder-lightning -rain or otherwise BUT our hound mix Sadie is PETRIFIED of all of it. I do think she actually KNOWS rain brings the BOOMS and flashes! We are fortunate though when she REALLY has to go she will quickly run out-do her thing and be back between flashes!!
Oh Frankie! Do you still hold it & hold it & hold it???
Age might make a difference or is that only Hu-man’s?
Frankie says he won’t discuss how certain things change as we age, but he has been known now to run out in the rain, get things done, and back faster than any dog.
hello frankie its dennis the vizsla dog hay i shayr this umbrellaphobia of yores!!! evrywun nos that rain brings thunder!!! their is that song abowt how rain brings corn and corn brings wiskey but i am not allowed to drink wiskey so as far as i am konsernd their is no upside to rain at all!!! ok bye
Let’s hope that bladder is holding its own! Our 10 year old Rescue all-sorts is afraid of thunder and barks angrily and loudly at every single clap, but is unperturbed by rain. We feel for you, Frankie.
our grandparents used to have Shiba Inu. bless him he LOVED the snow but almost refused to walk in the rain 🙂