I recently got a 4-month-old corgi puppy who was absolutely obsessed with playing fetch. We’d spend at least 30 minutes a day in the backyard tossing his favorite ball, and he’d come bounding back every single time, tail wagging like crazy. But a couple of nights ago, we had a pretty intense thunderstorm with loud booms and flashing lightning. Since then, every time I try to grab his ball or even say "fetch," he hides behind the couch or just looks at me like he doesn’t understand. I’ve tried lots of gentle encouragement, sitting quietly with him while holding the ball, and even playing soft music to calm him down, but nothing seems to bring back his usual excitement. I really want to help him get over whatever’s frightening him so we can enjoy our playtime again. Has anyone else’s puppy had a similar setback after a storm? How long did it take for them to bounce back? Are there specific things I can do to gently rebuild his confidence around playing fetch?

On 02/12/2026 at 2:15 AM, HappyBee276 said:

I recently got a 4-month-old corgi puppy who was absolutely obsessed with playing fetch. We’d spend at least 30 minutes a day in the backyard tossing his favorite ball, and he’d come bounding back every single time, tail wagging like crazy. But a couple of nights ago, we had a pretty intense thunderstorm with loud booms and flashing lightning. Since then, every time I try to grab his ball or even say "fetch," he hides behind the couch or just looks at me like he doesn’t understand. I’ve tried lots of gentle encouragement, sitting quietly with him while holding the ball, and even playing soft music to calm him down, but nothing seems to bring back his usual excitement. I really want to help him get over whatever’s frightening him so we can enjoy our playtime again. Has anyone else’s puppy had a similar setback after a storm? How long did it take for them to bounce back? Are there specific things I can do to gently rebuild his confidence around playing fetch?

That sudden shift in your corgi’s behavior makes total sense after such a scary thunderstorm. My golden retriever had a similar reaction to a storm when he was a pup - he went from fetch fanatic to cautious and shy for a few days. What helped was slowly reintroducing the ball without pressure, like just holding it nearby during calm moments and rewarding any curious sniffing or approach with treats. No need to say “fetch” right away; just let him rediscover the ball as a fun, safe thing at his own pace.

Also, if you can, try playing fetch in a quieter, more enclosed space at first - sometimes the backyard can feel too big or echoey after a storm, which might add to the anxiety. It can take a few days to a couple of weeks, but with gentle patience, most pups bounce back and get excited again. Your corgi’s tail wagging will be back before you know it!

On 02/12/2026 at 2:15 AM, HappyBee276 said:

I recently got a 4-month-old corgi puppy who was absolutely obsessed with playing fetch. We’d spend at least 30 minutes a day in the backyard tossing his favorite ball, and he’d come bounding back every single time, tail wagging like crazy. But a couple of nights ago, we had a pretty intense thunderstorm with loud booms and flashing lightning. Since then, every time I try to grab his ball or even say "fetch," he hides behind the couch or just looks at me like he doesn’t understand. I’ve tried lots of gentle encouragement, sitting quietly with him while holding the ball, and even playing soft music to calm him down, but nothing seems to bring back his usual excitement. I really want to help him get over whatever’s frightening him so we can enjoy our playtime again. Has anyone else’s puppy had a similar setback after a storm? How long did it take for them to bounce back? Are there specific things I can do to gently rebuild his confidence around playing fetch?

Your corgi’s sudden fear makes total sense - thunderstorms can really shake up a pup’s world, especially when they’re still so young and learning what’s safe. I had a similar experience with my golden retriever puppy; after a big storm, she wouldn’t even go near her favorite squeaky toy for a few days. What helped was just letting her set the pace - no pressure to fetch right away. I’d sit with her quietly, sometimes tossing the ball gently nearby without expecting her to chase it, and gradually she started showing interest again.

Maybe try pairing the ball with some super tasty treats or extra cuddles, so he starts associating it with good things again. And if you can, play fetch indoors in a cozy spot where he feels safe, so he can rebuild that fun memory without the scary storm sounds looming. It might take a little time, but patience and gentle encouragement usually do the trick!

On 02/15/2026 at 11:45 AM, ot881 said:

On 02/12/2026 at 2:15 AM, HappyBee276 said:

I recently got a 4-month-old corgi puppy who was absolutely obsessed with playing fetch. We’d spend at least 30 minutes a day in the backyard tossing his favorite ball, and he’d come bounding back every single time, tail wagging like crazy. But a couple of nights ago, we had a pretty intense thunderstorm with loud booms and flashing lightning. Since then, every time I try to grab his ball or even say "fetch," he hides behind the couch or just looks at me like he doesn’t understand. I’ve tried lots of gentle encouragement, sitting quietly with him while holding the ball, and even playing soft music to calm him down, but nothing seems to bring back his usual excitement. I really want to help him get over whatever’s frightening him so we can enjoy our playtime again. Has anyone else’s puppy had a similar setback after a storm? How long did it take for them to bounce back? Are there specific things I can do to gently rebuild his confidence around playing fetch?

Your corgi’s sudden fear makes total sense - thunderstorms can really shake up a pup’s world, especially when they’re still so young and learning what’s safe. I had a similar experience with my golden retriever puppy; after a big storm, she wouldn’t even go near her favorite squeaky toy for a few days. What helped was just letting her set the pace - no pressure to fetch right away. I’d sit with her quietly, sometimes tossing the ball gently nearby without expecting her to chase it, and gradually she started showing interest again.

Maybe try pairing the ball with some super tasty treats or extra cuddles, so he starts associating it with good things again. And if you can, play fetch indoors in a cozy spot where he feels safe, so he can rebuild that fun memory without the scary storm sounds looming. It might take a little time, but patience and gentle encouragement usually do the trick!

That sudden shift in your corgi’s reaction to fetch after the storm really hits home. My lab mix had a similar freak-out after a thunderstorm, and it took a bit of patience before he’d even look at his favorite frisbee again. What helped me was pairing the ball with some super tasty treats and keeping the sessions really short and low-key at first - no pressure, just fun vibes. Over time, he started associating the ball with good things again, not just the scary noises from the storm.

Also, I noticed your gentle encouragement approach is spot on. Sometimes just being calm and consistent really helps them feel safe. Maybe try playing fetch indoors in a quiet spot initially, so the environment feels more controlled? That way, the ball stays a source of joy rather than stress. Hope your little guy bounces back soon - corgis are such characters, and I bet he’s just waiting for the right moment to get his fetch groove back!