Frightened dogs

Question
We have two rescued dogs from different backgrounds with problems (we actually have four rescued in all).  The first ones problem is fear of thunderstoms and loud bangs - even if very distant  She dribbles with fear, shakes and needs constant petting.  She is a stray Berger de Beauce (French breed) used for herding and security work - I can't imagine her being good at either, but she is a lovely dog and perfectly normal in every other way. We know nothing of her background as she wandered in from the surrounding countryside.  
The second dog is a rescued English Springer spaniel - we know that she had a history of abuse, both physical and mental.  She has, all of a sudden, started to growl at being groomed, bathed or cleaned at all.  She swims a lot so hasn't become afraid of water, just hates bathing and showering and brushing- which were once her favourite pastimes after mousing!  How can we get her back to normal.  we can't think that anything nasty has happened to her at all and she is always with us so hasn't been mistreated by anyone else.  Please offer any suggestions - we will try them all with patience!  Thanks Jane McM

Answer
Hello Jane.  First of all thank you for resucing these pets!
For your first problem.  There is one thing that I have heard of that has worked.  This of course would be other than the patience and reassurance you are already giving her.  Tape record the sounds she is most affraid of.  Then each day at a very low volume play the tape and after a few days increase the volumne. Increasing at regular intervals.  Start off with the sound simply as background noise.  Hopefully within a few weeks this sound will be a natural occurance to her and also familar as well.  Since storms can be spaced out and not around often enough to get used to, by hearing these sounds more often she may view them as every day noises.
As for your second problem...She as you may think  does not associate her discompfort with the water, but with the feeling of being confined, restrained, or even her space being invaded.  This may bring back bad memories.  I would try maybe changing her bathing area to if at all possible to a space outside, giving her a more open area feeling.  Try bathing her one on one so she doesn't feel she is being surrounded.  These are just some thoughts.  Most of all make this a positive experience using treats reassuring voices and any other way you might think she would not feel that she is being punished.  Good luck, Cindy lou :)