• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Dog People by Rover.com

Powered by Rover.com

Tips, stories, and reviews for people who love dogs, powered by Rover.com, the world's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

  • The Dog People by Rover.com
  • Get Rover
    • Boarding
    • House Sitting
    • Dog Walking
    • Doggy Day Care
    • Drop-In Visits
    • Dog Training through Good Pup
  • Dog Breeds
    • Golden Retriever
    • Australian Shepherd
    • German Shepherd
    • Pomeranian
    • Shih Tzu
    • Border Collie
    • Labrador Retriever
    • Boxer
    • Beagle
    • Dachshund
    • Chihuahua
    • Poodle
    • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Dog Names
    • Best Girl Dog Names
    • Top Boy Dog Names
    • Unique Dog Names
    • Cute Dog Names
    • Best Puppy Names
    • Dog Name Generator
    • Tough Dog Names
    • Food Dog Names
    • Romantic Dog Names
    • Literary Dog Names
    • Country Dog Names
  • Dog Videos
  • Life with Dogs
    • Dog Safety
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Psychology
    • Dog Nutrition
    • Dog Training
    • Health and Wellness
    • Recipes
    • Can My Dog Eat…?
  • PuppyHQ
    • Dog Adoption
    • Puppy Essentials
    • Puppy Names
    • Puppy Training
  • Shopping
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • All Dog Product Guides
    • Dog Gift Guides
    • Safety and Training
    • Toys and Chews
  • Cats!
    • Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
    • Cat Psychology
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Love
    • Cute
    • Funny
    • Heartwarming
    • Quizzes
    • Trending
    • True Stories
    • Search Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
    • Shop Rover Goods
    • Sitter Resources
  • Languages
    • en-CA
    • en-GB
    • fr-FR
    • es-ES
    • de-DE
    • it-IT
    • nl-NL
    • nb-NO
    • sv-SE
    • fr-CA

The Surprising Reason Dogs Hate Thunderstorms—and How to Help

Share12kPin It425
dog static storms

The Surprising Reason Dogs Hate Thunderstorms—and How to Help

Caring for Your Dog
By Erica Jorgensen

Share12kTweet0Pin It425

Quick: why do dogs hate thunderstorms? Most of us believe it’s about the noise, but it turns out that’s not the whole story. Learning the real reason dogs don’t like storms will help you comfort your pet when the rain starts. It could be a game-changer for you both!

Summertime means sunshine, road trips, picnics, and boat rides. Unfortunately for dogs, it also means thunderstorms, which can upset many dogs to the point of panic. According to one study, about one-third of dogs have anxiety, and thunderstorms are at the top of the list of anxiety-inducing situations.

Many dog parents believe that it’s the sheer volume of thunder that upsets dogs the most. Some recent studies by scientists and veterinarians in clinical research, however, indicate that the booming sound of thunder is just a small part of what upsets dogs during electric storms.

Scared pug - common dog fears

Flickr/gullevek

Cutting through the static

It’s actually static electricity that makes dogs feel uncomfortable.

What some studies show is that it’s actually the uncomfortable feeling of static electricity, especially the feeling of it tingling through their fur, that makes dogs feel uncomfortable. It can prompt them to run around the house whimpering, looking for places to hide.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman is the director of the Animal Behavior department at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. He says that dogs may experience numerous shocks from static electricity during thunderstorms. This explains why they tend to run toward the rooms and places in your home that are grounded.

What areas are grounded? Basements, bathtubs, and other enclosed spaces, most often.

The bathtub is an excellent place for your dog to remain before, during, and after a storm passes.

This is especially true of the bathtub, which is an excellent place for your dog to remain before, during, and even after a storm passes—as it can take a while for your dog to stop feeling the effect of the storm, even after the rain, thunder, and lightning have passed. The porcelain of the bathtub effectively blocks electricity from traveling, and this is likely why dogs often jump in the tub when they feel a storm approaching.

Dryer sheets: yes or no?

It’s research like Dr. Dodman’s that prompted Martha Stewart to recommend to her readers that they rub dryer sheets on their dog’s fur during thunderstorms, to help minimize the effects of the static electricity.

If you do this infrequently, and use a brand that’s unscented, experts generally agree it’s safe.

There’s been some controversy about this, as dryer sheets can contain unwanted chemicals. However, if you do this infrequently, and use a brand that’s unscented, experts generally agree it’s safe. Dr. Marty Becker of Vetstreet addresses this question directly; dryer sheets have helped his dog, and he does recommend them to counter static during storms. Again, use an unscented brand, and wipe lightly. Also, avoid doing this if your dog is a frequent groomer; you don’t want them to lick up the residue.

Dog jackets can also help calm down a panicky dog. Dr. Dodman has published clinical studies on these jackets’ effectiveness, including this article evaluating the effectiveness of the Anxiety Wrap, which was published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.

For more great tips, check out our in-depth post about soothing storm phobia in dogs.

Featured image: Instagram @musikarenka

Share12kTweet0Pin It425

sidebar

By Erica Jorgensen

Share This Article

Share12kTweet0Pin It425

Popular Posts

  • 5 Frighteningly Common Reasons Dogs Run Away
  • 5 Reasons Dogs Lick and Chew Their Paws — And How to Help
  • Meet Tater Tot, the Internet’s Favorite Foster Kitty
  • The ‘Catluminati’ Magically Makes Friends With Every Cat He Meets
  • The Incredible Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs (Plus Recipes)
  • Peggy the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Molly the Magpie Make the Cutest, Unlikely BFFs
  • Why Dogs Dig & How To Stop Them
  • Kids and Pets: What You Need to Know For Safe Interactions
  • Rover’s Holiday Food Safety Guide for Pets
  • Mary the Tabby Cat Can’t Stop Bringing Huge Piles of Leaves Home to Her Family
Advertisement
Advertisement

Learn More

  • About Rover.com
  • Download the App
  • Rover Store
  • Sitter Resources
  • In The Press
  • Terms of Service
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • User Terms
  • Privacy Statement
  • Cookie Policy
Advertisement
Your privacy choices
© 2023 Rover.com. All Rights Reserved.