Wind, thunder, heat... They can all affect Doggie's behavior and mood. Weather doesn't have the same effect on all animals, though. Some dogs are particularly scared of thunder, while others ignore it.
If you have a dog who's scared of
thunder, you already know how storms can affect canine behavior. Signs of
phobia include panting, whimpering or barking, and hiding. According to a study
conducted by Penn State University researchers, some dogs experience a rapid
increase of cortisol -- the stress hormone -- during thunderstorms. In fact,
when researchers tested the saliva of thunder-phobic dogs, they found their
production of cortisol to be 200 percent higher than that of dogs who aren't
afraid of thunder. According to the same researchers, 15 percent to 30 percent
of dogs are extremely scared of thunder.
Low-Pressure Fronts
Changes in barometric pressure can
affect dogs' behavior significantly, according to the American Animal Hospital
Association. Yours might become agitated -- if he's afraid of wind or storms --
or he might become overexcited and curious, ready to pick up scents in the air
and go exploring. If you've ever seen your dog sniffing the air as a storm
approaches, he might be monitioring incoming weather change. As pressure in the
air gets lower, the way odors travel changes. Your dog can notice these changes
even if you can't.
Sensing Bad Weather
Dogs, more perceptive to changes in
the weather than we are, can feel changes in the static electric field that
occur in the air, especially as a strong storm approaches. That's why dogs
might be able to "guess" a tornado or major storm is coming.
According to the SPCA, some dogs jump into a bathtub when they sense a change
in air static. Although experts are not sure why dogs do it -- it could be a
search for comfort or safety -- it is a common behavior as electrical storms
approach.
