Many of us can think our dog is just being stubborn if they refuse to go out into the rain. However, the reason often stems from a physical and sensory overload that we do not experience as humans.
Rain doesn’t just feel wet to a dog, it sounds like a drum kit. Because dogs hear frequencies up to 45,000Hz (compared with our 20,000Hz), the sound and sensation of raindrops on a roof, an umbrella, or even their own fur can feel deafening and disorienting.
A dog’s hearing is their second most powerful sense. When it rains, several physical things happen at once:
Rain hitting the ground and surrounding surfaces creates a white noise that can mask the sounds they rely on for safety.
Dogs can feel the drop in air pressure in their inner ears (similar to how your ears pop on a plane). For some dogs, this is a strange, unsettling physical sensation.
In heavier storms, static can build up in a dog’s coat, leading to literal shocks that they don’t understand.
As we know some dogs are absolutely fine in the rain, but if your dog does refuse to go out, they are not being bad. They are reacting to a world that suddenly feels—and sounds—unpredictable.
helpathanddogbehaviour #January #weather #rainydays #dogs #dogsintherain #senses #tuesday #dogbehaviour #dogbehaviourist
