Can Dogs Predict Storms?
A dog’s senses – smell and hearing in particular – are far more sensitive than ours. As well as this, dogs are also very sensitive to atmospheric changes relating to different pressure changes in the environment around them. But – does this mean dogs can sense impeding gales and heavy rain? Read our Holidays4Dogs article to find out if dogs can predict storms.
Any astute dog owner will know that a dog’s senses are much more finely tuned than humans. A dog’s sense of hearing and smell is far better than ours, which means they can potentially sense things we can’t. They may, for instance, hear the distant rumbling of thunder long before we can. They have 20 times more scent receptors than we do as well, so they may well be able to ‘smell’ rain coming.
Furthermore, dogs can sense drops in barometric pressure – a typical indication of an impending storm. Have you noticed your dog acting strange before a storm arrives?
Barometric pressure.
Some dogs will alert their owners to changes in barometric pressure by panting, pacing, or being clingier in anticipation of a thunderstorm. Some scientists even suggest that it is possible for dogs to get headaches as a result of differences in air pressure, just as people experience head, or sinus pressure.
Rapid changes in barometric pressure can affect the middle ear in humans. This is typically experienced during take off and landing when travelling on an aeroplane. However, a similar effect can happen when barometric pressure falls – such as before a storm. There is no reason why dogs may not experience this sensation as well.
A dog’s sense of smell may also be another reason why they appear to predict an oncoming storm. Whereas a person only has around 5 million sense receptors in their noses, dogs have closer to 200 million.
This means it’s likely they can sense the effects of distant rain on the environment, long before we can. Dogs can also detect the scent of lightning when it ionizes in the surrounding air, which has a lower resistance. They are also reputed to have the ability to detect changes in the Earth’s magnetic field.
Static electricity.
According to some experts, dogs acquire static charge in their fur during a thunderstorm and, although many people believe it is the loud noise that causes the dog panic, it may actually be the static shocks the dog receives.
The sensation may cause a tingling sensation through the fur, which makes the dog feel anxious. A tumble dryer sheet rubbed over the dog, is said to help reduce the build-up of static electricity on the fur. This may be one solution for dogs with a fear of thunder and lightning.
How to support your dog during a storm.
For all the reasons above, dogs can find storms frightening and possibly physically uncomfortable. However, there are ways you can help reduce the feelings of stress and anxiety.
Create a safe space such as a covered crate or, a cosy bed under a table. Put on some soothing music to help drown out the sound of thunder. Provide a treat filled Kong, or something similar. Chewing helps to soothe dogs and engaging in this can help to keep them calm. Pressure vests are reputed to help some dogs. You can make one out of old clothing, or buy ones specifically for pet use.
Conclusion.
It does seem that dogs, as well as other animals and birds, have the ability to detect changes in the atmosphere to a much higher degree than humans can. However, there is little scientific evidence that can confirm that dogs (or other animals) have a ‘sixth sense’ when it comes to predicting storms. It is probably more accurate to say dogs are quicker to react to atmospheric changes, rather than having the ability to actually predict the weather.
That said, it is clear that dogs are able to make much more use of their existing senses than humans do – primarily because they hearing and smell senses are biologically much stronger than ours. Not all dogs are sensitive to these changes, though, and many may not be very good at picking up on signs that indicate changes in weather patterns.
