It’s raining dogs and dogs! Can the weather affect your dog’s mood?
Here in the UK, you might be forgiven for thinking that we’re obsessed with the weather, as it is one of our go-to topics of conversation and one of the easiest openers to begin a chat with a stranger or to fill a lull in a conversation.
Most of us have a preferred season and type of weather too, and feel that the weather actually affects our mood, for better or for worse – but is the same true for dogs? Can the weather affect your dog’s mood? Yes, it can. This article will tell you how different types of weather can affect dog’s moods and why this is. Read on to learn more.
Your Dog’s Breed and Weather Comfort
Your dog’s breed might dictate the type of weather they’re most comfortable in. Different dog breeds often originate from distinct geographic regions, and some of these are very hot climates and others very cold.
This means that the breed of dog you own can have an impact on the type of weather they’re most comfortable in. Comfort levels will affect your dog’s mood, and the temperature that is ideal for one dog might be a little chilly or a little too warm for another.
Unhappiness in Hot Weather
Dog breeds that have very long and thick coats are apt to suffer in hot weather. Additionally, brachycephalic dogs, like the French bulldog and the pug, are apt to feel the heat quite acutely, find hot weather a struggle, and be prone to overheating faster.
Dogs tend to be more irritable and less tolerant in the heat – like people! Regardless of breed and how hot the weather itself is, any dog that is too hot, particularly one that cannot cool down effectively, is going to be unhappy and potentially irritable and even snappy.
Cold Weather and Dogs
As long as your dog isn’t cold, colder weather doesn’t tend to upset dogs. Regardless of the breed or type of dog you own and how badly they feel the cold, there will be options available to you to maintain their temperature at a comfortable level.
This means that you can theoretically prevent a dog from becoming too cold, and colder weather itself should not upset them; although rain, sleet, and snow might!
Windy Weather Effects
Weather that is very blustery or windy can make dogs excitable because it adds a lot of stimulus, including scent, and affects the way things move. However, these same effects can also make some dogs flighty, anxious, or unpredictable as they might find it frightening and confusing.
Snow: Love and Fear
Many dogs are fascinated by falling snow and enjoy going out to play in the snow. However, some dogs will dislike snow as it is cold and wet, and the way it masks scents and familiar landmarks can unnerve and upset them.
Stormy Weather and Dogs
Storms that include thunder and lightning can be a real challenge for many dogs, and an unexpected clap of thunder can make even people jump in shock. Dogs may behave strangely and seem on edge when a storm is in the offing, even before you yourself realize it.
Changes in the atmosphere and electrical charges in the air can’t usually be consciously detected by people, but dogs can pick up on them; and if you know what signs to look for, you may learn to recognize them in your dog in turn.
Dark, Rainy Weather Impact
Cloudy weather and rain or drizzle can make everything look grey and depressing, and make many of us reluctant to go outside. This type of weather can also have a similar impact on your dog, and coupled with this, they will pick up on your own mood and feelings about things too.
Most dogs are slower out on walks in rain! Another weird thing about rain – other than the fact that some dogs hate it and will flatly refuse to go out in the rain at all – is that even dogs that appear unbothered and that walk quite briskly tend to take a little longer about things in the rain.
(Article source: Pets 4 Homes, Chair of the Dog)
