0
0
DID YOU KNOW? While a human’s range of hearing is 64-23,000 Hz, a dog’s hearing ranges at 67-45,000 Hz. This simply means that dogs can hear much higher pitches of sound than we can.
Dogs also can hear about 4 times as far away as we can.
So, if your dog acts like he doesn’t want to go outside while it is raining, that’s why. Dogs try to avoid rain because of the sound that rain makes. As raindrops land on the porch or on different objects or even on the ground, the sound is a little overwhelming to a dog and tends to frighten them.
The sound of rain can have a more intense affect on a dog that has a sensitive, anxious or nervous personality. Thunder and lightening (that often accompanies rain) can also frighten a dog because of the intense sounds they make.
We don’t think about this as we hear sounds: Things that move make sound waves with their movement. Those sound waves can be at higher decibels than we can hear, but your dog can hear them.
Humans have 6 muscles that cause ear movement, but dog’s have 18. A dog that has floppy ears can block out some of the sounds, but a dog that has upright or pointed ears has no ability to block the sounds. Pugs have floppy ears, so the sound of rain might not be quite as intense for them.
What can you do to help your dog be comfortable in the rain?
You can have them wear a raincoat, but I have read that raincoats may amplify the sound of the rain because of the hard plastic material. When it is raining and Molly has to go out, I put her coat on, but it’s not a rain coat. The material of the coat is soft and I let her wear it so she doesn’t get too wet.
When it rains softly, try taking your dog for a short walk to help him get used to the sound of the rain. Talk to him softly and hold a umbrella over him to keep him from getting too wet. Help him understand that rain is not a threat to him, but rather it’s just temporary.
If your dog still acts like he doesn’t want to go out in the rain, try carrying him and go for a short walk. He’ll still be out in the rain and he’ll be listening to the sounds of it, but he’ll also know that he is protected.
Try playing in the rain!! Molly doesn’t mind the rain.. and I think this is why. When she was little and it would rain, my son and I would take her to the park. Jake and Molly would run through all the puddles… and she absolutely loved it. He would laugh and she would be ready to find another puddle. If you act like you are having fun in the rain, your dog will probably want to join in on the fun. SPLASH, JUMP, LAUGH AND RUN!! Your dog will start associating rain with having fun. Be sure to introduce them to water when they are small.
Other things to think about when it rains:
Dogs are creatures of habit. Don’t stop his activities if it rains. Molly and I still walk… even if it is raining, as long as it’s not raining hard. And, we LOVE to walk directly after a rain.
After walking, if your dog gets wet, be sure to dry him off when you get home. If fur stays damp or wet, it can promote fungi or bacteria. I dry Molly with a hair dryer… and she loves it- it’s like a spa day for her.
Paws are also prone to infection. Be sure to dry your dog’s paws when you come inside after walking in the rain.
If your dog has upright or pointed ears, they may need to be dried too. Look at your dog’s ears. If they look wet on the inside, take a small amount of cotton and just gently rub the inside of the ear.
As much fun as it is to run through standing water, DON’T let your dog drink it. Standing water CAN have dangerous bacteria in it. And, again dry your dogs paws after they have played in the water.
If dogs are exposed to wet, cold weather for long periods of time, their respiratory tract can become inflamed, which can lead to pneumonia (especially young and older dogs). If you take your dog out to play in the water, just do it for short periods of time.
Most of all, HAVE FUN… EVEN WHEN IT IS RAINING!!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pugs Kisses,
Candy
