Dryer Sheets Help Calm Dogs During Storms
One of our staffers has a Vizsla who is absolutely terrified of storms. She can sense it before the sky changes and she trembles until she can get to her “safe place” in a corner behind the couch. We know that plenty of other dogs share this terror, and we’ve just heard about a simple solution to alleviate some of that anxiety.
Apparently, dryer sheets can help calm dogs during storms! It has something to do with cutting down the static electricity that the dog senses in the atmosphere, helping the canine calm down.
(Be very careful not to let the dogs ingest the dryer sheet. There are also organic dryer sheets out there so you don’t have to rub chemicals on your dog.)
Maybe you’re miles ahead of us with this tip and you’re already well aware of the power of the dryer sheet. If so, have you tried it? Did it work?
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October 5th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I have not tried the dryer sheet method, so I don’t know if it works. I guess if you wanted to use dryer sheets you could also put them in the dryer and let the dog listen to the soothing sound of the dryer.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I read this article on here and was like “yeah right.” I have a 4 year old Shih Tzu (one of my 3) who is TERRIFIED of storms. We can always tell when it’s going to storm 1-2 hours before it happens because of his shaking, whining, and how he demands to be let into the bathroom where he can hide beside the toilet. (He is more reliable than the news for incoming storm information!) Anyway, last night when he started trembling, I thought “let me try this dumb idea” (no offense) and IT WORKED! Not only did he stop trembling and continue playing with my other dogs, but he smelled fresh like clean laundry. I recommend this to everyone. It seemed to wear off after about an hour, and he got scared again, but when I rubbed him with it again…after about 10 minutes he stopped. Thanks SO MUCH for this idea. Now if we could only figure something out for fireworks…..
October 13th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Completely worked! I used it on a small terrier who would literally jump in the tub with her owner during storms! With the dryer sheets rubbed around like it was a ritual made the terrier actually relax in her own doggie bed while her owner showered!
October 17th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Dryer sheets work great, however if a snug t-shirt is used with it, will work much better. Reason being —– The t-shirt being snug makes them feel safe (comforted by humans), the dryer sheet rubbed on extremeties (legs) , breaks the static electricity they feel through the ground or florrs of the environment. Then turn TV or Radio on to sound out the thunder. I have reccommend this process to alot of my clients for years - GREAT FOR STORM FEARS
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The dryer sheets aren’t toxic to the dog? My best friend has this problem and I want to suggest this to her but I want to make sure it will be totally safe for her dog. He has a sensitive stomach although I don’t think his skin is sensitive. He seems mostly scared by the noise, though. He doesn’t get scared until the thunder starts.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
My dog loves dryer sheets and begs for them all the time. He does not care if it is a storm or not, he rolls on them and asks for another one.
December 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
WOW. I’ll have to try this next time there is a storm
December 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
I don’t know about using a dryer sheet to calm dogs during t-storms. I know that my mom does it when her little teacup chihuahua smells bad and can’t give her a bath. It does wonders to make the dog smell better. However, this only works for a little while. My mom and friend use paper towels to dry off their dogs when they come back in the house after pottying. Who knows why, but that also makes them feel ’safe.’ All I can say is that if using a dryer sheet to calm your dog during storms works for you, then, full speed ahead!
Does anyone know if this works for cats too? I’m asking b/c my sweet cat is also terrified of storms.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I tried this but rubbed her back a few times, and she seemed to get loopy for awhile… next time I will try the extremeties or only once on her back… worked for me…