Yes, the weather does affect dog behavior. Whether it is rainy, summer, or winter, a dog’s mood and diet change as the weather surrounding them changes. You might have noticed your dog being extra lazy during the summers and winters and the most active in spring. This all depends on how the weather affects your dog’s behavior. 

In this blog, we will understand how different weather affects a dog’s behavior and what you can do as a pet parent to help them!

Are Dogs Affected by Rainy Weather?

Be it rain, snow, or hailstorms, dogs are quite connected to their environment and behave accordingly. When it rains, it’s not just water dripping from above for dogs. It carries much more meaning to them. Rain gives your dog an ultimate sensory experience by triggering its ability to hear and smell. Rainy weather affects dogs’ behavior by mentally triggering them.

Rains often wash away scents making dogs a constant sniffing machine. It also accounts for making your dog feel drowsy and bored. But not every dog feels this way. Some dogs love water and are the most active during rainy weather. 

Keeping Your Dog Safe During Rainy Weather

Now you know how rainy weather affects your dog’s behavior. But do you know how you can help them during this hard time?

If your fur baby gets wet dry them immediately, to avoid itching and rashes. Use anti-bacterial sprays and powders to prevent infections from spreading. 

Put an extra blanket to keep them warm overnight and turn on the heater if needed. 

Look out for illnesses in your dog and if you see any signs rush them to your nearest vet. If you are around Ada you can visit Ada vet clinic.

Does Hot Weather Affect Dogs

With the start of scorching heat and persistent sweaty days, the hot weather will affect your dog’s behavior. In the initial spring season, you might see energy boosts and happy moods but as the heat increases your dog will become increasingly lazy.  

They will start avoiding day walks, eating during morning hours, and prefer sleeping all day long just like us!

Heat causes dog aggression, increasing their chances of biting others. It’s best to keep them away from strangers, and children to avoid major accidents.  

Keeping Your Dog Safe in Hot Weather 

Many dog breeds hate the hot weather. It affects their behavior immensely causing irritation and laziness. So as responsible dog parents, it’s necessary to take appropriate care to keep them safe during the hot weather. 

Dog care first starts by understanding your fur baby’s needs. If your dog has a light coat they might not be as affected by the hot weather as dogs with thick coats. But heat-related illnesses are a common threat for all breed types. 

As hot weather can affect your dog’s behavior it’s important to keep them in the shade and provide ample amounts of water to keep them hydrated. 

Do not leave your dogs inside the car for long hours as the temperature can rise drastically causing heat stroke or sunburn. 

If your dog has a thick coat it’s best to get rid of their overcoat. Also, keep them in relaxed environments like air-conditioned rooms to help them with the excess heat. You can also invest in an inflated water pool to keep them fresh and cool. 

As hot weather can affect your dog’s behavior prefer taking them for night walks with dog boots on. This will protect their paw-paw from the intense concrete heat. 

Does Cold Weather Affect Dogs

Just like the rainy and hot weather, winters also affect dog behavior. Be it the Canadian snow, or just the normal winter chills, dogs do get affected by it. Some dog breeds like Huskies, Newfoundlands, and German Shepherds love winter, but they too need to be taken care of during harsh weather. 

Other dog breeds with lighter coats may find the winters too cold to get out of bed. They will also get lazy and avoid long walks. In such times it’s best to pull out their winter coats to keep them warm. 

Just like cold weather can affect your dog’s behavior, it can also affect their physical health. Winters are more associated with causing arthritis in dogs leaving them stuck and in pain. It’s best to consult your nearest vet for proper guidance. 

Keeping Your Dog Safe in Cold Weather 

We all know many dogs love winter but that doesn’t mean leaving them out in the chill for hours. Extreme cold can cause frostbite and hypothermia in dogs. So it’s important to keep them indoors. 

If your dog has short hair and has their skin and paw pads exposed, just pull out their favorite sweaters and socks to keep them warm. After walks always wipe down your pet’s paws with a warm towel to avoid rock salt and other chemicals used for melting ice, entering their body. 

Can Dogs Get Sick from Weather Changes

Yes, a dog can get sick from weather changes. With the slightest temperature change dogs can get sick and feel constipated. This happens as their immune system struggles to adjust to the changing weather. If you see any signs of sickness, rush them to your vet. 

To avoid your dog from getting sick try to reduce their bathing time during the winter and feed home-cooked food during the summers. 

Do Dogs Get Seasonal Depression?

Well, research does point toward seasonal depression in dogs as it gets more wintery but more needs to be explored. In 2012, The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals conducted a survey to prove the same and noticed milder dogs’ behavior in winter. So this does prove that weather affects dog behavior. 

Dog behavior is also influenced by how we act during the winter. If you keep yourself stuck to bed, surviving on cold processed foods, then your dog will learn the same. With a lack of exercise and stimulation walks your dog will feel bored and eventually show symptoms of seasonal depression. 

So as dog parents, it’s your responsibility to stay active and take them out for walks to maintain their energy levels. 

To Conclude 

Yes, weather does affect a dog’s behavior. Be it summer, winter, or the rainy season weather affects dogs. So it’s best to keep your pet safe to avoid any accidents.