A friend who is a dog trainer and I were discussing my Husky who hates thunderstorms! I was advised to rub her coat down with a dryer sheet to prevent the static from building up in her coat. It was also mentioned that if you have a dog who has issues riding in the car, it could be because of the static in the car. Try rubbing them down with the dryer sheets. I did try it before a storm and she was much calmer.
By Julie from Brockton, MA
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That sounds great! What an easy remedy to try! Robyn
This may sound like a strange suggestion but there is a harpist who has recorded a relaxation CD and of course it is all harp music. We have played this CD for an older dog who was at the point of needing to be sedated during storms.
Very interesting therapy. My dogs are greyhounds so fur and static are not a problem.
A vet once suggested valerian root as a sedative for dogs bothered by thunder. It works and is available without prescription at places like Wal-Mart.
Julie and Robyn, and everyone, please DON'T use dryer sheets on your pets! I am pasting below a copy of a post I sent in a couple of years ago, explaining how harmful the chemicals in dryer sheets are. For the sake of your pets, your children and yourselves, please read this:
Warning About Dryer Sheets And Pets
There have been several posts lately involving the use of dryer sheets around pets - either wiping the pet or their bedding with dryer sheets. I posted feedback to one, but this keeps coming up, so I am submitting my two-cents as a tip.
This is a very dangerous idea, because dryer sheets contain poisonous, even carcinogenic, chemicals. Pets lick themselves and sometimes their surroundings, so you don't want to use anything that can leave behind chemicals that they can ingest.
Dryer sheets contain loads of toxic chemicals, such as benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, and chloroform, among others, some of which the manufacturers don't have to reveal to the public. Some of these chemicals cause the softening and others are used to perfume the sheets to give them their "lovely" aromas.
Many of these chemicals are in other consumer products like dish and laundry detergents, soaps, air fresheners (especially deadly), shampoos, deodorants, creams, etc.
There is a false assumption by the FDA and other regulatory agencies that these chemicals are safe and are not absorbed through the skin. However, this wrong, as these chemicals can be found in the blood of nearly every citizen. This is how nicotine patches work - by absorption through the skin. If nicotine is absorbed through the skin, you can bet these other chemicals are too. You are exposed to them because your clothes are covered with these chemicals from the laundry detergent and fabric softeners (liquid or sheets), and you are absorbing them all through your skin. Add to this the chemicals from all the other products mentioned above. We have been exposing ourselves to a lot of dangerous stuff over the years, folks.
These chemicals cause liver damage, hormone disruption, nervous system problems, cancer and other serious or chronic health problems. Humans should not expose themselves to these toxins, let alone their pets or children, who are prone to licking everything or putting things in their mouths, an even more direct and more toxic method of exposure than through the skin.
There are safer, more natural alternatives to these products. Please, please do not wipe your pets, their bedding, or anything else, with dryer sheets. Don't let your children suck on their chemically fabric softened "blankies".
Here is a link to just one article about dryer sheet chemicals; there are many more - just Google the words "dryer sheet toxic" in any order. Also check out articles on the chemicals in air fresheners - they're pretty scary.
www.naturalnews.com/
Source: Natural News, and many other sites, for podcasts I wrote last year.
By Pixiedust7 from Wantagh, Long Island, NY
This is an interesting solution but it really depends on how severely your dog fears thunderstorms. Our German Shepard was SO terrified our Vet prescribed tranquilizers for her. It helped a lot. She was aware of the storm but no longer paced about rapidly & howled constantly.
This is true, the dryer sheets are full of toxins. It is interesting that this would help and makes me think that it must have something to do with the extra lack of pressure during a thunderstorm perhaps. What could we do to lessen the static? It poses an interesting question.
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