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Dog has become really anxious about wind noise.

(26 Posts)
Lizzies Sun 29-Mar-26 16:41:24

My dog has recently become fireworks level anxious when we have windy weather. I live in an older park home and before I had extra external cladding fitted last year strong winds caused a bit of movement. This bothered Ellie a bit, but not as bad as now. There is a fair amount of noise from the wind and it does blow my bins over, but I don’t think it’s too bad. Ellie paces, digs up the bath mat, comes and puts her front legs on the sofa next to me, but if I go to pet her she pulls away. I have tried calming chews, drops to go in her mouth and stuff in her water. Has anyone any advice because she isn’t eating either.

Rocketstop2 Sun 29-Mar-26 18:44:48

Have you tried putting the radio on near to where she sits just to drown out the wind noise a bit ?

Oreo Sun 29-Mar-26 18:47:48

Just a very nervous dog isn’t she? Show her that the noise doesn’t bother you therefore she has nothing to worry about by not fussing her when she gets nervous.Dogs go by your tone so just use your normal voice with her.

Lizzies Sun 29-Mar-26 18:51:55

Rocketstop2

Have you tried putting the radio on near to where she sits just to drown out the wind noise a bit ?

I have tried that before, but it didn’t work. I have had the tv on full volume too with the same results.

Lizzies Sun 29-Mar-26 18:52:53

Oreo

Just a very nervous dog isn’t she? Show her that the noise doesn’t bother you therefore she has nothing to worry about by not fussing her when she gets nervous.Dogs go by your tone so just use your normal voice with her.

I do just sit quietly, but it’s so distressing.

Grandmabatty Sun 29-Mar-26 18:54:22

There's a calming plug in you can get to help. Sorry, I can't remember what its called

Lizzies Sun 29-Mar-26 18:54:23

She’s ok with going outside for a walk when it’s windy, but I have an open plan garden so I can’t put her outside.

Rocketstop2 Sun 29-Mar-26 18:54:52

Maybe try distraction , like when the wind gives a big blow, call her name and fuss her and give her a little treat ? Other than that you could find a dog behaviour specialist online who may advise you .

AuntieE Mon 30-Mar-26 16:45:29

How old is Ellie? If this is a new thing, it could be due to loss of hearing making it hard for her to identify the sounds she is hearing.

As she is not bothered outside, as long as you are at the other end of her lead, keeping her near you indoors might help.

Cats dislike high winds, as they know they hear less well when the wind is behind them. Young dogs are usually not bothered, but older dogs frequently are.

Is she still scared after you tell her it is only the wind, in much the same tone of voice as you would use to a toddler scared by thunder?

Is it only in high winds she is off her food? If not, it would be well to get her to the vet for a check-up.

Magenta8 Mon 30-Mar-26 16:49:55

Grandmabatty

There's a calming plug in you can get to help. Sorry, I can't remember what its called

Adaptil

MayBee70 Mon 30-Mar-26 16:50:10

Grandmabatty

There's a calming plug in you can get to help. Sorry, I can't remember what its called

Adaptil. You can also get sprays and collars. It’s my first go to when it comes to anxiety related problems. I always get a plug in if I have a puppy. I agree about a hearing check though.

Lovetopaint037 Mon 30-Mar-26 17:30:45

We had a golden retriever and she was terrified of the noise a dust cart made. She would take off with me flying in the air. Other than that she was a lovely docile dog. Nothing phased her.

Gwyllt Mon 30-Mar-26 17:31:16

Any chance of trying to decondiyion the dog by if there is a light wind and they are calm praise stroke and give treat. Hard as it may be try ignoring when anxious. Possibly they think you are anxious when the wind blows and you are reacting.
Slightly different if husband coughs or sneezes if dog is near he becomes agitated but to no one else. I suspect he might have coughed or sneezed all over him as a puppy but he won’t take my hypothesis seriously

valdavi Mon 30-Mar-26 17:38:11

Dogs have a wider hearing range to humans, so with this "sounds" anxiety it's always difficult for us to understand.

So maybe your husband's sneeze has some topnotes that we can't hear but dogs can & it sounds very different to a dog?

Maybe there is something in the wind making a very high-pitched whistle OP. You won't hear it, but the dog will.

Any inventors out there to devise something that will let us hear what our dogs are hearing? A sneeze, you can't change but if something is whistling in the wind, that might be solvable if only we could hear what it is...

OldFrill Mon 30-Mar-26 17:48:55

Lizzies

Rocketstop2

Have you tried putting the radio on near to where she sits just to drown out the wind noise a bit ?

I have tried that before, but it didn’t work. I have had the tv on full volume too with the same results.

White noise (an out of tune radio) is better than music/talking.

Gwyllt Mon 30-Mar-26 18:02:24

Valdavi. If only I think it was because he sneezes and coughed all over him as a puppy. Despite me saying uses a tissue or your elbow his …. Needs much to be desired.

JaneJudge Mon 30-Mar-26 18:37:45

my old girl became frightened of the wind. I found getting her to lie in her basket and covering her with a heavy blanket helped o if she would lie with me to cover her the same

Oreo Mon 30-Mar-26 18:58:21

Dogs look to us to protect them ( rather than the other way round) and can pick up our feelings and body language.
Don’t be upset when she is upset, she thinks you’re worried about the wind sounds too.
Be as relaxed as possible around her.😃

Lizzies Tue 31-Mar-26 16:26:42

Thank you all. She is 14 this next month and has always been a very calm dog with the exceptions of car rides and fireworks. She even sleeps through thunderstorms. I guess my reaction to her distress is adding to it so I will try to chill and also get the plug in. With regards to her feeding, I changed her food recently and she was eating it well, but she seems to have gone off it. I will try her old food and see what happens.

Lizzies Tue 31-Mar-26 17:04:11

Picture of calm dog.

JaneJudge Tue 31-Mar-26 17:17:22

I suspected she was a collie smile

JaneJudge Tue 31-Mar-26 17:18:28

Lily's kitchen is supposed to be good for these clever, sensitive stomached types!

MayBee70 Tue 31-Mar-26 18:48:31

Hate to say this but might it be doggy dementia?

Oreo Tue 31-Mar-26 21:13:40

MayBee70

Hate to say this but might it be doggy dementia?

It’s a possibility isn’t it?

Living the life of Riley by the looks of it 😃Lizzies I guess old age can change a dog’s behaviour just as it can with humans.
She isn’t blind is she?

Lizzies Tue 31-Mar-26 21:38:41

No she’s just had her yearly check up at the vets and he was very pleased with her. She jumps about like a puppy when she’s excited and the neighbours have christened her Tigger.