“Why Is My Dog Acting Crazy?" The Windy Day Effect

This morning, I received the following email from one of my Lappie owners:

“Hi Lauren; Hope all is well and I apologise for reaching out randomly out of the blue. Oscar has been acting a little strange the last few days. He has been showing behaviours not suited to his character: Digging on the carpet throughout the night Randomly in the afternoon the past two days he just starts shaking and sitting right under our legs He seems anxious for a period of time shaking and constantly moving around the house and outside breathing heavily even when just walking He no longer sleeps in his bedroom, preferring to sleep right next to our bed or sometimes even wanting to sleep on top of us, which is not his usual routine. Have you experienced this before with other Lappies? Just not sure if it’s a phase or something we should get checked out further.”

I receive questions like this during windy periods. Dogs can behave very differently to their normal selves when there are strong winds, such as what we typically experience in August in the Sydney area each year. Oscar's changes are a perfect example of how a dogs behaviour can suddenly change when there are strong winds as what we are currently experiencing.

I notice this change in behaviour myself on strong wind days with my own dogs. All of a sudden they are more active, more prone to barking, elated, excited, 'wild', for lack of a better word. Living rurally as I do, I know the wind is bringing far away scents to their nostrils and sensory system. They’re suddenly smelling cows, alpacas, people from far down the road, fruit from orchards, and herbs growing in my gardens. The wind brings all of these new smells at once, and it can make even the calmest dog act a little wild.

So what’s actually going on?

1. Sensory Overload

Dogs rely on their noses more than any other sense. Wind brings scents from far away, and scatters and swirls scents in all directions, turning what is normally a steady stream of information into a confusing storm of smells. This overload can make some dogs unsettled, anxious, or overly excitable.

2. New and Unfamiliar Scents

Wind also carries smells from far away, livestock, a neighbour’s cooking, wild animals passing through. Dogs don’t know the source; they just know it’s new and potentially important. For some, this is stimulating and fun. For others, it can feel unsettling, as though something unknown is nearby.

3. Strange Sounds

Wind whistles, rattles branches, bangs gates, and makes objects move. Dogs’ hearing is far sharper than ours, and all these unpredictable sounds can make them nervous or hyper alert.

4. Physical Sensation

Some breeds dislike the feeling of wind blowing on their face or ears. Finnish Lapphunds are generally good with this sensation, after all they were bred to thrive in the Arctic, so the physical sensation of wind is unlikely to bother them. In fact, crisp icy air often invigorates them. During August, it is traditionally a windy month in the Sydney area, and those winds often bring cold air from the Snowy Mountains, conditions that can make Arctic breeds like Lappies especially excitable and energetic.

5. Reduced Communication Cues

Dogs rely on scent and subtle body language to read each other. In windy conditions, these cues don’t travel as well, so some dogs may become more reactive or cautious when interacting with other dogs.

6. Barometric Pressure Changes

It isn’t just the wind itself. Changes in barometric pressure can also affect behaviour. Dogs can detect shifts in air pressure long before we can, and studies suggest that these changes may cause anxiety, restlessness, or even physical discomfort (like ear or sinus pressure). This is why some dogs seem “off” hours before a storm arrives.

7. Heightened Energy or Anxiety

All of these factors, overloaded senses, unusual smells, strange noises, shifting air pressure, combine into a natural adrenaline rush. Some dogs react with zoomies and excitement; others cling to their humans, shake, or seem restless and anxious, just like Oscar.

How to Support Your Dog on Windy Days

• Keep walks shorter if your dog is stressed.

• Offer indoor enrichment (puzzle toys, scent games, training sessions).

• Provide a safe, quiet space indoors where they can settle.

• Use calming tools like calming music, or natural remedies if needed.

• For Arctic breeds: expect extra energy and playfulness on crisp, windy days.

🌬️ So if your Lappie (or any dog) seems suddenly wild or anxious on a windy day, don’t panic, it’s likely a normal response to a sensory storm of scents, sounds, and air-pressure changes. Understanding this helps us reassure our dogs and provide the support they need until the weather settles.