Whether it’s really cold outside or your pet is wearing his favorite sweater, there are times when he’s electric! You bend down to pet him, only to send a shock between the two of you. A little static is not so bad, but what happens if your pooch is plagued all winter long, and every time you try to brush him, his hair is standing straight up? There are some things you can do to help with the shock. And, with a few tips, you may come up with creative solutions on your own.

First, examine the situation. Try to get some ideas as to what is causing the static. During the colder months, our indoor heaters can take a lot of the blame. Heating appliances remove moisture from the air, creating a great environment for static electricity. On top of that, we dress up in thick sweaters and, sometimes, put our dogs in the same type of clothing. In addition to the warm clothing, we wear socks and slippers around the house to keep out feet warm. Many materials are perfect transmitters of static electricity, especially wool, silk, and material made with synthetic fibers.

Once you figure out (or at least have an idea of) what is causing the electric shock, then you can work on ways to lessen the problem. If your heater is pulling all the moisture out of the air, then look at options to put moisture back in the air. Humidifiers can work great for both animals and humans during the winter. The use of a humidifier can get rid of a good amount of the static electricity. It also helps prevent sore throats and dry skin, due to the increased moisture in the air. You can find humidifiers for relatively inexpensive prices. If you can’t put humidifiers throughout your home, then buy one that can be easily moved. Then, you can use it in the den when everyone is gathered around the television, and take it into to your room at night.

If you are dressing your pet up in wool sweaters, then start shopping for cotton. You can find thick cotton sweaters that can still provide warmth for your pooch. You may not want to give up your own wool sweater, but you can throw on a different, less-static filled garment when you get home. Instead of sliding around on socks through your home, try to find house shoes with rubber bottoms; that will also help cut down on the shock.

Now, you can also help your pet’s static problem while you groom. Before you run a brush through his electric hair, get a spray bottle and fill it with water. Lightly mist his coat. Be careful, though, especially if he’s full of tangles, and don’t wet him down too much! Tangles are much easier to remove from a dry (or misted) coat than they are from one that is soaking wet. After you get finished shampooing, make sure you use a good conditioner. The conditioner will help hold moisture in the hair, preventing some static. If you are unsure about what type of conditioner to buy, don’t be afraid to ask a groomer.

When you aren’t grooming your pet, but you notice that his hair is on end, there are a couple of things you can do to help temporarily. Keep a bottle of unscented lotion (many dogs are sensitive to the smelly stuff) on hand. When your pooch looks extra static-y, get a small about of lotion on your hands and rub it through his coat. If you get too much lotion, you’ll have a big, greasy pooch n your hands! This will help tame the static for a little while. Many owners with static-plagued dogs also recommend running a dryer sheet through the hair. You may have to do this multiple times a day (you can reuse the dryer sheet many times), but it can provide temporary relief.

A static-plagued dog is no fun. Not only does he look a little strange, but I’m sure he (or you) doesn’t like to be shocked every time someone reaches down to pet him. Figure out what is causing the static, and work on ways to help your pooch out. You may need to invest in a humidifier, change the clothes you are wearing, or buy a bottle of lotion. Be creative, and find ways to work things out!

This article was provided by the generous authors at pet-super-store, which is an online pet shop featuring: dog car seat covers, pet doors, and pet carriers.