Roo is a pit bull, a breed often described as strong and fearless, but when a thunderstorm rolls in, she wants nothing more than to disappear into the laundry room. A video posted to the Instagram account @kiwi.andthecrew shows the sweet dog retreating to her dryer during a storm, where a cozy blanket already waits for her inside. She also wears a ThunderShirt vest, a garment commonly used to help ease anxiety in dogs. The heartwarming clip quickly melted hearts across social media and racked up plenty of attention from fellow pet owners who knew exactly how Roo felt.
What makes the story even more charming is that Roo’s unusual hiding spot was discovered completely by accident. “One rainy evening I went to sleep and, I assume, left the dryer door open,” her owner Carolina told Newsweek. “In the morning I couldn’t find her when I came downstairs, but I heard a strange metallic tapping. It turned out she was hitting the drum with her tail.” From that point on, the dryer became Roo’s official storm shelter, and the habit only grew stronger over time. Carolina makes sure a blanket is always waiting inside so Roo can curl up comfortably whenever the skies turn dark.
The frequency of storms increased significantly after the family relocated from Calgary, Canada to Texas, which Carolina says was a big adjustment for everyone involved, including her husband and their other dogs. Texas is well known for its intense and frequent thunderstorms, especially in spring and summer, so Roo has had plenty of opportunities to make use of her cozy dryer hideout. Carolina believes the enclosed space helps muffle the sounds of rain and thunder, giving Roo a sense of safety that she simply cannot find anywhere else in the house. When the dryer door is closed, Roo waits patiently right outside until someone comes to open her personal safe space.
The video prompted an outpouring of empathy from other pet owners, many of whom shared stories of their own storm-phobic animals. “Mine hides under the shower with her little blanket,” one user wrote, while another shared a similar discovery: “My labrador went into the closet. Then I realized that the clothes make the space almost soundproof.” Carolina made it clear that Roo is never in any danger during these moments. “She’s supervised and safe, we never leave her alone,” she said. “My husband and I are always with her, and we’re happy to leave her blanket in the place where she feels safe.”
The American Kennel Club (AKC) explains that storm phobia in dogs is actually quite common and can stem from several different causes. Sensitivity to changes in barometric pressure, past negative experiences, an instinct to seek shelter, and simple sensory overload are all recognized as contributing factors. Dogs have significantly more sensitive hearing than humans, which means the booming sounds of a thunderstorm can be far more intense and distressing for them than we might realize. Some experts also believe that dogs can smell or sense an approaching storm before it even arrives, which is why anxious behavior often begins long before the first clap of thunder.
To help dogs cope, the AKC recommends providing a calm, quiet space where they can retreat, which is essentially exactly what Roo found on her own. Other approaches include anxiety wraps like the ThunderShirt, which apply gentle, constant pressure similar to swaddling and have been shown to reduce stress in some dogs. Playing white noise or soft background sounds can also help mask the jarring booms of thunder, and owners are advised to avoid punishing their dog for anxious behavior, as it only deepens the fear.
Pit bulls, despite their tough reputation, are actually known to be deeply emotional and sensitive dogs. Officially recognized as the American Pit Bull Terrier by the United Kennel Club, the breed has a history as a family companion and was once even nicknamed the “nanny dog” in some circles due to its affectionate nature with children. They are highly attuned to their owners’ emotions and environments, which may explain why a change as significant as moving from Canada to Texas would have a noticeable effect on a dog like Roo. Storm anxiety is not a sign of weakness in any breed and is something millions of dog owners across the United States deal with every year.
ThunderShirts and similar anxiety vests work on the principle of applied pressure therapy, similar to weighted blankets used by people with anxiety. Studies have shown that this type of gentle, consistent pressure can trigger the release of calming hormones in dogs, making storms and other stressful events more manageable. Combined with a safe hiding spot, a familiar blanket, and attentive owners like Carolina and her husband, Roo seems to have built herself a pretty solid storm survival plan. Not every dog is lucky enough to have a custom dryer suite waiting for them, but the love behind it is something any pet owner can appreciate.
If your dog also panics during thunderstorms or has found their own quirky hiding spot, share their story in the comments.
