Help me stop accidentally hurting my dog

I wear UGG boots in winter because it’s fucking cold.

I also wrap myself in a blanket on the couch, and have a lovely area rug so I don’t have to walk on a cold floor. All these things are necessary to survive the winter; my house isn’t well insulated.

The problem with all this, is that I build up a static charge. So when I go to pat my beautiful sweetheart of a dog, I zap him. It’s audible and I’m sure, quite unpleasant. Often on the head. He obviously doesn’t like that, I think he’s taking it personally, and I feel awful. It completely cancels out the affection I’m trying to show him.

So the question for the Lemmy community is:

How do I discharge the static before I pat my dog? I have started shocking my partner (which he doesn’t like, but accepts over the alternative), before patting my dog. But as he’s out tonight, I have no human vessel to offer as tribute?

What can I touch in my house before patting my dog so that he doesn’t receive a shock?

Edit: standard Australian house and furniture

Another edit: I’m all the sheets to the wind so the engineering advice is not sinking in. But I’m loving the immediate response that I’d never have gotten on Deaddit.

Again: I can’t stop giggling at how helpful everyone is being and how short m, drunk and silly I am, in a house with apparently no metal

And again: I should probably take me and my baby to bed now, but a big thank you to everyone who replied. You’ve all been lovely. Lemmy is really a different space to ask these questions! I’ll be trying out many of your suggestions over the weekend; big thanks from me and my boy x

Final: thanks to everyone who responded. I did try the kitchen tap again last night and this time it worked! Mustn’t have built up enough charge when I tried the night I posted. I will still primarily zap my partner’s leg as it’s usually closer and doing it makes me laugh. It’s important he understands where he fits in the household hierarchy as well. I also learnt that American houses are very different (screws and radiators everywhere!) so that was interesting too.

Flyberius,
@Flyberius@hexbear.net avatar

A metal radiator might ground you.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

None in the house :(

Flyberius,
@Flyberius@hexbear.net avatar

Do you have anything else that might be earthed? A metal tap will probably work, so long as it is attached to a metal pipe.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Like my kitchen tap? I think it’s coated metal rather than, I dunno, an outdoor tap… Would that still work?

Flyberius,
@Flyberius@hexbear.net avatar

Yeah, absolutely, that’s what I meant. I am pretty sure that will be earthed. Go work up a charge and give it a try.

Equally, if you have a metal oven or any metal electrical equipment that is earthed that will work too.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

I just tried and felt no shock… Would I feel it if it worked? I’m willing to feel the pain myself.

Flyberius,
@Flyberius@hexbear.net avatar

I would have thought so. Maybe you have non-metal pipes leading to the tap.

Can anyone else in the thread think of something?

quindraco,

Anything conductive and grounded. For example, a lamp with a steel or copper body.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Hmm all cheap lamps in this basic bitch’s house

Thisfox,

Yeah they might be cheap, but there is a grounding law here in Australia, so legally those cheap Canberra lamps are required to have a ground. Personally I would recommend your front door, but knowing Canberra your pot plant might be more accessible.

adj16,

I have no advice for you, as I live in a very humid place without very much risk of static shocks. I just want to say this question and post are hilarious.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Haha I admit to using a ragebait headline for attention

Chainweasel,

There might be a solution in their comment though, do you have a humidifier?

sp00nix,

This is the way. My last place was so dry, I would get zapped touching the metal frame in my desk and reboot my PC. I installed a humidifier into the central heat, no more zaps!

Sacha,

Oh man, I feel this one. I moved to a colder climate with my cat in winter and every time I pet her, if I got close to her ears… zap. She was always like ??? About it.

One day it just stopped happening one day and I’m not sure why. So I don’t really have any advice.

You could try rubber soled footwear instead?

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

UGGs are the key to survival in a Canberra winter climate I’m afraid.

Sacha,

Do you have access to those super thick insulated socks? Could allow you to wear those house slippers with a rubber sole.

I live in Canada and those socks are too hot in the dead of winter for me.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

I should’ve mentioned I’m super unco with bad knees, so the stability of the UGGs is one of the only reasons I’m upright/not dead

Sacha,

Ah! Darn. I’m sorry.

Hope you figure something out!

Sacha,

Ah! Darn. I’m sorry.

Hope you figure something out!

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

You’re great. Have an excellent (insert your time of day/night)

Lord_ToRA,
@Lord_ToRA@lemmy.world avatar

There are other insulated shoes/slippers that are not UGGs. I have some Sorel slippers with wool lining and leather on the outside.

VoldemortsHorcrux,

I cant think of a sacrificial shock absorber, but perhaps you could not shuffle your UGGs around, and not build up static? I’m assuming your rug is synthetic and possibly causing it, but I could be wrong

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Microfibre blanket. I’m literally just lying on the couch then I get up to pat him on the way for another beer, and I’m suddenly Thor.

Today,

Internet says to touch the screws on a light switch panel.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

They’re covered by plastic as standard here

Followupquestion,

They are screws holding the plate on, usually two flathead screws above and below the switch or paddle that them connect to the junction box which is how they ground you.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Covered in plastic

Followupquestion,

Covered in plastic how? Mine all look like this imgur.com/a/9EBDjPS

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

There’s these little white plastic plugs over screws, or an entire plastic panel over the top

Followupquestion,

Replacement covers are like $1.25 at the hardware store. If you’re renting, you can save what’s there in some closet and put them back when you move out.

Kyle,

Damn, I was going to suggest this, I do it all the time. Perhaps shuffle around and touch everything in sight until you find something that zaps and therefore discharges you. Once you find something grounding (zappy) touch that before you touch your dog.

pmtriste,

I have a coworker who regularly wears an anti-static wrist strap that he attaches to grounding points on furniture. I’m not quite as staticy myself, so I usually just tap the screw on the light switches when I pass by during high static months. That’s usually grounded.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

No accessible screws in our light switches

Nollij,

You probably need to get a humidifier. Low humidity is very common in the winter, and creates (or at least encourages) static buildup. Added bonus is that it will make your place feel warmer at the same time.

You may also want to invest in better insulation. Even if you just rent, there are a variety of cheap and temporary options that can save you a bundle on heating and cooling.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

I own the place but honestly, we’ve got “feature weeds” in our back yard so insulation is just another thing on the list

Sharpiemarker,

I’m going to agree with the other commenter. We had the same issue and started running a humidifier and it resolved the static issues. Not only is it uncomfortable for your pet, but it’s also really bad for your electronics.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

That’s using even more electricity mate and I’m producing enough of my own!

Swedneck,
@Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

you can make a humidifier with a bowl of water with a towel in it, for faster humidification add more bowls and towels.

schmidtster,

And put them near a breeze, like a fan. Opening your windows for a breeze will defeat the entire purpose of humidifying your home.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

It’s currently 5 degrees Celsius

Sharpiemarker,

Do you want solutions or just to complain about the problem?

schmidtster,

Yes.

Nollij,

There are a few different types of humidifiers out there. Here are the 3 main types:

  1. Vaporizers. These literally just heat the water until it boils, and the steam evaporates into the air. They use a lot of electricity, which also creates a lot of heat (note: exactly the same amount of you have an electric resistor furnace). They can be a safety risk (because boiling water), and require frequent cleaning/descaling if you have hard water. IMHO, these also make the air feel more humid.
  2. Evaporators. These are basically just a fan over a wet towel. Very cheap, very low energy. Often less effective. As they are effectively standing water, you have to be careful to keep them clean or the nasties will grow quickly. This is also the type that “whole home” humidifiers typically are.
  3. Ultrasonic. These are very popular these days, and may randomly be sold as cool mist, warm mist (if they have a small heating element). Low energy options that vibrate the water into a fine mist, which then evaporates. But they will also vibrate everything else in your water into the air. These deposits, like calcium or limestone, can affect your breathing. They will also leave dust all over everything you own. Recommend using distilled water for these.
squaresinger,

Watch out with the type of humidifier though. Standing water and parts that never dry (e.g. inside hoses in the humidifier) are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria. And “cool mist” type humidifiers use ultrasonic frequencies to atomize all that crap that builds up in your humidifier and spread it into nice little droplets, which are perfect for getting germs really deep into your lungs.

If you tend to get respiratory infections quite often, your humidifier might be to blame.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Mate, my lungs are mostly chalk and I have half the sinus space of most humans. Humidifiers just sound like my version of Skynet

squaresinger,

My son has a chronic respiratory illness, and as much as I’d love to raise the humidity in my flat, doing so using a humidifier would probably send him to the hospital pretty fast.

argentcorvid,
@argentcorvid@midwest.social avatar

actually, (unless you have been told not to) humidity can help.

squaresinger,

Humidity yes, bacteria and other germs, especially germs that can live in water are a massive no-go. Germs like Pseudomonas aeruginosa would give him a permanent lung infection and many strains of it are resistant to pretty much all antibiotics.

For people with his condition, a Pseudomonas infection is usually the point where stuff like sports or even walking up stairs permanently ends.

So raising humidity isn’t bad, but the means to do so are a killer, literally.

Btw, thanks for the downvote. I’m sure you know much more about the illness of my child, an illness that I haven’t even named here, than I do, who has to make sure that kid survives. Seriously, that kind of behaviour triggers me so much. That happens so often, that people who haven’t even heard of that illness before know everything better. It seriously makes me angry.

That kid spent ~5% of his life in hospital, getting IV antibiotics due to his condition. He takes ~30 doses of medicine a day, just to keep him alive. But people who wouldn’t even know how to spell the condition think they know better.

Pro tip: If you aren’t affected by the specific illness in question / aren’t taking care of someone who is, keep your armchair medical knowledge to yourself.

Mothra,
@Mothra@mander.xyz avatar

I’ve always felt humidity in winter/cold weather feels more cold, not warm. Am I alone in this appreciation of temperature?

MrsDoyle,

I live in Scotland and yes, you don’t want to be damp in cold weather. It feels miserable. You douse yourself in water to cool down on a hot day, don’t you? In winter you do your best to keep snug and dry.

Re the static issue, give the dog a treat every time you shock it, train it to enjoy being shocked. 👹

Bitrot,
@Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

You are not. A dry cold is not as bone chilling as a humid one. I assume there is something about body heat warming up water molecules or denser air or something.

schmidtster,

If it’s cold and the place isn’t that well insulated, adding humidity can lead to disastrous results.

The humidity will build up and cling to the windows, it can freeze breaking the seals, but it can also run off into the wall causing mold and damage to the framing and anything else.

You shouldn’t have the humidity above 35%rh below freezing, unless you have very specific reasons too (hard wood, piano, health) but be prepared for additional costs eventually in some form. Wheter it’s upgrading to allow the house to do it, fixing issues, or preventing damage.

Also, raising the humidity makes the air feel colder not warmer, so that’s just plain false.

Nollij,

Do you have anything to support that last statement? A quick Google search returns countless hits saying that humid air feels warm. Examples:

teamhardingcomfort.com/…/does-running-a-humidifie…

airsmartly.com/does-a-cool-mist-humidifier-make-t…

The only real exception I could find is swamp coolers, where it gets your skin slightly moist and evaporation cools you.

schmidtster,

That’s the issue with quick google results, they are likely from fair weather states and refering to warmer temperatures.

montrealsciencecentre.com/…/dry-cold-damp-cold-wi…

If the RH is too high your body can’t evaporate your perspiration which leads to it clinging to you and you feeling cold and damp instead.

Nollij,

Thank you for the meaningful response. While I have several issues with the information in that page (among others, 75% RH is very hard to reach in cold weather), I do see a path to how it could feel colder.

I try to keep my home around 40-45% RH in the winter, and find that it feels significantly warmer than when it’s at 25%. It also greatly reduces the static shocks, as well as keeps my skin from drying and chapping.

schmidtster,

I will concede it’s also not likely not an issue with everyone. I sweat at like 18c so it’s always going to feel colder to me since I’m always “drenched”.

So not even I’m entirely correct, but trying to explain too much loses people sometimes.

NOT_RICK,
@NOT_RICK@lemmy.world avatar

Increasing the humidity in your house will also help limit the static buildup. Just don’t increase it so much you get a ton of condensation on the windows

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

My asthma could not deal or I’d move to Queensland

Kanzar,

I thought humid was good for asthma. 🫣

CatWinner,

I too live in a hilariously dry climate in the winter and become a human lightning rod for several months at a time. Here’s what helped me: a quarter! I carry a quarter in my pocket all winter to touch to metal (I deeply hate getting shocked myself, especially the huge static charges). You’ll need something made of metal that is grounded, though. We have metal shelves or the aforementioned light switch screws. You can also look for screws on your washing machine, doorknob, dishwasher, sink, etc. Anything with a little metal should work. Then - touch the quarter to it, hear (but don’t feel) the zap, and enjoy your dog with no fear. Hope you can find something metallic somewhere in your home!

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

None of my things have accessible screws!! I’m in Australia so no quarters… And I’m not sure I even have physical currency in the house (Australia is pretty cash free these days (.

Fuck, I am just loving these responses. Everyone is so lovely.

CatWinner,

I guess you’ll have to build a giant metal effigy in the center of your home at this point. Or become a wizard to better channel your new magical energies. It’s really your call now.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Bless you. Go with noodles

squaresinger,

You could also get a DIY power cable (the type where you screw the plug to the leads yourself). There you only connect the ground contact and not the live and neutral contacts. Now strip the end of the ground wire and place it where ever you want to be able to discharge yourself.

Alternatively, you can do about the same by just connecting a wire to any unpainted part of your radiators.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Jesus fuck… That’s a lot of science

No radiators

We don’t do proper heating in this cuntry

squaresinger,

What about water pipes? Got any of them somewhat near to your couch?

You could also just buy a metal-cased lamp and maybe ask at the shop whether the metal casing is grounded. Usually it is.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Noop. My house is made of fabricated nonsense and plastic

squaresinger,

Then the only grounded location that I can think of is the ground pin of an electric outlet.

Do you have a somewhat technically minded friend? Making a cable like the one I suggested is literally as simple as screwing in a handful of screws. So if you know anyone who’d be willing to make it, it’s not much effort at all.

local_taxi_fix,

I usually go with the light switch/outlet screw but you said those are covered. There must be grounded metal somewhere in your house. The microwave body, a pipe or faucet, you could even get one of those grounding wrist straps that plug into the ground port on your wall socket.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

I could try the microwave? It’s very plastic though …

colournoun,

There will be metal parts on the microwave somewhere, and they will be properly grounded into the power socket. Maybe the back panel.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Haha I can’t pull my microwave out of its home(?) As a regular thing

local_taxi_fix,

If it’s attached to the wall theres probably bare metal on the bottom, and if not there’s definitely some on the inside when you open the door. Just any bare metal on it.

riku12124,

Do you have a desktop computer? If so, and you know where the power supply is, you could touch the metal grate on that. The power supply will be earthed due to requiring a ground, and the cage itself is properly made so maintenance can be done safely by connecting an ESD wrist strap to the power supply cage.

If you don't feel or hear a shock, you have not discharged.

If you have more patience, you can wash your hands for 2 minutes and you wouldn't be statically charged. Though, that may be really cold as an after affect.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Computer is so far away and dog is so close and gorgeous

Cold water on this skin? No thanks. I’ll set myself on fire instead … At least I’ll be warm for the rest of my life

Thisfox,

You could just use the hot tap as well as the cold one.

squaresinger,

Why do you wear boots on the couch? Or indoors at all?

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

UGGs boots are slippers :)

squaresinger,

Ah, that makes more sense^^ Never heard of that brand or the term.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

Invented by Surfers I believe. An interesting history with many fights over the IP

PhatalFlaw,

Your heat sources are usually grounded, either forced air or radiators, so touch the vent/radiator on the way back with that fresh beer, and that should help.

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

They’re in the ceiling and I’m barely 5 foot tall!

Primarily0617,

Order a giant metal statue of your dog to put pride of place in your home as an apology to the dog

As a bonus, it will function as something you can touch to earth yourself

alternatively you could try an anti-static wrist strap but i'm not sure it'll help since you still need something to ground it against

boogetyboo,
@boogetyboo@aussie.zone avatar

I like you

VegaLyrae,

If you get the grounding box you can have an antistatic collar for the dog and a strap for the human. Plug both in and you're both at the same potential.

Alternatively the human can touch the banana plug side of the strap, as the in-built resistor will "slowly" equalize the charges between you. I say slowly because in human terms as soon as you touch its already done.

@boogetyboo

The ugg boots may be electrically isolating as well, so a heel-strap is typically worn in ESD environments to overcome insulated soles. In combination with a grounding floor mat, this works without having to think too much about it.

Additionally, you can get a humidifier and maintain a relative humidity above 40%. Thankfully you don't need insulation to do this!

Source: nasa esd training

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