Yes, the core feature of monitoring for overnight storms and getting a timely evening alert is free to use.
Dog Thunder uses your provided ZIP code to fetch local weather forecasts, using the Visual Crossing weather service. Based on these forecasts and your preferred alert time (typically in the evening), it determines if there's a significant chance of storms or heavy rain overnight that might affect your dog – a ThunderShield Red condition. If so, you'll get an in-app alert. Dog Thunder is designed to work automatically in the background, and only send you alerts when you need them.
ThunderShield is a simple red, yellow, green method for gauging potential storm activity hours in advance of any storm. We use a custom analysis of multiple data points, including:
Green: Storms are very unlikely.
Yellow: Storms are possible, keep an eye out.
Red: Storms are very likely.
You'll need to provide your ZIP code so the app can get relevant weather forecasts. You'll also set a preferred alert time (e.g., 6 PM) for when you'd like to receive the main overnight preparation alert.
The free version of Dog Thunder delivers alerts as standard in-app push notifications to your iPhone. You also can check the forecast in the app and see at a glance on the home screen if the night's weather is looking dicey.
Ensure that you have enabled notifications for Dog Thunder in your iPhone's Settings. Also, check that your ZIP code is correct and that the app has an internet connection to fetch forecasts. If you're a Pro user, ensure your SMS/Email details are correct and that High Reliability Mode is active if you suspect background updates might be an issue.
You can change your ZIP code and preferred alert time in the Setup tab within the app. Look for the Location & Notifications panel. These settings are saved automatically.
Yes, as long as you are signed in with the same Apple ID used to purchase the subscription, your Pro status should be recognized on other iOS and watchOS devices where you have Dog Thunder installed. You might need to use the "Restore Purchases" option in the app if it doesn't automatically recognize your status on a new device.
Dog Thunder Pro enhances your experience with several features:
The free version of Dog Thunder provides one evening alert, for the overnight period. All-Day Monitoring activates a forecast check every two hours. With All-Day Monitoring, the app checks the weather every two hours, focusing on the conditions in the following six hours. Each hour is given a ThunderShield status, and you'll receive an alert if any of the hours are showing Red. All-Day Monitoring has an option to set Quiet Hours for the overnight period, and to limit alert frequency.
Once you subscribe to Pro and enable these options in Setup, Dog Thunder will send alerts to your specified phone number (for SMS) or email address in addition to the standard in-app push notifications. This provides extra layers of notification to ensure you see the alert. There is only one alert a day, on days where the weather conditions meet your criteria. SMS and Email alerts are sent at the same time as the in-app alert.
The Apple Watch complications provide at-a-glance information about whether you need to prepare your dog for the night, along with the precipitation probability.
Icon:
- Green checkmark in a circle: Indicates "Clear" – no preparation needed.
- Yellow triangle with an exclamation mark: Indicates "Prepare" – a storm or significant rain is likely.
Gauge: A circular gauge around the icon fills to show the precipitation probability. The color of the gauge also reflects the alert status (e.g., green for clear, yellow/red for prepare).
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