Can I Take my Dog for a Walk in the Rain?

Should I take my dog for a walk in the rain? This is a question that many pet owners have asked themselves. Opinions will be divided on this question so lets delve a little further.  

In this blog post, we will explore whether or not you can walk your dog in the rain. We will also discuss some of the effects of walking your dog in the rain and why it may not be safe for them to do so!

First and foremost, it is crucial to understand that walking your dog in the rain can be dangerous. Not only can they slip and fall, but they can also become sick if they get wet and cold.

There are a few illnesses that dogs can catch from walking in the rain, such as kennel cough and pneumonia. If you are undecided on whether or not your dog would enjoy walking in the rain, it's best to give it a go and see how they respond.

For example, you can try throwing a ball around on a rainy day and see if they appear happy about this idea!

Can You Safely Walk Your Dog in the Rain?

Walks are the perfect way to keep your dog healthy and happy! They help prevent them from becoming frustrated or upset while also keeping their mind sharp with activity.

A dog owner will often feel torn between caring for their pet and protecting themselves from potential rain. The best course of action, if a heavy downpour, seems inevitable with or without taking your pup out on walks to avoid getting wetter than necessary?

Be prepared by bringing along some extra supplies like an old towel that they can lie underneath while remaining close by; otherwise, you might end up giving them more attention than usual- which isn't exactly what we want when the rain is hammering down on us. 

You will want to make sure your dog has an enjoyable walk if you take them out in the rain. Walking outside and seeing puddles are so much fun for dogs, but before doing this, be aware that it may not always go smoothly. This can be due to their natural fear of water or thunderstorms, which could occur, which is all too familiar with many pet owners! 

Below I'll explain how walking during these types of weather can still provide some benefits while protecting both pets' health and yours from elements such as wetness-related illnesses.

Depending on the breed, some dogs may only require a quick walk around the block, but others may need some serious miles putting in daily. Daily walks are a great way of fulfilling these requirements while keeping your dog in check emotionally, mentally and physically. However, if it's raining and cold, you may be concerned that taking your dog for a walk could negatively impact their health and well-being. 

With the UK being prone to so much rainfall, you could find yourself not taking them out, which could have consequences for you both. You might be concerned that your dog will become unwell from being walked in the rain, but it's unlikely.

 A perfectly healthy pup is even less likely to fall ill with wet weather exposure as they have thicker coats and can take longer for moisture to come into contact than shorter-haired dogs could as long you ensure they are quickly dried after returning home.  

Steps on How to Walk your Dog in the Rain

When it's springtime, the temperature is a comfortable 15 degrees and only lightly drizzling outside, which generally is no problem. However, if you have your dog with you on those cold winter days, taking extra measures to improve their experience can make all the difference!

If you want to keep your dog safe and happy during lousy weather, shorten the duration of their walk. 

If they are out long enough, even just an hour in wet conditions, it can make them feel miserable due to water seeping through their dog clothing or rain just hitting their head and ears! 

You may find it hard to work out the perfect amount of time for your dogs' walks, but some factors should be considered. First, consider what seems right in terms of breed and reactivity towards rain when deciding on walking destinations. If they are not so happy in the rain, choose somewhere with cover and protection available or don't stray too far from home. 

Stay away from puddles: During stormy days, your dog is more likely to become wet, messy and muddy. However, if the rain doesn't completely drench them and put them off, a puddle might or worse, a river! When you take your dog for a walk, make sure to always keep an eye on what they are up to and avoid muddy puddles that can carry bacteria.

Dress them in a dog coat: As a dog owner, you will know there are certain times when they need to wear something on their body that provides protection from the cold and rain. A doggy coat can be used as both an accessory for fashionable dogs or foundational garments in which your pet will keep dry no matter what Mother Nature throws at them!

Many dog coats wrap around your dog's back with Velcro underneath to prevent them from slipping off. They're very effective in keeping the rain off of their neck, back and legs but those coats with adjustable straps around the legs, drawstrings and buckles can help facilitate these features further. 

If you want more protection for your dog - such as keeping their paws dry, you could try and push the boat out and pop on some dog rain boots, this will require some patience and time to get them used to these - some breeds are more compliant than others!

Make sure you warm up your dog immediately after your trip out in the rain. As soon as you arrive home, you should put your heating on, wrap a towel or Ruff and Tumble drying coat around your dog and check they are quickly warming up. This will be essential if your dog has become poorly due to the cold and rain. 

For extra warmth, you could try placing a heating pad under their dog bed to give a little help and speed up the process. 

Why Is My Dog Scared of the Rain?

While some dogs may enjoy going on walks through the rainy days while others don't seem so eager to go outside in such conditions.

You have some options, you could avoid going out and engaging them by playing some sniffing games indoors to tire them out, alternatively, you could use the power of treats and a ball to get them to battle through the rain and slowly adapt to these wet environments. 

It would be best if you slowly introduce your dog to the rain and cold weather from an early age, to make them aware of it. Don't push it but make sure if it little and often obviously depending on the weather. 

Conclusion

To train a fully grown dog to be fine in the rain, you can start by getting them use to the experience in your garden before heading out on walks. At least they have the opportunity to run back in doors. 

If they're still apprehensive about walking in the rain, you should coax them out using their favourite treats and toys. Our go to is dried carrots and a tennis ball. Our boy will do anything in any weather if the ball is involved! 

Go for a short walk and then increase the length of time for each walk until they're completely happy with the situation. The one thing you must remember is that it will take time, persistence and patience like any other training does.