What to Do With My Dog on a Rainy Day

We all love walking our dog on nice sunny days — at sunrise, at sunset, or even at midday if it's not too hot. Going for a walk or enjoying some shade in the park becomes the best way to spend time together.

That said, when it rains, things change completely. Many dogs don't want to go outside if it's raining, and many owners don't know what to do with their dogs on rainy days. Here are some practical tips so both you and your dog can make the most of the day.

Should I Walk My Dog If It's Raining?

The answer is YES. Dogs are creatures of habit that quickly adapt to whatever routine we set for them, so if they always go for a walk at midday, they'll hold their bladder until that time to go outside.

Rain or shine, we should respect their walk schedule so they can relieve themselves. If it's raining hard, we can put a coat/raincoat on them to keep them from getting too wet, and shorten the walk to just what's needed for them to pee and poop.

What If It's a Puppy?

In that case, we should assess the situation. If our puppy is still very young (under four months old), we should consider avoiding getting it wet, since it could catch a cold — puppies don't yet have their defenses fully developed and are very fragile.

If we do take it out, it's a good idea to use a raincoat to prevent it from getting wet and cold. We should also thoroughly dry it once we're back home.

My Dog Doesn't Want to Go Out When It Rains

This is completely normal — dogs are smart, and if it's raining hard, they won't feel like going for a walk. But we still need to take them out so they can relieve themselves, whether they want to or not.

Another option is to find a covered park or garden, so the rain doesn't bother them as much. Their first instinct might be not to want to go out, but once outside, they'll walk normally until they've done their business.

When Should I Put a Raincoat on My Dog?

For those living in areas with a lot of rain, it's a good idea to always have a dog raincoat on hand, since it'll keep most of its body (back and chest) from getting wet.

This way, once back home, we'll only need to dry its head, paws, belly, and tail — always with a clean, soft towel. Avoid raincoats with an inner lining as much as possible, since they get wet much more easily and take much longer to dry for the next walk.

Should I Dry My Dog After a Walk in the Rain?

Absolutely — we should dry our dog as thoroughly as possible once back home. And not just its head, paws, and tail... we should pay special attention to its ears and toes.

Ears and paws are the areas most prone to developing an infection from fungus or yeasts like Malassezia due to moisture. That's why it's so important to dry those areas well — which, oddly enough, tend to be the ones our dog dislikes us touching the most.

How to Make the Most of a Rainy Day With My Dog?

If you don't have a covered park to go play in, it's best to take a short walk so the dog can relieve itself, then head back home, dry it off, and enjoy the rest of the day indoors.

Inside the house, you can play hide-and-seek with it, throw its favorite toy, hide food so it uses its sense of smell, or even give it a relaxing massage. All of this will help burn off your dog's excess energy so it feels fulfilled.

Now that you know how to handle rainy days with your dog, enjoy your furry friend, and remember — if it's raining but warm out, a walk isn't such a bad idea either.