Do your dogs get walked every day, regardless of the weather ? How do they react to going out in the wet and cold ?

[TheTecknician]

Prompted by about half a dozen dogs, including three Border Collies, I saw at our local country park on New Year's Eve. The weather had suddenly closed in with a stiff wind, dark clouds and heavy rain. I was heading back to the car but these dogs either didn't notice how unpleasant the weather was or just didn't care! They scarpered off ahead off their owners, tails wagging and barging through mud and into ditches.

Years ago, our family had three Cocker spaniels of varying ages. The eldest wasn't at all bothered by rain and snow and would still happily go for walks in lousy conditions. She was more of an outdoorsy dog than the younger two. They, on the other hand, could not be persuaded to go outside even in light rain, especially as they aged. Interestingly, all three spaniels took care to avoid remaining mud and puddles in dry weather and would pointedly walk around them. I can't imagine today's loony springer spaniels or weimaraners being so delicate!

My Jack Russell goes out twice a day every day for an hour, and a quick round the block before bed. She's not even remotely bothered by the rain but she doesn't like the wind.

I have a Rottweiller that absolutely hates the rain and getting wet! So, no walks for us if it's hammering down, which suits me thankfully!

No - we’ve got whippets. It’s whippet cruelty to take them out when it’s raining 😄 we’ll try and do a quick once round the block during a gap in the rain though.

My lurcher goes out every day - though it doesn't have to be a long one (two 10-15 minutes walks will do it). She's really not a fan of the rain and mud but would still rather have a wet walk than be inside all day. Then spends the rest of the day asleep in front of the fire.

Mine usually does but today is so
disgusting that even he’s not bothered.

Mine is a total princess and shivers dramatically once damp, even in a coat. We haven't made it out much at all this week!

My pointer sometimes looks a bit hesitant on the doorstep if it's absolutely torrential (as it is today), but once he's outside he doesn't mind.

My 2 collie crosses are happy out in the rain and wet. If it is horrendous, like storm weather I wouldn’t take them but most of the time I will when it is raining. I took mine out for a very long walk/play today just in case the storm gets too bad to take them out. I find summer worse, as far too hot for them and end up doing very early morning or late night and for a shorter time than normal

I'm a collie owner. If he doesn't get out twice a day he goes wild. However, this afternoon I think he got quite scared. The wind was horrendous.

Sometimes my dog refuses to go out if it's very wet. Otherwise he gets walked 3x a day, 2 short and 1 longer.

35kg greyhound here and he refuses to walk in the rain. Might be able to persuade him to do a wee on the grass verge, but that's about it!

We have 2 working spaniels (they are pets living in the home, but work a few times per season).
They LOVE going out and couldn’t care less what the weather is doing.
They get about 1-1.5 hr walk in morning and then in the evening they get walked to the end of the road and back, for a bedtime toilet break.
We might moan about having to take them out when it’s cold and rainy, but once out we find that we both enjoy it and it’s exercise and fresh air for us too.

My lab wants to be out in all weathers. I don’t think she’d care if she was in a hurricane as long as she had her tennis ball

We have a working Springer and he is happiest when crashing through wet undergrowth and running through mud. We put on waterproof gear and brave the elements as otherwise he'd go stir crazy!

Washing machine on constantly in this current weather, for all the towels we use on him 😄

Yes unfortunately.

My two Welshies are totally weatherproof and insist on a twice daily walk even in this.

Mine looks miserable and walks behind me trying to shelter from the wind and rain so no, she doesn't get walked every day but she will get an hour walk every day when there is no rain.

My greyhound will go out in all weather's.

She prefers a shorter walk in the rain and will head back to the park entrance when she has had enough

Cairn Terrier - up for absolutely anything!

morning and evening walk round village

1-2 hours “wild” walk in countryside

when wind is CRAZY to the point it feels dangerous, we have to make do with indoor games

My dog goes out in all weathers, the only time I won't take him out is if there's a heatwave.

Labrador so loves the rain. Completely unfussed and will actively seek out any mud or body of water and dramatically leap in and out of it.

I was a bit hesistant when there was snow in the ground but he certainly seemed happy as Larry romping about in it!

I sometimes wish he’d avoid the very muddy puddles but he absolutely loves them!

Our lab goes in a huff if he isn't walked, won't eat his food! He refuses to step foot out the back door for a pee if it's absolutely peeing down so come rain or shine he's taken out at least twice a day. He wears a coat if its wet.

My cocker spaniel won't go out in the garden if it's raining but she'll happily go out on a walk in the rain! No logic to it, other than she just can't allow herself to miss out on a walk. I sometimes put a coat on her but she's not bothered either way. So there's no getting out of walking her ever. She does avoid puddles but still gets soaked. In the week she goes out 3 x a day for 20-30 min each, and then fewer but longer walks on the weekend. It peed down here on Christmas day and it was just me and a couple of other hardy dog walkers out and about, everyone else sensibly stayed at home.

Patterdale here, and we're out four or five times a day. Good four mile run (both of us) in the morning and then shorter walks throughout the day. She's not the biggest fan of the rain but will tolerate it, although she gives me the most disgusted looks when it's teeming down.

She'd be appalling if I didn't take her out. Lots of energy and needs lots of engaging activity.

My mini sausages hate the rain and really feel the cold. It’s a job just to get them to go in the garden for the toilet. I have literally just taken them outside with my coat and umbrella and lifted them onto the grass as they just won’t go! Ha ha…the joys!

My friends grey is like this. If caught in an unexpected downpour she just stands stock still and refuses to move an inch. Logical persuasion doesn’t hack it.