Are you walking your dogs during this grotty, miserable weather?

[TheTecknician]

I don't have any pets but I wouldn't blame any person or pooch for staying indoors today while it is cold and drizzly. And muddy too. This morning I've only seen one dog and that was inside a local coffee shop. Plus a rather bedraggled-looking pony that was being walked in the direction of its stable. It was wet through.

Hopefully we'll have some sunshine tomorrow 😎.

Mine is not particularly keen on rain. Didn't go yesterday but we went this morning, she was alright once she got going but we were both absolutely drenched and she was keen to get back and dried off.

I mean there's been a lot of rain and flooding. It's not stopped raining where I am for 48hrs although is now slowing down a bit fortunately.

Yes, it’s windy but not raining here so we went to the beach. It wasn’t pleasant for DH or me but the puppy had a great time and got filthy! He’s not a fan of walking in the rain, water should be on the floor not in the sky according to him.

Just keep the dog inside, let it empty itself in the kitchen. Ffs, have you ever had an animal? Hope not!

Some of mine would plait their legs for a week rather than venture out in the rain 🤣 They stay at home in the warm.
Others don’t care, and need a walk whatever the weather, so we’ve done the usual 10k. We all got soaked but the dogs have drying coats and really don’t care.

Try telling mine that. Tbf she will still be excited about coming to the stables and running around whatever the weather but at home you’ll find a lump under the bed covers that is her hoping not to be noticed in case she is made to go out 😆. Quick pee in the garden if forced then back in when the weather is bad

I have a spaniel and an aged Jack Russell, neither used to be worried by weather but the old one now, well she gets to decide and generally whatever the weather she's happy pottering around the garden and searching out treats in the house these days.
The spaniel, although won't go in water unless there's a tasty looking duck there, is not bothered and having had horses, I'm not either, I'm waterproof and so is the dog.
Though I don't walk her in the traditional sense every day either, sometimes it's a 3 mile walk and sometimes it's an hour's training followed by a 20 minute lead walk, sometimes it's up to the field for scent finding and searching out balls and dummys, for 30 minutes and then playing frisbee, scatter feeding in the garden - I don't have a set routine and so they don't expect and I keep rotating what we do to keep her brain occupied. I interact with her a lot more in those sessions, and I think that's really important.

But it happens whatever the weather, and actually I will often choose the days the weather is horrible to have a good few miles walk because it's less likely to be populated by those who just unclip the lead and let the dog get on with it without interacting.

Some people are horrified I have a working breed and don't tramp around the countryside 4 times a day for 2 hours, but I really believe you have to not only exercise but mentally stimulate your dog, especially a working breed that's intelligent, I used to walk her for about an hour twice a day and had a fit, but bored dog, now she's got an outlet for that nose and need to search things out and bring them back as well as being physically exercised.

Which is ridiculous - of course you still walk most dogs in the heat- you go very early or very late, or you go to a forest or a river. Healthy non brachycephalic dogs can be walked- just not in the heat of the day or on tarmac etc.

It is very warm for November - 16°C but everything is so wet and muddy.

Dog wasn't happy as I wouldn't let him go into the river, probably no more river swimming until late spring now, current is too dangerous.

No.
Ours are content to stay snuggled up indoors in the wet weather and just run out into the garden for the loo.🐶
When it is cold/frosty/snowing they are happy to go out.🥶

Much dryer here today (just a light mist) so we have been out for a good walk throwing/chasing balls.

We have a couple of people in our local doggy group whose Ddogs will NOT use the garden and HAVE to go out for a walk regardless of the weather.☔

You still take them out either very early or late and avoid the heat and use cooling coats or bandanas if you can go in some woods with shade on the ground. Take water, shorter walks, whatever.

Yes, with exceptions like Storm Arwen where it was extremely dangerous to leave the house. Our Westie hates rain but needs his exercise. He walks really slowly in the rain, not seeming to realise that it will be over faster if he walks more quickly. He usually dictates the length of a walk and is more likely to just go for an hour rather than two in really bad weather.

It depends, I’m willing to walk the dog, but she’s known to get to the open front door and bolt back to the sofa and anchor down if the weather isn’t to her liking so we generally let her decide - it was no walk yesterday but yes to a walk this morning!

Haha yes my Jack Russell does this. She goes off to bed (mine not a dog bed) by about 9pm latest and if I don’t follow quite soon behind she comes back through periodically and stares at me intensely 😆. She’s the last one up in the house in the morning too

I don’t have a dog but I have a child who needs exercising daily, ideally outside.

I’ve just been out for a walk by myself. Two 11 year old border terriers waved me off and snuggled themselves down in their beds

A dong is for life, not just for Christmas.

Lol! 🤣

We don’t have a dog. The cat is asleep on me, as she has been on and off all day. I’m an easy target as I’ve just had surgery.

DH and DS2 have gone out for a walk / hike. It’s grey, wet and miserable. They are scouts though and weather doesnt stop much. Ds1 had to cycle 2 miles each way to school yesterday. His coat was heavier than him when he got home.

Tbh I'm not even in the UK currently! But my dog sitter, in Yorkshire, has said the weather has been awful today there with rain and wind, and even some snow fall!

2 standard poodles here..they get walked around 6 most mornings, and around 7 in the evening. It is too hot the rest of the day. We have a massive outdoor covered living/dining room.. if it is raining, they will actually stand on the very edge..and have their butts hanging off and poop right beside (as they know they cannot mess in the house , and they consider it part of the house.) about two times a week they go mid day with us to the beach and run wild for an hour.

Sounds like you're the one who's never had a dog

I love being outdoors in crap weather because I get peace to walk on my own. Hardly see anyone else out. Absolutely love it.

Tried to get my cocker spaniel out yesterday and she froze at the front door- flatly refused to move. She hates the rain. Gave up trying to coax her, took the daft cockerpoo who doesn't care and she scuttled to the sofa to watch TV with DD. We got drenched. She had the right idea.

I’m a dog walker and don’t have much choice. Today in the rain and breeze I walked Gavin and Stacey, two border collies along the beach, (live near Sandringham, sad, property prices are plummeting, can’t think why😂) both went in the sea, threw their rubber balls, they frolicked around for an hour. Took them home had a brew with their owner after drying them off and leaving them in front of the cosy wood burner. Then walked a lazy lab called Harley. Ten minutes and he was ready to go home. Spent the rest of the hour cuddling and playing with him. He went in the garden between showers to have another pee, then settled himself down. Then it was posh pug time. Both had their distressed leather raincoats on, their little bags with their treats in and poo bags strapped on their backs. One black, called Ophelia and one sandy coloured called Bradley. We walked for half an hour, they accepted oh’s and arrs and attention from the locals, then we minced off back to their farmhouse. They then had their raincoats removed and settled in their heated baskets.

I’m now home, knackered.

Yes… obviously. You can’t just neglect living creatures because it’s raining and there’s a bit of mud. They need exercise, mental stimulation and to pee! Two walks a day and a play in the garden no matter what. Only time I’ve not done this is when I was so ill I couldn’t walk and then my friend came round to take him.

Also… this is Britain. It’s usually wet and muddy.