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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dd doesn’t like getting wet!

23 replies

Reasonistreason · 17/06/2021 18:35

I have a 21 month old beagle cross (rescue). Had her just over three months now and it seems that she just doesn’t like getting wet. At all. Refuses to go out for last wee if it’s raining - takes one look out of the door and runs straight to her crate. When she’s walked in rain (and I have to encourage her out of the door), she sort of slinks along, almost sulking, shaking off every few yards. I’ve tried to introduce her to water as on hot days it would be lovely for her to play in water in the garden but so far I’ve had no luck. Tried with shallow tray with the tiniest amount of water in and a treat in centre. She picks the one area that’s dry! I dribble water from my hands and she doesn’t like that. Very food driven but even that’s not enough. Tbh she could do with a bath but I can’t see that happening anytime soon. Any tips/advice welcome.

OP posts:

Bebeschitt · 17/06/2021 22:30

We have a rescue who is very similar. She drags me back to the door if I dare to take her for a walk in the rain and shakes dramatically every few steps if we make it down the street!
We went to the beach recently and she surprised us all by running straight into the sea!
This obviously resulted in a warm bath at home which she was fine with too.
I'm going to get her a waterproof coat for when the weather turns.
Our old dog used to lay in his own paddling pool but she won't entertain the idea at all!

waitingforsun · 17/06/2021 23:17

We have a Beagle. I don't think, as a breed, they're huge fans of water. Ours will go out in the rain but she doesn't like walking through puddles or long grass if it's wet. She's nearly one and only ever had two baths 😬 I realise I have properly made life a lot harder for my future self in that regard!

Frlrlrubert · 17/06/2021 23:26

One of ours won't go out if it's raining. She's happy to jump in the river if it's hot though.

She a working cocker, her parents literally lived outside in all weathers 😂

Floralnomad · 18/06/2021 01:47

Our patterdale x is not a fan of rain although he loves wallowing in a muddy puddle or going in the sea , we keep one of his coats by the garden door so that we can put it on if he has to go for a toilet break as otherwise he won’t go outside in the rain

cupsofcoffee · 18/06/2021 06:21

I have a beagle and tbh with baths I just don't give him a choice. He gets so filthy that not having them just isn't an option

As a puppy we used peanut butter smeared on the side of the bath as a distraction but now he just gets in when I say "bath" and will stand there while he gets washed.

He also loves a swim!

cupsofcoffee · 18/06/2021 06:23

AbsolutelyPatsy · 18/06/2021 06:52

My jack russell absolutely digs her heels in when it is raining

Els1e · 18/06/2021 08:16

My rescue dog is similar. Hates going out when it’s raining. We have a plastic garden table not far from the back door and he’ll go under that to do his business and come charging back in, shaking and rolling around on the rug. We encouraged him on walks into water by walking into the river ourselves. He still will only paddle but he’s doing this himself without us now. With bathing, again it was just a case of introducing slowly. Literally started with 2 front paws only. And getting lots of praise and treats. We can shower him all over.

Allington · 18/06/2021 09:05

DDog is the opposite hassled me this morning until I took her to the park in the rain, and now is damp and smelly (and curled up next to me on the sofa)...

MaybeCrazy2 · 18/06/2021 09:11

Mine loves the sea but hates the rain! I think she doesn’t like it falling down into her eyes.

I don’t blame her really.

Poppop4 · 18/06/2021 09:15

I have 2 beagles one I think used to be a fish in a previous life she loves water and often jumps in the paddling pool with my daughter. The other hates it, won’t go for a wee in the rain and if walking near a stream will go out of his way to make sure he doesn’t even get his feet a bit wet 🤷🏼‍♀️

Original poster

Reasonistreason · 18/06/2021 13:27

Oh it’s so nice to know we’re not alone! Had dog training outside in the heavy rain this morning and she wouldn’t put her bum on the ground! Just kept looking at me “mum, I want to go home”. Whined to go out later but when I opened the door she puts her head out and changes her mind. I’ll continue with the paddling pool and try using peanut butter as she loves that. Off to Cornwall later in year, have a long lead and hoping that she’ll love the sea and/or rivers.

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 18/06/2021 15:27

My dog used to hate rain when she was younger.

I never bathed her as a regular thing but on the rare occasions when a bath was needed, generally if fox poo, or mud was involved, she would struggle to escape from the bath to the extent that I'd end up having to change my clothes afterwards as I'd be soaked; and she's only a small dog.

As she's got older, she's now 10, she's learned to love the rain and will quite happily go for a walk while it's raining; she wears a light waterproof coat to keep the worst off her body.

She will also happily wander around the garden in the rain as well and is a lot less panicky if I need to bath her.

Maybe it's something some dog's have to get used to.

BiteyShark · 18/06/2021 15:42

My WCS used to tip toe around puddles when younger.

He still looks at the rain and refuses to budge and then suddenly has a bladder of steel. I don't even bother walking him in heavy rain as he looks like the saddest spaniel in the world.

However, if he sees a deep muddy bog he's straight in it and will happily go for a swim in a stinking filthy pond but I think this is because he had the FOMO with his doggy daycare pals when they all used to go for a swim in a stream.

As for rinsing him off in the bath he tolerates it but only because he gets a dentastix afterwards

TheFnozwhowasmirage · 18/06/2021 18:40

Our dog hates the rain,it's almost impossible to get him outside on a wet day. I wouldn't mind, but he's the offspring of two working parents and was born in our brew house. He hates mud too,which is unfortunate as we have pretty much lived on a building site on our farm since he was tiny,and are either surrounded by mud,or dust. He will not swim under any circumstances, but will wade into a brook or pond if he feels like it.

Chasingsquirrels · 18/06/2021 18:45

I'm dog sitting a Great Dane this week, he won't go outside if it's raining.
I've had his food & water outside so far as it's been lovely, this morning the ground was wet but it wasn't actually raining, he just stood inside the back door and looked out at his food.
He doesn't actually like the outside that much when it is dry and cries if I leave the back door open too long.

Meanwhile my cocker spaniel is tearing round the garden, through the wet grass, under the wet bushes etc like a loon.

pigsDOfly · 18/06/2021 20:05

I read something some time ago that claimed that rain on a dog's head can sounds very loud to them and many dogs find it extremely unpleasant.

No idea if it's true, but apart from not wanting to get wet, it might explain why so many dogs don't like being out in the rain.

1000glitterydicks · 18/06/2021 20:21

Muddy, smelly water!!! Our beagle wasn't keen on rain but loved streams/muddy areas!

Iheartmysmart · 18/06/2021 20:28

My spaniel hates the rain and has refused to go for any walks today. A bit of a pain when we live in a flat! He’s been to the closest patch of grass possible for a quick wee then straight back to bed.

StillMedusa · 18/06/2021 23:55

Mine hides when she sees me get her harness if it's raining... and then shuffles along looking depressed when I insist she goes out for a wee!
Only paddles if she needs a drink, and goes up and sits on my bed if she's really wet or had a shower, and waits for me to get the hair dryer out!!!!

She used to really hate the shower too, but she's 2 now and reulctantly heads for the wet room and sits, miserable with her face to the wall . She knows if she's rolled in fox poo then it IS happening!

AbsolutelyPatsy · 19/06/2021 08:04

the other day it wasnt raining but ddog was absolutely hating
the walk, kept turning back, we got to the bottom of the road and it absolutely chucked it down. i think she knew,
yesterday it was raining, we drove to the beach, she was absolutely fine in the rain and then the rain stopped and the sun came out,
i think she knew!

tentotwelve · 19/06/2021 11:05

I used to bribe mine with treats just to get her out for a wee before bed, but even that didn't work in heavy rain. And she absolutely hated the raincoat I bought her and refused to move in it.

She's a little better now she's six years old and does tolerate a coat now.

She can go a very long time without a wee though!

Original poster

Reasonistreason · 19/06/2021 13:02

Yes my Dd can go about 14 hours without a wee if it’s raining. I envy her her strong bladder! She just refuses to go out for a last wee if it’s raining and will hold off the following morning if it’s still raining before she absolutely has to go.

We’re going to try a raincoat next winter to see if that’ll help - dont really want to have to cut the walks back in winter as she needs to drop a few pounds. The half beagle in her means she’s very food motivated and stubborn (and greedy). Unfortunately no amount of treats will so far encourage her to go into the paddling pool!

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