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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Got called a bad owner and I should force my dog

67 replies

drinkingwineoutofamug · 18/08/2021 19:52

Basically group of us meet up for dog walks and let dogs play. Bit of a new thing since easing of lockdown .
I missed yesterday as it was raining.
So dog is highly strung. She hates water. Won't go outside if it's raining. The only dog I know who walks round puddles. She prefers to lie on the rug and play when it's a rainy day. Cowers if she hears the bath running.
We then make up for it on dry days.

So I got asked where I was yesterday, explaining about dog not liking getting wet and it stresses her out. And that 1 day of no walk/play won't do any harm.
Apparently it will.
Apparently I should make my dog walk in the rain. That a dog has to be walked in all weathers as that's what a good dog owner does and I shouldn't be dictated to by the dog.
So who is right here? Am I a bad owner for not dragging my dog out in the rain?

OP posts:

JayAlfredPrufrock · 18/08/2021 21:00

Oh bless your pooch.

After such a terrible life she can do whatever she bloody well likes.

Original poster

drinkingwineoutofamug · 18/08/2021 21:09

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Oh bless your pooch.

After such a terrible life she can do whatever she bloody well likes.

She does...... often 🙄😂

OP posts:

Terminallysleepdeprived · 18/08/2021 21:27

I have a jack Russell x chihuahua who is amazingly strong when she plants her butt firmly on the floor upon realising it is raining. Short of picking her up and carrying her and risking being clawed as she scrabbles to get back to the house there is no getting her to go for a walk in the rain.

You fellow walker is a twat.

As others have said, some dogs love rain, others hate it. Same as people. Why force something something is only going to cause stress and distress. To do so would make you a bad owner.

Keep doing what you are doing

whatthehelldowecare · 19/08/2021 08:04

Another one with a pup who hates the rain! Categorically refuses to go out if it's in the least bit damp. Doesn't really like the cold much either. Which is an issue living in Scotland...

We definitely don't force it. He'd happily never get a walk I think, so no point forcing him when it's wet. He's a miniature dachshund, so I don't blame him - his tummy is an inch off the ground... can't be nice in the rain!

Spudlet · 19/08/2021 08:11

I’d be tempted to tell them about your dog’s past, it’s no wonder the poor little blot doesn’t like being cold and wet with that history

On the coat front, I made one for Spuddog using a website that told you how to measure up and draft a pattern. Best fitting coat he ever had, he could do anything in it and it never budged. I made it of waxed cotton and lined it with fleece so it was warm and waterproof too. I’ll try and find a link in case you feel crafty!

Spudlet · 19/08/2021 08:12

Here it is
wholefully.com/dog-coat-tutorial/

cherrytree63 · 19/08/2021 08:17

My lurcher hates rain, and thinks she's paralysed if I put a coat on her. She'll turn around and run back to the car if I try to force her.
Yet she'll lie down in puddles on a warm day and is often found curled up snoozing in the snow.
She has a bladder of steel when it rains too!

grannycake · 19/08/2021 08:19

I had a Jack Russell who haated the rain. We finally stopped taking her when we let her off the leash in the park and she turned and ran hell for leather for home - across two busy roads. YANBU

Mayra1367 · 19/08/2021 08:25

My dog used to jump into rivers and swim in the sea . But wouldn’t walk through a puddle and wouldn’t go out if it was raining. If ever we got caught in a shower she would give me such a look of disgust as we walked home as if it was my fault .

TheSockMonster · 19/08/2021 08:32

I also have a rescue dog who was left outside and hates rain and puddles. We have a couple of walks that are mainly under tree cover that we save for rainy days, but if the weather is really bad he simply refuses to go out.

I did once persuade him to paddle in a river, which he really enjoyed, but haven’t managed to tempt him back in since!

BiteyShark · 19/08/2021 08:33

Mine loves a swampy lake or river but heavy rain is a no. He will look at it and hold his pee as he hates toileting in it let alone walking in it.

A dog walker once said he clearly wanted to go home as he was hating the rain.

I don't buy into the two walks a day no matter what the weather but some people do and I would just smile and ignore.

FernieB · 19/08/2021 08:39

I have a pup who is happy to go for rainy walks but refuses to go in the garden in the rain for wees. On rainy days we go for more short walks .

Ignore the other dog walkers. In the few months since I've had my pup I've had so much 'advice' and been told I'm doing everything wrong. I might be but he seems happy and is reasonable obedient for a 7 month old

Ilovedthe70s · 19/08/2021 09:00

One of my wolfhounds won’t set paw outside in the rain, to the extent I have to walk her,under an umbrella, up the garden where we stand under a gazebo so she can toilet and then walk her back to the porch where she lies and watches the rain.
She’s been like this all her life and seems to have suffered no ill effects from not being dragged out on a walk in the rain, always looks quite smug when she’s warm and dry and the other dogs come in soaking wet and covered in mud and crap

hedgehogger1 · 19/08/2021 09:50

I'd be more inclined to judge the dog owners that take them out whatever the weather. I saw a St. Bernard type being taken for a walk in the heat wave we had before the kids broke up. It got to some shade a lay down and the owner could not shift it at all. The we're trying to coax it with a water bowl. They were there at least 15 mins. I left first, there was no shifting it, poor thing

Heyha · 19/08/2021 09:56

You know your dog! It's not as though your one of these that never takes the dog out, they know that if you're a regular, surely?

People are (absolutely rightly) encouraged to bend the walking/exercise rules, as it were, when the weather is hot, so if your dog has a particular distaste for wet weather i don't see how it's any different- other than wet weather far more likely to occur than hot 😂

Even our Springer says water on the ground is much much better than water from the sky, he's missed the odd walk on torrential days

Soubriquet · 19/08/2021 10:03

I have chihuahuas

I literally have to push them out of the door when it’s raining just so they will go for a wee

No hope of walking. They would be so excited, take one step out and then refuse to walk.

They will glare at you if they are wet. They do not like water

Soubriquet · 19/08/2021 10:06

My Nan had a shih tzu that wouldn’t go outside if it was cold, wet, damp, too hot..etc

But the poor girl had been left outside 24/7 for a few years after the owner got bored of having a dog.

The furthest my Nan could get her in some days was the conservatory. There was a lot of wet accidents some days

ODPO · 19/08/2021 10:10

My dog refuses to go out in the rain.

I took her for a walk around the country park once, she was off lead. Started to rain. She went and his deep in a bush.

Wouldn't come out. I had to climb in the bush, put her lead on and force her out. She refused to walk so had to carry her to the car 😂

ODPO · 19/08/2021 10:10

Hid*

doscervesas · 19/08/2021 14:20

I'd like to see them force my rather large, very strong and stubborn hound to go out in the rain.

She likes her coat in cold weather but it doesn't work in wet weather. And she's another with a cast iron bladder.

Original poster

drinkingwineoutofamug · 19/08/2021 14:23

Well it's drizzling here so we are a no show again 😂
Bad bad owner. Dog is snuggled under my duvet
She got her morning sniff so all is good with the world

OP posts:

pigsDOfly · 19/08/2021 15:03

Yes of course, forcing a dog into situations that they find stressful or frightening is the absolute pinnacle of good dog ownership. Idiots.

Dog will have a lot more trust in you if you respect it's fear of something and don't force anything.

I read somewhere years ago that for some dogs the rain beating on their heads can be quite loud and unpleasant; don't know if it's true but a lot of dog's seem to dislike rain.

My dog used to hate going out in the rain when she was younger.

As she's aged - 10 years old now - she seems to positively enjoy going for walks in the rain. I put a light coat on her so her back doesn't get wet and off we go.

No idea what bought about the change.

Sounds like you have lovely rainy days OP. I bet she really appreciates all the snuggling while hearing the nasty rain outside.

muddyford · 20/08/2021 20:01

My first Labrador wouldn't go out for a pee last thing at night if it was raining. He once went 23 hours between pees. He would fling himself in the canal at every opportunity though.

LoveFall · 20/08/2021 20:09

My little dog is the same. Hates rain. Hates snow even more.

Today it is cloudy and a bit chilly, after months of sun and heat. Silly dog didn't want to do his usual morning walk today. Just a quick wee then turned around and pulled me back to our building.

I'm guessing it smells like rain. Now he is moping around looking at me accusingly.

pilates · 20/08/2021 20:12

Absolutely fine, my dog hates rain too

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