Do you walk your dog when it’s pouring all day?

[moodiemoo]

It’s pouring with rain so I don’t want to go out, but I’m feeling guilty. I have a doggy raincoat I can pop on him so that’s no issue, I’m just feeling bleh and the rain isn’t exactly motivating. Do you trudge out regardless?

No. My old girl is 9, has arthritis in her back legs and getting soaked does her no favours whatsoever. She's small, so we can play in the house and she'll get enough exercise. She hates going out in the rain anyway.

Not always because they are not keen on rain and one won’t even go into the garden in the wet unless forced. One hates the sun as well and doesn’t do well above 20 degrees. Today is a perfect day for him (17 degrees and dry) so we’ve just come back from a walk.

Rain, wind, snow about the only time I don’t walk them is when it’s really hot( obviously not that often)

lol, I absolutely do. I'm a dog walker - I'm out in all weathers no matter what, for about 5-6 hours a day, five days a week. A bit of rain really doesn't bother me.

I don't, however, think it's essential to walk a dog in the pissing down rain if you're going to be home with them to keep them company and to provide other forms of entertainment and enrichment.

Same.

I do agree. I used to be obsessive about walking my dog for x hours each day. But now, I actually find that on the days I do less with my dog, he's calmer and more relaxed. Normally on a Sunday, I'd do a 4 hour forest walk with him. He's only had a 30 minute walk this morning though due to the rain and is far more relaxed. Not that I'd do that with him everyday, as I love our long walks, but the odd more relaxed day seems to do him no harm.

Rain doesn't stop us going for a walk. Very hot weather means 6 am walk usually. But our dog would go stir crazy if he didn't go out each day

My dog would put the brakes on in heavy rain and would absolutely refuse to walk. He would do his business and drag me home. Neither of us were going to enjoy that walk so why force him? He was happy enough in sun and snow and wind and drizzle. But not a chance when it was pelting down.

Yes - it’s part of owning a dog, good for you and the dog and we all enjoy it- and we get heavy snow each year

Yes, I do. I'm more than happy to walk in the rain though; I've got a very good waterproof coat, got my boots and waterproof trousers on so I'm fine.

I put dog's raincoat on and she seems to quite enjoy a rainy walk. I don't take her down to the fields though. That's where I draw the line, so pavement walks only, I'm afraid.

She 13 years old but still needs her daily walk otherwise she gets bored and restless.

We do. We have a Labrador who gives no shits about inclement weather of any description!

I have a border collie who would keep pestering if I didn’t walk him, the only time we don’t get woken up before 6am is when it’s raining. It’s not his favourite walk, but still very much up for it.

Nope, she hates the rain and downright refuses to go out in it - I have to chuck a treat out to persuade her to nip out for a wee. She also refuses to wear a coat, but really doesn't mind freezing weather (we just have to keep moving or she starts to shiver).

Luckily, there are only a few days in the year where it is tipping it down to that extent all day, we we'll get out at some point even if only for a walk round the block.

Yep, I actually think dogs with routines where they must go out for an hour at a certain time three times a day (or whatever) are more likely to cause problems than dogs who can just go with the flow a bit.

Of course all dogs need exercise but they don't need to go out in all weathers, every single day for a random, made up amount of time in order to be happy and well cared for. Yesterday mine went out twice for about 2.5 hours total, today he had half an hour. Tomorrow he'll get an hour, Tuesday he'll get two. Some days he goes at 6am, other days it's after lunch. His routine fits around us and he is just as happy on the half hour days as he is on the three hour ones.

A well stimulated usually exercised dog can skip a walk as long as they will comfortably toilet at home.

Some judge dog owners who can't be arsed to do the mentally stimulating stuff and training to tire their dogs because it's easier just to physically exhaust them with a walk...

Nope.

Ours hate the rain and refuse to budge outside. Give them snow (Bernese) and we can't get them in!

And they also hate anything above 25 degrees.

I prefer to walk in the bad weather because it's less busy which makes my life much easier.

Neither of mine are bothered about the weather, one is an ex farm dog and I've always walked the other in all weathers regardless, they have coats but only really the older one needs it in cold/very wet weather. Unless it's really hot and would be uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.

That said they do skip walks now and again and they're fine, I have two active breeds and partly they'll keep each other entertained and I play with them and engage with them anyway.

We don't have a routine, there's days we go twice, days not at all and so they are fine with whatever comes their way on a given day. It also means they don't expect anything at a certain time which is less stressful for them and me.

They're interacted with, exercised regularly and enough, fed well and have plenty of love and attention, we just don't adhere to a strict routine or a schedule.

I'm another one who judges the fair-weather dog-walkers.

Yes, by all means skip a walk if your dog is old or unwell, or if you're feeling like death yourself, or if the weather is extreme enough to have a negative impact on your dog (a Chihuahua in -10C, a husky in a sudden heat wave), or if they normally get a mid-day walk and you are unavoidably out.

Otherwise, you owe it to your dog. You got the dog, who needs exercise and stimulation. So take the poor sod out. Most dogs are fine in the rain if habituated to it as puppies - mine honestly don't mind rain at all.

Yep, it's never the wrong weather if you have the right clothing. Did 5 miles in the rain this morning, didn't dissolve and the dog survived

Ours just stands at the doorway and refuses to go out. I have to shove him into the garden. He is a st Bernard cross so I can't really make him do anything he doesn't want to and he knows that. He loves snow, but hates rain.

Our situation is that we have a largish garden where he toilets, the walks are for his enrichment and exercise. He’s currently happily passed out snoozing on the bed so not the stir-crazy type, I just know he would enjoy a walk. He’s always up for a walk. I just don’t feel great today and the pouring rain is not helping.

See, I don't understand the logic here.

If dogs are okay to skip a walk because their owner is too unwell to take them out, surely it's equally okay for them to skip a walk because it's chucking it down with rain or you're hungover?

I mean, the dog doesn't know why you're not taking them out - as long as, overall, they get the appropriate amount of exercise and stimulation for their age and breed, why does it matter if they go 24 hours without it?

Please don't let people on here make you feel guilty. Your dog is clearly quite happy if he's snoozing away and not showing any signs of upset or distress or behavioural issues.

There are lots of different ways to be a good dog owner. I'd actually argue that forcing your dog into a routine where they expect certain things at certain times, no matter what, is potentially worse than skipping a day here and there.

I love dog walks in the rain, it's so much quieter.

Ty ❤️