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?

Yes, 100%. Very often it rains at least 2-3 times a week, heavily, over winter (so 2-3 months). People who don't want their dogs when it rains are just cruel IMO. Once or twice because you are sick? Fine. But repeatedly when it' a bit of rain? No.

Walking your dog, feeding your dog (decent food), ensuring vaccinations, worming and flea treatment are up to date, insuring your dog, and loving your dog are the fundamentals of dog ownership. If you are unwilling or unable to do any of them, then you do not deserve a dog.

Always. They don't mind and we have washing facilities and gazillions of towels p!us drying coats.

Well, I actually don't think feeding your children junk food occasionally is a big deal, so...yeah. It's not the end of the world, nor is it going to cause them any long term issues.

There's a huge difference between never taking your dog out in the rain and skipping the odd day because they're quite happy snoozing at home with you instead.

Yes. 3 times a day, every day.

This.

We have a 2 year old Springer Spaniel from working lines.

Occasionally we skip a walk. Hard to say how often, maybe once a fortnight or so? Because of truly horrific weather (for our benefit not hers, she'd be happy to walk in a fullblown tropical storm) or illness or just life.

This is a working, 2 year old, incredibly active breed at her peak fitness, a dog who has completed 8 hour hikes in the mountains and many 10k runs.

She's absolutely fine with a day off.

If you have a dog, any dog, that would be unmanageable or go 'stir crazy' because of one day inside, you have some serious work that needs doing. You need to be teaching that dog to settle, to be calm, to be active in ways other than running for an hour.

People seem to think it's a bit of a flex to be proud of to have a dog incapable of missing a walk 😬 For anyone who knows anything about dogs, it's actually the opposite!

They all get walked, apart from one who refuses to go out if it's raining. Even in good weather I think she'd happily be a house dog. She had a bad start in life due to a previous shit owner and then an illness and was scared of most things when we got her, now it's just rain and a couple of other things she doesn't like so she's doing well.

I do because I don’t have private outside space other than a balcony and she can’t use that as a toilet. We walk in every weather even when it’s hot but adjust the length and area of walking to the weather. Luckily we have a densely tree lined road right next door so that’s good when it’s hot or rainy.

We went early, was caught in the rain on the way back which means ddog sprints home. We try and go before it starts or when it stops or resort to a short stroll round the block instead.

Crikey, I struggle to get my German Shepherd in to the garden for a wee or poo if it’s drizzling - (have to put my foot up her bum🙄) absolutely no way would she go out in the rain for a walk!

My previous GSD would go out in all weathers, the only thing she hated was hail on her long snout, I think it hurt!

They both loved water for swimming, but this this particular pupper loathes rain, hail or snow.

I literally said that in my post 😂

It's a case, in my view, of 'If you can, you must.' It's your responsibility as a dog owner, and you should do your best to fulfil it. Otherwise it becomes very easy to start making excuses.

It's a bit like hearing your DCs read after school. Some evenings there is just no time (we rarely managed it on the day we spent 2+ hours getting to swimming and back again). Not bothering with reading because you have a bit of a cold and it's easier to sit them in front of the telly while you mope in a corner isn't quite the same.

And maybe I feel the way I do because not having a walk for 24 hours would mean my two are not getting appropriate exercise for their age and breed. They'd survive, but it feels bloody unkind.

Exactly.

Some breeds (and I also have a springer) will keep going to their detriment at times, and look happy about it.
In some really hot weather we skipped walks some days and I played with her, ball in the hallway or garden etc - she'd have done it till she dropped if I'd continued even though had I done it could have been really harmful. She'd have also done 10 mile walk, looking like it was the best thing in the world, until the physical effects kicked in.
She'd do it because she wants to be with me and involved in whatever I'm doing. Left to her own devices in that weather her and the other one laid on the cool mats in front of the fan, only moving when I did.

Not really. I always keep an eye out for gaps in the rain and run if it stops but the 2 of them hate the rain and it would be more like a drag than walk if I tried. Not fun for anyone.

The usual is 2 walks a day and it's very rare that they wouldn't get out for either of them but when we skip one for whatever reason I swear they are delighted with more snooze time. They really aren't adventurs dogs.

No because ddog doesn’t like to walk in the rain. Or even just after the rain. Or if it’s too hot.

We were caught out in thunder earlier this week and she point blank wouldn’t walk the next day so she had two full days off walks to decompress.

Yes, one dog insists on walking in all weathers, loves getting wet and being dried. The other dog, would happily stay indoors if raining but has FOMO - so joins in.

My late dog was walked in the rain as it didn’t phase her, my present dog refuses to go out, so no.

I own a WCS they love all water ! I never don’t take him out at all, but sometimes I’ll skip a second walk.

I wouldn’t judge, some dogs don’t want to go out in the rain !

I don’t really get the whole must walk your dog thing. But then I have a greyhound… some days he’s just not feeling it, I let him tell me if he wants a walk or not. He has the occasional off lead in a hired field and even then after ten mins he’s waiting by the gate to be taken home.

Just like humans, dogs have different interests. Ddog would take a puzzle game or treat hunt in the garden over a walk every single time!

Yes. He needs to relieve himself and have a walk out. Buy some waterproofs.

And maybe I feel the way I do because not having a walk for 24 hours would mean my two are not getting appropriate exercise for their age and breed. They'd survive, but it feels bloody unkind.

I guess I just don't understand the significance of 24 hours and why they seemingly must have a set amount of exercise in that time otherwise it's cruel.

I totally agree that all dogs should get age and breed appropriate exercise, I'm just not convinced it needs to be so strict. As long as say, over a week they get the appropriate level of exercise and stimulation, surely it's irrelevant whether they have three walks in one 24 hour period and none in another?

A set amount of walks per day/at set times is quite an old school way of thinking. It’s no longer thought of as wise or necessary as long as the dog’s needs are being met.

No as our dog refuses.