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?

I think it depends on the breed of dog that you have as to if the dog needs / wants a coat.

I currently have a pug, 2 pug / shih tzu x's and a very elderly bichon - hence the collection of coats.
The bichon being 17 wears her coat if it is 10c or less, as she walks very slowly or is being pushed in her buggy ( as she cannot do the length of walk the others can do and I will not leave her home alone ) and sitting in a buggy in the wind or rain is cold.

When I did have larger breed dogs I didn't have a coat collection.

Yes.

We might not do the two walks - though I did that when he was younger and had much more energy and need to burn it off - but he would go out at least once.

As an aside it never ceases to amaze (and disappoint me) how often people want to judge what others are doing.

Frankly, who really cares if someone else skips rain walks or insists on doing them? Has a routine or doesn't? It can be so daft, thinking there is one, perfect way to keep a dog.

Frankly, there are about a million ways to keep a dog well. Whether that's by insisting they are walked twice a day every day or by sleeping in till noon. Whether it's occasionally skipping a walk or having the day's timings set in stone. Just pick whatever suits you and your specific dog the best.

Try not walking a Scottish Deerhound, she'd eat my feet 🙃 eight years and she's never, ever missed a day's walks. Rain, snow, gale force winds, she's happiest out for walks.

Our dog hates the rain. He is also old/blind/deaf and doesn’t go far anyway so if it is raining we will put his lead on and take him outside but 9/10 times he will do a poo a few meters down the lane then turn around and pull to get back home. One of the reasons I refused to get a dog when we lived in England was the thought of dog walks in cold and wet weather.

Nope, i just let him out to pee then bring him in- he HATES the rain, shivers and pines as we walk. He’s like an ad for an abandoned dog (as he walks on the lead!) Cocker spaniel by the way

I'm I do but because I enjoy walking In the rain. My dog could take it or leave it but I enjoy walking, I think some days she'd prefer it if we didn't go for a walk!

@stayathomer my rain hater is a cocker spaniel too. Maybe it’s a breed thing.

yes,
try to find shelter under the trees

DDog I has a shirt coat and is quite small. I got her a coat with a belly protector after she decided she wanted to do the muddiest trails one January and then refused to walk any further as her tummy was covered in cold mud and it was a mile back to the car.

I'm not sure how people can judge others for not walking their DDog either? Yesterday for instance I went to my DSister's town and we both walked our DDogs together. So neighbours probably didn't see me walk her but she had a good hour with another Dog.

what breed out of interest

You probably know already but she's a miniature Dachshund. We were familiar with the breed so the fact that she doesn't like rain was not surprise. Age actually barked her dissatisfaction at it yesterday when she needed a wee and the rain was pouring down

I don't judge people for doing what works for them and their dog (an old dog might not want to go out every day, for example). I do judge the people who barely walk their dogs all winter and then suddenly materialise on the first fine day in the spring.

It's like coats: on-lead greyhound in a coat, understandable. Off-lead vizsla belting round the playing fields, no need at all.

Yes, always. If it’s really bad we go to some woods nearby that offer quite a bit of protection. Or maybe a slightly shorter walk but dog always gets 2 walks a day.

I have a greyhound so it’s a bit like trying to lead walk a cat in the rain. If I don’t insist then he asks to go out the back door to use the facilities and see the rain and runs back to bed. 3 mins later he’s at the back door again because he’s forgotten it’s raining and then he remembers and runs off. Much better if he empties his bladder on a walk and can sleep uninterrupted. If it’s days of rain he has to have a decent walk at some point but the odd rainy day a quick trot around the block suits.

It's not even currently raining here but the ground is wet, there's alot of fog and it just feels damp.

I had to push my dog outside to wee and she wouldn't step on the wet grass. I had to pick her up and plop her in the grass.

Can you imagine her reaction if I tries to take her out in the rain 🤣

If its a generally wet day we just don't walk.
But mine are all couch potatoes who like to just plod about the garden so they don't take offense.

Depends on the dog. A couple of mine will not settle without a good walk, so they are walked every single day, regardless of weather. Others hate the rain and aren’t arsed about walking. If they look out the door and see it’s raining, they’d rather go back to bed and plait their legs until it stops. I also have a couple who I am convinced if I provided them with a litter tray, they would never, ever go outside again 🤣 They are all different.

Flatandhappy

The puppy dog eyes too- do you get them? He could make anyone sob😅😅😅

I agree. Until I got a dog I had no idea that there were so many people who would judge and have an opinion about other people’s animals. It’s bonkers. I often wonder if they go through life just generally judging everyone and everything.

It wouldn't be the Doghouse without a whole heap of unnecessary, unpleasant judgement

They probably do @SirChenjins - personally I couldn't be arsed to care so much!

I also find it interesting that so many posters who have years of experience can't seem to fathom that there's more than one way to own a dog.

I have a little schnauzer who will not wee in the garden and has to go out for a quick run to the park. She also hates wearing her coat but as I explain to her every time it rains, "just have a quick pee in the garden and we can both stay in the dry" but no joy, out we go.

@Lorrymum I have a schnauzer too-she doesn't mind the rain but does wear a raincoat -just a little zip up the back one because she does feel the cold and will reach saturation point.
Have you tried equafleece coats? Not for raincoat but for warmth in the cold weather? So so easy and fuss free-no velcro or annoying bits.
Wet and muddy it goes straight in the washing machine.
And no I don't work for equafleece but honestly they are brilliant.

I’m about to rehome my dog as he missed a walk a week last Wednesday.

Another one who thinks it depends on the breed. I chose a working cocker spaniel, so I walk in the rain very frequently. She absolutely loves a sniffy walk in the rain. I have bought excellent waterproofs and in those I don't get wet. The dog has a drying bag which works well for when we get home.

Often when I take her out in the rain, I only see other spaniels or pointers out in it 🤣