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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Taking your dog out in bad weather/when it rains ALL day

87 replies

lovenotwar149 · 08/12/2024 07:29

This weekend the weather has been awfully windy and rainy. Currently its pouring. What do people say to staying in on either a sat or sun under such weather conditions? Y'day I was googling games etc to play with your dog when at home, it included some good mental stimulation games too. I have a hallway which I can throw a ball up and down and he runs to get it etc. Of course it's not very long.
I have not had a dog before.

OP posts:
WatchOutForBabyHaggis · 08/12/2024 09:42

We have a Springer Spaniel so she'll happily walk in any type of weather.

We're well used to walking in rain but on the days the weather is especially awful we just skip a day - that's for our benefit though.

TourmaletAndCoubous · 08/12/2024 09:46

Tess150 · 08/12/2024 09:33

It depends what dog you've got surely? A collie or springer spaniel isn't going to give a shit about the weather, they'll want their walks. A whippet on the other hand is more likely to be snuggling up on the sofa under a duvet with you.

In our experience it has varied by sex; 8 dogs same breed, the four boys all hated rain but three of the girls weren't bothered and would go out in all weathers. Not sure if that's general or if it's just that the boys in my breed are big lazy oafs 😆

WatchOutForBabyHaggis · 08/12/2024 09:51

Am tempted by the paw wash thing i see advertised on Facebook but DH just laughs and rolls his eyes

I don't know what a paw washer is...but for muddy dogs I'd highly recommend a hand pump pressure washer. Usually advertised for washing bikes/cars etc (but the pressure is like a strong shower, nowhere near an actual pressure washer!).

We got one from GoOutdoors, cost about a tenner...it's 8L but we never fill it full. I've seen them in Halfords, B&Q etc too.

It works so well. We fill it with hot water before we leave and either leave it by the back door if we're walking from home or take it in the car. Then at the end of the walk it's cooled to the perfect temperature and takes 5 minutes and she's spotless...we never have any mud at home or in the car at all.

biscuitsandbooks · 08/12/2024 09:52

Tess150 · 08/12/2024 09:33

It depends what dog you've got surely? A collie or springer spaniel isn't going to give a shit about the weather, they'll want their walks. A whippet on the other hand is more likely to be snuggling up on the sofa under a duvet with you.

Ours is a beagle - bred to go out hunting in all weathers - nobody seems to have told him that though Grin

His natural habitat appears to be in our bed, under the duvet, or under a blanket with his nose poking out (presumably so he can sniff out snacks).

Headingtowardsdivorce · 08/12/2024 10:02

BeyondMyWits · 08/12/2024 07:41

Ours is 13 and set in his ways. We "take him out" twice a day whatever the weather as otherwise he throws a hissy fit and barks at the door until I get all dressed up, boots on (not an easy job for a fat 60 year old with dodgy hip, knees and arthritic hands).

Then we go outside and if it is raining , sometimes (in the past year) he'll pee at the kerb, turn around and go back in. We know he will. But if we don't do the whole rigmarole, he will bark and bark and bark until we do. (In that rhythm.... bark (and) bark (and) bark (and) bark....)

Mine does that style of bark too, it's like he's read up on Chinese water torture, it drives me insane!

OldTinHat · 08/12/2024 10:02

I didn't take dog out yesterday because it was so vile, but I had taken her on an exceptionally long walk on Friday and she was wiped out from that.

We're off out this morning though. Wish us luck!

OldTinHat · 08/12/2024 10:02

I didn't take dog out yesterday because it was so vile, but I had taken her on an exceptionally long walk on Friday and she was wiped out from that.

We're off out this morning though. Wish us luck!

Headingtowardsdivorce · 08/12/2024 10:03

Pasithean · 08/12/2024 08:36

Ours has mastered the practice of putting her bum out just over the doorway . No doormats here lol.

That's hilarious!

Headingtowardsdivorce · 08/12/2024 10:08

Boy dog will go out whatever the weather, but girl dog sniffs the air and if there's any hint of rain, she refuses to go out (but, obviously, not before barking madly from the moment I brush my teeth to the moment the front door opens).

We went for a short walk yesterday, led by boy dog (so his choice to return home early), and then we played football on the wooden floorboards to wear them both out.

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 08/12/2024 10:10

thanks very much people for all these replies, both amusing and helpful.
We did go for a half hour lead walks little while ago, there was. break in the rain. I'll try to do the same later....

OP posts:
StasisMom · 08/12/2024 10:12

BeyondMyWits · 08/12/2024 07:41

Ours is 13 and set in his ways. We "take him out" twice a day whatever the weather as otherwise he throws a hissy fit and barks at the door until I get all dressed up, boots on (not an easy job for a fat 60 year old with dodgy hip, knees and arthritic hands).

Then we go outside and if it is raining , sometimes (in the past year) he'll pee at the kerb, turn around and go back in. We know he will. But if we don't do the whole rigmarole, he will bark and bark and bark until we do. (In that rhythm.... bark (and) bark (and) bark (and) bark....)

❤️❤️❤️

Baital · 08/12/2024 10:13

DDog is definitely a fair weather walker, luckily will go to the toilet in the garden and is generally happy to potter round the house, snooze, and maybe play a bit of tug of war.

It depends on the dog!

LibisMum · 08/12/2024 10:17

We are not walking this weekend - luckily have a huge garden and all my dogs are happy to go to the loo in it. One of them won't go out in heavy rain anyway, another is a youngster who is already nervous of the way the trees around the garden are bending about and making a noise. She goes out to the loo and then rushes back indoors.

If I didn't have the garden then I would have to brave it but I am not going to risk any of them getting spooked by something blown around and running off in a panic. It's fierce where I am. Not worth the risk IMO. It won't hurt them not to have a long walk for a couple of days.

converseandjeans · 08/12/2024 10:26

It probably depends on the breed - in awful weather we generally see collies, spaniels, labs, staffies. Less likely to see smaller dogs.

I thought ours was the only dog who refuses to poo in garden.

hennipenni · 08/12/2024 10:35

I have 2 dogs with different needs/wants.
The youngster is a retriever and will happily go out in all weathers so she gets possibly a shorter walk,
my spaniel is older, has joint issues and would rather stay inside, in bed. So he does, except for being made to go out in the garden for wee’s and poo’s.

wetotter · 08/12/2024 10:46

DDog is ok with some rain, but hates the heavy rain/strong wind combo we have at the moment.

All we managed yesterday were short walks, as she was very firmly asking to go back home after she'd peed and pooed, and I think it'll be the same today. Apart from intermittently inspecting the weather from the back door, she seems quite happy to snooze. I don't think a couple of days of being a canine couch potato is going to do any harm at all, especially when it's chiming with her wishes.

She will pee/poo in the garden, but would much rather do it away from home, and has a pretty clear idea of the (short/local) route we should be taking when it's a walk of necessity in foul weather.

NoTouch · 08/12/2024 10:58

Invest in good waterproof, breathable jackets/coats, wellies/walking boots and they will last years.

Then do walks as normal whatever the weather, unless dangerous. Being a bit wet won't hurt you and once you get used to rainy days and embrace them they can still lift your mood getting outside on a rainy day, then coming home to a warm house.

Lots of old towels for the dog and a tumble dryer help too!

Miss our dog and the walks, even the rainy ones!

biscuitsandbooks · 08/12/2024 11:22

Being a bit wet won't hurt you

Try telling my dog that Grin

BeyondMyWits · 08/12/2024 11:39

Headingtowardsdivorce · 08/12/2024 10:02

Mine does that style of bark too, it's like he's read up on Chinese water torture, it drives me insane!

Show quote history

That's exactly it... drives me to distraction. Cannot be ignored - and he knows it!

Purplecatshopaholic · 08/12/2024 11:43

My dogs are Spanish, and loath bad weather. The boys will literally refuse to go out apart from a speed-of-light pee in the garden, lol. The girls will deign to go out if togged up in their cosy coats. We play it by ear every day, watch the weather, get them out when we can and don’t stress about it. One of my boys in particular seems to think he will melt in the rain, lol. He also hates cold, wet feet and you practically have to drag him out (he would rather snooze in his centrally heated house, which makes sense really!)

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 08/12/2024 12:20

It’s only (very) windy here today so we went to the beach. Billy had fun…

Taking your dog out in bad weather/when it rains ALL day
Zippedydodah · 08/12/2024 12:25

Moonlightstars · 08/12/2024 08:36

Unless of course dangerous we always take out dogs out. Even if it's just for 2 half hour walks. We have wellies and waterproofs. We all get wet then come home and dry.
I thought everyone did!

Us too.
I have proper waterproof clothes, wellies etc, the dog has a waterproof coat if it’s really heavy rain and off we go. She doesn’t mind the weather luckily.

Newpeep · 08/12/2024 12:27

My young border terrier will walk in any weather so we go out as normal. I invested in good gear a long time ago with my last dog and it’s well worth it. We can skip a day though if we need to. She doesn’t nag.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 08/12/2024 12:30

We’re out at least 4 times a day whatever the weather.

if it’s atrocious then the walks are shorter than usual, but we still go out.

OldSpeclkledHen · 08/12/2024 13:47

MN needs a LIKE button!
Some great replies
Thought DBruce was the only hound too not Pooh in his garden! So we have to go out every day, twice a day (sometimes they're shorter walks - as he doesn't like rain and wind - but needs must 💩)