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How to Get Your Dog to Go Outside When It’s Raining

February 11, 2019 by Mary Telesz

a dog who will not go in the rain so his owners hired dog walking services to helpGetting your dog to go on a walk in the rain can be a challenging task if your dog doesn’t like the rain. You should pay close attention to your dog when it’s raining outside to try and figure out what exactly they don’t like. Some dogs have a fear of thunder and get extremely agitated and anxious when it’s storming. For these dogs, you’ll have to work to ease their anxiety by giving them praise and treats. Other dogs simply don’t like getting wet. Determining what bothers your dog most about the rain can help you find the right solution for them. Here are nine ways to encourage your best friend to step outside for a walk or play.

1. Help Your Dog Stay Dry

Just like you don’t want to get wet in the rain, neither does your dog. Most dogs tend to not like the rain, they prefer staying in shelter where it’s dry. One solution to this is to buy a large umbrella that is big enough to cover both of you. You can also find dry spots for your dog to do their business. Look for spots under trees, between buildings, or under covered areas.

2. Go to a Dog Park

Often times people take their dog on long walks to help tire them out and burn off excess energy. If this is the case for your dog, you’re probably far less inclined to take a long walk in the rain. Instead, you can take your dog to a dog park and allow them to run around. It’s unlikely other dogs will be there so you can probably let your dog off their leash. However, this could mean your dog gets a little muddy, so it’s best to have some towels handy when you get home.

3. Cover Your Dog Up

You can get a raincoat for your dog. Not only will this help keep them dry, but if you get one in a bright color or with reflective strips, it will ensure that your dog is visible to you and others around you.

4. Reward Them

When you get home from a successful walk in the rain, be sure to get your dog a treat so they start associating walks in the rain as a positive thing. If you get lucky, your dog may even start to look forward to rainy day walks. You can also offer them praise when you start the walk and throughout to let them know you are happy with their behavior.

5. Dry Them Off

a dog with a towel over herself after receiving dog walking services in the rainOne of the reasons your dog might not like going out in the rain is because they dread staying wet. As soon as you come in from your walk, be sure to use towels to gently dry them off. Pay special attention to delicate areas such as their chest and paw pads. This will help them feel more comfortable when they return home.

6. Don’t Leave Your Dog Outside

While it’s fine to talk your dog out for a walk in the rain, you shouldn’t leave your dog outdoors for an extended period of time. This will only lead to them disliking the rain even more and making your job the next time you have to walk them even harder. Consider shortening the length of your normal walks to reduce the time your dog is exposed to the rain.

7. Get a Dog Umbrella

There are special umbrellas for your dog that are available for purchase. Some look more like a raincoat, but others are actual umbrellas that can be attached to your dog with a harness. Some dogs find this much more preferable to raincoats because it doesn’t restrict their movement.

8. Rain Boots

Some dogs have extremely sensitive paw pads and when they are wet for a long period of time, they can get irritated and annoy your dog. Dog boots are intended for snow, but they can do wonders for making your dogs walk in the rain more enjoyable.

9. Hire Dog Walking Services

If your dog is really persistent about not wanting to walk in the rain, or you just don’t want to get wet yourself, you can use dog walking services. Your professional dog walker will be trained and certified and know how to handle your dog in the rain and also be safe. Dog walkers are extremely handy if you have to go out of town or if you are away from your house for long hours during the day.

Your dog doesn’t want to be cooped up inside.Having a dog walker stop by will make sure you have a happy, healthy dog even when you’re busy. If you have to go out of town, or are often unavailable to walk your dog because of your busy schedule, you can also utilize pet sitting services. Your dog walker will work with you to create a schedule that is beneficial for your dog. They can stop by on a regular basis. Schedule a meeting with a dog walker from Paw Pals Pet Sitting to learn more about how dog walking services can encourage your dog to venture out in the rain.

Filed Under: Dog Walking, Pet Anxiety

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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