Going out with a dog on a rainy day can be a challenging experience. The fluctuation for your dog’s mood during cloudy or rainy days adds to this challenge as well. A dog that can be energetic going out in the rain on Monday might only sit still watching raindrops fall on Tuesday.
Have you ever wondered why this is the case? More importantly, how can you handle this problem?
The answers are actually quite simple. Just like humans feel they want to stay indoors during the rain, dogs feel the same way. However, on other days we might still leave the house because we need to go somewhere; and a dog might feel that same way as well!
On the other hand, we also need to keep in mind that a dogs has a very different way of thinking compared to humans. One of the most basic things is that a dog does not understand the concept of rain as a natural event that happens as precipitation of water falls down to the earth.
Moreover, rain comes with unpleasant sounds for a dog. For example, the sound of rain drops falling to the roof of a house can be a scary noise for a dog, despite the fact that this sound might be very soothing for certain people. Besides that, the sound of thunder can be something very frightening for dogs; just like some people are often scared or shocked at the sound of a thunderclap.
The change in barometric pressure might also disturb a dog. This change of pressure caused by rain might trigger aches in a dog’s ear, just like it does for humans. This discomfort might make a dog even more unwilling to do things during rain.
A dog’s sharp sense of smell might also be a boomerang on rainy days. The moist and damp air during rainy days can make all smells become more pungent for a dog. If there is a smell your dog dislikes, it may be another factor why a dog is afraid to leave the house.
Lastly, there are some psychological reasons as to why your dog hates the rain. Maybe you have once got angry at your dog for walking on a puddle, or you might have shouted at your dog for getting mud tracks all over the floors of your house after going out in the rain. These events are etched in your dog’s memory, and thus make them want to never be scolded again.
Luckily there are some things you can do to chip away at your dog’s hate towards the rain. One of the most important things is to set a good example for your dog. If you seem bummed everytime it rains and is reluctant to go out in that condition, your dog will mimic you. Try going out once in a while using a raincoat and an umbrella, where you can shield yourself and your dog from raindrops. The most important thing is that you cannot look like you hate the rain!
You can also get your dog used to playing with water. During playtime with your dog, you can use a hose or a kid’s rubber pool. If you dog doesn’t like getting doused in water, use a hose to make your play area a little wet so that your dog can at least start to get used to stepping on something wet. Next, try and do activities you usually do on a wet surface; maybe a little tug-of-war, fetch, etc.
Next, you must remember to dry your dog everytime they are wet due to the rain. Just as people hate to wear wet clothes after going out in the rain, dogs feel the same way. Some dogs might not even hate the rain, but they hate the feeling of doing things with a wet fur and coat! Prepare a towel near your door, and dry your dog thoroughly, including all its legs, its tail and its ears.
Playing with a dog that hates the rain can test your patience, but you need to remember to always be supportive of your little buddy. It might need some time to get your dog to feel comfortable with the rain, but this is something that is achievable with time.