My pup needs exercise every day to keep her happy. However, she hates rain (yes, and strong winds too, lol). Here in Northern California, we do not get enough rain … which is terrible for the environment but … it has an upside: Your dog does not have to endure so many rainy walks.

Let me share what I do when I walk my Nyx on one of those wet days:

1. I am not a big supporter of dressing up dogs. However, rain made even me shop for a raincoat for my girl (and because she has no undercoat, she also now sports a warm t-shirt on super cold days). The raincoat closes around her belly and her neck with a Velcro band to keep it in place. It is reflective so that we are seen even on the darkest and most rainy days.
2. I always use her body harness in addition to my regular lead. That way I can correct her with less stress when it is super ugly out there.
3. At home, a fluffy towel is waiting for her to get the worst wetness off her coat. By the way, she loves to be toweled off, lol.
4. As a volunteer dogwalker at the local humane society, I also go over there when it rains. Some of the pups get so excited that they roll in the biggest puddle while walking them. If your baby is one of those crazy dogs wash and dry them when you come home.
5. My walks are shorter on rainy days. I usually pick a route that has less noise (traffic, etc.) so that her anxiety does not kick in too much. Nyx is a very sensitive dog, lol. Perhaps yours has some issues too?

Don’t worry if your walk isn’t as long as usual. The mental challenge to walk in rain is enough for Nyx to get really tired. Once we are home and she feels comfortable and has a full tummy she snoozes on the sofa gazing out of the window every so often to bark at potential intruders (not that we have to worry about that in our neighborhood).

Most likely you will never be able to make your dog super tired completely physically. But … here is the thing: just by going during weather that is more challenging for your pup you train their mind which makes my girl sometimes even more tired than the physical activity in itself.

Christina – Don’t shop, adopt!