Do Dog Walkers walk in the rain?
A dog walker is a superb way to provide your dog with enrichment and exercise, as well as an opportunity to relieve themselves, even when you are not home. However, if you wake up to a rainy day, you may wonder whether your dog walker will still take your dog out.
Do dog walkers walk dogs in the rain? Good dog walkers walk dogs in the rain, as long as the dog is willing. In fact, great dog walkers know how to take advantage of rainy days to provide a cool walk during hot months, offer enrichment through heightened smells, and go for an off-leash hike to give dogs the opportunity for puddle zoomies.
Here’s everything you need to know about how dog walkers handle dogs in the rain and what opportunities a rainy day can provide for your pup's enrichment, as well as some tips for dealing with dogs that absolutely refuse to walk in the rain.
Walking a Dog in The Rain
A good dog walker will take your pup’s preferences into account when determining whether they should walk in the rain. Different dogs have different feelings about walking in the rain.
Some dogs hate getting their paws wet or feeling the rain fall on their fur, while other dogs enjoy the greater intensity of smells during the rain and love jumping in puddles.
Walking in the Rain Tips
Carry an umbrella. An umbrella can keep both the dog walker and the dog dry, which makes it a lot more enjoyable for some dogs.
Dog raincoats. Some dogs are afraid of umbrellas or like to range further from the walker than an umbrella can accommodate. For such dogs, a raincoat may be a more appropriate choice.
Dog booties. Some dogs seem to be particular about getting their feet wet. While most dogs would overwhelmingly prefer having wet feet to wearing booties, there are exceptions.
Avoid puddles. Dogs may love jumping in streetside puddles, but these puddles are often full of pollutants, so your dog walker will make a point to avoid them. If your dog loves playing in puddles, a nature hike is a better option on a rainy day.
Your dog walker will learn your dog’s preferences and know whether they should wear a poncho or carry an umbrella. A great dog walker may even have a raincoat or booties ready for your dog when they arrive to take them for a walk.
Taking Advantage of the Rain
While we typically think of a rainy day as a less-than-ideal opportunity for a dog walk, in fact, in some circumstances, the rain can be an advantage for your dog walker:
Summer Heat
During the heat of summer, a rainy day may actually be the best time for your dog to go for a long walk. Most dogs don't enjoy walking in extreme heat, and some breeds, like Northern breeds or those with short snouts, can very easily suffer heatstroke during a walk in the heat.
Hot asphalt and the potential for heatstroke make hot summer walks unappealing and downright dangerous for many dogs. By contrast, a rainy day can make even the hottest summer heat tolerable.
Your dog may actually be overjoyed to take a walk in the rain during the summer, even if they don't typically like the rain, since it may be one of the few opportunities for them to get out and explore during the hottest months of the year.
Go For a Hike
If your dog has a great recall and enjoys exploring in the rain, a rainy day may be the perfect opportunity for your dog walker to provide your dog with some extra enrichment. Rain makes everything smell more strongly.
Most dogs can't seem to take their noses off the ground when they are going for a hike on a rainy day. Many dogs also seem to love getting their feet wet in puddles and running around in “zoomies.”
Scent Training
Smells are stronger for dogs when they're wet. That makes for an enticing and entertaining hike for your dog, but it can also give your dog walker an opportunity to extend training into walk time.
f you want your dog to have more stimulation on their walk, ask your dog walker about scent training. Training your dog for scent work is quite easy.
Your dog’s trainer will start by hiding a treat and having your dog find it. They then associate the treat with a different smell. Soon your dog will be hunting for just the smell alone and get a reward when they find the object.
Even if your dog has not seemed to take to scent training on dry days, they may find the increased smells during wet times compelling enough to take to the training.
What if My Dog Won't Walk in The Rain?
If you've tried umbrellas, dog raincoats, booties, and everything else that you can think of to encourage your dog to walk but they won't budge when they see that it's wet outside, you may be at your wit's end trying to decide what to do with them.
Thankfully, your dog walker can provide enrichment and exercise for your dog without taking them for a walk. Your dog walker can simply come by your house and let your dog into the yard or out very briefly to relieve themselves, then go back into the house for enrichment.
Here are some indoor exercise ideas that your dog walker can do with your dog on a rainy day:
Flirt stick. The flirt stick is like a giant cat toy for dogs. Dogs love to chase the lure, and it can provide a lot of exercise even inside.
Hide and seek. Your trainer can hide and ask your dog to find them or they can hide treats for your dog to find. Either way, running through the house looking for something is a great enriching experience for your pup.
Simple agility. Your dog doesn't need a lot of room to get their heart racing. Your house sitter can ask your dog to jump through hoops in the living room, balance on a stool, and do all kinds of other activities to provide exercise and enrichment inside.
Don't Let a Rainy Day Hold Your Dog Back
Just because it's raining outside doesn't mean that your dog can't enjoy an enriching time with their dog walker. Whether your walker takes your dog for a walk in the rain, a hike in the woods, or entertains them inside, your dog can get the most out of every rainy day.