Tips for Walking Your Dog in the Rain
When you gotta go you gotta go right? The same works for your dog.
So what if you don’t have a yard or your dog just prefers taking a stroll to do his business?
My mom shared a story with me about her dog Murph.
Murph’s a little guy but he doesn’t know that (google Napoleon to get an idea)
So Murph needs to go out in the morning. He get’s his coat on then his harness on and hooks the leash to my Mom so he can go for his walk. When he get’s outside he realizes it is raining…no good. Mom get’s him to walk down the street a bit but then notices that either he is behaving himself more than usual or just sitting still because there is no tension on the leash.
Mom looks down to find herself holding just a harness with a raincoat attached to it…no dog. Murph made the smart choice and decided to go back and wait on the front steps and let Mom take her walk in the rain.
I’m guessing he was probably wondering why she likes to walk and stand around in the rain!
Here is eHow’s instructions for walking your dog in the rain
Instructions
1. Look for trees, bushes, awnings, homes or buildings to block some of the rain and wind in order for your dog to “do his business.”
2. Hold an umbrella over your dog to stop the rain from falling on her back and face. There’s still the issue of wet ground, but keeping the rain off is half the battle
3. Consider purchasing a dog rain coat. There are a variety of styles in a variety of price ranges–all with the same purpose–to keep your dog dry. And if you have a larger dog, you may consider purchasing a small foal (baby horse) blanket. These are waterproof, wind resistant and have velcro straps to stay in place. Many people with larger dogs find that these work well (see Resources below).
4. Consider a pet umbrella. Yes, you read right. This is an umbrella/leash combo that attaches to your dog’s collar to keep the rain off. It solves the problem of you getting wet having to share your umbrella with your dog. And if you’re worried that your umbrella may clash with your pooch’s–the same company makes a human umbrella to match! (See Resources)
5. Try dog rain boots if you think your dog can handle it and won’t raise too much of a fuss. There are a variety of styles from simple pleather to more sophisticated ones with adjustable ankle straps and non-skid soles (see Resources).
6. Now that your dog is good to go, you don’t want to have to cut the walk short because you’re not. Make sure you have on waterproof shoes and look for a waterproof (not water resistant), hooded rain slicker. If you’re carrying an umbrella, the kind with an automatic pop-up button makes it easier to operate with one hand.
About the Author
