7 tips for walking dogs in rain

If you own a dog, you know that it's a lot of responsibility to look after. Alongside feeding, grooming, and being a parent, you have to give up a lot of your time towards raising it.

One essential thing as a dog owner you have to do is take it for daily exercise. Depending on the size and the breed of the dog, you may have to take it out for long walks or frequent ones.

You may probably agree with us, though; there's nothing as refreshing as a walk with your dog in the glistening sun and when the weather's good.

But, when the weather's bad, it's something we all dread.

Especially when it's raining, the last thing you'll want is to get your clothes wet, your hair wet, and even your dog.

But, walking dogs in the rain can be fun, and today we're going to provide you some valuable insights on how to do so.

1. Familiarise your dog with the weather

Humans are not the only ones that dislike rain; yes, that's right, your dog probably does too. After all, who wants to get wet, right? However, sometimes you have to take your dog on a walk, and it's something that cannot be avoided.

The best way to do this is to take them out slowly as a puppy in the rain for one minute. After that, gradually increase the time period and they will become more confident with rainy weather.

2. Dress it in rain friendly clothing

When walking your dog in the rain, you will want to invest in some waterproof clothing that will protect its coat. The best way to do this is to visit a pet store, so you can try it on with your dog and see if it feels comfortable wearing it.

Typically, you will want to buy your dog a raincoat; however, if it's not comfortable, there are also rain boots, umbrellas, and other accessories.

3. Dry them after the walk

If your dog is not a fan of waterproof clothing or accessories or is still wet, you must dry them off as soon as you get home. The first thing you will want to have is a handy dog towel for walks and drying them quickly after. If your dog has long hair, then you will want to use a blow dryer and dry its coat as soon as you return.

Plus, when you're drying your dog, you should pay attention to its paws. You will want to clean between their toes and may want to buy a portable paw cleaner.

All you need to do is add clean water into it, and it helps clean your dog's paws one at a time. Washing their feet outside and after will save you a lot of muddy paw prints in your home!

4.  Keep aware of pet health safety

In today's world, you never know when there might be a danger to your dog. When raining, oil, debris, dirt, and many other things can fall into the muddy water.

Similarly, if your dog drinks dirty water, their health could be at risk; you never know what they might catch. Therefore be aware of any diseases they could see, be mindful, and carry fresh water on you while out.

5. Stay visible

Heavy rain can quickly cause disturbance to our sight and even more so to those who drive vehicles. When it's raining, you and your dog should both wear some form of high visibility clothing.

This could be something that's yellow or has reflective strips on the clothing. If you do this, people will be easily see you and potentially save you and your pets' lives.

6. Take your dog to a dog park

A great way of distracting your dog from the rain is to take it to a dog park when it needs its walk. When you take it to see other dogs, it will probably forget the weather and run around.

Only take your dog there, though, if you have a car. We say this because it can get quite muddy quickly, and you will want to clean your dog immediately. Therefore bring many towels and cover your vehicle to prevent dirt.

7. Avoid busy areas

While we recommend wearing bright clothing, you should still stick to quiet areas when it comes to walking your dog in the rain. That way, it will cause fewer problems for you, like your dog being splashed by a car, and it will allow you to walk safely.

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These were just a few tips that we could provide you with off the top of our head. Don't be discouraged by any weather when walking your dog. After all, you made that commitment when buying it, and it's a great bonding experience.

Let us know down below your tips for walking a dog in the rain.