Young, old, big or small, all dogs need exercise to stay active and mentally stimulated. And playing in the comfort of your home (or garden) sometimes just isn’t enough.
Often, walking the dog is what they need for effective exercise. It not only provides mental simulation and physical exercise, but also a chance for you to train and socialize your dog.
But what do you do when it starts to rain? No need to worry! Your dog can still walk in the rain safely with a few essentials.
With the rainy season approaching, it is best to prepare your pooch for his walks, because he is about to get wet!
Whether your furry friend loves the rain or hates it, the five dog walking essentials we’ve listed below are sure to get you through a rainy day!
Is it safe for dogs to walk in the rain?
Absolutely! Although some dogs hate it, it’s perfectly safe for our little furry friends to walk in the rain, provided you take some precautions.
Veterinarians and pet experts say walking your dog on rainy days is safe. Pets at Home pet manager and vet Dr Karlien Heyrman told The Scotsman about the safety of walking a dog in the rain for all breeds and sizes. She says, “It’s actually important to make sure our pets continue to get their daily exercise, even in wet weather.”
However, pet owners should be aware of the force of the precipitation and be well informed of the precautions to take in this situation.
5 essentials for walking a dog on a rainy day
Walking your dog has many benefits. But doing this on a rainy day can be a little different and sometimes difficult.
With the five rainy day essentials listed below, walking the dog for your little pooch will be as enjoyable, comfortable and safe in rainy weather as it is in sunny weather.
1. Dog raincoat
A dog raincoat not only makes your dog extremely cute, but also keeps them dry and safe during a walk in the rain.
Especially for long-haired dogs, such as Samoyeds or Pomeranians, raincoats can keep their hair dry, and therefore prevent peeling and matting. And for short-haired dogs, like pugs and dalmatians, raincoats can keep them warm on cold, rainy days.
Additionally, young and older dogs can also benefit from raincoats. This is because they may have a weakened immune system and can easily catch a cold if they get wet from the rain.
Here are some raincoat recommendations from Amazon that you will love!
2. Dog Boots
Dog boots are a must-have rainy day dog walking essential, especially if you have an active four-legged friend. Not only will they keep your dog’s paw clean and out of harm’s way, but they will also keep your dog safe from puddles that may be contaminated with toxins or bacteria.
Dog boots are also a great idea when you go hiking with your dogs. They can help your dog navigate rocks safely.
Additionally, older dogs can also benefit from dog boots because they tend to drag their feet more than younger dogs, making their pads more prone to scratching.
If you’re looking for the best dog boots, check out these:
3. Waterproof leash
Waterproof leashes are your best friend on rainy days. You can still maintain grip on this type of leash even when it gets wet from the rain.
These waterproof leashes also don’t have that musty smell you get from traditional leashes when they get wet. Plus, they’re resistant to mildew, which also grows more easily on a traditional wet leash.
Plus, waterproof leashes can also come in handy if your pooch likes to wade in the ocean, lake, or pool! You don’t have to worry about the leash drying out before you can use it again.
Here are our recommendations for waterproof leashes on Amazon:
4. Reflective harness
Walking a dog on a rainy day can be uncomfortable for some dogs. And not to mention the low visibility in rainy weather, which can be dangerous for our furry friends.
So it’s best to make your pooch as comfortable and visible as possible. And instead of the traditional collar, a reflective harness is a much better option for walking the dog on a rainy day.
This will help your dog stand out and be extremely visible in all lighting conditions. Not to mention that they are more comfortable than collars.
Check out these great reflective harness options on Amazon:
5. Absorbent towel
On a rainy day, you can never be too sure that your pooch will stay dry. So, in case your dog gets wet, an absorbent towel comes in handy.
An absorbent towel helps absorb as much moisture as possible onto a dog’s coat. And it can absorb about two to four times more water than a regular towel.
So after walking your dog, it is better to rub your dog’s body with this towel as soon as possible. This will help dry your dog out sooner. And you don’t have to deal with a dog shaking off all the dirty, muddy water from his fur at home.
If you are looking to buy an absorbent towel for your furry friend, you can check them out!
Tips for walking your dog safely on a rainy day
Even if it’s a light drizzle, it’s still best to take all the extra precautions you can when walking your dog on a rainy day.
So, in addition to the essentials mentioned above, here are some tips for a walk in the rain that will keep your dog safe and comfortable.
- Keep the dog’s walk short. Keeping your walk duration shorter than normal is perfectly understandable, given the weather conditions. Shortening your dog’s walk time on a rainy day will actually help limit the number of problems he is exposed to.
- If necessary, take an alternate route. In addition to the advice mentioned above, it is better to look for another route that is less humid and that will make the walk as short as possible.
- Watch out for puddles. On a rainy dog-walking day, puddles are inevitable. And they can be fun to splash around on, for hoomans and doggos alike. But unfortunately they are not safe for our furry friends, especially large puddles. You’re not sure what kind of sharp and dangerous things are under the surface.
- Do NOT let your dog drink rainwater. Rainwater is full of dirt and bacteria and is not drinkable. So, be more vigilant and don’t let your dog drink it.
- Dry your dog thoroughly. Although your dog may shake water off his fur, it’s always best to dry him off thoroughly when he comes home from a walk. Besides the absorbent towel mentioned above, you can also use a hair dryer to make sure your dog’s whole body is dry.
Conclusion
Keeping your dog safe on a walk should be one of your top priorities, especially during the rainy season. And we hope the essentials and tips we’ve offered above will help make walking the dog a little easier for you and your pooch.
However, if you see that your dog is visibly scared or stressed to even set foot outside in the rain, it’s best to wait. If they are too anxious to walk in the rain, it can compromise their safety.
Also, if it rains too hard, you can always cancel the walk and engage your dog in other fun indoor activities for the day so he continues to exercise regularly.
