How to survive in the rain with your dog
The keys to adapt your dog to all weathers
RAINY DAYS WITH YOUR DOG
Reading time about: 7 minutes
Rain may be fun or unpleasant for your dog, but much of it will depend on you. With the following activities and tips, you can make rainy days unforgettable experiences for both your dog and you.
Table of contents
1- The effects of rain on dogs
2- Activities to do with your dog on a rainy day
3- How you should look after your Australian Cobberdog on rainy days
The effects of rain on dogs
Dogs are also able to sense when it is going to rain. Although not all dogs handle rain in the same way, their senses are heightened when it rains. Thanks to their great olfactory capacity, they are able to detect smells from outside even when they are indoors. This is because when it rains, the moisture makes the smells take longer to disperse and become more intense, increasing your canine's desire to sniff around.
But the olfactory signals aren’t the only thing that are intensified when it rains. The pheromone signals also become stronger, making it less difficult for dogs to detect females in heat. And while this probably won't affect neutered dogs, it may trigger the canine reproductive instinct in unsterilized dogs, especially in those urban areas where there is usually a great mix of smells.
The fear of rain: how to avoid it
Rain isn’t something that is pleasant for everyone. For many dogs, the sound of rain can make them shiver, especially if the water falls on metal surfaces or is accompanied by thunder. This is why it is so important to get a puppy used to this weather and, above all, to avoid associating it with a stressful or traumatic environment. Your dog needs to see rain as a fun experience and an opportunity to discover new smells, associating getting wet with enjoyment rather than fear. Bathing also plays a fundamental role in this sense, so it will be important that in its socialization stage we make the animal see it as enjoyable, so that once it becomes an adult, it not only manages to behave well in circumstances such as coming into contact with water, but also to experience them positively.
Activities to do with your dog on a rainy day
The activities on a rainy day are usually quite limited if they are intended to be done outdoors. However, that doesn’t mean that your dog may sacrifice socialization, mental and physical stimulation, or having a good time despite the rainy day. With these activities you can turn a rainy day into a great day for both you and your dog:
1. Don’t give up the daily walk
Even though going outside on rainy days may not entirely appealing, walking is still a necessary thing to be maintained. With these simple tips, going for a walk without the need for good weather may also be rewarding:
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Find quiet places for your walk
Your canine's heightened senses can make it more agitated than usual, so it is advisable to divert your route to less frequented places to avoid causing it more stress. It will also be important to walk in sheltered areas to protect it from the cold and wind, as well as on asphalted grounds without vegetation to avoid higher moisture. But above all, we must maintain a calm attitude that we can transmit to it at all times, otherwise your dog may associate the activity with negative emotions.
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Dress your dog well
In order to prevent the rain from soaking into your dog's coat and to have to dry it as little as possible when you get home, it is always advisable to put a waterproof rain jacket over your dog's whole body.To protect their paws, there are also rain boots for dogs, which are very useful, especially if they have long hair or sensitive pads, although your furry friend will need a prior adaptation before going outside. This will prevent your dog from getting soaked and will reduce the amount of moisture it is exposed to.
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Make walking a positive experience
While some dogs love to go for a walk under any circumstances, even if it means getting wet, others find rain difficult to tolerate. Positive reinforcement will be key in these cases. After the walk, it will be convenient to reward your dog, either with its favourite treats or by giving it affection with caresses and pleasant words. In fact, the necessary drying and brushing when you get home should be a good opportunity for this, as well as strengthening the bond between the two of you. This will ensure that, even if it is raining, going for a walk is something worth doing.
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Dry your dog as soon as you get home
Drying your dog is more of a must than a tip, as soon as you get home from the walk. Drying your dog’s coat will reduce the risk of catching a cold and at the same time it will prevent knots, as well as serving as a pampering session to reward it. Towel drying, blow drying, and careful brushing will be appreciated, especially if accompanied by massages in areas such as the neck or behind the ears.
2. Play with it indoors
- Staying at home may be fun too. There are a variety of both homemade and interactive games that will help to strengthen your bond and maintain the mental stimulation that every dog needs. Here are some of our favourite homemade options.
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The trilero: with this game you can test your pet's olfactory ability. Your dog must manage to find the prize in one of the different containers that you place in front of it upside down. To increase the difficulty of this game, you may also move them around quickly to throw it off track.
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Scented carpets: these are many pieces of fabric that are joined together, which you can make yourself with the help of a tutorial, where you can hide treats that your dog will have the task of finding. In fact, mealtimes may also become a great game if you decide to hide your dog's food in the carpet under some pieces of fabric.
3. Teach your dog training tricks
- Your home is the ideal quiet environment in which to teach your dog basic training tricks without any distraction, whether you want to reinforce typical indications such as sit down, lie down or give me your paw; or if you want to increase the difficulty to “bow” or the “croquette”. On the other hand, you may also help it to acquire better behaviours such as picking up a treat gently, stopping it from climbing on the sofa or bed, or prevent it from asking for food when you are at the table.
4. Try Dog Recipes
- Your dog also has the right to try new gourmet recipes. As well as being a reward for the dog's taste after going for a walk despite the rain, it could also be a fun pastime to learn with. There are many different recipes that you may prepare for your dog, both based on specific canine products and organic food that you can give it without the risk of food poisoning. If you want to prepare something quick and easy, you may opt for not very elaborate snacks such as ice creams for dogs in summer, or dog cookies in any season of the year.
How you should look after your Australian Cobberdog on rainy days
Australian Cobberdogs have a reputation for being versatile, either when it comes to adapting to any environment or to the needs of people of any kind of situation. But in order to adapt ourselves to their needs, we need to protect them from what a rainy day entails.
It will be advisable to cover your furry friend with a waterproof rain jacket and, if necessary, to put on the specific waterproof rain boots for dogs, although this requires prior training. In this way drying it will be easier, not having to insist so much on key areas such as the ears. But apart from walking, indoor activities are a great opportunity to discover and develop the great potential of these dogs. You will see that it will be delighted that you dedicate time to play, learn tricks, or in general carry out any activity that involves pleasing you and have a good time together.
Taking care of a dog isn’t only about meeting its primary needs. Responsible ownership also includes caring for positive experiences in all areas, from walking to learning at home.
