My Dog Won’t Pee in the Rain, What Do I Do? 4 Solutions That Can Help
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View 2 More +Most dog owners have dealt with the frustrations of their dogs refusing to pee in the rain. You try and try, but your dog says no. You look at your watch and realize you have about 5 minutes to spare before heading into the office, and your dog refuses to go. Now, you’ll have to worry about your dog peeing inside and leaving a mess you must clean when you get home.
The truth is that factors come into play regarding dogs relieving themselves in the wet outdoors. In this article, we'll discuss why your dog refuses to step a paw outside in inclement weather and what you can do to fix it.
Why Won’t My Dog Pee in the Rain?
Dogs pick up on our emotions, and if they see you scrambling with the umbrella while on a walk, they can sense that you’re unhappy with the weather. In turn, they may think of it as a negative event.
Ways to Help Your Dog Feel Comfortable Peeing in the Rain
We think it’s fair to say that most dogs don’t like the feeling of having wet paws unless you have a Labrador Retriever or English Setter. Nonetheless, you can try feeding your dog on wet grass. Place their bowl on the wet grass and praise them when they eat. This helps them feel more comfortable with having wet paws and helps them associate wet paws with a positive act.
Another trick is to take your dog on a walk in the rain. You don't need to walk them in a torrential downpour, just a little rain. When your dog feels relaxed and comfortable, give them a treat. Do this as much as possible, and the rewards will pay off.
1. Treats to the Rescue
What dog doesn’t love treats? The key is to let them know that rain isn’t a bad thing. Start small and have them go outside with you when it’s raining. We don’t recommend doing this during a downpour.
Once they are outside with you in the rain, give them a treat followed by praise. Do this whenever you can, and in time, your doggie will understand. We should point out that this works better for puppies rather than adults. Puppies simply do not understand what rain is yet, and the earlier you train them to accept it, the better.
2. Buy Your Dog a Raincoat
Raincoats can come in handy and are useful when your dog must use the bathroom in the rain. Since some dogs simply don’t like the feeling of being wet, but a raincoat will keep them dry, and they’ll be more likely to pee in the rain.
3. Buy Your Dog Booties
Most dogs don’t like the feeling of something on their paws, especially shoes. However, if you can get your dog used to wearing shoes or booties, your chances of getting them to pee in the rain are greater. Remember when we said that most dogs don’t like their paws wet? Well, this will eliminate that issue.
Dog boots come in many colors and styles, so why not make it fun? Not only do dog boots help keep your dog's feet dry, but they also protect your dog’s pads on hot pavement or walking through rough terrain.
4. Build an Awning or Cover
When all else fails, you can create a place for your dog to go. Building an awning, carport, or cover that keeps your dog out of the weather might be your only other option. You can also try to designate a potty area with gravel to help your dog’s paws stay dryer while they go.
How Do You Train a Rescue Dog to Pee Outside?
When you rescue a dog, most times, you have no idea what they’ve been through in their life, and if your dog refuses to pee outside in the rain, it could be because of a bad experience from their previous owner or perhaps they were left out in rainy weather in the past. Whatever the reason, here are some tips to get your adult rescue to pee outside in the rain.
First, develop a command for pottying outside in the rain or a “cue.” However, it’s best to introduce this training exercise while it’s not raining. By establishing commands or cues for your dog to potty, odds are it will help when it’s raining.
Try to teach them to potty quickly. For example, if you see your dog about to go, use the cue “hurry” or “quickly.” Once your dog has those cues down, it’s time to try it when it’s raining. When you take them out in the rain, repeat the cue and give them a treat and plenty of praise when they use the bathroom in the rain. Reach out to a veterinarian for more helpful tips on how to make this type of potty training a success.
Final Thoughts
We know how frustrating it can be when your dog won’t pee in the rain. Hopefully, our tips and tricks will help your dog overcome the fear of peeing in the rain, which will eliminate headaches and frustrations for you both. Remember to use positive reinforcement while training, be patient, and be sure to have plenty of treats on hand. Good luck, and stay positive!
Featured Image Credit: huoadg5888, Pixabay
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Rachel Giordano is a writer and musician living in Pensacola, Florida, with her partner and their two dogs, Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix and Sophie, a Boston Terrier. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about animals of all types. When she’s not writing about pets, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys educating the public about the needs and requirements of animals, big and small.
