Activities For Dogs In North Dakota On Rainy Days

Considering the wide array of potential places you can stop, you'll first want to make a list of what interests you most, which may also be impacted by the intensity of the rain. If you want to stick indoors, consider the Visitor's Center, where you can snap a picture with the famed wood chipper or the Natural Pet Center, where you can shop for natural dog treats, food, toys and other doggy necessities - there's also PetSmart and PetCo in town as well, in case they need their nails or hair trimmed, or if you just want a wider selection. For doggy outdoors gear (a waterproof jacket for the rainy day, perhaps?), you can always stop at Scheels as well.

There are tons of dog-friendly patios throughout town, though the folks at Prairie Brother Brewing Company actually allows dogs in their taproom. Otherwise, it's best to call ahead and see what patios are covered so you can escape the rain AND enjoy some great food. We suggest calling around until you find 2 to 3 spots to stop just in case.

Once you've outlined the places you'd like to stop, consider how much time you plan to spend in town and which spots are the closest in proximity to each other so you can try to fit some walking in as well. A good umbrella should help save you from a fair amount of the rain. If you're extra savvy, consider checking an hourly weather report so you can plan to be inside for the heaviest rain and either out on a patio or walking in between locations once it lightens up. If it will eventually let up entirely, you can even combine some other outdoor activities, like going for a walk along the Red River or even taking them to a dog park, as long as it's not too muddy (unless you brought towels and rain boots!). When all is said and done, you'll have at least a few hours of entertainment, some good food in your belly, some exercise and maybe even a few extra toys and treats! Anywhere you don't end up stopping can just be put on the list for the next rainy day.

Before anything else, it's probably best to first see where dogs are allowed on the trail and where the closest trailhead resides. Depending on your and your dog's health, you should check the general difficulty of each section of the trail as well, so you can gauge what will suit you best (the official website is a great place for this, as it maps out in detail each section of the hike). Once you've determined that, you can take a look and see if you'll need to supplement your current gear. Consider waterproof shoes or boots with good grips if you don't have any, as well as waterproof jackets for both you and your dog.

Once you've figured out which section of the trail to take, where to catch it and what additional supplies you need, take your dog somewhere you can fulfill the remaining needs. Outdoor and sport stores like Scheels and Bass Pro Shops are perfect places to go, as they are both dog-friendly and offer a variety of both dog and human gear. Plus, it's another activity that will keep you both dry and entertained while it rains.

Once you've got everything planned and prepared, check the weather one last time to make sure nothing is threatening to change your plans, then do the same again once you arrive. Being aware and staying dynamic is the best way to enjoy the opportunity without being foiled by the weather. When you arrive, you can finish gearing up then grab your dog and hit the trails! Keep an eye on the landscape ahead and if you have a smartphone, keep your eye on the weather in case it lightens up or threatens to get heavier. Other than that, have fun! Now that you have the proper rain gear, you can embark on all sorts of rainy day hikes, as long as you've got the drive and the weather stays tolerable enough to get out in it!

Before you start picking places you'd like to see, it's probably best to first decide how long you plan to be in the car and how long your dog will be able to tolerate it as well. Some dogs do perfectly well sniffing the breeze through a crack in the slightly rolled down window or falling asleep, while others are frantic pacers and all of this should be considered before making any decisions. Once you've got that figured out, see what falls within the scope of proximity - there's generally plenty to see within a few hours of most towns. For instance, there's the Enchanted Highway Sculptures in Regent, the pyramid in Nekoma, the World's Largest Buffalo and albino buffalo in Jamestown, the Geological Center of the Country in Rugby, the oldest mosque in the US in Stanley, the world's largest Holstein Cow in New Salem, amongst many others (Atlas Obscura is a great place to find weird and interesting stuff for this purpose!).

Once you've picked out your attractions, pull out a digital or paper map and see if you can make a path that has you driving one direction on each road or highway, so you see less of the same views (but don't be TOO inefficient or you'll cost yourself extra gas money). Do yourself a favor and either have a good way to check-in on the weather, or get a weather app for your smartphone so you can see which way it's moving and the intensity. If you're clever enough, you can plan your trip around the weather so you can find dry or light patches or head in the opposite direction so you can drive through the worst before coming out the other side in the sun and fit in some walking or exploration time as well. You can even find some great dog-friendly patios to eat on or somewhere interesting to stop to grab yourselves some treats. Once everything is mapped out, you're ready to hit the road and have some fun!