Activities For Dogs On A Rainy Day
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10 Votes
Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
The itsy-bitsy spider may have been washed out by the rain, but you and your pup don't have to be discouraged by a dripping wet day! Some dogs straight up love to prance and dance around in the rain. If you don't mind a little wet dog smell, there's no need to worry about what you'll do that day and you both can go about your regular activities (perhaps a nice jog in the rain to get the blood pumping). But for those who don't like to get drenched during a downpour, we have a list of great activities that you can do with your dog indoors!
Shopping
Most Popular
6 Votes
Rainy Day
Free
Easy
2 hrs
Items needed
Leash
Activity description
If it is too wet outside to truly do anything productive, you can always opt for taking your dog out shopping. Places like PetSmart and PetCo are great stores because obviously they are geared towards animals and animal owners. A few other places that allow pets are places like Walmart and some select restaurants (pet cafe's for example). Of course it goes without saying that this kind of outing will only be fun and enjoyable if your dog behaves himself in public. If you have a rambunctious puppy or an older dog who still needs a bit of socialization practice, it may be best to do one of the alternative activities!
Step
1
Find a store
Check your area to see what locations welcome pets as guests. Obviously if the stores only allow dogs outside on patios, they may not be the best option on a rainy day. But if you can find a lovely bookstore or perhaps a cafe that doesn't mind having the dog inside, you can head in, get a warm drink, and read a book while your dog people watches (or gets a special treat).
Step
2
Be mindful of time
The day can go by rather quickly while shopping and it can be tiresome after a while! If you notice your dog getting antsy, they may be bored or need to relieve themselves. At this point, it may be a good idea to head to an indoor dog park (wink, wink) or, take a quick breather before moving onto another rainy day activity. Hopefully you've found some treasures to take home!
Puzzle Toys
Popular
2 Votes
Rainy Day
Moderate
Hard
1 hr
Items needed
Toys
Treats
Activity description
Puzzle toys are an excellent way to beat the boredom when your dog can't get outside to exercise. Very intelligent breeds need this kind of mental stimulation as it is, but every dog from time to time could use a toy that actually causes them to think. Stores such as Amazon, Petsmart, and PetCo are solid places to consider when searching for puzzle toys. You can also create some yourself if you prefer DIY. Just pull up Pinterest and go at it!
Step
1
Prepare the toys
If you are deciding to create your own toys, the first thing to do is look up idea on a website such as Google or Pinterest. From there it is just a matter of gathering what you need around your house or from the store, and then getting crafty! If the toy is already made, you will need to get it set up for your dog with treats.
Step
2
Let the games begin
Once the toys are ready to go, it is time for your dog to go wild! Well hopefully not totally wild, but they will definitely be excited to get to the goodies tucked away inside the puzzle toys. If they complete the puzzle in record time, try progressing to a harder toy and allow them to play with that one until it becomes easy. Rinse and repeat until either your dog is bored or the rain is gone.
Step
3
Reward
Depending on the choice of puzzle toy, your dog may receive his reward by solving the puzzle or by getting a treat from you at the end of the session. A reward is always a nice way to say a job well done to a dog who has both been patient and used his intelligence to solve the puzzle.
Indoor Dog Parks
Least Popular
2 Votes
Rainy Day
Cheap
Normal
1 hr
Items needed
Ball
Frisbee
Activity description
Although your dog most likely wouldn't mind at all getting all muddy and grimy at a regular dog park on a rainy day, there is no doubt that you (and your carpet) will mind. So, to solve the issue, there are things such as indoor dog parks that take that problem away. Unfortunately there is usually a small fee for admission, but when you consider how much time you are saving in cleaning your dog and your home, it is definitely worth it! If you are wondering how difficult it is to find such a thing as an indoor dog park, there's no need to worry. Google is a savior when it comes to stuff like this and a quick search of your area should provide quite a few options to choose from.
Step
1
Gather toys
Unless your dog just purely enjoys dog parks for the company of other dogs, you will most likely need a few toys to accompany you. A Frisbee, ball toss, or rope are great options for any dog park. Just make sure you don't bring your dog's favorite toy to avoid having it destroyed by someone else.
Step
2
Hop in the car
All that's left to do at this point is get everything in the car and head to the indoor dog park! Once you get there and pay the entrance fee (if one is in place) you can just sit back and watch as your dog burns off all that energy. All while staying warm and dry.
More Fun Ideas...
Chase
A hyper-active dog is going to need a lot more than just a few basic activities to get their energy out. So, a really great option is to just grab one of your dog's favorite toys and start running! They will love chasing you around to try and get their toy back. Another great option is to use a laser pointer to do the work for you. This may not work in a smaller home, but if you live somewhere with a bit of space, chase is the perfect game to get some of those rainy day jitters out.
Hide and Seek
If your dog knows the 'stay' command, a game of hide and seek is an amazing way to kill the time! Just have them sit in one room and stay while you go find a hiding spot (you can also have a friend or spouse hold the dog). Don't be discouraged if your pet doesn't know the 'stay' command. Staying indoors due to a storm can be a great time to teach your dog new tricks, so they can learn to stay and much more while the rain pours down.
Grooming
Rainy days are the perfect time to pull out those brushes and get your pet looking fabulous. Obviously, you won't want to take them outside right after, as all of your hard work will be washed down the drain, but during the rain storm there is nothing more relaxing (and bond inducing) then a good brush and pet session.
Conclusion
Whether you love or hate the rain, you can still get a lot accomplished when those wet days come around. While the activities you do will purely rely on how active your dog is (as well as health, age, and more), the great news is that just a little bit of imagination can carry you very far. Dogs are wonderful companions and it takes a lot to bring them down! So, don't be afraid to try new things when these opportunities come around. You may be surprised to learn something you never knew about your dog, which makes being stuck inside totally worth it.