How to Train Your Dog to Go Out in the Rain

Take a toy or two and spend 10 minutes each day playing around with them. When you play, talk in animated voice and really get him excited. Games like tug of war will make it an even more stimulating experience. You’ll use these toys to entice him out of the house later when it’s raining.

After play time, leave the toys in his bed overnight. If they’re in his environment they’ll feel like his and also smell like him. This will make him all the more keen to get his mouth around them when they’re outside, even if it’s wet.

As soon as it starts raining, take him to the door and start playing with those favorite toys. Get him really worked up until he’s paying zero attention to the rain. Now open the door and continue playing, while still inside. You’re gradually exposing him to the elements.

Using the toy as a lure, take a step outside so you’re in the rain. Keep talking in an animated voice and encourage him to come out and join you. The more high pitched and playful you are, the more likely he’ll be to follow you.

You need to keep up the attention and play the entire time he’s in the rain. Play tug of war, play fetch, do everything you can to make it the most fun he’s ever had. Also stay upbeat yourself--dogs are known to mirror their owners feelings, so be happy. Do this every time it rains until he’s comfortable in it and even looks forward to the extra attention he gets on wet walks.

Wait for it to rain gently. You don’t want his first rainy encounter in a while to be when it’s absolutely chucking it down. You need to gradually build up his confidence. Once you’ve got the right degree of rain, secure him to a leash and head for the door.

Give him a treat as you put the leash on. Give him another one as you head for the door. Then give him another one as soon he takes a step out the door. You can even hold a treat in front of his nose and lure him out like that.

Once he’s out the door you can start your walk. Keep a treat or two in your hand at his head height while you walk. Make sure he knows it’s there and encourage him to try and get it. Every 20 yards, give him one of those treats. The idea is to keep him distracted and make him realize that the rain brings food.

The first few times, only head out for a 10-15 minute walk. You can build up the length later, but for now you want him to associate the rain with a short and tasty walk. You don’t want him getting cold and bored too quickly.

After several short walks, you can gradually increase the time you’re out in the elements. You can also start to brave heavier rain. Just always keep it upbeat and full of tasty treats until he’s comfortable and relaxed in it. When he no longer seems perplexed by going out in the rain you can slowly cut out the treats.

You should start taking him out in the rain from a very young age. If he’s always done it, he won’t even think of it as a choice and he’ll just get on with it. You can’t remember eating carrots when you were a baby, but that’s probably why you’re eating them today.

Another way to get him used to the rain is to use it to your advantage. If you know he’s likely to need the toilet soon and there are dark grey clouds above, wait a little bit and then he’ll have no choice to go out if he wants the toilet. Don’t make him wait too long though. If the rain doesn’t happen relatively quickly, head out anyway.

He may simply dislike getting wet and cold, most of us do. Fortunately, you can get canine raincoats online and from pet stores. This may give him the warmth and protection he needs to venture out.

It may sound crazy, but you can build up his confidence by holding an umbrella above him as you walk. This extra protection may make the weather bearable and him willing to head out in it. Think of it as a happy compromise.

Always encourage and reward him when he does go out in the rain. The more treats and attention he gets from you, the happier he’ll be and the less he’ll care about the wet. So talk to him in a high pitched and animated voice as you stroll.