Over the years of working with dogs, I've heard many owners say their dog doesn't like the rain. Some dogs even refuse to go out in it, and I've seen that happen. But in most cases, it isn't the dog that dislikes the rain. It's us.

It's no secret that dogs watch and learn our behaviours from the moment they arrive in our homes and families, and they've adapted to us remarkably well. For example, when one dog bares its teeth at another, it's a warning. Yet when we smile at a dog and show our teeth, most dogs happily come over wagging their tails, because they've learned what our behaviour means. The same goes for rain.

How Dogs Learn That Rain Is "Bad"

On dry days, everyone is relaxed, and our dogs notice.

Picture it: you've woken up, put the kettle on, and it's dry outside. You let your dog out to do their business and everyone is relaxed. Now imagine it's raining. You put the kettle on, let your dog out, then watch them like a hawk, and as soon as they've finished, it's straight back inside with the door shut.

As this pattern repeats, your dog quickly learns that rain means something is wrong.

The same thing happens on walks. When it's dry and pleasant, your dog's walk is longer and at a relaxed pace. Flip that to a rainy day, and the walk is usually much shorter, and the pace is almost military!

Wet, Muddy and Loving It

A little rain never hurt anyone.

I own a Springer Spaniel, Jester, and he loves the rain. In fact, the wetter and muddier, the better. I'll admit that if I didn't have a dog, I wouldn't go walking in the rain. But my dog still needs his walk, and we both enjoy it.

There's plenty of clothing out there to keep us warm and dry, as expensive as you like, and the same goes for dogs. Jester usually just gets towel-dried, and I may put his hoodie or drying coat on for the drive home so he doesn't get a chill as his body cools down after all his running around.

Your Dog Takes Their Cue From You

So, whatever the weather, wrap up and enjoy time with your dog. Remember, how we act and respond to situations has a real impact on our dogs, and they'll behave in the way they see us respond.