I know when it’s raining it can be a drag to even take your dog out for a walk. Well it’s officially springtime, and the April showers are certainly here in Boston. The dog park is too muddy, the rain is cold, and your dog’s making a mess when she comes back in the house. What to do…
There’s a couple different ways to go about dealing with this. For the brave-hearted, something I can’t recommend enough is to simply commit to getting dirty. Trust me, your dog will love nothing more than a playful romp through a puddle or rolling through the mud. A simple attitude shift from “ugh it’s raining” to “time to make the most of it” can make all the difference. And now it’s just warm enough that you can do a quick hose shower before you go inside for a full bath. If you reframe a rainstorm as simply a reason to give your dog a bath, you can get as dirty as you want and then go right into bath time.
For the less crazy of us, you can go out and get doggy rain boots that you can take off before you bring the dog inside. You can get a good pair for 25 bucks on Amazon, or even better, at a local pet store. Then a quick towel once you get inside means no major mess to deal with. Another thing I do is watch the doppler radar to see when there’s going to be a break in the clouds and take the dog out for a quick walk with no rain. Taking advantage of those clear windows and things like rain boots can make the rain less of a hassle to walk the dog.
You can also obviously make the most of indoor activities this April. Obviously playing tug of war or fetch in doors at your house can be a good time, but there are also some places in the area with fully indoor dog parks. Check out Park 9, a local “dog bar” with a nice indoor dog park and special events just for pups and their owners.
While a mess from a rainy dog can be a hassle, it’s these moments that make being a dog owner worth it. Finding ways to take care of your dog despite challenges is a beautiful thing. It’s our number one job: to make sure our adopted pets live long, happy, healthy lives. Just like proactive healthcare, it is always worthwhile to make the extra effort to ensure your dog’s wellbeing and happiness. So take a day and enjoy the rain with your dog this spring and feel free to blame some of the mud on us here at Pronova.
