Do you have a dog who dislikes or even refuses to go outside in bad weather to relieve themself? You aren’t alone! Dogs refusing to go outside and potty in the rain, wind, snow or other inclement weather is a common challenge that can be frustrating for owners.
Some dogs are unbothered by the rain. But for other dogs, it can lead to a breakdown in potty training. Some dogs refuse to potty outside, holding their bladder, which can be uncomfortable or even unsafe. Other dogs are tempted to relieve themselves in the house if conditions outside are undesirable. The good news is that with a little patience, it’s possible to teach dogs to feel more comfortable going potty in the rain.
Why Some Dogs Don’t Want to Potty in Bad Weather
Just as many of us don’t enjoy being out in the rain and other bad weather, the same is true for dogs. Some dogs seem most bothered by the feeling of rain falling on them, while others are uncomfortable with the ground under their feet being wet. Dogs who get cold easily may also find that they get chilly when out in the rain, which can make them reluctant to go outside.
Dogs of all breeds and sizes can struggle with going out into the rain to potty, though often small dogs will be particularly unhappy about the experience since they’re closer to the ground. Dogs of all sizes who get cold easily including hairless and short coated breeds, and those dog breeds with low body fat, like Sighthounds, may also be particularly unhappy about having to go out in the rain.
If your dog is struggling to go out and potty in the rain, here are some tips to make the experience more comfortable and less frustrating for both you and your dog.
Make Positive Associations With Bad Weather
The first step to getting your dog to potty outside in the rain or snow is to change their association with the weather. To help your dog build positive associations with going potty outside, we want to pair the experience with rewards, treats, and praise, but also experiential or environmental rewards. This is especially useful with puppies to help them develop positive associations from a young age with going outside. However, it’s equally important for older dogs who may have past negative feelings about going out in the rain.
Make rainy days fun for your dog. Instead of just taking your dog out to potty, plan to spend some time out in the rain doing things your dog enjoys. If you have a dog who likes to walk, try taking walks together in the rain instead of just a quick potty break.
Have a dog who loves to play fetch? Play in the rain together in your yard or a park. You can also toss treats or some of your dog’s kibble out in your yard while it’s raining for them to sniff and find. By pairing the rain with things your dog finds enjoyable, you can shift their emotional response to being outside in the rain. If your dog stops to relieve themself, give lots of praise and treats just like you did when they were first learning potty training.
Supervise and Provide Opportunity
When helping your dog to gain confidence about going potty in the rain, we want to go back to potty training basics. This is going to look like lots of supervision, and then big rewards when your dog potties where you want them to. If your dog refuses to potty in the rain, supervise them closely when you get back in the house to prevent the opportunity for accidents. To do this, confine your dog to a smaller area of the home, or keep your dog leashed to you. Then, offer frequent opportunities to go back outside to try and relieve themself.
When your dog does eventually potty outside, give lots of praise and treat rewards like you would if they were just learning potty training skills. When your dog does potty outside they can return to having more freedom in the house like normal, but until they relieve himself, keep them closely supervised to help prevent accidents.
Rain Gear Can Help
Proper gear including jackets are especially important for dogs who get cold easily, including breeds who have low body fat or short fur. Many dogs who don’t like the sensation of rain or snow falling on them benefit from wearing a properly fitted raincoat when needing to go outside. Putting a waterproof coat on your dog before taking them out can help alleviate some of the sensory discomfort of being out in the rain and encourage them to potty as normal.
Similarly, properly fitted dog boots can help some dogs be more comfortable by allowing them to avoid the sensory discomfort of walking on wet ground. By helping your dog feel protected from the elements, they’re more likely to be comfortable eliminating in a timely manner when you take them out.
Make or Find Shelter
While your dog is learning to be more comfortable in the rain, it’s useful to create opportunities for your dog to relieve themself under shelter.
If you’re walking your dog, look for scaffolding areas and potty your dog at the curb while still under that overhang. Under large trees, or in an area with dense tree cover can also provide natural shelter from the worst of falling rain. If you have a covered patio area in your yard you create a potty area for your dog if there is a flower bed, or use a bit of sod in a planter or plastic baby pool filled with dirt, to create an intentional covered potty area for your dog temporarily.
The long-term goal is to help our dogs develop positive associations with going potty in the rain, but in the meantime there’s nothing wrong with creating opportunities for them to be a bit more comfortable going outside.
Teach Potty on Cue
Many dog owners understandably get frustrated standing outside in the rain waiting and waiting and waiting for their dog to finally decide to relieve themself. This can be especially frustrating when your dog doesn’t want to be in the rain, yet won’t potty quickly. As humans, we understand if our dogs would just “go” they could go back inside, but we can’t explain that to our dog. What we can do, is to teach our dog to potty on cue.
Start this training during weather your dog is comfortable with, and once your dog has mastered going on cue, you can ask your dog to relieve themself during wet or cold weather. Just be sure to give your dog lots of praise and plan to have some high-value rewards ready for when your dog relieves themself on cue when the weather isn’t ideal.