Rainy days and accidents

    • Gold Top Dog

    Rainy days and accidents

    I realize that when it's raining I don't take Sadie out as much, but I do feel like I'm taking her out enough. Why does she always seem to have accidents on rainy days? She seems to do it a lot in my sun room. Is the moisture in the air making her feel like she's outside?? I know, that sounds stupid, but I can't figure it out.
    • Gold Top Dog

    *rolling eyes* Oh my - the curse of "I really don't want to get my feets wet!!"

    She's likely not giving you "signals" to remind you to take her out because she doesn't want to BE out when it's raining!  It's nothing nefarious -- it's just plain old "really don't wanna" probably.

     About the only thing you can do is show her that going out in the rain can be FUN.    Yes it makes a BIG mess but tossing a ball or a Kong for her, doing something to make it FUN to be outside getting wet and you'll probably get over this. 

     It's likely a bit of both of you -- you aren't pushing because it's raining and she's laying low because it's raining.

     keep your 'fun' outside as a surprise.  In other words you want her to go "out" because it's TIME to go out -- not because it's a bribe.  But once she does something out there HAVE A PARTY!!  With a dog it doesn't have to be anything organized -- just jumping for treats or chasing a ball or laughing with mom -- those are all good times.

    • Gold Top Dog

    SadieLady
    Is the moisture in the air making her feel like she's outside??

     

    No. She knows the difference between outside and inside no matter how humid it might be.  Do you go outside with her and make sure she's actually doing her business?  I used to have to take my JRT outside with an umbrella.  For him.  He wouldn't go out if he thought a raindrop might fall on him. 

    Sounds like she needs to be crated when you aren't able to watch her to prevent her from going out of your sight and peeing indoors.  Accidents in the house are always the owner's fault.  Being proactive and knowing that your dog is not 100% reliable means you have to expect her to have an accident unless you prevent it.

    • Gold Top Dog

     I gave up and started using pee pads for bad weather days.  They sell a type which have a 'scent' to attract the dogs to it, so it was quick and easy training.

     Can't get feet wet, can't let tail or ears get wet, too cold, too icy, sometimes it is even too DARK and they just won't go.  My life has gotten much easier since I started setting out pad on those days, been about 4 months now.  After 5. 5 years of battling with these fluffs to go OUT SIDE.  Guess who won that battle?  LOL

    • Gold Top Dog
    I do go with her ( no fence) so I know she's going. I'm taking her our probably... roughly every hour or so?? A few weeks ago, she wouldn't go out in the rain, but she's better about it now. I can only chalk it up to the lack of exercise and not lingering outside. As soon as she goes, I am bringing her in. She's a little hyper from not walking much. It is kind of weird that she tends to go in the room thats "like" outside. (All windows open. It's not heated or anything.)
    • Gold Top Dog

     Dodger HATES the rain with a passion.. So much so that the only time he had accidents were when it's wet.. We've had rain the past two days and this is the first time he's gone outside willingly on his own to pee. All my dogs hate going out in the rain but they know that the faster they pee, the faster they come inside.  FYI Dodger just turned a year on St. Patrick's day... Lol

    • Gold Top Dog

     Luke doesn't mind rain, and was actually swimming in my neighbor's flooded garden last year during the worst of the downpours of hurricane Sandy. When he was a young pup, I made a big fuss over him for going out in the rain. I did have to take him with an umbrella when he was tiny. I had to hold it over him, and I'd get soaked. If during good weather he got kibbles for his treat for going out, in the rain he got chicken, or lunch meat, or whatever wonderful thing I had on hand. I would also go out in thunder storms that were not nearby, just to get him used to it while being safe. He's actually sort of a pest in the rain because he likes to stay out in it, and is often so slow about going. It was fun times being soaking wet and cold with no power in the hurricane to take a shower and warm up after his swimming escapade.