Why Does My Dog Stay Out in the Rain? (9 Reasons)

Many of us may believe that rain is a huge disruptor of our daily lives at times, but it seems that our canines may feel otherwise. They appear to enjoy and have so much excitement about getting messy and wet during rain!

If your pup has been spending a lot of time outside in the rain, this post will fully explain to you why this is happening and what you can do to prevent it.

Here’s an explanation for those who are wondering: why does their dog sit out in the rain? 

There are numerous reasons for this—some are good, and some are not. The good/positive reasons include that your dog may love the sensation of rain, want to mate in the rain, may simply love the outdoor environment, has detected another animal in the rain, or may want to protect the family (if they are a guard dog). However, the bad/negative aspects that may make your dog sit in the rain include medical issues (such as skin allergies/dry skin issues), the need for temperature regulation (too hot indoors), an intense sense of smell, and fearfulness.

Note: Working dog breeds with heavier coats will prefer sitting outside during rain far more than the short-coated breeds that feel more uncomfortable in wet weather.

There are several possible reasons why your dog sits out in the rain, and it could even be due to a combination of reasons (such as some of those mentioned above). To give you a better understanding, let’s discuss them in detail.

9 Reasons Why Your Dog May Sit Out in the Rain

Below are all the positive and negative reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make them sit in the rain more often.

Positive reasons

It hears or detects other animals

Aside from the rain, it’s very possible that other animals or dogs have been on your property, and your dog is curious about their scents, leading him or her to investigate them. A dog that goes outdoors and immediately starts seeking for objects and establishing its territory is more prone to develop this behavior. This behavior is not directly associated with the fact that it’s raining outside but will occur despite what weather you may be enduring outdoors.

It simply enjoys the sensation of rain

If the temperature is not super cold, it is possible that your dog does not perceive the weather as being too cold or uncomfortable and that it simply prefers the sensation of rain. This is more likely to occur if your dog is of a breed with a double coat and does not spend much time outside when the weather is truly cold.

Outdoor enthusiasm

Some dogs are built for the great outdoors, and they will spend as much time outside as they possibly can—this is simply genetic for them. Working breeds have been developed over many years to be able to spend time outside on farms or lengthy hunts across wide moorlands with their owners. Even though the vast majority of dogs have already become exceedingly domesticated and somewhat spoiled, each dog still contains hundreds of years’ worth of breeding history buried inside it.

Canine breeds with double coats are bred to be out in inclement weather, swimming about in ice-cold water and sprinting through windswept alpine terrain. They will most likely remain outside in the rain typically until they feel the water seeping through their thick double coat. Once this happens, they will most likely want to go inside since there is no use in them being drenched.

When it rains, dogs are especially eager to mate

Your dog may be hunting for a partner, which is why he’d prefer to remain outside at certain times regardless of weather. However, there is a substantial relationship proven between the incidence and frequency of mating-related activities in dogs alongside rainfall amounts.

Additionally, dogs exposed to strong odors in metropolitan areas will perceive fewer heat signals and detect fewer sex pheromones due to more buildings, dust, etc. In those situations, rain helps alleviate those issues and boosts the pheromones to be able to reach the appropriate partner.

Also, rain lowers the air temperature as well which amplifies pheromone signals. This, in turn, causes a sexual response to be triggered.

Protecting their owner/family

Dogs can detect impending adverse weather. When it comes to a guard dog, they may have decided to remain outside in an attempt to shield you from what is about to happen.

Dogs have the innate ability to detect the changes that occur in the constant electric field in the atmosphere, which is very useful when a major storm is approaching.

Negative Reasons

Sense of smell

Canines have a great sense of smell, which is by far their most valued asset and something they utilize daily. Apart from having an excellent sense of smell, dogs also seem to either love or hate this ability far more than most humans are aware of. It might be possible that your dog would prefer to sit outside—even in the rain—if the dog kennel is overpoweringly odorous in a bad way.

Fearfulness

Something is likely causing your dog to feel worried or afraid. This issue would be more likely if your dog tends to go outside at set times of the day, such as when a specific person is around or when you are in a bad mood.

It’s far too hot inside

If your pup has not always gone to sit in the rain, it may be beneficial to explore what else occurred at the time your dog first began to do so. A change in the environment inside, like a shift in the temperature, might be the cause of the behavior change if it started doing so almost immediately after that change occurred.

Your dog, on the other hand, may just prefer to be outside while it’s raining to enjoy the accompanying breeze. When dogs are outside, they are more appreciative of the good temperatures on cooler days and will run about to get a better feel for the air.

When it’s really hot, most dogs eat less and become less active; thus, they become more lively and adventurous when they sense rain is on the way.

Medical issues

Other possibilities include sickness, skin allergies, dry skin problems, and other medical conditions as the root cause of the problem. This is more likely to occur if your dog’s behavior has changed abruptly and they have been exhibiting other indications of illness, such as vomiting or extreme lethargy, throughout the day. In these cases, taking it to the veterinarian would be the best course of action.

Teaching Your Dog To Go Outside in the Rain: A Simple Guideline

• When it comes to weather resistance, some canines are more resilient than others. If your dog seems more sensitive to the outside elements, find a covered outside space that is ideal for your dog to use—such as a sunroom, patio, or balcony—for them to safely get more comfortable with rainy weather.
• The experience of going outside should be constant and positive for your dog. Don’t wait until the weather conditions are less than perfect before beginning your exercise regimen—take advantage of the opportunities to spend time outside playing or roaming with your dogs while there is only light rain. By praising your dog when he is outside, you may help him feel more comfortable with damp grass and rain.
• When it’s time to go outdoors, use a signal word (such as “rush”) to signify that he should go right to work with heading out—no sniffing or lollygagging allowed; if your dog tries to back out of it, simply repeat the signal over and over again. Once your dog has successfully gone outside despite any aversions they may have, immediately reward them and then allow them to go to bed or wherever he or she is most comfortable. This teaches your dog that he will be rewarded and that he also may immediately return to his comfortable bed after being brave and going out into the wet weather.
• If it frequently rains in your area, you may want to consider getting your dog a raincoat to help keep him dry. A raincoat will keep your dog’s coat stay dry, free of the “wet dog” smell, and keep them cozy throughout the rainy seasons.
• Even if you don’t have a raincoat or if your dog doesn’t want to wear one, be sure to promptly and completely dry off your dog as he enters the house. You can put an old towel at your front door to make doing this easier. Dry each paw, the area beneath his belly, his back, and the area surrounding his face carefully.

FAQs

Do dogs enjoy the rain?

Dogs are not very fond of the rain, and most of them would choose a lovely sunny day over trying to play outside on a rainy day. However, this is not to imply that some dogs do not appreciate the rain when it is in the forecast.

As a dog owner, you are surely aware that one of the most typical training requirements during puppyhood is to encourage your dog to walk outside in the rain with you. Going outside in bad weather, especially when it involves rain, is something most puppies are afraid of. Essentially, this is a reaction based on the principle of “if I don’t know it, I don’t want it,” with the intensity of the response varying from puppy to puppy.

Is it possible for a dog to become ill after being outside in the rain?

Yes, depending on the area in which you live, your pet can become ill due to heavy rainfall. Biological and chemical risks can also be found in puddles of water on the ground, which can be damaging to your dog and possibly kill him if he gets into them.