Dog Trainer Highlights Common Mistake She Wishes People Would Stop Making with Puppies

No matter what kind of dog you might be raising, you will have to walk them — that's a given. Some dogs aren't very high energy and will require less outside time than others on a daily basis, but all dogs will need to go outside to do their business at some point. And unfortunately, when nature calls, it doesn't care what the weather happens to be doing at the time. Even if it's raining, a dog's gotta go when a dog's gotta go.

The only problem? Some dogs simply don't like to go potty in the rain, and I truly can't blame them for it. Who wants to be getting rained on while they're using the restroom? But having a dog who refuses to potty when it's sprinkling can lead to a lot of issues, including but not limited to messes in your house that you'd really rather not deal with.

According to a video from dog trainer @mablespaws on TikTok, there's an easy way to prevent this behavior before it starts if you're adopting a new puppy: No matter how much you don't want to, take them outside for a walk in the rain.

Not only did she point out that it's a good idea to take your dog outside to exercise and experience the world daily (barring dangerous weather, of course), but it will also help to get them used to going to the bathroom in the rain so that it's not a big deal in the future.

"They're terrified because they've never experienced this before," she said of dogs who won't potty outside if they were never taken out on a rainy day as a puppy.

Dog parents who have tried this approach shared how well it works in the comments, with one person writing, "He was soo scared, I finally decided to go lay out in the rain to show him it was safe and he followed suit instantly! Hasn’t been a problem since."

How to Get Dogs to Go Potty in the Rain

This advice is all well and good if you are parenting a brand new puppy, but what do you do with an older dog who is already set in the habit of avoiding a bathroom break when it's raining at all costs?

One animal clinic advises that you keep it a positive experience and get as much practice having fun in the rain as you can, as often as possible. Even try splashing in puddles so they can see what a blast that is!

Some dogs will also do better if you bring an umbrella, or if you buy them a rain coat and shoes so that their paws and coat feel protected.

Like anything else, it just takes practice. You'll both get there in time!