If you’ve lived in London for any length of time, you’ll know that autumn doesn’t exactly arrive quietly. One day you’re enjoying a perfectly normal walk and the next you’re standing at the front door wondering whether your dog really needs to go outside in that rain.

Of course, your dog still needs exercise. Rain doesn’t magically cancel their need to stretch their legs, sniff around and get out of the house. But there are days when the usual long walk around North London simply isn’t very appealing.

So what do you actually do?

 

 

Yes, your dog can still go for a walk in the rain

For most dogs, there’s no reason to stop walking them just because it’s wet.

Some dogs absolutely love it. They charge straight through puddles, come home covered in mud and look incredibly pleased with themselves.

Others will take one look at the rain and immediately turn around.

You know your own dog best. If they’re happy to walk, there’s usually no need to cancel their normal outing just because you’re going to get wet. If they’re miserable outside, though, there’s nothing wrong with shortening the walk and giving them some extra things to do at home.

The important thing is keeping some consistency rather than letting a few rainy days turn into a week of very little activity.

 

 

Pick your timing carefully

You don’t necessarily have to walk your dog during the heaviest part of the rain.

If you’re able to be flexible, check the forecast and try to find a quieter spell. Sometimes the difference between a miserable walk and a perfectly pleasant one is simply leaving half an hour earlier or later.

This is particularly useful in London, where a heavy shower can pass surprisingly quickly.

And if it’s been raining heavily for hours, think about where you’re going rather than automatically doing your usual route.

 

 

Not every North London walking route works well in the rain

Anyone who regularly walks dogs around North London will know that some paths become considerably less enjoyable after a lot of rain.

Hampstead Heath can be fantastic in autumn, but certain areas can become extremely muddy. If your dog has long fur or you have a pristine hallway at home that you’d rather keep that way, you may want to think twice before heading straight for the muddiest part of the Heath.

Sometimes a shorter route on firmer ground is the sensible choice.

It doesn’t mean your dog has had a bad walk. They can still get plenty out of a shorter outing if they’re allowed to sniff and explore rather than being marched around simply to hit a certain number of minutes or miles.

 

 

A walk isn’t just about tiring your dog out

One thing that’s easy to forget is that dogs get a lot from simply being outside.

There are smells to investigate, other dogs and people to see, different surfaces to walk on and an entirely different environment to take in.

That’s why a 30-minute walk where your dog gets plenty of time to sniff can sometimes be more satisfying than a much longer walk where they’re constantly being hurried along.

If the weather is bad enough that you need to shorten the walk, make the time outside count.

Let them sniff. Change direction. Explore somewhere slightly different. Give them a chance to actually be a dog rather than worrying about how many steps they’ve done.

 

 

What if your dog refuses to go outside?

Some dogs really do hate rain.

If yours plants their feet at the front door every time it starts raining, you don’t need to force them into a long walk.

Try keeping outings short and positive. Even getting outside for a quick toilet break followed by some indoor enrichment is better than turning every rainy day into a battle.

A waterproof coat can help some dogs, particularly those with short coats, although you’ll probably discover fairly quickly whether your dog is willing to cooperate with that particular solution.

And don’t underestimate the importance of having a towel ready by the door.

It sounds obvious, but you’ll appreciate it enormously when you’ve got a wet Labrador standing in your hallway.

 

 

What to do when the rain is really bad

There will be days when the weather is simply awful.

If there’s torrential rain, strong winds or conditions that make a normal walk unpleasant or unsafe, there’s nothing wrong with adjusting your plans.

This is where indoor enrichment becomes useful.

You don’t need a house full of expensive dog toys. A few minutes of training, playing with a favourite toy, hiding treats for your dog to find or using a food puzzle can give them something to concentrate on.

You can even make everyday activities more interesting. Instead of putting your dog’s food straight into their bowl, for example, you could use a suitable puzzle feeder or scatter some of their food for them to sniff out.

For many dogs, using their brain can be just as tiring as physical exercise.

 

 

Don’t wait until your dog is bored

The easiest way to deal with a rainy day is to have a few activities ready before your dog starts climbing the walls.

If your dog normally gets a long walk in the middle of the day and you’ve had to cut it short, give them something else to do afterwards.

A short training session. A food puzzle. A game of tug. Some time practising tricks they’ve already learned.

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

And if your dog has had a shorter walk because of the weather, don’t feel that you have to compensate by turning your living room into an obstacle course. Sometimes a quiet day is perfectly fine too.

 

 

 

What about when you’re at work?

This is where rainy days can be particularly awkward for dog owners.

If you’re working from home, you can usually work around the weather. If you’re in the office all day, your dog still needs their midday break regardless of whether it’s raining outside.

Leaving a dog from the morning until the evening simply because the weather is bad isn’t a great long-term solution.

A regular dog walker can help keep their routine consistent. Your dog gets out of the house, has a chance to exercise and sniff around, and then comes home ready for a well-earned nap.

At Dog Shepherds, we walk dogs across North London throughout the year. Naturally, we have rainy days too — quite a lot of them, in fact.

We adjust walks depending on the weather, the route and the individual dog. Some dogs are perfectly happy charging around in the rain. Others need a shorter outing and would much rather get home and dry off.

There’s no single rule that works for every dog.

 

 

 

And yes, your dog will probably get muddy

This is probably the least exciting part of autumn dog walking.

If you live near green spaces in North London, you’re going to encounter mud at some point.

Keeping an old towel near the front door makes life considerably easier. So does accepting that your dog may occasionally come home looking like they’ve been digging for buried treasure.

For particularly muddy days, rinsing paws and lower legs rather than giving your dog a full bath every time can be enough.

Just make sure they’re dried properly afterwards, particularly if they’re going to be lying around in a cold, damp coat.

 

 

 

Don’t let a bit of rain stop your dog’s routine

Autumn in London isn’t going to give us perfect walking weather every day.

Some days will be beautiful — crisp air, cool temperatures and dogs happily running through fallen leaves. Other days will involve horizontal rain and wondering why you ever left the house.

Your dog’s routine doesn’t have to be perfect on every single day.

Keep them moving, give them opportunities to sniff and explore, add some mental stimulation when a walk needs to be shorter, and adjust things when the weather genuinely calls for it.

And if you’re working long hours, having a reliable dog walker can make maintaining that routine much easier.

 

 

Looking for a dog walker in North London?

If you’re returning to work and need some extra help keeping your dog’s routine consistent, Dog Shepherds provides professional dog walking and daycare across North London, including Hampstead, Finchley, Golders Green, Queen’s Park, Primrose Hill and surrounding areas.

Whether your dog needs a regular midday walk or more structured care during the working week, we’d be happy to help you find an arrangement that works for both you and your dog.

Get in touch with Dog Shepherds to find out more about our dog walking services.

 

Happy dog walking!