Why You Should Go For A Lovely Walk In The Rain

A walk in the rain, anyone?

There are those days when it just won’t stop pouring and you’re pretty much stuck inside.

Unless you’re a dog mom, dad, or dog walker and still have to take your pups outside!

I happen to be both and we had one of those rainy, cloudy days earlier this week.

So after I walked my client dogs and played rainy day dog games with my pups inside, I headed back out into the rain with my own dogs.

Obviously, they still needed their exercise, too, so I loaded them up into the car for a little rainy adventure at one of our favorite parks here in Central NC, Raven Rock State Park.

By the time I got home, the intensity of the rain had dwindled into softer showers and I figured that the foliage of the woods would keep us from getting drenched.

Well, I was wrong as far as that theory was concerned because the rain picked up again while we were en route to the park and we ended up getting thoroughly soaked.

Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published in 2017 and has been updated in 2024. It contains affiliate links I may earn compensation through at no additional cost to you. 

And Still: Why You Should Go For A Lovely Walk In The Rain

Because It’s Not The End Of The World

So YES, our Ruffwear Approach backpack & Front Range harness were dripping wet as neither are waterproof, and so were my rain coat, tennis shoes, and treat pouch.

It wasn’t a big deal especially as far as the backpack was concerned. That’s because it didn’t hold anything that would have been spoiled had it gotten wet (which it did).

Either way, a little (even a lotta…) rain is not the end of the world.

Dog Rain Gear

Now, while we did get soaked, we had quick drying towels in the car for everyone.

Yours Truly even brought another set of fresh socks and shoes as well as dry extra harnesses for the dogs to change into!

Besides dry changes of clothes and dog gear, here’s a list of (human and dog) rain gear to make rainy dog walks more enjoyable:

• Ruffwear dog rain coats
• Waterproof dog collars
• Waterproof dog leashes
• Quick drying, microfiber dog towels
• Waterproof rain boots
• Unisex rain coat

Because You’ll Love The Crisper Colors & Smells

Here’s another reason why I don’t mind walking my dogs in the rain.

I find that one very positive side effect of spring, summer, and fall rain are the seemingly crisper colors and smells it brings along.

Missy & Buzz definitely agree with the latter. I mean, they were busy sniffing every bush, tree, and blade of grass we came across!

Update 2024: And so is my pup Wally, a Feist mix. He joined me after I lost Missy to a second cancer diagnosis in 2018, and Buzz went to live with his Daddy after our divorce.

I myself enjoyed the bright green color of the leaves, especially when we stopped at a little wooden hut that offered some protection from the rain.

It made it possible for me to look up into the trees without getting an involuntary face wash!

The picture below features Wally on a rainy fall walk in the woods. He’s wearing one of OneTigris’ mesh dog harnesses.

Because You Could Find A Treasure

Another bonus of rainy day walks is the increased likelihood of finding little treasures along the way as less people are out and about.

We came across a little treasure in form of a penny! Can you find it in the picture?

I will say that the pups and I actually tend to find quite a bit of change when we’re out and about.

During one of our hikes at Raven Rock State Park, we found just shy of a dollar – 3 quarters, a dime, and several pennies.

I started collecting our walking treasures in a mason jar that sits on the kitchen counter.

I’ll see how much it holds by the end of the year and will invest it in some Christmas treats!

Because You’ll Appreciate Your Warm House/Couch That Much More

I find that different angles and perspectives are everything!

For Missy, Buzz and I that meant appreciating the warm, dry couch so much more once we were back home.

We tend to take our creature comfort as a given, so our wet weather adventure was a welcome reminder of what we have.

Go For A Lovely Walk In The Rain: Bottom Line

I’m glad we decided to brave the elements and didn’t just lounge about on the couch all afternoon.

The 30 minutes we spent at the park were a decent enough time to stretch our legs, pick up new smells, and fill our lungs with fresh air.

We even returned home a penny richer – what else could we want?!

When’s the last time you went for a rainy walk? As always, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below this blog post!

Related Reading

• How do I train my dog to accept a doggie backpack?
• 2 dog jackets with zippers I love for my active dogs
• Mighty Paw vs Ruffwear harness: Which is better?
• How to teach your puppy to walk on a leash
• 10 ways to entertain your dog inside
• 5 tools of a professional dog walker

Barbara Rivers

Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.

She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.

As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.

Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.

In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.

Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.