If your dog has been sitting out in the rain a lot, this post will show you a number of likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog sit out in the rain? Likely reasons why your dog sits out in the rain are that it is too hot inside, there is a problem inside, or that it simply likes the feeling.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your dog sits out in the rain and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my dog sit out in the rain?
Below are likely reasons why your dog has been doing it and what would make them more likely.
It is too hot inside
The cause could be that it is too warm inside. This would be more likely if your dog tends to go outside more when it is very warm inside but not so much when it is cool inside. In this case, it could help to give your dog a cool room to go into or to lower the temperature inside.
Fearfullness
It could also be the case that something inside has been causing it to be anxious or fearful. This would be more likely if your dog tends to go outside at times such as when there is a certain person inside or when you are angry.
It simply likes the feeling
If the weather is not very cold, it could be the case that the weather does not actually feel that cold to your dog and that it actually likes the feeling of the rain. This would be more likely if your dog is a breed that has a double coat and it doesn’t stay outside when it is very cold.
Medical issues
The cause could also be that it has an illness or another medical condition. This would be more likely if your dog has started doing it suddenly and it has been showing other signs of being ill such as vomiting. In this case, the best option would be to take it to a vet.
It hears or smells other animals
The cause might also be that other animals have been in your backyard and your dog wants to investigate their scents. This would be more likely if your dog tends to go outside and immediately start sniffing things a lot and marking its territory.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog has always sat outside in the rain
If your dog has not always sat out in the rain, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to things such as a change in the environment inside, or a change in the temperature.
What is different when your dog does not sit outside in the rain
If your dog does not always sit out in the rain, it would also help to consider what is different when it does not do it. For example, if it does not do it when it is cool inside, your dog might go out in the rain to cool off when it is hot inside.
What to do about my dog sitting outside in the rain?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Ensure it is ideal inside
As mentioned above, it could be the case that it has been doing it because it is too hot inside. It could help to try lowering the temperature inside and see if that causes your dog to start staying inside more.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
It would also help to limit reasons why it might be feeling anxious inside such as by letting it stay in a different part of the house or making it quieter.
Get help
If your dog has been behaving very unusually, it would likely help to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular dog and to rule out medical causes.
Let it do it
If it seems like your dog is just doing it because it likes the feeling, the easiest option would just be to allow your dog to continue doing it.