Dutch Shepherd Forum

Anybody have a DS that HATES being in the rain? She whines, puts her cute little ears flat to her head, and REFUSES to move, haha!

HAHAHAH, poor thing. No problem with rain here. I have a covered porch so If they are out in the rain they can sit under that.

We don't have that experience with our DS both now and in the past, on the contrary, they seem to love rain (and mud pools).

Mine does! She will not go out, even with an umbrella, you have to drag her out until she does her business, and she whimpers, darts, flattens ears etc.

Now this is really odd to me because she loves all other forms of water, lakes, streams, puddles, water dishes, she jumps right in whether you want her to or not!

with the rain it may be the sound, or vibrations that bother her. Sadie dosnt mind rain but thunderstorms... forget it, she is a bag of nerves, Thalie, on the other hand, is too busy contemplating the Big Bang theory to be afraid of anything

Is rain a new experience or has she not liked rain since she first encountered it however long ago?

Animals in captivity who are allowed to experience elements of the natural environment for the first time (even babies) are cautious to accept things such as rain, the feeling of grass, etc. What is this? Is it going to harm me? WE don't think of rain or grass as being a potential threat, but....

Are you out with her in the rain? I would offer her reassurance in forms that she knows from you and perhaps bring introduce some "non-rain" elements to the situation, perhaps a favorite toy from the house. If she does move, praise her; if the praise illicits a good response, do it again. That said, work in small increments to build her confidence or else you could elevate the stress she is already feeling. Once she accomplishes a few more relaxed steps in the rain, the next day she might be able to take that extra step.

Dutch's aren't to be bathed frequently, but if she's had a bath, how does she react to that type of contact (water plus the touch of bathing and possible in a confined space such as a shower, etc.)?

Mine too. He's about 2 years old but I've only had him for 1 years so half of his life is a mystery. Definitively abandonment issues at first but not anymore. The rain thing though, yea he doesnt like it. He stays outside when I'm at work but inside when I'm home, and will go to the bathroom in the back yard. When it's raining he will walk around in the covered porch for a while, stick his nose out a little then come back in then nose out again for a few times until he gets enough courage to just go, then hurries back and goes inside the house. I've washed him a couple times outside during the summer, just water to get the dust off, and he doesnt like it, but he realizes he's got no choice and stays. And I've gone out at the beach with him, he runs away from the waves...

None of my dogs like going out in the rain. You should see me on mornings before work if it's raining. I watch the weather radar looking for breaks. I stand out there myself and call them all out. And I stand there until each one goes potty.

Of course, if it is not a work day, they seem to love being out there getting wet and muddy.

My first dog, Doerak, had a spot close to the back door to pee. He would run out squinting, pee and run back in. No grass grew there until after he "crossed the bridge".

no problems... but growing up in Holland, they had no choice

Marjolein wrote:no problems... but growing up in Holland, they had no choice

Mine don't mind a sprinkle. But I assure you, even the Dutch imports hate the Southern soaking! It can be very dramatic when it rains though. They will go out in it, but like me, they prefer to steer clear of a deluge. Just smart if you ask me.

Gosh, Judith, it has been so long since we have had a deluge around here. Our annual rain total is waaaaay down but so are the skeeters! And the mud so fewer dog baths.

I had an 85+ lb female GSD many years ago that was terribly afraid of thunder storms. During one storm she knocked out a glass pane in our french door to the yard and actually squeezed her body through that hole!! Come to find out someone told me that during an electrical rain storm with lots of lightening, that outside dogs can feel the electrical static charge and gives them a shock. Makes sense to me.

mmmh, yeah, what we have here is more like a constant drizzle A good soak is not favorite here either, unless it is summer