When it rains...

[KatCH]

my pups refuse to go outside to potty. I try to toss em out and stand by the door telling them to go and Millie will usually squat right there on the patio and Ozzy will do a circle around the patio table and come back and look at me as if pretending he's already gone, but neither of them will go out into the yard to actually poop. Instead they will sneak off and poop somewhere in the house.

And it doesn't seem to matter how long I leave them outside. They pitch a fit and slam themselves into the door or huddle as close to the house as possible. Then they come in not only soaked but still not having done their business.

How do you break this habit?

 

[Cami]

Simple problem to solve but it involves you getting wet.
Take them out on leash.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

Do you have an attached garage or a covered porch? I've found if they have to go bad enough, they will go out in the rain but on those days that the rain just won't stop, I take Bella out through the garage. I'd rather clean things up out there than in the house.

 

[Jan]

Put them on a leash and take them for a walk. They won't shrink in the rain and neither will you. You live in Georgia it won't even be all that cold. You could always get them rain coats.

You could also get one of those great big umbrellas, so that they can shelter under it while they do their business.

 

[SweetCody]

Cody despises the rain.....he looks like he has been beat with two sticks the moment a rain drop touches him. He will try and walk on one foot very funny trust me.
To parrot the other answers, you have to use a leash. It is the only way I can get Cody off the deck in the rain.......I get the evil eye from him, but it works

 

[iraya]

Hank will TRY and do the same thing.. Ive even caught him with 2 legs in the grass and his butt and back legs on the deck so he doesnt have to get his poor little feet wet. He HATES the rain or when the grass is cold. I'm not looking forward to the snow this year as he never seen it before Sometimes I literally have to drag him off the porch to get him to go in the grass when it rains. I wish I could help more but at least you know you arent alone

 

[KatCH]

Looks like I'm gonna have to get wet...damn...hehe. Ozzy hates the cold too, I swear he gets the doggie equivalent of goose bumps, but my husband thinks i'm making it up. I've noticed now that it's getting colder that when I put him out first thing in the morning his hairs stand up on his back like when he's alert. It's really funny to watch him tiptoe around in the grass and if I make him sit before coming back in, I swear he hovers about an inch off the ground so he doesnt have to touch his butt to the cold ground. What can I say...he's just a little princess...

It's funny to me though because when we first brough him home....in January....he had been kept in an outdoor kennel with his mom and brothers and sisters. The pup was filthy to start, and he was much more a floor pup than a snuggle pup. He's done a complete 180.

 

[RoccoNYC]

We are having the same problem with lil Rocco. We take him out on leash in the rain and he is miserable. He will sit in one spot, look sad, and start shaking. Earlier today I had him out in the rain and he just sat there, and only would make a move to try and run for the door to our apartment building. We even got him a raincoat, but it doesn't seem to matter. I am guessing maybe his paws don't like the cold wet rain here in NYC? We bought him little booties from Petco, but haven't been able to get them on him right so far.

Normally when I take him out at 330am, and my wife takes him out at 615am, he is pissed we woke him up. So when he gets outside he will sit in one spot, or make a run for the door, but usually after a few minutes he remembers to potty and he will be granted access back inside. He seems so miserable in the rain that he doesn't apply the same logic here.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Patricia and Jason

 

[Mellykins]

How about trying to those rain boots and a rain coat.

 

[Mesquite]

Jake is pretty good about going out no matter the weather although he'll stay as close to the patio cover as he can. But, there was this one morning a few weeks back when it was cold and raining and so he hurriedly did his business and then came back and sat under the cover... until he saw a rabbit at the edge of the lawn. Low and behold he actually went out and sat in the rain to be closer to it while he watched it.

IMO boxers are big fakers. Sure they act like they're going to melt if rain touches them or if they get their paws wet because there's dew on the grass when they need to go out. But if you turn on the hose, they are all in it. If Jake gets in the bathroom while I'm in the tub, he practically falls in trying to get to the water. I saw a picture online of a boxer swimming in a pond.

As annoying as it may be, you'll probably have to don some rain gear and go stand in the rain with your silly boxers until they figure out that they won't die if they have to go potty in the rain. Maybe they'll enjoy the rubdown with the towel you give them afterwards.