Rainy Days

May 5, 2026 - Having a pack of pups playing in your backyard or snoozing on your sofa can be a lot of fun and feel like an easy way to make some money while helping dog owners. But then the rain starts and the monsoon season ramps up, and you realize that you have used every old towel in your house to clean up the mud and dirt tracked over every square inch of your doggy daycare rooms by that same pack that was so clean and calm a few days earlier. Your nerves start to fray and the calm, patient, dog-sitter that you were is gone and replaced by a frazzled prison warden tired of breaking up fights. So how do you make the rainy days go a little more smoothly? Here are a few suggestions:

A). Make sure the pups are contained in the smallest area possible that is the easiest to clean. If you have a garage clear enough to move them in there with a bunch of toys and a few water bowls, then heard them out into the backyard for a quick potty break and then directly into the garage (after the cars are removed). First make sure there isn't anything in reach that could hurt them - especially poisonous or sharp items. Keeping them safe is the highest priority so it would be best to inspect your garage long before you bring any pups in. You could also use a free-standing fence to keep the pups away from areas that could cause a problem. For example, around paint cans, or the water heater, or the shelf with insecticides and other toxic items. In addition, if you have a fence long enough, you could open the garage and put the fence at the entrance to keep the pups in while giving them access to fresh air and a more entertaining view. Thunderstorms may not be the best time to have an open garage door, but when there is a rain shower without a lot of wind, it can be a great environment for everyone.

          B). Another option on those rainy days is to pile up as big a stack of old towels that you can manage and just accept that your furry friends will need to be a little messier while the storm rages on. Put an old, thin blanket on the sofas and chairs and put away anything that may be ruined by getting wet. Find things they can do without destroying anything - perhaps toss a ball down a hallway, hide treats around the room for them to find, and, with the owners' permission, put out some appropriate toys stuffed with treats or put out a lick mat with a thin layer of peanut butter. Find things that can occupy them for as long as possible.

C). Walk the dogs during breaks in the rain. As a dog-sitter, you will need to occasionally walk in the rain. Make sure that you have a good rain jacket and lots of towels waiting for you by the door when you return. The walk will do you all good.

D). And finally, if you have daycare pups, ask the owners to keep them home on rainy days. Even if you have overnight pups, reducing the number of wet, muddy paws running through your home will keep your nerves under control and keep the noise and dirt to a manageable level. If your daycare pups are like mine, most of them are not required to be in daycare so just ask them to keep them home. Most pet parents will be happy to comply.

A dog-sitter's work can take a complicated turn when the rain falls. Make the most of it and enjoy your furry friends wet or dry. They'll love you for it!