Living in Seattle, you think we'd be used to the rain, but after 3 months of solid record sunshine without a raindrop in sight and the rain that started up again 3 days ago seems like it's going to be a long winter winter season for us here....and the the one who's feeling it most is Luna. Wish our girl loved the rain as much as she does any other weather...she even loves the very chilly and cold snow we go exploring in...but the wet rain is another issue.

Saying Luna doesn't like the rain is a definite understatement, she absolutely despises it! Any attempt to use excitement and encouragement for her to go for a walk is a pure image of Luna on the couch whom can see it raining outside and giving us the look saying "really?!? you want me to go out in THAT! I don't think so. Ask me again when it stops raining". So to make it short we don't do many leashed walks in the rain, and mostly play inside, go a little stir crazy, go the park when we can which she is willing to do in the rain only if it involves chasing a ball, or opening our backdoor trying to get her to go outside to even just do her business.

I'm hoping you all may have some advice on what's worked to take your dog out in conditions they aren't fond of, or despise like Luna does would be greatly appreciated! Or any mental stimulation / or play games suggestions for indoors for our 2 year old Luna would be greatly appreciated! I'm trying to stay optimitic to get thru this winter once again, and want our girl to stay happy as well. Or we may be having to send her to Grandma/Grandpa's house for "winter vacations" where it never rains on the other side of the mountains and only dumps snow. Oh, she'd be in heaven! If she could speak, I'm sure she'd be requesting that vacation in an instant!

Is it worth maybe trying to get her nose excited? Whenever i see Keely's motivation flagging at the thought of going out in the rain (only happens when popping out for a last pee at night in the garden) i find that engaging her nose can be useful.  Maybe try a little strong-scented food bribery to lead her outside by the nose initially, then maybe lead her to a pre-planted smelly treat at the beginning of the walk/outside your house/in the street.  When their noses are engaged all other senses are more likely to fall by the wayside

Good luck

Are you having issues with getting her to go out to go potty or just the energy from not being able to play outside?

As for having to go potty... Blitz doesn't really mind the rain that much, Striker knows he would rather be inside... so if mine really have to go they will go out to go... they stay close to the house so the over hang protects them a bit... and then over to the side where they go under the pine trees... you might be able to put up one of those tent canopies so that there is a dry spot to go potty in...

As for energy... mine do get some what wound up when it has been raining all day, but they have been taught the "kennel" command which for them is basically go lay down on your bed and chill... they don't have kennels anymore... they will get up after a while and try to be annoying again but we just tell them again to go "kennel"....

As for regular activity on normal days we have never had any formal play time... we don't go on walks unless the kids want to go to the park or we are camping... used to take the dogs to the dog park, but Blitz only want to search and dig for critters and Striker has an annoying bark that I think bothers a lot of dogs... plus all the horror stories you hear about dog parks, so we stopped going... so basically our dogs entertain themselves on a regular day and don't expect us to do it... though they love it when we qare outside working all day...

 I too have good luck with my two in the rain.  We live in Houston, and we get a lot of rain.  I am not sure why they enjoy the rain other than the fact that they were raised  pretty much outside by their breeder until they were 5 and 7 months.   They don't like to go out if it's pouring, but a light rain is no biggie......they LOVE to run super fast and either slide or sjump hard enough to make a big plash in the puddles!  They will run full speed up to a puddle and run back and forth splish splashing as if they were two toddlers romping around.   Now if I could just find out a way to not get mud in the house when it rains, life would be grand!   It never fails, I mop the floors and it rains!  Our previous lab was terrified of the rain.  She would go outside if I went with her, but she would bark the ENTIRE time she was looking for a spot to go. She was literally saying, "PLEASE, DON'T LEAVE ME!"      Our have also been to the dog park in the rain, although we are NEVER going back after our last little episode of the bunny kill and then the worsening prey drive and desire for the chase using poor unsuspecting dogs and ganging up like a pack.....Never again!   I do LOVE the idea, and agree with SPLAT, it would be great if you could make a game out of it.   This may sound weird but my two LOVE to chase bubbles.    Perhaps one day, if it's not raining too hard, you can grab some bubbles and let them enjoy a game of chase.  Do this each time you go out in the rain so they will associate rain with having fun.  Eventually they will go out on their own without fear.  That's the goal anyway!  I will say that my two are getting a little more rain wise as they grow older.   As younger pups, they went outside eagerly regardless of  heavy downpour or light.  Now, they won't go unless it's a light shouwer!  They are not afraid of thunder though. Good luck!

Disliking the rain must be a shorthaired trait, as both of the Shorthairs that I have known hate the rain, and refuse to go out in it, holding their bladders and bowels until the rain stops.

Like others have said, they can play hours in a lake, river or even under the sprinklers.