When It's Raining Cats and Dogs Outside

It's winter and that means some rainy days and nights. What can you do with your dog when it is raining cats and dogs outside? Here are 11 suggestions…

Photo: CeliaSue Hecht

(FLORENCE, Ore.) - Take your dog to the beach anyway, who cares, let it rain, let it pour, the water in the Pacific ocean is wet and splish splash. Some fun doggie beaches can be found along the Oregon coast in Florence, Newport, Lincoln City, Bandon and others).

Give your dog a treat and watch a doggy movie together like Lassie, Big Yeller, or 101 Dalmatians… woof woof woof…chestnuts roasting by the fire, cuddle up by the fireplace, if you have one and enjoy popcorn and doggie treats…

Visit the pet store, outlet mall or indoor mall where you can roam around with your pooch… My dog Cici loves to visit folks so this has been a big hit when it was too hot outside to breathe in the summer, but this can also work on rainy days.

Play fetch, tug of war or whatever your dog's favorite game is inside, if you have the room/space… when we were cooped up last winter, we still played games in the house… it was fun and Cici could zoom around the living room, now she zooms around the yard for exercise.

Train your dog, catch up on teaching Fido new tricks, or just the basics, depending upon your dog's ability level… Cici knows some things and can still learn… dogs are always up for anything that gets them some treats and attention.

Take photos of your pooch, and post them online at your blog, or website, holiday card email or make a t-shirt, calendar, or screensaver out of the photos… or video your pooch and post the fun ones on YouTube… be creative!

Paint with your dog, get some watercolor paints and put pooches paws in the paint and onto some paper, like you would with a 2-3 year old and make some masterpieces… sell them for charity or show them off to friends… hang on the kitchen fridge… awwwwww….

Have a doggie spa day, give your pooch a bubble bath, clip her toenails, doggie massage, doggie yoga, and pawpie reflexology.

Bake a cookie, treat day, make some homemade doggie food, dog treats, and your dog will enjoy being chief sampler and tasting assistant…

Catch up on your zzz's, take a nap, snooze away, dreaming of a sunny day at the beach …. zzzzzzz

Dance with your dog, put the music on and dance and sway to the beat of the music… aloha…