It’s 6 am. It’s pouring. And your dog’s looking at you like it’s time for a hike. RVing with dogs? It’s amazing… until it rains.
One of the best things about traveling in a motorhome is the ability to bring your pet along with you for the ride. But when the weather turns nasty and the rain starts to fall, your dream trip can quickly turn into The Messy Struggle No One Talks About!
We love our dogs more than anything and wouldn’t travel without them. Rainy days are the biggest pain when traveling with them, though.
If you’re RVing with dogs and hate walking them in the rain, you’re not alone. Wet dogs and small RVs don’t mix.
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Why Rainy Dog Walks Are the Worst in an RV
Dogs need to do their business even on rainy days. So with that, you need to plan a bit to ensure a wet dog doesn’t make a disaster out of your RV trip.
- Tight spaces + wet dogs = instant chaos
- Muddy floors, soaked cushions, that wet dog smell…
- Harder to dry dogs when you’re boondocking or have limited water
A wet dog in a motorhome can not only be smelly and messy, but they can also be cold, miserable, and even run the risk of developing hypothermia.
Real-Life Tips for Walking Dogs in the Rain
- Use a waterproof dog raincoat or poncho
- Keep a microfiber towel by the door. We have one, this Tuff Pupper Quick-Dry Towel for the dog. It stays parked by the door during the rainy season to wipe paws.
- If your pup will tolerate them, dog boots can be a game-changer. Dog Boots protect paws from mud, rain, and sharp debris—and they keep your RV floors a whole lot cleaner.
- Designate a drying zone inside the rig
- Crate mat, small rug, or shower stall hack
- Train your dog to pause on a rug before coming in
Pick your moments to go outside
When you’re RVing, sometimes things don’t always go to plan. That’s especially the case with wet weather, which can wreak havoc with your best-laid adventure plans.
So if you’re preparing for some outdoor exploration but there’s a sudden downpour or a day filled with rain, don’t stress. Some outdoor activities can be unpleasant and even dangerous in the rain, so why not just go with the flow?
- Instead of sticking to your original plan, rain, hail, or shine, don’t be afraid to stay in for the day. Make some hot cocoa, read a book, and snuggle up next to your fur baby.
- Wait for a lull in the rain shower. Even though you may still get a bit wet, you really don’t want to be outside if it’s raining cats and dogs!
- Then, once the clouds part and the sun reappears, you can get outside and go exploring once again.
Pack for All Weather
When you’re camping and rain sets in for the day, it can sometimes be impossible to stay completely dry. That’s why it’s important to pack some old towels for your trip so you can dry your dog when they get wet, or even consider using a super-absorbent chamois to remove moisture from their coat. This will prevent a chill from setting in and protect your dog against the risk of hypothermia while also keeping your RV cleaner.
Our Rainy Day RV Dog Gear List
Here’s a quick breakdown of the items that make walking dogs in the rain manageable in an RV:
- A dog raincoat or jacket. A good dog raincoat is a game-changer. Not only does it keep their back dry, but it also cuts down on the smell and cleanup.
- Paw cleaner/mud buster. These little paw-washing cups (like the Dexas MudBuster) are surprisingly effective.
- If that feels like too much, a simple Portable boot tray for wet leashes & gear by the door can catch water and mud from both pups and people.
- When a full bath isn’t an option, Dry shampoo and grooming wipes are lifesavers for keeping your dog fresh and your RV stink-free.
- A Water-resistant dog bed cover is a must-have for protecting your cushions and keeping post-walk puddles off your furniture.
- You could also train your dog to stop on an Entryway mat or towel just inside the door. Give a treat, wipe paws, and they’ll learn to wait before barging in. This is our go-to method.
Keep Your Dog Smelling Fresh Between Baths
On rainy days, your pup still needs to go outside. Getting wet can create that terrible “Wet Dog Smell”! This smell is not from the dog itself, but the yeasts and bacteria that live on your dog’s skin and fur. These yeasts and bacteria create odors when they get wet.
On rainy days, it may come in handy to keep some waterless dog shampoo or deodorizing spray on hand so the dogs don’t spread that wet dog smell throughout your RV.
Our Experience
We can tell you, our dogs Sierra and Ruby absolutely love traveling in the RV! Being labs, they love an opportunity to play in the water, and rain is no exception. A rainy day for them is something to get excited about. But not for me!
The first walk of the morning is usually the longest, and a rainy day can make it a miserable one. This is the time of day when both girls usually need to do everything, so that takes some time.
After getting back from a walk in the rain, does your dog rub against the couch or roll on the floor? If your dog comes home wet, it is best to dry them before they get a chance to move around the house.
Don’t skip walks. Rainy-day restlessness leads to mischief. A wet walk is better than a torn-up couch.
Coming back into the motorhome, trying to get both dogs dried off before they wreak havoc on the place is quite an undertaking. Sierra is one to start rubbing along the furniture. So she’s the first one to get dried. She doesn’t mind getting dried off, but with Ruby, it is a fight. She hates to have her feet dried off.
On rainy days, our RV looks fairly ghetto at the front door with towels for floor mats and towels strewn about, waiting for the next round of walks.
Wrap Up: Rain Happens. Be Ready for It.
RVing with dogs is one of the best parts of the full-time lifestyle, but bad weather can make it feel like a full-time mess. With a little gear and a few habits, you can stay dry(ish), clean(ish), and keep your rolling home smelling like adventure instead of a wet kennel.
What’s your go-to rainy-day dog routine on the road? Any gear you swear by? Drop a comment below or shoot us a message—we’re always down to trade tips.
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In the photo where one of your dogs is laying on the towel I noticed that it looks like your drivers and passenger seats have covers on them. Do they, and if so where did you get them?
We have two dogs and a cat. We’ve been keeping king size sheets over the seats to prevent any scratching. We do have a wall mounted scratching pad but we don’t want to take a chance that the seats could get scratched.
Hi Joyce,
Thank you for your question. We did have seat covers. Our dog Ruby tore up our driver’s seat. I can’t remember where we ordered them from but the “custom” seat covers were terrible at best. They were supposed to be made to order for our exact style chairs but they didn’t fit well, slid around when we sat on them, and just didn’t look like we thought they would. We’ve since had our captain’s chairs re-upholstered.