21/10/2026
THE RUFF GUIDE TO HIGH WINDS & YOUR DOG
Because apparently, the weather has decided to become a training challenge.
High winds can make life surprisingly difficult for our dogs. Banging gates, rattling bins, flying leaves and trees doing their best impression of a horror film can leave even confident dogs feeling unsettled.
For puppies, nervous or rescue dogs, it can be a LOT to deal with.
A few Ruff Start tips:
Shorten the walk. A quick toilet break and a sniff around somewhere sheltered is perfectly acceptable. Nobody's handing out medals for being blown into the next county.
Choose your route wisely. Avoid exposed areas, falling branches and flying garden furniture. Your dog doesn't need an extreme weather adventure.
Watch your dog. Refusing to move, scanning constantly, pulling to go home or barking at things they'd normally ignore any out of the ordinary behaviour are all signs they're struggling.
Try indoor enrichment. Scent games, scatter feeding, chews and a little training can replace a walk when the weather is genuinely unpleasant.
Don't force them to cope. You don't build confidence by dragging a worried dog towards a flapping bin lid. Give them space and let them feel safe.
And remember, even dogs who usually cope brilliantly can find certain conditions difficult. That doesn't mean their training has gone backwards.
The Ruff Start rule? The weather forecast is information, not a challenge.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your dog is shorten the walk, head home and put the kettle on.
