exercising your dog when it rains

[winnie]

Can dogs get sick from being out in the rain, like a human could? I ask cause right now where i live its raining, my dogs dont mind the rain at all.

When i just had my lab i would take her to the dog park in the rain(am i crazy?) and she loved it. I want to go today with all the dogs but i am worried they could get sick. I know they would love going to the park in the rain, they would have so much fun.

Is it not a good idea or would it be alright? Of course i would dry them off real well after.

Also im just curious for those who live in areas that it rains a lot, how do you give your dog the exercise it needs? Do dogs in these areas get used to the rain and enjoy playing outside? Just curious.

Thanks

[Dukesdad]

I think it depends on the breed and a combination of rain and temperature. Labs of course love it the colder, the wetter, because they have a very dense undercoat that acts like a wet suit.
Even Labs need a bit of protection when retreiving in icy water according to publications I have read.
I would think that all dogs can tolerate being wet as long as it's not cold.

[Jamiya]

Of course, being out in the rain doesn't make a human sick. It could possibly lower your resistance to germs that may be present, or if it is cold it could be dangerous in a hypothermia/frostbite sort of way, but getting wet is not bad in and of itself.

[Killerbee2]

I think it would be fine if you run around in the rain for a bit. Just dont go to the park for acouple hours. But i think it would be fine taking he/she our for awhile!