Rainy days in my Travato aren’t a washout for Tsali. They’re a different kind of day. Here’s what I actually do to keep my senior golden comfortable when the weather turns — from real rainy days and storm nights on the road.
1. Keep his walk (rain or not)
On a rainy day in the city, my rhythm still includes Tsali’s park walk. I’m up early and gone from where I slept so I stay under the radar, then I park somewhere different. Coffee, then laptop work. Tsali still gets his walk. When it’s raining hard, I go back to the laptop — but his walk doesn’t get skipped.
His Ruffwear boots aren’t new. He’s always had them, and he wears them from time to time on walks. On wet or rough days, that’s one more way to keep his feet comfortable.
2. Let him stay close when the thunder starts
Some days are gray skies and thunder. Tsali’s storm style is simple: he stays near me. A calm co-pilot who just wants to be close. I don’t make storm days a big deal, and neither does he.
3. Treat hard storm nights as chill nights
It thundered hard again the next night. Outside: full storm mode. Inside: Tsali acting like it was just another Tuesday. No drama. No anxiety. We just chilled in the van while the sky put on a show. For him, comfort on a storm night is being home with the pack — not a big production.
4. When the hike is cancelled, take the nap day
Colorado cancelled the hike. Tsali had already voted nap. Rain on my Travato, a senior golden half-asleep, and a slow day inside. That’s the day — and honestly, it’s a good one. With a senior dog, a rain day can be a rest day without guilt.
5. Keep the van dry, soft, and ready for weather
Comfort also means the van itself:
- A dry cabin helps. My windshield leak fix is how I keep water from dripping into my Travato on wet days.
- A soft place to land. My senior dog floor bed (foam pad on the floor) makes nap days easy when Tsali needs the bed to come down to him.
- When wet weather turns cold, I follow my cold weather plan — including moving somewhere warmer when that’s the better call.
What rainy days with Tsali really look like
Keep the walk. Stay close in storms. Chill when the thunder is loud. Take the nap day when the hike is off. Keep the van dry and the floor bed ready.
What’s your rain-day routine for your dog? Does your dog love storm days or hide? Tell me in the comments.