I have a dog that also hates the rain and will try to put off going when it's 'pouring'. Showers, no problem, but downpours, no way!

What we do is use a really large umbrella and hold it over him as he walks out to his spot and goes. I'm usually wearing a hooded jacket so I don't need to be under it. It may take a few times for your dog to get used to this large thing above your head but he'll probably catch on.

Another option: for the back yard of cement you could put down a patch of astro-turf for dogs. Home Depot sells it and some of the pet stores. Or, if you can find it in your area this time of year, buy some sections of real sod and lay them directly on the concrete.

Those are wonderful suggestions annztoo!

I recall seeing some scented astro turf on a Shark Tank episode. It was marketed for NYC dog owners to give them a patch of grass that city dogs never get to experience. At the time, I was skeptical, but now I realize that this just what I need!

I googled the reviews for dog astro turf which were mixed. I called Petsmart and they reported that most consumers were not satisfied and returned the product. It appears that it's difficult to maintain and really reeks after use.

Disappointing because it seemed like a great solution.

I would suggest going to HD and looking at the artificial turf they carry. I think you'll have more options in size and cost vs something at the pet store. Buy a small section and test it, knowing that if you don't like it you can toss it without having spent much $$. Same thing for sod.....buy it knowing it won't live forever.

I buy a section of sod about 3 times a year for my cat's kennel from HD. I can't remember the price but each section was less than $4. You can just place it on the cement or build a simple wood frame to lay it in.

How do you clean it? There's severe water restrictions where I live so I can't rinse it off after use.

If it's raining then rinsing will be taken care of. I was thinking the sod or artificial turf would be used only on stormy days and he'd be walked elsewhere on nice days.

Yes, it would be reserved for rain only. Thanks for the response--I'm off to Home Depot!

Our local puppy day care uses the astro turf without issue, so maybe there are different qualities you can choose from. Maybe a local landscaper would know of and be kind enough to share some brands with you.

Thanks for the tip, lukkirish.

I just left HD--the parking lot was so crazy crowded that I turned around and went home:(