How to Keep Your Pup Active & Entertained No Matter the Weather
While a steady routine is key for giving your dog a happy and healthy life, it’s important for you and your dog to switch up your activities and find new experiences for you to enjoy together. The world is becoming more and more dog friendly (it’s about time) and that means you and your pup can hit the town in more ways than ever. It’s hard to figure out where to start, so to help you get started with your new canine social calendar, here’s our round-up of the best dog activities no matter the setting.
Outdoor activities:
1. Movies/Shakespeare in the Park
All across America, crowds flock to our parks to enjoy the good weather and take in some movies and theater. Some even have nights specifically for dogs, Airbud anyone? And bonus points if your local troupe is putting on Two Gentlemen of Verona, it’s the only Shakespeare play that has a dog, called Crab, on its cast list.
2. Farmer’s Markets
Most farmers’ markets run from May through October and are almost always dog-friendly. There are plenty of vendors, meaning there are hundreds of places to stop for a little pup treat along the way.
3. Pool Day
Some public pools have days toward the end of the summer where dogs can hit the pool and work on their doggy paddle. If there aren’t any dog-friendly pool options near you, pick up an little inflatable or plastic pool and put it in your backyard for your dog to splash around in. Bonus points for a sprinkler, they love to jump through it!
4. Running Groups/Bike Rides
If you are looking to stay active, there are plenty of running groups that are dog friendly–your dog would love the extra pets and making new friends. If you are more of a biker, load your pup into a buggy, if you have kids you likely have one already, and ride around town. They’ll love the wind in their fur and fresh sniffs.
Outdoor Dining:
While we’d love to dine with our dogs inside, it is usually against the health code to have them so close to the kitchen–though there are some dog-friendly cafes like Boris and Horton in New York, and other dog bars throughout the country.
Outdoor dining is a great option if you want to have the whole family at dinner. There’s no surefire way to know if a restaurant’s patio is dog-friendly, so it’s always best to call ahead to be sure. A quick Google search of dog-friendly restaurants in your area can be informative as well. The best way to find them is usually just through your walks around town and see what restaurants in your neighborhood already have some pups on their patios.
Outdoor dining isn’t suitable for all dogs, especially if they are table surfers or easily excitable by new friends, humans and dogs alike. If you want to work on your dog’s restaurant etiquette, start small with a cafe or bar for an hour or so and work up to sitting for a full meal. If you live in an area with a lot of breweries, they are super dog-friendly and a laidback environment for your pup to acclimate to outdoor dining. If you are bringing your dog to a restaurant, ask for a bowl of water and bring some of their favorite treats in case they get a little hungry too!
Indoor Activities:
1. Treat Treasure Hunts
If you live in an area where the weather is too hot to venture out with your pup, treat treasure hunts are a great way to stimulate your dog while staying cool inside. You can hide their favorite treats throughout your house and set them loose to sniff them out. It is great exercise for their brain and body!
2. Agility Courses
If you’re looking for more physical activity, then look no further than an at-home DIY agility course. You can order tubes and ladders online if you want to work agility into your day-to-day schedule, but if you have some leftover boxes you can build a fun agility circuit in your house. This is a great option if you need a time-consuming activity for your kids as well!
3. Movie Night
You can forgo the park altogether and watch a movie at home—most dogs, for whatever reason, love seeing dogs or other animals on TV. Let your pup pick out the movie for movie night and everyone can snuggle up on the couch with their favorite treats for a relaxing night in. This is a great option for older dogs who aren’t in the market for more activity.
4. Puzzles and Language Buttons
There is no shortage of dog puzzles available to keep your dog occupied and mentally stimulated online. There are hide-and-seek, treat dispensers, and ball machines for automated fetch, choose whatever one you think your dog would love most. Over the last few years buttons with practical, or funny, commands for dogs to learn have grown in popularity. While these might not suit every breed, larger breeds like labs, golden retrievers, and poodles seem to love the ability to communicate through words with their pet parents.
5. At-home Dog Show
If you are a fan of the dog show, then organizing a DIY show with your pup is the perfect way to spend the afternoon. It’s a win-win for pet parents, you get to sneak in some agility and obedience training, and your dog gets extra treats and lots of pets for being a good boy. If you have friends with dogs, invite them to join and have a little pet party at your house to celebrate your pup’s accomplishments and cuteness.
There are a million different ways to work some creativity into your dog’s routine, but we hope that these ideas are a good jumping off point for you to build on. Try out a few and see what your dog likes best and adapt from there. As always, you know what works best for your dog. If you have any fun, creative activities that your dog loves to do, let us know by tagging us on Instagram. We’d love to see them!
