Don’t let the weather dictate what to do with your dogs to keep them entertained. Maybe you think that taking them out is more than a good idea. It’s mandatory! And while some day trips won’t require you long prepare or to go a far distance, others will beg for packing up a good load and planning for as much time outdoors as possible…weather permitting.
What About A Dog Friendly Fun Day?
Keeping your dog occupied in some dog-friendly activities indoors or outdoors regardless of weather conditions is the whole point of the following list of ideas for those days when your creativity fails you.
1) Dog Walking, Dog Playdates and Dog Daycare!
Besides providing your dog with some good exercise to stay in shape for the winter months, walking, playdates and daycare will help you make friends at a local dog-friendly establishment. If no one has yet created a watering hole for your pup to visit in your area, how about proposing a local establishment offer a doggy social hour before or after opening hours?
Maybe a local Bar & Grill or Yoga Gym could exclusively welcome dogs inside during a specific hour span to get new business from dog lovers only. Yay! Make the suggestion and see what happens. Then, set some playdates or dog walking appointments with the friends you meet there. You could even start arranging caring for each other’s dogs in a pinch in case there is need for doggy daycare.
2) Doggy Parks, Anyone?
An easy outing for running or walking with your dog would be going to the local dog park to play games like fetch and tug of war. It might be a bit distracting with other dogs present to teach or practice tricks with your dog. But maybe you can teach it to its doggy friends. The point is to have some fun without breaking the bank.
At a dog park you can also take dog selfies!
Doggy Selfies? You heard me right. It’s a thing now. Go to dog parks, bring your camera and snap as many pictures as you can of the dog having fun.. or sleeping…or eating dirt/grass (or weird stuff), or chasing other dogs around the field.
These are all good options for dog photos because there is no way they will be embarrassed about it later on when their friends see them online. As long as you don’t post anything that might embarrass them in real life then this should be just fine and dandy, if not downright entertaining.
3) Hiking Trails and Roaming With The Wild
Play dates for play time when you have a good energy level can go beyond a local park. Get a few treats in a pouch, some poopie bags in hand and take off for a hike and let your dog roam. If your pooch has been used only to remain behind a fence all day, let it be free for a bit.
If you don’t fear having to deal with aggressive behavior and have done appropriate obedience training, there is no reason why not to take your dog off leash. Just find a great spot with no signs to indicate off leash is off premises and give it a try for the first time. Let your dog walk with you, behind you or ahead of you sniffing, digging, even taking off. Sounds risky? Live a little!
Going off leash is a dog-friendly activity that might take some getting used to for both dog and dog owner. But in the end, you will all benefit from this new experience which is bound to add a touch of extra fun in your day together. Just make sure there are no other people, dogs or squirrels around when letting go of the leash, right? Freedom can get a dog mighty heady at first.
And be sure to have your dog wear a GPS-enabled device to ensure your pet does not get lost or stolen. The same could be used for tracking your vehicle, bike, children, movable property and not only your pet! An excellent choice could be the Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker with a Free 1-Year subscription.
For off leash hiking trails it’s best not to unleash your pet unless it is extremely well-behaved and has had lots of training with distractions, so that it will obey when you call regardless of what drew its attention from you. If you’ve done this due diligence, then try going during less busy times and be aware of potential aggressive behavior towards other animals. It would suck big time if someone else got hurt because your dog went after another animal and wouldn’t heed your commands.
4) Take Pooch to The Dog Friendly Pet Store
You may not be allowed to give your dog a treat from the pet store, but Junior can still have some great fun there if you let it play with dog toys in the store. Remember what good behavior training does to dogs. They learn quickly by example and socialization with other dogs, especially when rewards are involved. Your local pet shop may offer such dog training classes.
If dog training classes are not offered, then maybe you can start your own group to work together as dog owners to teach tricks and ask to use the local pet store where to meet. What’s the incentive? The dogs are already there at the store with their owners! All that’s needed is a promotion by the store owner. It’s a win-win! And you might make some money on the side for being proactive.
5) Get That Doggy Tongue Waving in The Wind
Dogs love to ride cars with their heads out the window. Why? Who knows! But it must be pretty exhilarating. To some dog owners this seems like a no-brainer. Let doggy stick its head out of the car window while you cruise around town for an afternoon.
Getting your dog cruising around the neighborhood with its head out of a car window can also include carrying that special toy the dog can only get when riding in the car. That way your dog will know what’s waiting for it if things go well – bonus for good behavior!
6) Dog Days at The Dog Friendly Café
If all your dog outings have been going great then how about trying something new? You might never have thought of taking doggy daycare just for fun for a short period during springtime, summer or fall. So, why not try it today?
Many pet communities now offer special dog days at dog cafes. You can book doggy daycare for a few hours in the morning or afternoon when your dog will get to play all it wants with other dogs and humans who are staff members (and volunteers), while you drink coffee with your human friends!
If everyone’s friendly there, then it should not be any problem getting good vibes going. An animal community like that can give you lots of peace of mind. Just make sure while they allow large breed dogs they can really handle them too, because some dog breeds tend to have more issues than others when mixed with smaller dogs. So, being cautious about having them around smaller dogs and children is sensible. The same applies for any new dog park you visit.
7) Doing a Doggy Picnic
Maybe there is a great place you know like a beach, a trail or a park, where you can find yourself some picnic tables along with other dog owners and some pet friendly surroundings and have yourself and your dog a good meal. Both you and your dog could just relax and seep in the surroundings while you enjoy some yummy food of your preference alone or with a friend. How cute is that picture? This is a great option if there are no dog parks in your area.
Taking a picnic with your dog is a dog friendly outing that you can do year round. Many dog owners don’t think of taking their dogs picnicking, but it’s one of several great experiences for the two of you to get some fresh air and socialize with other dogs (and owners). It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can order take-out and just get the dog in the car and drive to a dog friendly park and enjoy it.
Some people think taking a picnic requires sitting on blankets in nice weather, but you could just as easily order Chinese food or pizza then hike into the woods with your pup for an outdoor meal at any time of year. You’ll find lots of trails that allow leashed pets. Pack up dinner and go explore! The views will be beautiful no matter what the season.
8) Biking With Your Dog or Moving Through Dog Friendly Obstacles
If you own a bike and you want to ride it with your dog by your side, there are dog friendly trails that will allow dogs to ride with you. If dog friendly trails are not available to you, there is a sport called dog biking where dog owners train their dog specifically to ride with them alongside a bike.
Dog biking requires dog training and dog gear. Training your dog to bike with you takes work but it is worth the effort when you get to go on long biking adventures together.
If there aren’t any dog friendly trails around or if you live somewhere that doesn’t have much sunshine throughout the year, don’t give up hope! You can still enjoy exercising with your pet through winter by creating an indoor agility course for your dog.
You can use dog toys to create a dog obstacle course to beat any indoor dog park experience. You can buy or make agility equipment that will allow you and your pet to exercise together indoors. Dog agility training is a timed obstacle course that your dog safely completes across a few objects in a set period of time.
A typical doggy obstacle course includes dog tunnels, dog bridges and jumping dog equipment. It is a pet friendly way to keep your dog entertained indoors while you can be sure they are safe from any weather related situations going on outside. Yes, you can do this! You can train your dog at home.
9) Visiting The Elderly With Your Dog
Dogs are excellent medicine. The elderly gains much satisfaction from a visit by a pet because dogs are non-judgmental, they provide companionship and unconditional affection. A dog doesn’t complain about the messes an older person may have made or expect them to do certain things they can no longer do.
To get started, find a local nursing home. Inquire if it’s possible for you to bring your pet for the elderly to interact with it. Then, visit with your dog to meet some new friends.
The dog will love the outings and you’ll be giving back to your community.
10) Getting a Dog to Love Being Wet
Time for a swim! Whether it’s summer or winter, a dog pool might be the ticket to a cold or hot dip!
Freestanding pet tubs are used by groomers and dog owners alike. With a dog tub, you can control the water flow and temperature while giving your dog a bath. Freestanding pet tubs are also easy to store in small spaces when not in use!
11) Taking Pooch Shopping for Doggy Treats
Last but not least, why not make a grand ole day off of a pet friendly grocery store and take your dog shopping for some unique doggy treats. Specialty dog food stores are popping up all over the place and you can find dog treats there that you’ll find nowhere else. Doggy bakeries, for example, will make dog treats out of flavors and ingredients you’ll never find at a typical supermarket.
So, the next time your dog is begging for food, try taking them to a pet friendly grocery store or specialty dog treat store. You can purchase unique doggy foods and various snacks they will love to get trained to eat if they learn something new from you.
You could even consider going with another pet owner friend and make it a “pup date” where both dogs first get some exercise and then a special reward at the doggy treats store. All that running around will tire them out, and afterwards they can eat their weight in dog treats! Now doesn’t that sound like a perfectly entertaining doggy experience weather be damned?