Dogs bring a lot of love and fun to our lives simply by being around them, but sometimes, you just want to try something new. As long as you’re taking precautions to keep your dog safe on your adventures, there’s no reason they can’t have a blast at your side.
If you’re looking for ideas for new and fun activities to do with your dog, whether close to home or farther afield, this post is for you. We’ll also share plenty of ideas for homebodies who prefer snuggling up on the couch over venturing into the great outdoors.
The 50 Fun Things to Do With Your Dog
1. Arrange Doggy Play Dates
If you have friends, neighbors, or family members who are dog parents, why not invite them over for a doggy play date? Socializing with other dogs is important and will help your dog release any pent-up energy.
2. Go Hiking
Hiking is one of the easiest adventures to arrange for you and your dog. Countryside areas and forests are often dog-friendly, and you can hike for as long or as short a time as you want.
3. Hang Out at the Dog Park
If there’s a dog-friendly park near your home, your dog will love frolicking with new canine friends. It will also allow you to socialize with other dog lovers if that’s something you enjoy.
4. Have a Pamper Day
Has it been a long week? If so, why not arrange an at-home pampering session for you and your dog? Bring out the face masks, relaxing music, and a soft blanket—or whatever makes you feel relaxed—and snuggle up on the couch together. Involve your dog in the pampering by brushing and trimming their coat and nails.
5. Go for a Swim
Okay, so not every dog loves swimming, but if yours does, a day out at a lake or the beach could be just what you both need. Just ensure the water is calm, easy for your dog to exit, and in a dog-friendly area. It’s best to provide a canine life jacket for extra security.
6. Visit a National Park
National parks are the perfect places for exploring with your dog and catching breathtaking views. Many national parks welcome dogs, including the Grand Canyon National Park and Acadia National Park.
7. Go to a Dog-Friendly Café or Pub
Whatever your establishment of choice, what better way to spend a day out than relaxing with your favorite beverage or food with your dog at your side? Some businesses are thoughtful enough to provide doggy treats and a water bowl.
8. Have a Picnic
If you’re stuck for ideas of how to spend your weekend, we think it’s pretty hard to beat a picnic with your pup—weather permitting. Bring along their favorite snacks, plenty of water, and their favorite toys.
9. Go Camping
Dogs love nothing more than the great outdoors. If you love camping and want someone to join you who won’t complain about sleeping in a tent, you can take your favorite canine.
10. Do Daily Training Sessions
Though it may sound simple, engaging in refresher training with your dog as they get older is important to ensure they don’t forget what they learned when you first brought them home. Practice basic commands like “sit”, “stay”, and “come” with a few treats as motivation.
11. Bake Some Doggy Treats
Is baking your forte? Why not make homemade dog treats? You can find plenty of recipes for dog-safe treats online, including peanut butter and pumpkin biscuits and cheddar cheese biscuits.
12. Go to Training Classes
Whatever the weather, training and socialization classes provide the chance to interact with other dogs and people and learn essential commands. These classes also strengthen the bond between you and your dog as they require you to work together.
13. Build an Obstacle Course
If you have an outdoor space you can use, you might consider building an obstacle course for your dog. You can build one out of whatever you have available (i.e., ramps, cones, etc.) or purchase an obstacle course set.
14. Go to Your Local Pet Store
When you don’t feel like shopping for yourself, an alternative is shopping for your dog. Take them to the local pet store and enjoy perusing all the treats and toys together.
15. Watch a Movie Together
This is the perfect rainy day or chilly night activity for dogs that enjoy watching TV. Grab a cup of tea and pop 101 Dalmatians or The Aristocats on.
16. Give Scent Training a Shot
If you’d like to try something more challenging with your dog, scent training is ideal. You can keep things simple by hiding treats that your dog needs to find, or go a step further and buy a “nose work” kit.
17. Teach Tricks
When you’re feeling fed up with the standard training, teaching your dog to do a trick is an excellent way to engage both of your minds and feel a sense of reward. Ideas include teaching your dog to open and close a door, roll over, or high-five you.
18. Offer Puzzle Feeders
Puzzle feeders give your dog a mental challenge and keep them busy, and they’re especially useful for distracting dogs with separation anxiety. Puzzle feeders come in many forms, but one of the most common types is an egg-shaped ball with an opening at the bottom through which treats fall when pushed or pawed at enough. You can often adjust the difficulty level.
19. Stuff a Kong
Kongs are rubber toys stuffed with kibble, treats, and dog-safe extras like peanut butter. Your dog has to work to retrieve the treats from within the Kong’s various-sized inner rings. They can also double up as fetch toys thanks to their bounciness.
20. Stay in a Dog-Friendly Hotel
If you just need to get away from it all, there are plenty of hotels that welcome dogs. Some even go a step further and provide dog pampering services and rooms stocked with everything your dog needs!
21. Have Dinner Together
Dogs make the best dinner companions, but their table manners aren’t always quite up to scratch! If you’re planning to cook for yourself, why not prepare something special (and dog-safe) for your pup, too?
22. Arrange a Photoshoot
Everyone loves cute dog photos. Whether you arrange a professional photoshoot or just take pictures on your phone, they will always be there when you need to remember the good times.
23. Go to the Beach
It seems like beaches were made for dogs; there’s ample sand to roll about in and the sea to take a dip in. Just make sure your dog is wearing a life jacket and that the sea is calm if you plan to let them swim.
24. Volunteer Together
There are organizations that allow you to volunteer with your dog to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and schools to offer comfort to those who need it.
25. Enter a Dog Show
If you want to show off your loving companion, you can train your dog to enter a dog show. You can find trainers who specialize in obedience, agility, and hunting courses.
26. Go for a City Walk
If you live in or near a city, exploring it with your dog is a great way to catch the sights and get exercise. If you’re planning on a long day out together, plan to take breaks at pet-friendly cafés or restaurants along the route.
27. Go Jogging
Dogs, especially those with high energy levels like Australian Shepherds, are excellent jogging partners. If yours isn’t a fan of running, it’s best to stick to activities that match their energy levels.
28. Take a Boat Trip
If your pup doesn’t get motion sickness, you can take a relaxing boat trip with them. It’s vital to have a life jacket for you and your dog in case someone goes overboard.
29. Try Paddleboarding
As an alternative to surfing with your dog, you can try paddleboarding, which is a gentler option. It’s best to invest in a paddleboard suitable for your dog based on your weight and theirs and make sure you have a life jacket for them.
30. Take a Yoga Class
Dog yoga, also known as “doga,” is said to benefit dogs physically and mentally. If you’re curious and want to try something new, doga could be it.
31. Read with Your Dog
This activity doesn’t require any effort on your dog’s part unless you count hopping up on the couch and sleeping as an effort. Reading with your dog at your side is a lovely feeling.
32. Nap Together
If your dog isn’t hungry or ready to play, they may be in the mood for a quick nap. Sleeping with your dog at your side is comforting unless yours is a loud snorer.
33. Play Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is physically and mentally stimulating for your dog since it requires focus to figure out where you are hiding. Start by letting your dog see you hide and rewarding them when they find you, then start making it more challenging by hiding in places where it’s more difficult for them to find you.
34. Play in the Snow/Rain
Most dogs are happy to spend time outside, rain or shine. Whether splashing in puddles or wading through snow, spending time outdoors will surely be a winner. However, you must ensure your dog doesn’t spend too much time in the snow and has a warm jacket. Dry your dog off with a towel when they’ve finished playing in the snow.
35. Go to a Community Event
Outdoor events like festivals, fetes, and markets are vibrant and stimulating environments for dogs. However, avoid areas that are incredibly crowded since they can be stressful for dogs.
36. Take a Road Trip
Road trips are great for getting you and your dog out and exploring exciting locations. Remember to make plenty of pit stops so your dog can stretch their legs and take a potty break.
37. Ride a Bike
Some dogs are happy to run alongside you as you ride your bike, whereas others prefer to sit in the basket up front and enjoy the breeze. Whatever your dog’s preference, trail biking is undoubtedly an activity worth considering.
38. Throw a Puppy Party
If you enjoy throwing parties, why not arrange one for your dog? If you’re not one for huge gatherings, you could always go for something more low-key, like a small gathering with a couple of friends and their dogs.
39. Massage Your Dog
Giving your dog a massage is a great way to relax them and reduce tension in their body. If you’re planning on a deep tissue massage for your dog, contact a professional, but you can always use simple massage techniques at home.
40. Have Daily Play Sessions
In addition to walking your dog daily, it’s a good idea to provide extra enrichment in the form of short daily play sessions. Fetch, tug-of-war, and hide-and-seek are fun ideas for spending playtime with your dog.
41. Draw Your Dog
Drawing and painting can help you relax and focus your mind on something positive, and your beautiful pup will make an excellent subject. To get started, check out this great resource on how to draw a dog.
42. Watch the Sunset or Sunrise
Watching the sunset or sunrise is one of the activities we think everyone should do with their dog at least once. It doesn’t have to be on a hill looking out over a beautiful landscape; you can always appreciate the sunrise or sunset from your window, from the street, or from a local park.
43. Go on Vacation Together
If possible, take your dog with you on vacation. If flying is a problem, consider going somewhere closer to home and taking the car, train, or ferry.
44. Take Your Dog to Doggy Daycare
If your dog needs to spend a day alone at home and you’re worried they’ll be bored or lonely, doggy daycare is an option. An experienced doggy daycare provider will arrange activities to keep your dog entertained so they won’t miss you as much. Some providers even have amenities like swimming pools!
45. Write About Your Dog
Consider starting a “doggy diary” or a blog to record your best memories, experiences, and stories of your pup. You can always read your old posts to put a smile on your face.
46. Sing
Now, some dogs may look at you with a bemused expression when you sing a song, but others, especially breeds known for being vocal like Huskies, might harmonize with a lengthy howl!
47. Take Your Dog to the Office
If your workplace is dog-friendly, try taking your pup along to the office with you. Well-behaved dogs in the office can help reduce stress and encourage positive interactions between colleagues.
48. Go to a Dog Event
This could be a dog show, a dog meet-up, a canine enthusiast group, or a canine fundraising event…the options are endless! You might consider volunteering your (and your dog’s) time at charity events.
49. Make Someone Smile
Sometimes, when someone is feeling a bit blue, it can help to have canine companionship. If you have a dog-loving friend or family member who is down in the dumps, offer to take your dog to visit them and provide emotional support.
50. Get a Puppuccino
One of the beverages on Starbucks’ secret menu is the Puppuccino. It’s a little cup of whipped cream that you can ask for for your dog. Remember only to serve whipped cream as an occasional treat since too much can cause an upset stomach.
Conclusion
If you’ve had trouble finding canine-friendly activities, our 50 ideas should help. If you and your dog are adventurers, we hope you enjoy our livelier suggestions for energetic dogs and social butterflies. If you and your dog prefer to stay close to home (or even at home), we hope you’ve found low-key and relaxing doggy activities here that have struck your fancy. Enjoy!
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Featured Image Credit: Ryan Brix, Shutterstock
The 50 Fun Things to Do With Your Dog
