A dog will love you forever and you want to do your best for them. Whether you’ve just brought home a new pup or have had a dog for years, there are tons of fun and exciting things you can do with them besides sitting on the couch. Here’s a quick list of 10 great activities that are both fun and educational for you and your pet.
#1 Hiking
Hiking goes beyond the simple walk around the neighborhood and gets your dog back into nature. New sights, sounds, and smells will activate all of your pups senses and get them feeling fresh and free again. There are many state and national parks across the US that are completely free and allow dog access. These parks have trails, rocks, trees, and all other kinds of terrain that your dog would love to experience. When going on a hike, be sure to bring snacks, poop bags, and plenty of water. Also, make sure the park allows dogs before you go so you both can enjoy an adventure walk through nature.
#2 Agility Training
There are several kinds of training you can get for your pet, but agility training is unique and fun. Agility training focuses on speed and, of course, agility. Your dog will be challenged by various exciting obstacles such as ramps, ladders, hurdles, pools, tubes, and dozens of other new and strange devices. The wide variety of obstacles greatly improves your dog’s movement skills and agility. They’ll not only have to duck, turn, jump, and balance but adding speed to the course will add to the excitement. Agility training is also perfect for dogs who prefer solitude as they don’t need other dogs nearby to work the obstacles.
#3 Dog Parks
Dog parks are a fond favorite of many dog owners. These spaces are usually wide open, made of some soft and absorbent materials, and may even have some built in obstacles or games. Dog parks are perfect places for multiple owners and dogs to congregate so your pet can socialize with other dogs. Socialization is key in helping your dog remain calm and friendly around other animals and even other people. Even though dog parks are great places to socialize, they’re also great to check out solo. Parks are usually safe and secure places to let your dog off leash so they can run wild and free.
#4 Obedience Classes
When first training your dog, obedience classes are a must. These classes will help you and your pet find a common language and understanding so that they will behave properly around you and other people. Obedience classes often start with a set of basic commands such as sit, stay, and touch. As you progress, you’ll learn more challenging commands that will help your dog become a perfect pet. These classes are a great place for your dog to play and be challenged with new information, but they’re also helpful in teaching you how to best communicate with your pet.
#5 Frisbee
You don’t always have to take your dog to a far off place or enroll them into a special class to have fun. Something as simple as a frisbee can be a lifetime of entertainment for the both of you. Most dogs will immediately be attracted to the strange flying disk, but it may take some time to get your dog used to retrieving it. Once they’re able to bring it back consistently, try throwing it a little higher and slower and see if your dog will catch the frisbee mid-air.
#6 Vacations
Taking your dog with you on vacation is fun and often even be more convenient than leaving them with a friend or at a kennel. Depending on your vacation of choice, you can easily find dog-friendly accommodations. Whether you’re renting a house or just checking into a hotel, most locations will have some sort of option that allows pets. Transport isn’t very difficult as most airplanes will allow you to travel with your pet and some will even allow your pet to sit in the passenger cabin with you. Logistics aside, the best part of taking your pup on vacation is that you both get to enjoy a break from normal life and see somewhere new!
#7 Doggy Day Care
When people hear the words kennel or dog boarding they think of a crowded room full of cages and barking dogs. Whereas dog boarding is mainly focused on housing a dog, a dog daycare focuses on entertainment and dog training. Your pets are free to roam and run around, play with other dogs, and also receive great dog training.
Pet Peeves specializes in care, training, andconsulting of your loved pets for those near the Golden and Lakewood regions. While your dog is busy at the dog daycare, you can skip out for a moment to work, run errands, and do whatever you need to do while your pet is safe and being trained. If you’re in the Golden or Lakewood areas, take a peek for more info on a safe and fun doggy day care.
#8 Tracking
Tracking is a unique form of training often used by law enforcement, hunters or other specialized sport enthusiasts. Tracking involves teaching your dog to use their highly developed sense of smell to find a specific scent and follow it back to its source. These classes will take some time but are a perfect way for you and your pet to work together to find something. Some dogs have been bred to track and will pick up the skill set very quickly, while others may need more work, but all dogs are able to track.
Dogs are known as man’s best friend, so we should be their best friends too. Try a few items from this list and you’ll find that taking your dog out and spending time together is fun for everyone.
