With summer almost over it’s time to make the most of the season and discover new fun and fulfilling ways to spend quality time with your canine friend. Regardless of how long you’ve had your pet, it’s never too late to try out new activities and reinvent playtime.
Bella & Duke’s Natural Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer shares her top ten hobbies you and your dog can take up together.
1) Go on a picnic together
Enjoy the sunshine whilst it’s here and set up a picnic somewhere that has enough space for classic activities such as fetch or hide and seek. That way, you can both learn to work as a team and enjoy each other’s company but be sure to not stay hidden too long!
Find a nice spot in some shade and take a minute to unwind and just be with your dog. After playing it is important to be aware of the temperature and make sure you’re not enjoying it too much and your dog doesn’t overheat. Be sure to pack your picnic basket with plenty of water alongside a bowl for your furry friend.
2) Treat yourself and your pup to some pamper time
Give your dog the grooming and attention they need, not only will it help you to unwind from a hard day’s work but it is also a great way to keep our furry friends cool and safe from overheating. Make time to pamper your dog with a massage or grooming and play gentle music to help them relax. Downtime is all important in the process of bonding.
3) Walk around a local forest or heritage site
Regular walks are important for keeping your dog fit and healthy alongside being a great way to build a bond. Why not switch up your regular routes and take your furry friend out on an adventure! Forests can be great places to walk your dog in. This way you can enjoy the beauty of nature and find some interesting new scents for your dog to investigate. Better yet, take them out to see one of the many heritage sites across the country. Appreciating history is always more fun with your favourite canines. Be sure to check for any nasty ticks after a long walk.
When walking in the forest, visiting a heritage site or just switching up your regular routes it is important to remember to clean up any mess made and be aware of your new surroundings if letting your dog off the lead.
4) Travel together
This can be a bit challenging, but letting your dog join you adds a fun twist to the out-of-town holiday you’ve been planning. Just make sure you prepare everything you need for travelling. Always check with your vet to ensure your dog is fit to join the trip.
5) Agility with your dog at home
For agility, your dog needs to be a mature adult of over 18 months in order to keep their joints safe and growing in strength.
You can set up an agility course at home in your garden or house using plant pots to balance canes on, odd boxes and brooms also make a great jump and weave obstacles too. Lay balance planks on the ground so you can guide your dog to walk along them but also walk between. This encourages supple movement and equal body balance and strength of both their left and right sides.
6) Take regular Netflix naps
Unlike humans, dogs don’t talk during the good parts. It’s been proven that sleeping next to your furry companion is beneficial for you both, it can lower depression and anxiety, increases oxytocin (the love chemical), and can help you to relax. Looking for a new series to binge? Set aside an evening where you and your pup get tucked up in bed and watch a show.
7) Venture to dog friendly venues
Dog friendly pubs, cafes and coffee shops are sweeping the nation and can be a great way to unwind. Start by going at quieter times to ease your dog into the new environment and give them time to adjust. There’s even an app called ‘Doggie Pubs’ for people wanting to bring their pooch to drinks with friends. So why not spend a chill afternoon in a café journaling or doing life admin with your favourite furry companion. Know that not all dogs will enjoy being in busy places and may feel more comfortable with a coffee to go and a walk along the beach.
8) Do a workout together
Most people go on runs or long walks with their dogs but running and walking for extended periods of time on concrete can be bad for your pets’ joints. Instead, why not look into swimming with your dog, playing frisbee, dancing, or hill walking. Know your dog and its capabilities and get creative with low impact exercises!
9) Set up a play date
Dogs are naturally social animals, so why not invite your friends or relatives with dogs over to your house or go on a trip to the park. Doggie dates are great opportunities for your dog to dust off their social skills and mingle with other dogs. It is important to make sure that your dog feels comfortable with other dogs first and when finding the perfect playdate for your pup, it is often better if they are roughly the same age and size so they can play gently and fair. As an added bonus, you get to have a cup of tea and a natter too, of course while keeping an eye on your pups to ensure play does not get out of hand.
10) Take your dog to work with you
Are your company head hunting for four legged employees? Well even if they aren’t, scientific studies have concluded that the presence of pets in the workplace substantially reduces a person’s stress levels and anxiety.If your company has pet friendly policies, take advantage of bringing your furry companion to the office to make everyone’s Monday better. Bella & Duke recently designed the UK’s most pet friendly office, so if you’d like expert tips on how to create a pet friendly workplace, head on over to the website.
Caroline Spencer, Natural Canine Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: “When life gets busy, it is often easy for time with your pet to become about the essentials, reducing your relationship to a check box chore. The main reason most people get a dog is to have a companion, and like any friendship, quality time together is needed to deepen your bond and maintain your relationship.
“There are so many creative ways you can incorporate your dog into your life and there’s no better time than summer to take up a new hobby or adventure you can enjoy together”.
