Fun dog activities: 12 Dog-Friendly Summer Activities – American Kennel Club

21 fun things to do with your dog

There is no cuter copilot than a canine — and for most people, no more amenable friend. After all, is there any person on the planet who thinks a road trip to the city dump is an adventure or that breaking down cardboard boxes is the most exciting chore ever?

Doing activities with your dog not only strengthens your bond but also provides physical and mental stimulation, which promotes overall good health. Whether you have a new puppy, need creative ideas for a pet sitting job or just want to provide new entertainment for your dog, there are plenty of dog activities you can do to keep that tail wagging.

To aid you in making memories (and treasured Instagram moments) that will last to infinity and beyond, we created this list of 21 fun things to do with your dog, based on their energy level.

High energy: For the puppy or adult dog up for anything

1. Go on a walking tour of your city.

Soak up your city just like a tourist would but with a much better sense of direction. If you plan your route, you can make pit stops at all of your city’s pet-friendly haunts for treats and attention. All the tourists will be so jealous.

2. Spend a day swimming and exploring a beach or lake.

Some dogs are more like mermaids, so let them be part of that world! But before you do, make sure the beach or lake is dog-friendly and that you bring a doggy life vest. (Not all dogs can swim!)

3. Go on a bike ride together.

It’s harder than you might think to ride a bike while your dog is on a leash, so get a little practice in before hitting the bike trail. Some dogs are more bike-basket than ride-beside, so it’s wise to consider your dog’s physical fitness and start out slow. Once you both get the knack for it, you’ll be on a roll.

4. Run or jog together.

Nothing tires out a pup with lots of energy like a long run. Some dogs are better suited for longer distances than others, so consider your pup’s health and the temperature outside, and always bring fuel, like treats and water. If you have a real runner on your hands — as in, a dog that’s prone to running off — it’s key to get a leash specially made for running. If this becomes a regular activity for you both, see if you can consistently beat your previous time.

5. Visit an off-leash dog park where your dog can romp with other dogs.

Impromptu parties are the best, especially the canine kind. Find your nearest off-leash dog park and let your pup do some mingling. They just might turn out to be the life of the party.

6. Make a puzzle for your dog to solve.

Dogs with lots of energy need diversions. The internet overflows with brain teasers you can make with items in your very own home, from materials you’d typically throw away. A DIY dog boredom-buster game with old tennis balls and treats or a homemade dog tug toy fashioned out of an old T-shirt could be just the challenge your dog craves. So get your dog toy crafting on!

7. Take an agility or obedience training class.

Dogs with a wild streak tend to need focus, so choose a goal to work toward. Agility or obedience training will give them a chance to show their mad skills (if they have any!). But at the very least, it’ll help make your owner-doggy bond even stronger. A doggy trophy at the end of your semester makes a nice touch and an even nicer Instagram post!

Medium energy: Dogs who enjoy good fun, followed by a nap

8. Stock up on toys together at your favorite pet-friendly store.

Attention shoppers: It’s time to let your dog steer the shopping cart! Surprises can be overrated, so take your pal to the store so they can do the choosing. Warning: Dogs can’t read price tags.

9. Take your dog on a boat ride.

Get ready to make a splash — just make sure you have the all-important life vest with you when you do, as swimming doesn’t come naturally to all dogs. Some dogs were bred specifically because they make great first mates. So, why not see if your pup has the chops for sea life? Easing your dog into activities like these — and having a cool friend with a nice boat — is recommended.

10. Teach your dog a new trick.

Old, young, no matter the age, dogs like to learn new things, so give them a challenge by teaching them awesome new ways to impress you (and your friends). Look up dog tricks on YouTube, grab some treats and start practicing some tricks. Your pup’s stunts will be the talk of your next house party.

11. Play in a sprinkler, leaves or snow.

No matter what season you’re in, there’s always fun just outside your door. Run through a sprinkler, play fetch with snowballs after a snowstorm or jump in a pile of leaves. (Don’t forget to check for ticks after!) Sometimes the simple pleasures in life make the best memories.

12. Enjoy a stay at a pet-friendly hotel or bed and breakfast.

Dogs are welcomed guests at some of the most exciting accommodations across the U.S. So if your pup travels well, plan a mini vacay for the two of you. Splurge on luxury amenities like pet-pampering packages — or just bring your favorites treats from home. Simply search for pet-friendly places to stay on Expedia, Airbnb, VRBO and most other popular travel sites. Both you and your dog can enjoy the adventure involved in exploring somewhere new.

13. Throw a puppy party.

You have friends with dogs on speed dial, and now’s the time to invite them over. Whether it’s your dog’s birthday or National Dog Day (Aug. 26), set a date and go all out. Check out these Instagram-worthy dog party ideas.

14. Find a unique spot for an Instagram photoshoot.

A graffitied wall, your favorite city fountain, a famous statue or a quiet park bench — pose your pooch at a spot with a little character, and you’re bound to get all the Instagram hearts. Don’t forget to reward your subject with treats!

Low energy: Dogs who just want to be with you

15. Netflix and nap.

Reserve the most comfy spot on the couch for at least three hours. Watch a canine-friendly flick together — like “101 Dalmatians,” “Best in Show” or “Marley & Me” — and snuggle up for a nap. We can’t think of anything more dreamy.

16. Take your dog to work.

National Take Your Dog to Work Day may be June 24, but if you work in a pet-friendly environment, why not make it a regular occurrence? Medium-to-low-energy dogs can be good at helping to ease office stress, and there’s nothing more soothing than taking a coffee break with your cutie.

17. Give your dog a mani-pedi.

You can leave clipping to a professional, but nail color? That’s all you! Pet-friendly nail polish comes in a wide variety of colors — in a polish pen and traditional bottle-and-brush form. So why not give your dog a pop of color on those claws? The Instagram paw-sibilities are endless.

18. Book a “doga” session.

Just breathe. A dog-friendly yoga session will help with that and more (like stretching) and, most importantly, bonding with your pooch. Doing downward dog with your best friend by your side has to be on every dog-lover’s bucket list.

19. Sing to your dog.

Can you think of a better audience? No one loves the sound of your voice more! Go a cappella or call on Alexa for some background music. You’re guaranteed a standing ovation or at the very least a paw to the mouth, willing you to stop.

20. Practice patience by balancing treats on your pet’s nose.

The hashtag #StuffOnMyDog yields a treasure trove of adorable pics on Instagram of dogs carrying lightweight amounts of cuteness on their heads and snouts. If you want to get in the game, start small with treats and get ready for some serious smiles.

21. Snag a puppuccino at Starbucks.

While it’s not on the menu, every coffee-loving dog person has a friend in Starbucks who serves up puppuccinos for canines if you ask. (It’s a simple concoction: whipped cream in a small cup.) As long as your dog is dairy-tolerant, you’ve found yourself a new coffee run companion.

40 Fun Activities to Enjoy with Your Dog This Summer! (2023)

Are you ready to make this the best summer ever? The summer of fun photos, lifelong memories, exciting adventures, and silly laughs? Check out our list of 40 fun activities to enjoy with your dog this summer!

Pack a picnic for you and your dog. (Our Watermelon YUCKY PUPPY poop bag holders do double duty on picnics–a clean one serves to hold wet cloths.) Nothing may be more symbolic of summer fun than a family picnic and that includes those with your dog. Pack plenty of water for your dog to the picnic supplies.

Take your dog to the lake.

Enjoy a nap together beneath a tree.

Find out if any baseball teams in your area have a dog day!

Go for a swim. Although pools generally don’t open to dogs (the exception is the final day of the season when many host a dog day), head to your local river, lake, or beach for a day of summer memories. Most beaches with lifeguards don’t accept dogs but unimproved swimming areas are often open to four-legged swimmers. Nothing close by? Purchase a kiddie pool for some splashing fun in your own yard!

Make a homemade frozen treat–for you and your dog.

Enjoy a hike you’ve always meant to take.

Enjoy a weenie roast at a campfire.

Find a drive-in movie theater. Does your community have a drive-in movie theater? These bastions of yesteryear make a great way to celebrate summer with canines. Check sites like DriveInMovie.com to see if there are any theaters near you.

Take a selfie together at sunrise.

Visit a dog-friendly store. Too hot to even consider a day trip? Take your dog to a local dog-friendly store for some air-conditioned shopping fun and socialization. Along with pet supply stores, some other stores are dog-friendly; call to ask before you go.

Consider a Dog-Friendly Vacation. A growing number of destinations don’t just accept pets but welcome them. A trip with your dog may take a little extra pre-trip planning in terms of finding stops along the way and pet-friendly hotels, but the rewards can be worth it. Some hotel chains like Red Roof, Kimpton and Motel 6 don’t charge pet fees but, even if your hotel does, weigh that fee against the cost of pet boarding or a pet sitter.

Take a photo every day this summer.

Build a sandbox and hide dog treats and chews in the sand.

Take your dog to a “pick your own” orchard.

Dog paddle side by side.

Dine together at a dog-friendly patio restaurant. Rules vary by city but check with your favorite restaurants for their pet policies. Many cities with outdoor dining permit leashed dogs to accompany their owners. Bring a small bowl for water, a long-lasting chews, and you and your dog can enjoy a fun excursion.

Use a bubble maker to create catnip-scented bubbles for your dog to chase..

Do some stargazing together. Dogs love it when we lie on the ground, whether it’s on the living room floor or in the front yard. Spread out a blanket and do some star gazing with your Spot—and keep an eye out for the Dog Star, Sirius!

Visit a farmers’ market together.

Create matching bandanas for you both.

Read aloud to your dog.

Play in a sprinkler together.

Teach your dog a new trick.

Buy a new collar in tropical colors.

Play hide and seek.

Draw a picture of your dog.

Take a nose print!

Learn some TTouch to give your dog a massage.

Hire a pro to photograph you and your dog together.

Sign up for a training class.

Make a braided dog toy out of your old t-shirt.

Try a dog sport you’ve never tried before like agility or Treibball.

Take your dog’s paw print.

Go wading.

Go geocaching together.

Camp in your backyard together.

Walk a new route.

Arrange a dog party.

Go through a drive-through with your dog. From the fast food drive-through to the bank and pharmacy windows, take your dog along for the ride. You never have to leave the comfort of your air-conditioned car (you never, ever want to leave a dog in a car during warm weather) but your dog enjoys an easy getaway.

Plan a dog day trip with a friend who has a dog. Even if your budget is on a short leash, a day trip is a great way to enjoy a mini-vacation with your dog without spending more than some gas money. Pack a picnic, be sure to secure your dog in the car with a dog seat belt or booster seat, and hit the road together! Enjoy local city parks in your own backyard or take a stroll in an area where you usually don’t dog walk.

Make a photo journal of your summer fun.

Be sure to take some time this summer to slow down and enjoy all the fun that the season has to offer. There’s no better reminder of how to do this than our four-legged family members!

What to do with a dog: games with a dog at home and on the street (20 games), how to play with a dog for a walk

OO training

• Most of us like to spend time lying on the couch and looking at the TV or laptop, but, unfortunately, dogs do not enjoy this pastime. Pets prefer joint activities – walks, games and teaching teams. If it doesn’t immediately occur to you what to do with a dog, then we suggest reading our selection, learning how to play with a dog at home or on a walk, and have a great time with your pet tomorrow. nine0003

  Playing with the dog at home

  • Leave the dog alone in the room and close the door. Call the dog to you. This exercise will be much easier if the door opens outward – the dog only needs to push it with his paw or nose. Doors that open inward are a challenge. Let the dog find a way to open the door on its own.
  • Take old boots or rolled up handkerchief and put a treat inside. Watch your dog try to get the treat. nine0006
  • In front of the dog, open the drawer, put a treat in it, and close it again, leaving a small gap. Let the dog get the treat.
  • Tie a large treat, such as a pig’s ear, to a string or string and tuck it further under the cupboard so that only the end of the string is within the dog’s reach. Make sure that the dog is rewarded only for pulling the treat out of the rope. Be careful, the dog must not swallow the cord! nine0006
  • Take a bowl of water and put a non-sinkable lid with a treat or a toy into the water. Tell the dog to get a treat.
  • Lay out a path of treats in the apartment and run the dog along it.
  • Arrange the stools one behind the other and cover the top with a blanket to form a tunnel. Use the treat to force the dog to go through it.
  • Hang a towel in the doorway so that it reaches the ground. Call the dog to come through this veil. nine0006
  • Command dog to run over rolling hula hoop . To make the exercise easier, do not immediately release the hoop, first hold it in front of you and run with it. Show your dog how to run through the hoop with a treat. When it goes well, you can start the hoop and order the dog to jump through it.
  • Teach your dog to jump ropes. Give one end of the ropes to a friend, and keep the other yourself. Using the “Barrier” command, make the dog jump at exactly the right time. Be careful not to hit the dog! nine0006

  Outdoor dog play

  • Bury the food or toy in the ground or under leaves and have the dog retrieve it.
  • Stick a stick with a treat attached to the top or hang it on a string (be careful, the dog must never swallow the string or stick). The exercise can be made more difficult if the stick with the treat swings. At the same time, be sure to monitor the safety of the dog.
  • Offer dog jump over a series of obstacles if you find suitable ones on the sports ground.
  • Find a wide trunk of a lopsided or fallen tree and tell the dog to jump on it.
  • Teach your dog to move away from you in different directions on the “Forward” command.
  • Teach your dog to run around trees on command . To do this, use a treat to circle it around a small tree. Repeat the exercise daily, and then increase the distance. Make sure that the dog, at your gesture and command, can run around trees that are 10 meters away from you. nine0006
  • Teach your pet to jump off walls and trees as described in the Parkour exercise.
  • Take up a sport that is right for your dog. Buy agility equipment (barrier, slalom, etc.) or frisbee and start training yourself, or sign up for classes at the dog playground.
  • Tell the dog to find the person she knows, provided that she did not see where he hid.
  • Walk with your dog and a friend along a stream that has a bridge across it. Then stay on this bank and ask your friend with the dog to go to the other. Walk further parallel to the shore for 10-20 meters. A friend with a dog should do the same on the opposite bank. Then call the dog, and wait until he comes up with the idea to go back to the bridge to get to you. nine0006

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  • Nosework
  • Agility Exercises

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  The most interesting dog games

  Contents

  1

  Training

  2

  The game of catch-up

  3

  Ball and bowl game

  four

  Ride along with your dog!

  five

  Agility: owner and dog on the same team!
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  3 minutes

  estimated reading time

  Every dog ​​loves his master with all his heart! Perhaps, walks and fun games with the owner give the pet the greatest joy in his life. Dogs love to play so much that they will fervently run around you and wag their tail merrily, as if saying: “Master, let’s play, I’m ready!” And if you are not in the mood and you don’t give your pet due attention, he can be quite sincerely offended by you, and as a small revenge he will start to gnaw things or, for example, scatter food. nine0106

  We recommend that you please your pet more often and play with him, because this will not only bring him great joy, but also help you take a break from a long day at work, warm up, relieve stress, and enjoy the carefree joy of your pet! And today we will talk about the most popular and fun dog games.

  Training

  And let’s start, perhaps, with the most useful: with training. Training is not only a way to teach a dog useful commands and discipline, but also an active interaction between the owner and the pet, setting up a wave of trust and absolute mutual understanding. Teach your dog basic commands first and then gradually move on to difficult obstacles.
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  Teach your dog to jump to a certain height, run on a thin surface, crawl, etc. – all these exercises will have a beneficial effect on the physical shape of your pet. For training, it is better to choose parks and other areas with grass so that the dog does not injure its paws.

  Don’t forget to take your rubbish away with you!

  Support the dog while it passes obstacles, belay so that it does not fall and hurt itself! Working with a dog, you will learn to understand it better, you will rejoice at its success, and it will be happy receiving your attention and approval.
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  Catching game

  This game is useful both for your pet and for you, as running always contributes to maintaining good physical shape.

  Take a dog toy or a stick in your hand, tease your pet – and run away from him! Change the speed and trajectory of the run, stop to pat the dog behind the ear and praise him. Believe me, after such an active game, you yourself will feel better, and the dog, having thrown out his energy, will happily fall asleep at home, he will not have the strength to do any dirty tricks!
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  By the way, this game can be diversified by hiding from your pet. Let the dog look for you, it’s not only fun, but also develops intelligence. Don’t forget to praise your dog and give him treats when he finds your hiding place!

  Ball and plate game

  This is a very simple but very interesting game loved by all dogs. Throw a tennis ball or a plate away, let your dog catch up with the toy and bring it back to you. Repeat until you get tired. It is better to use tennis balls and special game plates for this game, as the dog may get hurt with other objects.
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  Ride along with your dog!

  If you love skiing, rollerblading, or cycling, don’t do it alone. Take your dog with you, because this is the best company that will always adapt to your pace!

  However, you should only take large, active dogs with you for a ride, because it will be difficult for kids and sloths to keep up with you. And your companion should not have problems with discipline, otherwise the walk risks being unpleasant for you and may even cause you injury. Well, if your dog is strong, brave and disciplined, then good luck!
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  We recommend using a soft, skin-friendly collar and a tape measure leash for such walks. If you’re rollerblading or skiing, hook the end of the leash to your belt. If on a bicycle, it is better to attach the end of the leash to the steering wheel. While riding, the dog must run ahead of you. Keep a close eye on her, if you see that the dog slows down a lot and stops, let her rest.

  Agility: owner and dog in one team! nine0114
  

  Agility is, perhaps, the highest stage of training, when the owner and the dog work as a team. The dog passes obstacles, and the owner is a guide and guides his pet. As you understand, well-coordinated teamwork is possible only if the dog and the owner understand each other from a half-word, and sometimes even from a half-gesture and half-look.