Fun things to do with your dog: 12 Dog-Friendly Summer Activities – American Kennel Club

Fun Things to Do with Your Dog

There are many fun things to do with your dog. Here are some examples of activities you can enjoy with your canine friend.

Agility for dogs

In agility trials, human handlers guide dogs off lead through obstacle courses that consist of hurdles, teeter-totters, tunnels, balance beams, weave poles, climbing structures, etc. Agility trials can be very competitive, or they can be done just for fun. Dogs gain confidence, release energy and learn how to stay focused while in high spirits.

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Animal-assisted activities

Animal-assisted activities (AAA) usually take place in a hospital or nursing home, not in a rehabilitative setting. Teams doing this type of visit help to improve mood or promote socialization rather than work on specific patient goals. Facilities that use animals for these activities may or may not require that handlers and animals become certified.

Animal-assisted therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is more goal-directed than AAA; the results may be documented to meet a particular patient’s specific goals. AAA and AAT are valuable tools that can be used to promote well-being while celebrating the joy inherent in the canine-human bond. There are several programs in the United States that certify both the handler and the animal for therapy work. For more information on both AAA and AAT, visit Pet Partners, whose mission is to improve human health through service and therapy animals.

Backpacking with dogs

Dogs, like people, love to get away from it all! If you’re going on a backpacking trip with your dog, plan ahead. Taking a dog out on the trail without some type of fitness conditioning can be dangerous to your dog’s health. Fitness doesn’t come overnight, so start the process well before your trip. Check with a local authority to see if pets are allowed in the area where you’ll be trekking; some places allow dogs, but require permits. Carry a first-aid kit for you and your dog, and know how to administer basic first aid if your dog becomes injured. At any time of year, remember to pack enough water for you and your dog.

Day trips with dogs

Most dogs love to ride in the car. Take your dog along if you’re visiting friends or family. For a special treat, include a side trip to do some shopping with your dog. Some dogs love to browse at pet supply stores (many of which allow you to bring your dog inside). Your dog may ask for a treat or two, so be prepared to spend a little money on this outing!

Dog parks

Dog parks — places where dogs are allowed to roam free — are becoming more common in many cities. Most are securely fenced, have safety signs posted with park rules, and require that you clean up after your dog (take some bags in case they’re not provided). Social dogs enjoy meeting new dog friends and returning to see them time and time again. You might make new friends as well! If your dog is toy-sized, supervise him or her closely around other dogs. While trying to play, a big dog may injure a small dog unintentionally. Some parks have a section exclusively for small dogs.

Freestyle musical dance with dogs

A choreographed set of moves, performed to music, freestyle musical dance is done by dogs in partnership with their handlers. If you have not seen this new “sport” in action, you will be amazed at the level of expertise that can be achieved through teamwork, focus, and practice, practice, practice.

Flyball with dogs

Flyball is a relay race that requires a dog to race over four hurdles, catch a tennis ball that has been released from a spring-loaded launcher, and then race back over the hurdles again. The dogs race in teams of four. Any dog who likes to chase a ball will probably love flyball, and it’s an excellent way for your dog to burn up excess energy.

Frisbee with dogs

Dogs who love to play Frisbee, either purely for pleasure or in competition, are called disc dogs. Some dogs won’t allow their people to play without them! If your dog loves to play ball, you may want to buy a disc and get your dog involved in this great form of exercise. One word of caution, however: This sport involves a lot of jumping, so consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on a vigorous Frisbee training program.

Hiking with dogs

Though most national parks don’t allow dogs on trails, there are many state parks that do. For more information on finding dog-friendly trails in your state, visit Hike with Your Dog. Also, almost every city has trails pretty close by that you can explore with your canine companion. Even city streets can be used for a hiking adventure – take a local map and mark off a path up and down streets, adding a hill or two for more strenuous exercise. Don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit, poop bags, and plenty of water.

Nose work

A fairly new sport called nose work uses the amazing capabilities of the canine nose and accommodates almost every type of dog. It can be done competitively or just as an enjoyable activity.

Read more about nose work

Obedience training

All dogs should receive some obedience training. How far you take it is up to you – some people want their dogs to compete in serious obedience trials, while others just want a dog who will obey simple cues in daily life. In either case, both you and your dog will enjoy the benefits of better communication and the increased bond between you that results from time spent together teaching, learning, and practicing. For more information, call your local animal shelter and ask for a referral for a training class.

Tracking

Playing hide-and-seek with a toy or item of clothing can be a tracking challenge for your dog. In winter, a fun game is to place a glove (with a treat inside for extra enticement) just under the surface of the snow.

Trick training

Using clicker training or lure training (using treats for motivation) to teach your dog to do tricks is a great way to spend time with your dog, improve your relationship, and make obedience training even more fun. Once you and your dog have a repertoire of tricks, you can show off your wonder dog! Karen Pryor Clicker Training has lots of information about clicker training.

Vacations with dogs

If you haven’t taken a vacation with your dog, give it some thought. It can be very rewarding to have your dog along on your adventure, and many hotel chains accept dogs these days. To find dog-friendly lodging, visit Dog Friendly, a site that also lists dog-friendly restaurants, parks, beaches and other attractions. Pet Friendly Travel includes vacation rentals, such as cabins, condos and B&Bs. If you want to take it a step further, look into dog camps, the ultimate vacation for you and your dog. They provide games, training opportunities, and plenty of other dogs to interact with. Browse a list of dog camps.

When thinking about involving your dog in any strenuous activity, consider his or her health and physical ability. If your dog has not been exercising regularly, schedule a visit to your veterinarian. If more than a checkup (blood work to look at organ health, x-rays for joint health, etc.) is needed, your vet will advise you. He may also encourage you to increase your dog’s exercise level gradually.

Remember, your dog loves spending time with you, so get out there with your canine companion and have some fun!

10 Fun Things to do at Home with Your Puppy! — The Puppy Academy

When going out just isn’t an option for you, finding creative ways to keep a hyperactive puppy entertained can sIf your puppy doesn’t have all their vaccinations yet, or if you can’t get outside for a walk because of the weather, you need some other creative ways to keep your puppy satisfied physically and mentally! Luckily for you, there are a few fun and super easy games and puppy training activities you can do right at home!

The Puppy Academy student, Romeo!

Maintaining a daily schedule for your puppy while at home will help them know what’s coming up next and have them look forward to their next activity! Having productive activities at your disposal will decrease the chance of them becoming restless during their free time and looking to occupy their time with something more destructive. The best part is that you can incorporate puppy training into your at-home routine to help keep your pup’s mind engaged and promote positive behavior!

1. Sniff Out The Treat!

This is a fun one to watch your pup work to find their treats or kibble and it’s super simple to set up in any type of living situation! All you need is a few treats, a treat-stuffing toy like a Kong, some creative hiding spots, and your phone to record your pup seeking them out! With your puppy watching you from their playpen or crate, place one to two treats into a Kong, hide it, and release your pup to let them go to town searching out their reward!

2. Puzzle Games, Snuffle Mats, and Food-Dispensing Toys

These games are great at getting your puppy to work on problem-solving and getting rewarded! Many of these games involve hiding a treat in a little compartment and letting your puppy sniff them out. Depending on the puzzle game your puppy will be able to flip lids, turn knobs, open drawers, and lift up cones to uncover hidden treats. How fun!

The classic Kong toy and other variations of food dispensing toys are a great mental stimulation that will release an immediate reward for your puppy’s work! Stuff it with their favorite food or treats and let them chew it until the food is dispensed. The best part about these toys is that they allow your puppy to problem-solve and chew. This is a natural way your puppy relieves gum pain, especially if they are teething, and relieves boredom! To increase the difficulty, freeze some healthy dog-friendly peanut butter in the Kong for your pup to lick out. Bonus: licking can be very soothing for pups!

3. Practice Obedience Training

Puppies love to work and learn new things! Doing 5-15 minute sessions of obedience routines will improve your pup’s skills, teach them good manners, and tire them out faster than a long walk! Obedience training is awesome mental work that will leave your pup feeling satisfied and ready for a nap when you’re finished.

This also goes for working on Heel indoors! Teaching your pup to walk inside first is much easier since there’s fewer distractions. And if your pup is already walking outdoors, you can challenge them inside as well! Use a hallway in your home to practice your pup keeping in Heel position and doing Heel turnarounds to change direction, then advance to having them Heel beside you around your coffee table, sofa, dining table, up and down the stairs, and all around the house!

For our favorite obedience command routines and how to teach your puppy to Heel with the exercises we mentioned above, our Online Puppy School goes over all these activities you can do right at home with your puppy! Check out The Puppy Academy Online School for more details and to sign up today!

4. Teach Your Pup “Go Find”

With your puppy watching from their playpen or crate, have them see you take one of their favorite toys and put it down at a distance. Then, excitedly tell your puppy to “Go Find”! Act like it’s a game of Fetch and reset your puppy in their playpen or crate. Do this a few times until your pup starts to associate Go Find with searching out their toy. Eventually, you can train them to do this with a variety of things! 

5. Teach Your Puppy Toy Names

This is a fun one! Your pup can learn so much so why not the names of their favorite toys? Start by playing with one specific toy such as a ball and when your puppy takes it, say “Ball” out loud. Do this a few times and then test your pup’s skill to see if they pick up the ball when you call out “Go Find Ball!”

6. Reinforce Your Puppy’s Recall

Recall a.k.a. Come command is a super important behavior that you want your pup to learn early on in a variety of environments and distances. The first and best place to start is your home! You can do this by starting off in a hallway, and calling your puppy’s name and Come, then rewarding them with a treat when they do! Build up to be able to go into different rooms as you call them to you. Play what we call the “Recall Game” by involving the family and having them stand in various spots of the house while you take turns calling your pup to you and rewarding them when they “Come”! As your puppy masters farther distance you can move this to the backyard and have them practice coming back to you. Check out are video below for more details on how to play!

7. Play a Game of Fetch or Catch

Believe it or not, you don’t need a ton of space to play Fetch with your puppy! Yes, as they get bigger and older and better with it, you will probably want to expand the distance, but while they’re learning and still growing, smaller spaces can do just fine! We even encourage using a leash to start with to help guide your pup back and prevent them from wandering off.

Start off by having your puppy sit. Then, throw their ball or toy as you say “Fetch”, and have your puppy run to catch it! Then, call them back by using their name and “Come”. Not only is this game great for their physical exercise, but you are also working on challenging command combinations and recall. For more tips for teaching your pup Fetch, check out “Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: How to Play with Your Puppy Pt. 2!”

Play a Game of Tug

Tug is a great exercise that teaches your pup how to turn play “on” and “off” while also strengthening your bond together. With Tug, also comes teaching your puppy the important command “Drop-it!”.

For our guide on how to teach Tug and Drop-It, visit our blog “Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: How to Play with Your Puppy Pt. 1!”

Work on Impulse Control

Feeding time and going in and out of doorways (especially outside!) can be some of the two most exciting times for puppies!

While at home, take this time to instill some good manners in your puppy and work on their impulse control around the things that excite them most.

If your puppy goes crazy for their food, practice putting them in Place and waiting while you prepare their meal. Then have them remain in a Sit or Down as you slowly lower them to the floor. If they move towards the bowl, lift it back up and reset them in their position and try again. This can take some time over several days to get the hang of, so be patient! Use your pup’s leash or have them go in their crate to help you practice this in the beginning stages while they’re learning. When you’re able to get the bowl on the ground without them going for it, calmly tell the “Break” to release them to eat their food.

If your puppy is known for bolting out of doorways to go explore, teach them calm thresholds where they learn to pause in doorways and wait for permission from you to enter or leave. Each time you go through a doorway (this includes your pup’s crate!) have your pup Sit and wait for your command, then calmly release them. If you are walking alongside your pup, make sure to lead them first and have them follow, or walk out together to instill this good habit. You can learn more about threshold training in our blog: Teach Your Puppy Not to Bolt Out of Doorways!

Netflix, Chill, and “Place”

After a long day of activities, a little relaxation time is great for our pups — and us! This is also one of our favorite times to practice teaching your pup “Place duration” where your pup learns how to stay and relax on their Place cot (or dog bed) for extended periods of time. When you start off practicing this, make sure to have your pup’s leash on with the end in your hand, and be alert to your pup so you can reward them for staying on with a treat, and guide them back to it if they try to get up. You’ll also want to sit closer to them in the beginning, then extend the distance between you as they get better at staying and need fewer resets from you. This is the perfect activity you can do while you catch up on the newest episodes of your favorite shows!

With all these fun activities while you’re home with your pup, don’t forget to also include some alone time for them. Using their playpen or crate so they’re away from you for periods of time throughout the day will help to prep them for when you need to leave them to go to work or out for errands.

Join our next Ask a Puppy Trainer Show live Q&A on @thepuppyacademy Instagram! Every Wednesday at 1 pm PT we answer your puppy training and care questions live. Join our Very Important Puppy list to receive puppy tips right in your inbox every week!

Check out these related blogs on puppy training and more!

Activities to do After Spay or Neuter!

How to Train Your Puppy for Car Rides!

Introducing Your Puppy to Your Cat!

what to do with the dog in the apartment and what to play

Self-isolation: a dog’s joy

All family members vying to go for a walk with the dog, and even at home there is no end to those who want to pet the dog or play with it? Yes, dogs are the main beneficiaries of these difficult times. We offer several options for spending time with your pet, since you still spend a lot of time at home.

But first, let us remind you that the absence of the need to get up for work does not mean that the dog does not need to be walked in the morning. It is better not to knock down the adjusted biological clock (both dog’s and your own). In a word, do not walk the dog less than usual (more is possible).

Although pets living in families with children may argue with this thesis. One way or another, the dog spends more time with the owners and it should be fun. How can you entertain your pet?

Dog game: Which hand?

Ask your dog to guess which fist holds his favorite treat. Obviously, it will not be difficult for an animal to guess this by smell, but only for the first time. Then both hands will smell the same food. If your dog guesses correctly, give him a treat and praise.

The main thing is not to overdo it with treats: treats are usually very high in calories. As an option for the game, you can use pellets of “regular” food. And one more thing: the dog should not get the impression that a treat is always hidden in a clenched fist. Therefore, come up with a command (for example, “where is the yummy?” Or “in which hand?”) And voice it before each round of the game.

Seek! and its varieties

Training the dog’s senses is never superfluous. Even in an apartment, you can come up with several options for “search” games. True, if you try to play them, for example, with a professionally trained retriever who regularly goes out into the field, then the exercises below will most likely be too easy for such a pet. Fortunately, dogs are very polite animals and will never laugh at their owners. Unlike cats, who love to mock and demonstrate their superiority :).
So, in the absence of a dog, we hide something that arouses her interest. It can be a treat or a host (family member). In the case of treats, it’s worth starting with strong-smelling treats. Before hiding, carry the yummy around the apartment at a height of half a meter from the floor, without holding it in your fist. The fact is that some dogs are able to follow the trail with the help of the so-called “upper sense”, that is, the smell left in the air. Then we give the command “Search!” and enjoy the show.

If you are supposed to look for one of the people, then for the right mood you can use the thing belonging to him. You can help a pet who is having difficulty finding it by raising a voice from a hiding place. Commands in this case should be given personalized (“Look for Sasha!” or “Look for mom!”).

What to do: active games with the dog in apartment

If you are a caring “dog person”, then you probably have items for fetching and playing tug in your arsenal. And if you have to work from home and need your dog to leave you alone for a while, look for hybrid feeder toys. They can be filled with food, and pulling it out and eating it right away will not work. The dog will have fun chasing a tasty ball around the apartment, and you will be able to participate in a video conference (actually not, because the interlocutors will not hear you because of the cheerful barking).

And the same pulling will help to warm up after work. Here are some tips about this game:
– teach the dog to take and give the toy only on command;
– any bite or injury automatically leads to the end of the game;
– choose a strong and not too small toy so that both the owner and the dog can grab it;
– sometimes let the dog take the toy from you and win (then the “hostage” can be exchanged for a treat).
We also remind you that tugging should be played with puppies carefully so as not to spoil the growing teeth or bite.

Game “Where are my slippers?”

Aerobatics, with which it is so pleasant to surprise friends or guests, is the search and fetching of a specific object. The easiest and most effective way is to use house slippers. However, teaching a dog this trick is not so easy. To begin with, make sure that the pet knows how to execute the “Fetch” and “Give” commands. But fetching in its classic form works with an object that the owner throws and the dog brings. Obviously, this will not work with slippers.
Therefore, we act like this: we put a training item (not necessarily slippers) on the floor, bring the dog and command “Aport”. Be persistent: you need to get the dog to take the lying (and not thrown) object from the floor and give it to you. After that, proceed to the next step: put the object on the floor, move away from it for a few steps and again command “Fetch”. In the final, the dog must learn to bring the object to which you show with your hand, on the command “Fetch”. It remains only to change the subject. Show the slippers to the dog, let him smell it, repeating the word “Slippers”.
As a result, the dog will bring you what you need on the command “Aport Slippers”. And give them after the word “Give.” At the initial stage, you should not complicate the task of the pet by searching, so put your slippers always in the same place. In the end, you will get used to the order, and your dog – to a new trick!

P.S. Let the “cat lovers” not be offended by us – tips for all types of pets did not fit in one article. Wait for a separate article about games with cats!

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How to train a dog to wear clothes

Having chosen the most beautiful and fashionable clothes for a dog, you are happy to rush home imagining how unique your dog will look, how it will be body and comfortable. However, our pets do not always share this attitude and put up desperate resistance when trying to put something on them, especially if this happens for the first time. Don’t worry, all dog owners have gone through this because this reaction is quite predictable and normal for any animal. Let yourself be inspired by the success of those people whose dogs are happy to wear clothes and feel natural and comfortable in them.

Each dog has a completely individual character, so there is no single recipe for all to overcome this problem, there are only a few recommendations based on experience and knowledge of some of the behavioral characteristics of dogs.

1. If new things lie at home for some time and absorb the smells familiar to the dog, then they will not seem so alien and frightening to her. Before trying on, let the dog see and sniff everything well, demonstrate that things are not at all scary, but interesting.

2. The most comfortable for the dog are sleeveless models made of elastic fabrics and do not restrict movement. These are the ones you should choose to start accustoming to clothes.

3. When putting clothes on a dog for the first time, it is important not to show irritation, even if something does not work out or the dog resists strongly and bites. It is better to gently and calmly insist on your own, take your time, try not to hurt the dog and be sure to bring the work you have started to the end.

4. Puppies are usually accustomed to clothes at home, putting on new clothes for 15-20 minutes, gradually increasing the wearing time. If you immediately start playing with a dressed baby, then he will not have time to pull off his clothes and, being distracted, he will stop noticing it on himself. You can also use praise and treats as a reward. Thus, clothes will enter into the daily life of the dog.

5. All adult dogs love to walk. Every time before the walk, put something light and comfortable on the dog, going out into the street, she will immediately forget that she is wearing something.