Life can be full adventures for you and your pup in tow! We are going to cover a few fun things that you can do with your dog to help cure their (and your) boredom. Dogs crave activities, and who wouldn’t want to tag along with their best friend? Let’s get started!

1. Local Trails & New Scents to Sniff

So of course this may seem like an obvious thing, however most owners aren’t aware about a lot of local trails that are dog friendly! A daily walk is great stimulation for your pet, but it doesn’t have to be the same trek around your neighborhood. Driving to a close by trail will give you time to work on your dogs behavior in the car. Plus it feels more like an adventure to them to go for a ride.

Be mindful to pick a length that is appropriate for your pet (i.e. you may not want to take an old dog for a 5 mile hike or a young pup for just a 5 minute trail). Most dogs like about a 30 minute to an hour walking session, and a new environment can give both of you more scenery and sensations to take in. Just make sure you bring waste bags and water for you both!

2. We Get to Go Shopping!

By doing a quick search online, you can find plenty of shops that are leashed pet friendly. It can be such a nice feeling getting errands done with your new favorite shopping buddy. Pet stores are a given but you can also visit a few commercial shopping locations. Here are a few listed here:

• Home Depot
• Lowe’s
• Goodwill
• Tractor Supply Co
• Nordstrom
• The Apple Store
• LUSH
• Macy’s
• Pottery Barn
• Barnes & Nobles
• Michael’s
• and so many more!

Keep in mind, these stores require well-behaved dogs that are leashed or in a carrier. Your dog may need some leash training and proper obedience before you can tackle such a large stimuli. These stores may have other dogs and of course lots of people, so make sure your pup is ready first! It can be good to use these locations for desensitization training, but work slowly with your pet.

3. Brewpub Patios & Outdoor Cafes

In a lot of outside and open locations, your pup can join you for a drink at the bar or a coffee break. And in the Pacific Northwest, we like our local beers, charming patisseries, and small coffee shops. While you enjoy your treat of choice, it can be nice for both you and your dog to still sit out at one of these venues.

Some outside bars and restaurant patios feature live bands, so you will have to be mindful of the volume level. What’s loud for you, is much louder for your dog! It can be nice to still get to have fun and socialize or relax with a book and an espresso without feeling like you’ve left your dog all alone.

You should call before you show up as well, since this isn’t just a rule for all open venue locations.

There are even some dog-themed spots in your city if you’re lucky. Being in a new environment can be a good training session as well. Seeing how your dog reacts or behaves around lots of stimuli helps you correct unwanted behaviors and reinforce positive behaviors in the moment.

4. Outdoor Markets & Festivals

My local downtown has a farmer’s market most weekends and it can be great fun to take my pet with me! I get to look at all the different booths and my pooch gets to work on outside behavior. Most of the vendors really enjoy seeing my fluffy buddy and he definitely enjoys the treats he can get from them! Markets may also give out freebies for you both to enjoy.

Lots of cities have festivals or events specifically for pets, and they often have contests and dog activities. You will have to plan for these occasions, but they are very worth it. Dog festivals have lots of goodies, new products, and pet experts there to talk to and learn more from. It is a great educational tool for owners and you can find local businesses you weren’t even aware of.

5. Hit the Beach!

Beaches are a great place to bring your dog, so long as they like the water. It can be great sensory work since sand is such a different texture on their paws. Your dog may have an interesting reaction the first few times but should settle once the fun starts. Most dogs are definitely water dogs and will run head first into the ocean.

I was very surprised when my late 17 year old senior dog, Grampa, ran right into the ocean in Florida. This dog slept about 18 hours a day, however he really came alive when he hit the water! It is still one of my favorite memories. Leashes are still required if your dog has not learned proper off-leash work or has a habit of getting distracted by people passing by. Bring a frisbee or a few tennis balls and you have guaranteed hours of fun.

6. Get Bubbly & Sudsy

When you’re all done getting down and dirty, hitting a self wash can be a fun (and messy) way to bond with your dog. We know most dogs don’t care for a trip to the groomer, or even getting into any tub with soap. However, this can be a good training exercise and bonding for you both. If your pet has a bad experience with grooming, it may help calm their nerves if their parent is doing the scrubbing.

It is also good education for pet owners to see how your dog reacts in this environment. It is also important to know what grooming your pet needs to keep them nice and healthy. Do your research for your pet to see what areas of concern their may be (i.e. de-shedding a double coated dog vs. brushing mats out of a long coat). Also, you get the added benefit of a fresh clean dog when you’re all done, though you may need a bath yourself afterwards.

Check out these other related articles on our blog for more ideas! :

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/why-we-dont-recommend-dog-parks-and-what-you-can-do-instead

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/how-to-keep-your-dog-cool-in-pacific-northwest-summers/

https://www.lugaruk9training.com/how-to-keep-your-dog-safe-in-the-car/