The best outdoor activities to do with your dog – PLAY

By Dakota Murphy on July 29, 2022

Our dogs love to be outdoors, which is why they get so excited when you grab their leash or even whisper the word “walkies” within earshot. This love of the outdoors is understandable, and our dogs are certainly not the only ones who need to immerse themselves in nature.

We humans do exactly the same thing, whether on the beach, a nature reserve, the forest or even a walk in town, we love to feel the sun beating down on our backs. Let’s look at some of the best activities we can do with our dogs to share our mutual love of the outdoors.

Treasure hunt and olfactory work

Perhaps the most powerful tool in our dog’s arsenal, aside from his heart-melting puppy eyes, is his sense of smell. They like all kinds of scents, from the most disgusting to the most pleasant, but generally, the worse a smell is, the more likely they are to get their muzzles stuck in it. You can create a fun yard game with your dog using a scent-seeking and searching technique that makes good use of his sniffing skills.

An easy way to get them started on a scent game is to put six boxes in your yard with the lids open while your dog is inside. Place treats in half of them, then take your dog outside on a leash. Whenever they discover a treat, praise them without petting them to make sure their follow-up isn’t embarrassed.

As your dog gets better at the game, start closing some of the lids and even hiding the boxes so he has to work harder to find those treats. While rewarding, it’s important to note that this activity can be taxing on your dog, so we recommend limiting playtime to around 10 minutes to allow for a break.

Camping under the stars

There’s nothing more “outdoors” than sleeping under the stars, and camping is one of the best ways to spend some quality time with your dog. You can even buy them their own puppy tent if they behave well, but a more mischievous dog might not fare so well in their own tent.

It just means you enjoy their company all night long, which is perfect if you’re camping during the colder months of the year. Campsite accepting dogs allows you and your dog to slow down and relax whenever you want or go on an adventure in the great outdoors.

Here are some items you might want to consider for camping with your dog:

• Paw guards
• pet wipes
• luminous necklace
• Flea & Tick Care
• GPS Tracking

Walking and hiking

Taking walks with your dog can get a bit bland and boring if you stick to the same old routes for both you and your beloved friend. That’s why it’s good to start exploring nearby routes or even load up the car and find a hiking spot.

Make sure you are equipped when taking your dog hiking, and you will need to pack plenty of water and food for you and your dog. If your dog is small, then a dog backpack keeps him comfortable when he needs a break from long hikes.

It’s also important that you do your research before you go anywhere with your dog. There may be certain times of the year when you are not allowed to visit your dog, or perhaps they need to be tethered to you, such as spring and summer to avoid disturbing wildlife nesting on the ground.

A hike through the forest can be extremely rewarding for your dog as there are lots of scents to follow, which puts his nose into overdrive. They may want to wander into the undergrowth, but do your homework to understand the types of wildlife they may encounter. Any dangerous animals or protected species in the area and you must keep your dog on a leash at all times.

Take photos in wildlife environments

A hike through the woods and wilderness is the perfect time to capture your dog’s movements on video or photography. You can capture an image of them that will stay with you forever, in addition to practicing and perfecting your photography skills.

As most dog owners know all too well, our pets don’t always act like the perfect role models we know they can be. It can make it hard to find the perfect shot, but that’s part of the challenge.

Award-winning wildlife cinematographer, Alex Vail, says, “I find that you learn the most about light and composition just by experimenting with what works best.” He adds, “Ideally, you want to develop your eye for composition through practice so that when an amazing moment happens, you intuitively frame it in a way that feels enjoyable. Once you finally nail that photo of your dog in action, all the practice will have been worth it and you’ll have an image worth showing the world.

Play water games

An outdoor activity with your dog doesn’t require a trek across country to visit a national park, and your backyard works just as well. On sunny days, your dog will appreciate you turning on the sprinklers and chasing the spurting water.

If you don’t have a sprinkler, you can always encourage your dog to start water sports with a bucket of water and tennis balls. As they float on the surface of the water, your dog will try to grab them, but they will swing up and down, which will make the task a little more difficult.

All of this helps cool your dog in the scorching summer heat while providing plenty of entertainment for those watching. You might even get more done by tossing the ball into a shallow pool, where your dog might just jump after it.

Swimming

Sticking to the aquatic theme and swimming is a great way to stay active with your dog. This is especially effective if your dog is energetic but aging and his joints aren’t what they used to be. Swimming is a low impact activity, but it also requires many muscles to work at the same time. It becomes a great way to exercise your dog without putting him at risk of injury.

Many dog ​​breeds are perfectly capable of swimming in chlorinated water, so they can jump into your home pool if you have one, but they should be carefully supervised afterwards. Chlorine can affect their fur, so it’s important to wash or wash them to rinse. You can choose to swim in open water instead, which is not a chlorine risk, but you must provide your dog with a flotation device.

Canine experts suggest: “When you first take your dog swimming, you should only be in the water for a very short time. This will get them (and you) used to being in the water. Experts add: “You have to consider that for your dog, one minute of swimming uses the same amount of energy as walking him for one mile. They will tire quickly. However, each time you go swimming, increase the time you spend in the water.