Summer is that time of the year that a lot of people tend to look forward to, how can you not?! From lazy holidays – lying in sun loungers, to festivals and theme parks these are just a few common summer activities everyone loves. However, these aren’t the type of summer activities your dog can join in on.
So, what activities can I do with my dog?
Do not fret since I am here to give you three fun-packed activities you and your doggo can do together!
1. Camping trip
With camping you really can’t go wrong, whether it’s pitching up a tent on a dog-friendly campsite or taking a road trip in your campervan and stopping at multiple dog-friendly campsites around the UK. Taking a camping trip and exploring the great outdoors is a fantastic summer activity to enjoy with you beloved canine.
Please note generally, wild camping without the landowner’s permission is illegal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. But wild camping in Scotland isn’t prohibited, so that means you can wild camp and pitch up in sensible spots – including Scotlands incredible National Parks.
What could we do when camping?
Definitely bring a football or a tennis ball, depending on the dog’s size you may need a different size ball or toy, how about playing a good Ol game of fetch or maybe even a game of frisbee, this will both be a good deal of fun for you and your dog and also great bonding time for you and your dog. When it comes to the end of the day and the moon comes up and the sun goes down how about compiling and igniting a cosy campfire for you and your dog to cuddle up to and fall asleep next to, maybe you could even roast some delicious marshmallows on the fire. Can’t complain!
- Bonding
You and your dog together in the wilderness will bond you both together much more than you would be able to if you were to just stay at home watching Netflix in bed, camping offers you and your pet a lot of precious time together, enjoying the simple things as the birds singing and the calm outdoors.
- Training
This could also be a marvellous time to work on training! Since camping is a good opportunity for you to challenge your dog’s skills and to work on them together, if you are attempting to train your dog to stay by your side doing this in the wilderness would be a great place to do so, and will also give them more of a challenge since its highly possibly that little creatures like squirrel’s or even birds could become a big distraction for them, this would also give you the opportunity to teach your pet to be able to concentrate on you and to not run after the distractions before them.
2. Let’s go for a swim
Swimming isn’t just an activity that humans enjoy; a lot of dogs also really enjoy swimming!
Why is swimming good for your dog?
- Exercise
Swimming is amazing exercise for dogs since it provides both muscle strengthening as well as a cardiovascular workout, and is also a brilliant way for your dog to burn extra energy which is very helpful when your dog is always full of beans!
- Stimulation
Humans tend to need stimulation to keep them entertained and to avoid getting bored as well as keeping them out of mischief, dogs are the same! They also need to be stimulated; it is very important that your dog is able to be stimulated since keeping a dog simulated means they will be less likely to engage in destructive behaviour which means you will not be having issues with your furry friend trying to tear your pillows apart or even chewing on the dining table legs. So swimming is most definitely recommended to keep your pup happy and out of trouble, you could also use this chance for another bonding experience, maybe hop in the water with them and have a splash around.
- Cool down
Swimming is the perfect way to cool your dog down in the hot summer, as well as giving them exercise. In the summer you might want to think twice when it comes to some exercises, it is very important to be very cautious and to not let your pet overheat especially in heat waves, the best form of exercise in these temperatures would be swimming.
- Health benefits
Swimming also provides a lot of health benefits for your pup! There are an awful lot of people in this world who struggle from joint issues. Again, so do dogs, and swimming is a fantastic and non-harsh exercise for your dog since it is low impact and non-weight bearing so your dog can enjoy the exercise without putting strain on its body if it suffers with joint issues or from being overweight.
3. A simple walk
An evening or morning walk can be very therapeutic and enjoyable for both you and your canine, listening to the wind glide through the trees the birds singing their beautiful songs and the amazing smell of the fresh air and aromas of the flowers around you, sounds like heaven, right? There are so many benefits for you and your dog when it comes to relaxing strolls, let’s go through some of the reasons!
- Social benefits
Socialising some dogs can be tricky especially if they tend to be more on the nervous side but there are ways to make it a little bit easier for you and your pup! For nervous dogs trying to socialise in dog training can be very intimidating and scary, so it might be worth trying something smaller first, consider contacting a friend which owns a docile and socialised pup and query about going on walks together once a week. This will boost your dog’s confidence with other dogs and its ability to socialise better too.
- Health facts
When it comes to a dog’s health, walks are very important and can be detrimental if you are not allowing the dog to exercise enough, here are some scientific benefits on dog walking I have pinned.
- Consistent walks improves the digestive and urinary systems.
- Lack of exercise and interaction can lead to fear.
- Walking your dog also improves the dogs and the owners stress levels.
- Pups that do not get enough exercise can quickly become obese, which can lead to cardiovascular and liver disease osteoarthritis, and insulin resistance.
- Lack of exercise can lead to boredom and the dog could become destructive.
- Walks with your dog can strengthen your bond and decrease loneliness.
