Life is busy with everyday pressures, meaning sometimes it can be easy to forget to enjoy the best things in life. It’s not that we forget our dogs – that’d be impossible to do – but we can miss the opportunities to really savour life with our four-legged best friends. But now summer is on the way, here we can add excitement to the relationship we have with our dog with ways to spend more quality time together…
1. Take on a charity challenge
There’s nothing like raising money for a good cause to give renewed focus and a feel-good factor – and you can do this alongside your dog. You could sign up for a charity dog walk or take on a dog walking challenge where you plan to complete a certain number of miles over a time period. You can do this for a pet charity or for other great causes. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you could sign up to a running event for a dog charity and although your dog won’t be able to do the event with you, they could be your training partner. Be creative and have fun together doing a good deed.
2. Organise a canine pamper session
How much would your dog benefit from a canine massage, hydrotherapy session, or a special groom? Treat your dog to make them look and feel their best. If you want to go the whole nine yards, you could book in a dog-friendly afternoon tea so it feels like the complete spa session. A quick Google search brings up afternoon tea venues that love to welcome dogs all over the country. This includes Ross and Friends dog experience which Your Dog recently reviewed. You can check out the review by visiting yourdog.co.uk/the-your-dog-blog/your-dog-reviews-ross-and-friends
3. Book a dog photoshoot
Life with our dogs passes by quickly and sometimes we probably don’t take as much time as we should to treasure those special moments together. A great way to create memories and lasting tributes to our canine companions is a pet photoshoot. Booking a studio session can be really fun and allows you to create unique, fun photographs. Don’t worry about your dog being a perfect canine model, the photographers are used to things going awry and will put you and your dog at ease to capture a truly brilliant image. Alternatively, you could book a professional photographer to come along on a dog walk or to your dog training classes and get some top-notch action shots. You could even start your own memory book for your dog, recording highlights as you go through life.
4. Write a bucket list for your dog
Have you ever stopped to think about all the things you’d like
to do with your dog? Go on a special holiday, teach them a trick, go on a group walk, or enter a dog show? Create a list of all the experiences you want to enjoy with your pup. It doesn’t matter how old they are, write down all the things you want to do and enjoy ticking them off!
5. Take up a new dog activity
Obedience, showing, agility, flyball, rally, heelwork to music, scent work, canicross, bikejoring… the list of dog sports and activities is vast! There is something for every dog and owner to enjoy. Why not try a new dog sport? These are a great way to bond and your dog will love learning new things. Classes are social, too; you can meet new friends – canine and human! Canine activities aren’t all about winning – the best thing about doing the classes is quality time together with your dog.
6. Book a dog-friendly holiday
There’s nothing better than a dog-friendly getaway. Get some dates in the diary and head off somewhere nice with your dog. From a long weekend away hiking to a week by the coast, plan a special getaway for the whole family. Plan ahead to find the best dog-friendly attractions and restaurants to ensure your dog is always at the centre of the action. You could even set yourself a challenge of doing something you’ve never done before while away with your canine companion.
7. Teach your dog a trick
The old adage of ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is a myth. Dogs of any age love learning, and will enjoy the mental stimulation of trick training. Plus, it’s a great buzz as an owner showing off your dog’s trick to an audience! To find inspiration for tricks to teach your pet, visit the Your Dog website and search tricks. You will also find an article on the benefits of trick training (it’s not just about impressing the masses), visit yourdog.co.uk/dog-care-and-advice/the-benefits-of-trick-training-your-dog
8. Organise doggy date nights
A recent survey by UK Pet Food, the trade association for the pet food industry in this country, revealed the different ways we show love to our pets. While cuddles on the sofa scored highly with 60% of owners saying they enjoy this with their pet, 17% revealed they organise date nights with their dog. What a great idea! If your dog made their own list of things they love to do, spending time with you would be top of the list! You could organise a date night once a month, where you could enjoy some quality time with your dog. Make them a DIY dog toy, bake them a doggy treat, take them to a dog park, go for a different route on your dog walk, or just curl up on the sofa together.
9. Mix up life around the house
Feed your dog from an interactive feeder, rotate their toys, build them a new doggy den, or make the garden more dog friendly with a swimming pool or agility equipment. Small tweaks can give your dog a new lease of life. Spicing up life doesn’t have to be all the big stuff; the little things can make the biggest difference. Consider your dog’s home life and see how you can make small tweaks to make them even happier.
10. Make a social media account for your dog
Creating a social media account for your dog isn’t about gaining millions of followers or becoming famous. It’s about sharing your love of your dog and, as you create posts, you’re capturing memories. Owners who have set up an account for their dog often share that the biggest joy they get from it is coming up with the content. Setting up these bite-size moments of fun is often the best bit. And if you get lots of followers? Even better. You can share your passion for your dog and bring joy to others, and if you get several thousand fans, you may even get brands contact you to be an ambassador for their products.