When a new pup (young or old) joins the family, thinking of activities you can do with them suddenly becomes a top priority! Luckily, there are lots of dog friendly holidays, adventures and special things to do with your dog that will be a treat for both of you.
Adding a furry family member to your household is a lot of fun, but it’s also a big responsibility. It’s not just the day-to-day things like feeding them and giving them plenty of exercise and love. You also need to factor them into your weekend adventures and holiday plans.
People often say that dogs are a human’s best friend (we totally agree with this!) but also, as their hooman, you’re your dog’s best friend too, and almost every pupper LOVES getting to be part of the fun and go out with their pack on a big (or little) adventure. Here’s our ultimate list of fun things to do with your dog, from dog friendly holidays to things you can do close to home that will have your floofer barking from the wooftops to all their friends about!
“I need places to go with my dog on the weekend!”
After a long week at work – or in the case of your pupper, a long week at home – you both deserve a fun-filled weekend! You can curl up together on the couch in the evenings, but in the day, what better way to spend your weekend than to go exploring the great outdoors.Go sniff out some good cafes
What’s your favourite way to start your Saturday? Breakfast (or, ah, brunch) at a local coffee shop is always a winner on the weekends. Keep your eyes open for cafes that have good outdoor seating areas and doggie water-bowls out the front – this is a good sign that your pupper is welcome!If you’re lucky, you might even find a coffee shop locally that has puppucinos on the menu (if your doggo has been a very good doggo), but always make sure you fill your pockets with lots of tasty treats to keep them on their best behaviour, as the hooman food on your plate is your weekend treat, not theirs!
Go to the dog park
Not every dog loves to play with other doggos they don’t know, but for many dogs, a run around a large outdoor enclosed space is a very fetching idea. Make sure your doggo is pup-to-date on all their vaccinations as dog parks can be a bit notorious for germs (just like toddlers going to daycare!).Bring some treats in case you need to lure them back to you at any point, and maybe a ball – if you get there and there’s no playmates there when you arrive, you’ll still have some fun things to do with your dog! Paw-yeah!
Go take a hike
If your four-legged friend is of the longer-legged variety, they may just love a big, long hike with you! It’s like a walk, but BETTER! Dogs love to sniff (did you know that ten minutes of sniffing is basically the same as 30 minutes of exercise when it comes to tiring them out!?) so giving them some new places to explore is great exercise for you, but also really enriching for your floofer too. (Plus, having your doggo to help pull you up those steeper hills is also kind of epic).Take into consideration the age of your pupper when planning a hike. Remember that puppies should generally only have five minutes of exercise per month of age (check with your vet for the recommended amount of exercise for the breed and age), as it can be over-stimulating and also bad for the growth plates in their joints.
If your pooch rolls in something delightful, or just comes home a bit muddy, a quick bath and some eucalyptus dog shampoo will do the trick to make them smell like the nicer parts of your hike!
Go to the beach
The breeze in your hair, the smell of seaweed, the salt on your lips, the sand beneath your paws… nothing beats a trip to the beach. Whether you’re just going down to the beach for a walk or making a day of it, we bet your pooch will love to come along!
Beaches all have different rules about whether dogs can be off-leash at certain times of day, so check signage and always make sure to pick up after your pooch. Remember, if the sand is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, it’s WAY too hot for your pup to be walking on, so avoid the middle of the day in summer.
Protect the backseat of your car from all the sand – and salty water if your doggo loves to play fetch in the waves – with a backseat cover for your car so they can snooze all the way home and you don’t have to worry about your upholstery!
Go on a dinner date
Weekends are for friends right? If you’re heading out to go hang at your mates’ house, why not ask them if you can bring your best friend along? It’s really good for dogs – especially puppies – to spend time with lots of different people and learn to settle in different places, so that if you ever need them to stay with a friend, they’re already comfortable in other people’s homes.
Pretty soon, you’ll be wondering if your friends are just inviting you over so that they can have some puppy-cuddles, but hanging out with friends, whether it’s having a picnic at the park or a backyard BBQ, opens up so many things to do with your dog (and it means you can stay longer too because you don’t have to worry about getting home too late)!
“I need ideas for dog friendly holidays!”
The only thing that gets more likes on Instagram than dog pics or travel pics is dog-travel pics. So save money on getting a pet-sitter and pack up your pooch next time you’re going on holiday! Dog friendly holidays make the best memories for the whole family.
Go on a road trip
Road trips are the most dog friendly holidays! Picture your pooch’s face as their little wet nose pokes out the car window, taking in all the smells along the way. One of the best things about road trips is that they’re all about the journey, not just the destination (although that’s im-paw-tant too. You can search on Airbnb for pet-friendly accommodation, and there’s lots of other sites that specialise in dog friendly holidays).
Make sure you have lots of stops along the way for everyone in the family to stretch their legs, have some water and a toilet break, and remember, car safety is critical. Make sure your dog is properly harnessed, or snug as a pug in a travel crate if that suits them better. If your doggo gets a little anxious or travel-sick on the road, we recommend trying to stick to closer destinations and using a carseat cover to protect your backseat from any drool or doggie-spew.
Go camping
For those who like to ruff it a little, consider taking your pooch camping! Many caravan parks and campsites welcome doggos (do your research before you book though, try the Wikicamps app). It’s important to note that not all national parks allow dogs, and those that do generally require dogs to be on-leash. However, many state forests do permit dogs but again, make sure you check before you turn up as rules about camping and dogs vary state to state and location to location.
If you’re going camping, it’s probably worth it to pack a dog brush into your pup’s bag, so that their fur doesn’t get matted from dust and water, and to check between their paws for prickles after you go on any long walks, as well as being aware of the symptoms of ticks and snake bites.
Thanks furr-reading! Have fun trying these places to go with your dog! If you want more fun pet tips, follow along on our Instagram and be sure to tag us in all your dog friendly holiday pics.
