Tomorrow is officially the first day of spring! It’s also right around the one year mark of when COVID lockdowns started in 2020. After one full year of being stuck at home, you may be looking for some new things to try outside with your pup as the weather gets warmer. Check out our top five activities to try this spring!
Go For A Hike
Especially if you live in a major city, it can be a much needed change of scenery. Not only do you get to check out a new area, hikes can offer some variation in terrain. Walking up and down trails helps tire your dog out even more than walking on flat ground. Make sure that you find a trail that is suited to both your and your pup’s fitness levels and bring water for you both.
Work On Your Fetch Skills
Fetch is a great game to play if your dog has some extra energy to burn. You can play fetch with a rope toy, a frisbee, or check out the healthybud tennis balls! This is not your ordinary tennis ball but features a pet-safe poly felt exterior that won’t wear down your pup’s teeth like a normal tennis ball, and an inner core made of natural rubber.
Focus On Enrichment
Although having a structured walk with purpose can be great training for our pets, or when we are on a time crunch, our furbabies need to experience the enrichment of sniffing! Often referred to as a decompression walk, this is a time specifically designed for you and your pup to unwind. It is important to find an area that is quiet where your dog can experience nature by running, jumping and sniffing. If your dog has a reliable recall and there is an appropriate place to do so, they can be off leash, or you can use a long line on a harness with a back clip. The main point is to allow your dog freedom of movement.
Go For A Swim
If your dog is an avid swimmer and you can access a lake or river, this is a great activity! If your pup isn’t a swimmer, you can get a life jacket for them, or stick to a location with shallow water.
Create A DIY-Agility Course
Indoors or outdoors, set up items for your dog to crawl through or under using old cardboard boxes, or other household items. You can also set up small jumps for your pup using something as simple as a broom across some boxes. Just make sure you are going at your dog’s pace, and keeping their safety in mind. If you don’t have a space of your own to use, you can take your agility on the go. While on a walk, find different places to get your dog to jump up (on a raised curb, a downed tree, etc).
