Summer is in full swing, but many of our favorite summer activities have been cancelled or are limited by COVID-19 restrictions. Dog owners can make the most of the situation by spending more quality time with their lovable, furry companions. Mix up your routine with these fun social-distancing summer activities that will strengthen your bond and keep you both active.
Hit
the
trails.
Get
fit
and
bond
with
your
pup
with
a
brisk
trek
in
the
great
outdoors!
She’ll
love
the
adventure
of
exploring
new
terrain
and
sniffing
new
scents
along
the
way,
and
you’ll
be
exercising
without
even
realizing
it!
Just
remember
to
keep
her
on
a
leash,
bring
poop
bags,
and
pack
plenty
of
water
with
a
bowl
so
she
stays
hydrated.
Some state and national parks in Ohio with dog-friendly trails include:
Go
for
a
bike
ride.
Including
your
dog
in
a
bike
ride
is
a
great
way
to
burn
off
her
seemingly
endless
energy!
Be
mindful
that
while
you’re
biking,
your
dog
is
running,
so
this
activity
is
only
recommended
for
active,
healthy
dogs
that
are
medium-large
size.
(Consult
your
veterinarian
beforehand
to
make
sure
that
your
dog
is
at
the
right
fitness
level
for
biking.)
Always
wear
your
helmet!
Equip
your
pup
with
a
high-visibility
harness
and
a
reflective
collar
with
up-to-date
ID
tags.
Bring
poop
bags,
plenty
of
water,
and
a
bowl
to
keep
your
dog
hydrated.
TIP: Never try to hold your dog’s leash in one hand or on your handlebars while biking! It’s best to attach it to the seat post or the frame for added stability in case your dog pulls to one side. Or you could opt for a special bicycle attachment specifically designed for biking with dogs, such as the Springer Dog Exerciser Leash or the WalkyDog Hands-Free Dog Bicycle Exerciser Leash.
Visit
a
dog-friendly
beach.
Let
your
pup
run,
dig,
and
swim
to
her
heart’s
content!
You
can
also
bring
Frisbees
or
balls
for
a
game
of
fetch.
Be
sure
to
pack
plenty
of
water,
a
towel,
and
an
umbrella
or
some
other
form
of
instant
shade
if
possible.
Read
our
blog
for
some
more
helpful
tips
on
how
to
make
your
doggie
beach
day
both
fun
and
safe.
These are a few dog-friendly beaches in Northeast Ohio:
Visit
an
off-leash
dog
park.
An
off-leash
dog
park
is
a
great
place
for
your
pooch
to
roam
freely
in
wide
open
spaces
and
make
new
furry
friends!
Some
dog
parks
have
agility
equipment,
doggie
water
fountains,
separate
areas
for
large
and
small
dogs,
and
swimming
access
to
lakes,
ponds,
or
creeks.
Here’s a list of several off-leash dog parks in Northeast Ohio:
Cool
off
in
a
pool
or
sprinkler.
What
better
way
to
beat
the
summer
heat
than
by
splashing
in
a
pool
or
running
through
a
sprinkler?
Get
a
backyard
kiddie
pool
or
even
a
collapsible
dog
pool
that
doubles
as
a
bathtub
and
fill
‘er
up.
An
oscillating
or
rotating
sprinkler
can
provide
hours
of
entertainment
for
both
you
and
your
dog
while
watering
your
lawn
or
garden
in
the
process.
Pull
up
a
poolside
lounge
chair
with
a
cool
drink,
relax,
and
enjoy
the
show!
Treat
your
dog
to
homemade
pupsicles.
Help
your
hot
dog
cool
down
with
DIY
frozen
dog
treats,
or
“pupsicles.”
There
are
a
ton
of
great
recipes
out
there,
but
our
two
favorites
here
at
UltiMutt
Inn
are
low-calorie
mint
yogurt
pupsicles
and
carrot
watermelon
pupsicles.
Both
use
less
than
five
whole
food
ingredients,
are
super
easy
and
inexpensive
to
make,
and
are
packed
with
nutrients.
See
the
recipes
here!
Plan
an
outdoor
photoshoot.
Pick
a
gorgeous
day
to
pose
your
pup
in
a
familiar
location,
and
don’t
forget
treats
to
keep
her
motivated!
Take
shots
of
her
playing
with
toys
and
join
in
with
some
cute
selfies.
Use
fun
props
like
sunglasses,
hats,
and
signs
for
extra
whimsy.
You
could
even
put
together
a
beautiful
photobook
showcasing
your
dog’s
personality
and
good
looks.
Teach
her
a
new
trick.
Does
your
dog
know
how
to
fetch,
kiss,
shake
hands,
hug,
roll
over,
play
dead,
spin,
or
sit
pretty?
If
not,
teach
her
a
new
trick!
It’s
a
great
bonding
experience
that
can
also
help
with
obedience
training.
See
DogTime’s
video
demos
on
how
to
teach
your
dog
10
fun,
impressive
tricks.
Young or old, all dogs can also use a refresher on basic manners from time to time, such as not jumping on guests and learning to wait. We recommend using a dog clicker or even just a regular clicking pen to provide positive reinforcement of good behavior. Treats are a good motivator as well, but the ultimate goal is to teach your dog to obey without her expecting a tasty reward every time.
Pamper
your
pup
with
a
doggie
spa
day.
Treat
your
dog
to
a
home
spa
treatment
with
a
warm
sudsy
bath,
ear
cleaning,
nail
trimming,
and
brushing,
ending
in
a
relaxing
doggie
massage
and
ear
rubs.
Complete
the
makeover
by
washing
her
bedding
and
scrubbing
the
grime
off
of
her
dirty
toys.
Play
fun
indoor
games
when
it’s
too
hot
outside.
If
it’s
too
blazing
hot
for
outdoor
play,
bring
the
games
inside.
Challenge
your
pooch
to
tug
of
war
or
play
fetch
with
a
soft,
durable
toy
that
won’t
dent
furniture
or
break
windows,
such
as
a
Chuckit!
indoor
dog
toy.
Teach
your
dog
instructive
games
that
double
as
obedience
training
activities,
such
as
hide
and
seek,
treasure
hunting
for
treats,
and
cleaning
up
her
toys.
Transform
your
pup’s
paw
print
into
art.
Release
your
inner
artist
with
your
dog’s
assistance!
Check
out
these
easy
DIY
dog
print
art
projects
for
inspiration.
Create
framed
wall
artwork,
holiday
ornaments,
necklace
pendants,
stepping
stones,
and
more!
Just
be
sure
to
use
non-toxic,
pet-safe
paints,
plaster,
sand,
or
ink
and
thoroughly
wash
them
off
her
paws
as
soon
as
you’re
finished
using
her
paw
prints.
We
recommend
designing
your
doggie
masterpieces
outside
to
avoid
messy
cleanup.
Find out which activities you and your pup enjoy together most and have fun with it!