Summer Fun with Your Dog

There are tons of articles about fun things to do during the summer time with your kids but what if you don't have human children or you're looking to include your dog in your family's summertime activities? This article will give you some ideas of activities that you can do in the summer that your dog can join you at!

Restaurants- Yes, restaurants! In the warmer months some restaurants are pet friendly in their outside dining area. Your dog will need to relax and able to behave him or herself on a leash on the patio but they can join you for happy hour instead of having to patiently for you to come home. Most of these restaurants are local establishments and not chains. Ask around or look in your local community section in your newspaper for restaurants that welcome canine diners!

Drive In Theater- Does your dog like to watch TV? How about taking them to the movies via the drive in. Check with your drive in for specific rules but most should be fine with your dog accompanying you, especially if you plan on just hanging around in your car.

Pools- Our local Humane Society hosts a yearly Dog Swim. On the last day that the parks and recreation pool is open, the pool is open to dogs and their owners. The entry fee for dogs is $5.00 while owners are $2! Dogs are required to be on a leash and children are not allowed in the water due to safety concerns. Contact your local shelter to see if they offer a day or volunteer to help arrange such an event.

The Beach- Some beaches do not allow dogs or they restrict them to a certain area. Check out the beaches rules before you leave the house to make sure that you and your pooch will have a beach to hang out on. The beach is a great place to run with your dog and enjoy wading in together.

Do it yourself Car wash- I found out about this outing on accident. I took the dogs for a ride and realized that it was too hot to leave the windows up and the dogs in the car! So I got them out and put their leash around my wrist and washed the car. You would need to be careful that they don't drink any soapy water. My dogs didn't seem to mind walking behind me as I scrubbed the car.

No matter what you decide to do, remember to bring water for your pet. The best thing is to leave a bowl or some kind of water container in every vehicle that you use. Just in case you forget water, you have something to put water in for them. Remember to really think about your dog before choosing an event. Large noisy outdoor events like festivals might not be your dogs idea of a good time. Pick low key events that you know that your dog can handle and you will be sure to have an awesome time!