Welcoming a dog into your life is such a richly rewarding experience. After all, they haven’t been dubbed man’s best friend for nothing. From the moment you bring your puppy or adopted pooch home, you’ve got a close canine companion to love, cherish and have a blast with for many years to come.
While they might take over your home with all the paraphernalia they come with – no doubt your living space is festooned with the best dog toys and one or two of the best dog beds – your pooch also snags a permanent place in your heart. As well as being a joy to own, dogs are a big responsibility, too. Knowing this can make it tricky to continue pursuing activities and hobbies once you’ve become a puppy parent. You find yourself worrying about leaving them at home or finding a sitter. Or, because you miss them, you’re constantly checking on your doggo after purchasing one of the best pet cameras to make sure they’re happy at home.
On the other hand, dog ownership opens up a world of new hobbies you can enjoy together. Plus, there are so many activities you might already enjoy that your dog would love to be included in. Whether you’re keen to embark on a new pursuit or make one or two easy adjustments to your own hobbies to allow your pooch to join in the fun, there are so many possibilities out there.
32 hobbies you can do with your dog
1. Hiking
If you love exploring your dog certainly will, too! There’s nothing like enjoying the vista after a long climb with your canine bestie by your side. Sensible considerations to make would be making sure your car set-up is suitable if you drive to your hiking spot – this is soon remedied with one of the best dog car harnesses. If you prefer to hike with your dog off-leash, check out our pick of the best pet trackers to help you keep tabs on them.
2. Working on a signature move
We all know the importance of good recall and waiting on command. However, if training is starting to feel more like work than play, why not mix things up and work on a party trick with your pup to impress other dog moms and dads with? Take a look at some tips for training your dog for inspo and advice.
3. Baking
Make your culinary exploits dog-friendly by learning how to make homemade dog treats. We can’t guarantee your pup will be much help in the baking process, but they will be the best taste-tester.
4. Make a doggy Instagram account
Be your pup’s PR! Making your dog an Instagram account is a super-fun and easy way to get creative while involving them. Create cute posts and reels to share with your pooch’s followers and use the app for ideas to inspire your next adventures together.
5. Agility
Joining a dog agility class is a great way for you and your pup to socialize and exercise together. Work on a new skill, get fit, make friends, and who knows? You might even wind up competing at a dog show!
6. Attending breed meet-ups
What could be more fun than a flashmob of your favorite dog breed? Breed meet-ups are – you guessed it – a gathering of a particular dog breed and their owners. They take place all over the US and sometimes include fun activities such as picnics or a beach walk. You could even organize your own meetup in your local area.
7. Kayaking or canoeing
Traveling by water is a novel way to explore the world for many of us, and there’s no reason your dog shouldn’t enjoy the fun! Search for a tour or instructor that can cater to canine participants and hit the water.
8. Flyball
This high-octane team sport sees your pooch leap over a lane of four hurdles to release and retrieve a ball at the end. They then race back over the hurdles and, once they pass over the start line, the next dog in the team completes the course – the fastest team wins. There are flyball clubs all over the US and, according to the American Kennel Club, flyball is open to all dogs aged 15 months and up.
9. Jogging
If you’re partial to starting your day with a gentle run or like to get out on your lunch break, why not take your dog with you and keep fit together? You may need to modify your habits if you’re just starting out with your pup – for example, additional leash training or adjusting to match their fitness levels – and he’ll quickly get up to speed to become the ideal running buddy.
10. Dining out
Do you love fine food, but hate leaving your dog at home? Well, why not do some research and make sure your next dinner spot is dog-friendly? Your dog will love to be treated to a restaurant experience – especially if there is a doggy menu on offer.
11. Try heelwork to music
Think of a cross between dancing and a gymnastic floor routine, but with your dog working to heel. There are two distinctions. Heelwork to music is a routine where your dog must always work to the heel, whereas freestyle routines allow some moves to be performed away from the heel. There are clubs in the US for all levels and it’s a great way to exercise with your dog while strengthening your bond.
12. Swimming
Search online for a dog-friendly swimming spot and take the plunge with your pup! Be mindful that there are 8 dog breeds that can’t swim, so make sure your furry friend is up to the challenge before taking to the water.
13. Spa day
As a dog owner, grooming is an important part of your pup’s routine. Not only is it a great way to bond, regular grooming also helps you make regular assessments of your dog and desensitizes him to all-over handling. So, if you love a spa day, why not treat your pooch to one? As well as checking out tips on how to groom a dog, learn the principles of basic dog massage and perhaps even invest in one of the best dog grooming kits to give your pup the best all-round spa experience.
14. Obedience trial
A true test of your dog’s focus and your strength as a partnership, obedience trials see you and your pooch perform a selection of set tricks competitively at a dog show. It takes a lot of dedication and practice to be ready for an obedience trial and it’s a good idea to join a club and training class to boost your chances and help you commit to your new hobby.
15. Scent work
Scent work is a growing dog sport that sees your dog follow his nose to track scents and find their source. It’s a low energy sport that can be done anywhere, which makes it accessible to all owners and breeds. It’s said to be great to help dogs focus and reportedly has additional benefits for reactive dogs, too.
16. Cycling
Whether your pooch rides in the basket or trots alongside you, cycling with your dog is a great way to exercise together and introduce them to new sights and experiences. Start with short trips and consider taking a friend on foot while your dog gets used to it and you’ll be zooming as a duo in no time!
17. Photography
Taking excellent pictures is a super skill to cultivate and what could be a better subject than your dog? Read up online, take a class or join a club – your phone’s built-in camera will be more than adequate to make a start with.
18. Road trips
Exploring the country by car is one of life’s great pleasures and you can be sure your pooch will appreciate being brought along for the ride. As well as all the fun of planning a pet-friendly trip, be sure to brush up on tips for traveling with pets before you hit the road.
19. Canicross
Think of this as next-level running with your dog! Canicross sees you run cross-country with your pup. It began as off-season training for sled dogs and since then has been adopted by the wider canine community and is even done competitively.
However, you can be as low-or high-key with it as you want, whether it’s a casual weekly session or training for a race. You don’t need much equipment – most runners opt for a running belt and one of the best dog harnesses – but it can be handy to learn more about running with dogs before you start.
20. Gardening
There’s always so much to do in the garden, right? So, it’s fitting to have a canine companion by your side to pass the time with. Take breaks to play with your pup and have him relax by your side on one of the best dog cooling mats.
21. Dock diving
Make a splash with this gravity-defying dog sport! Dock diving, also known as dock jumping, sees dogs race down a long platform and leap into water. The aim is to record the best jump height, length or shortest time retrieving an item from the water. It’s a test of fitness, agility and swimming skill and gives you the chance to cheer on your pooch.
22. Give back to to your local community
Charitable endeavours are rewarding both for you and the recipients of your efforts – and your pooch can join in, too. There are so many ways to give back, whether visiting senior citizens, taking part in sponsored walks or runs or even training your canine companion to be a therapy dog.
23. Puzzle making
Sure, you could keep your pup entertained with one of the best dog puzzle toys, but if you’re into crafting or want to give some DIY projects a go, why not give making a puzzle game a go? Don’t forget, you’ll need to use some of the most delicious and best dog treats for your canine Einstein to find.
24. Canine parkour
Parkour is an athletic pursuit that sees people try to get from one point to another in the most efficient and creative way possible – you’re bound to have seen videos online! Just like the human version, canine parkour can be done anywhere and involves training your dog to leap over, go under, step on and off and balance on various everyday obstacles. It’s a growing discipline in the US and there are classes you can go to for the basics.
25. Play dress-up
Got a pet costume party coming up, or preparing for a spooktacular time come October 31st? Then you’ll need to browse some Halloween dog costumes to find a perfect look for your dog. Or, take your cosplay to the next level and create your own matching looks!
26. Join a social dog walking group
Do you ever feel yourself tiring of the same dog-walking routes? Maybe you’ve run out of podcasts in your regular rotation so walking alone doesn’t quite have the appeal it used to? Search for a dog walking group in your area – it’s a great way to meet people locally and other members might be able to introduce you to paths as yet unexplored!
27. Give doga a go
If you’ve been thinking about giving yoga a try (or perhaps you’re already a keen yogi?), then why not combine your practice with your pooch and sign up to a doga class? As the name suggests, doga is doggo-inclusive yoga and helps your dog unlock the health benefits of gentle exercise by learning some dog-friendly poses. Plus, going to a class is a great socialization exercise for them, too!
28. Stand-up paddle boarding
On rivers, lakes and even the ocean, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is inescapable these days! It’s a unique way to explore and is a test of balance and steering and – best of all – there’s plenty of room on your board for your dog! Kit your pet out with a life vest and get to paddlin’!
29. Camping
Include your pet in your next outdoor adventure! Camping is one of the most dog-friendly ways to stay. Check he’ll be able to fit in your tent with you and make sure you account for carrying his essentials before you go. Or, if you fancy a more upmarket experience, search for a dog friendly glamping spot… a little luxury never hurt, after all.
30. Geocaching
Search for treasure with your pooch! Geocaching is a worldwide phenomenon that is essentially a big outdoor treasure hunt. You use GPS to hunt for little waterproof boxes left at certain coordinates and containing some kind of prize, usually an inexpensive item. Players who find geocachers may take items or choose to leave more. Or, you could even set your own geocache and log it on an associated app, all you need is a GPS receiver such as a smartphone. Your dog is bound to enjoy coming along to hunt and will pick up on your excitement as you close in on your prize.
31. Head to the office
Ok, not many of us can say work is a hobby, but it’s certainly a fun activity if you’re lucky enough to have a dog-friendly place of work! Or, maybe you can convince your HR department to introduce a ‘bring your dog to work day’...
32. Netflix and snooze
This may appear to be less of a hobby and more of a way to unwind, but if we’re talking about pastimes to be indulged in on a regular basis, we think this one counts – especially if you and your doggo have worn yourselves out trying everything else on this list!
We can’t think of a cuter way to bond than snuggling up with your sleepy pup and sharing some quality time while indulging in your favorite re-run. Snacks optional, but recommended.
