Did you ever think that dog walking in summer would actually enhance your fuzzy buddy’s brain cells?! Explore how to make the common urban environment into enriching summer fun for your dog. 

The Beach

The beach is a popular place to walk your dog in summer when the weather is nice. Here are some of the ways your dog’s mind is maximized when you take him or her to the beach with you! 

• Often populated with many sights, sounds, and smells your dog gets to experience a new, ever-changing environment
• Guards against routine predictability and boredom
• Sand and water exploration allows your dog to discover different textures and sensations – keeping neurons active
• Exploring new environments together is exciting for your dog and also prevents territorial aggression that can form with strict routine

 

The Park

Your local park may be a place you commonly walk your dog often, but in summer different things happen in the park. Better weather brings more people and different events, even different animals.

• More sights, sounds and smells with nice weather than at any other time
• Objects , such as park benches, can be used for casual agility play, exciting your dog’s natural interest to “work”
• Socialization in active environments enhances your dog’s social development, allowing them to cope well with fast-paced, constantly changing environments

Dog Park

Dog parks provide a very unique type of socialization for your dog. A chance to be less inhibited and get back to their wild roots!

• Different types of sounds and smells specific to other dogs, excellent for canine to canine socialization
• Allows dogs the opportunity to go back to their non-domesticated roots intermittently and rejoin the animal hierarchy and animal way of socialization in a true “pack” nature
• Although this animal “pack” socialization can be helpful, it can also turn for worse if one dog suddenly becomes too aggressive, usually for reasons humans cannot easily understand on initial observation
• Freedom off leash provides your dog with a different set of social standards than being on leash, so off leash dog play gives dogs the chance to be less inhibited with humans and other canines

Your Neighborhood

During summer even the simplest, most common walk, like a stroll around the block has added benefits of enrichment for your dog!

• New sights, sounds and smells unique to summer time!
• New scenery as flowers bloom and children playing outdoor games, running through sprinkles, etc
• Add excitement to your walks by looking to explore additional sidewalks you usually don’t travel down, or playgrounds in your area
• Get creative by incorporating basic agility and obedience training on your walk. Make your dog sit and stay for every street crossing, decide when to run, jump or slow down. Adding games on the fly encourages your dog to look and listen to you.

 

 

Enjoy My Video on Dog Summer Safety Tips

 

Best Dog Walking Summer Experiences

Where ever you walk your dog in summer time, have fun and be safe. Remember to provide your dog with extra water, and more opportunities to visit the water bowl in the summer time. Keep your pouch hydrated because they are not very effective at sweating to cool themselves. Any stories you want to share about your summer walks, please include in the comment section below. What is your favorite summer dog walking memory?!