Borrowed from the CKC USA website.
Many pet owners consider their 4-legged friends to be important members of the family. As a result, it’s normal to want to include your dog in your hobbies and interests.
Not only is it always fun to spend time with your best friend, but there are countless benefits to being around your dog more often. Dogs can help to keep you active, reduce stress levels and anxiety, and they can even boost your mood.
Let’s look at a few hobbies and interests you might have, with a few suggestions on how to get your furry family member involved as much as possible. Keep in mind that your dog thrives on spending time with you, so you’re not the only one benefitting from bringing them along!
Dogs are great accountability partners for anyone who wants to lead a more active lifestyle. Depending on the breed, most dogs need anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours of physical activity each day.
If you’re already someone who likes to stay active, including your dog in your workouts and adventures will be beneficial for both of you.
There’s really no right or wrong way to “workout” with your four-legged friend. As long as whatever you’re doing is safe for them, your dog should be able to keep up with you while you’re hiking, jogging, swimming, or even leisurely riding a bike.
Of course, don’t forget to think about the kinds of physical activities they might enjoy, too. Heading to your local park to throw a ball or frisbee can still be a great workout for you and a fun physical game.
Do you consider yourself an adventurer? An avid camper? Or, maybe you just like road-tripping in your RV.
Whatever the case, you can share your outdoor enthusiasm with your dog and be fairly confident that they’ll enjoy it just as much.
Camping is a great way to explore with your furry friend and boost your bonding time together, whether you go as a duo or with the whole family. However, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind when you take your dog with you on a camping trip, including:
- Keeping them hydrated
- Having plenty of food for them
- Packing extra first aid materials
- Checking them for bites or scratches
- Protecting them from the sun
Think of the extra steps you take to keep yourself safe while camping. If you’re going to bring your dog along, they deserve those same measures. Consider camping closer to home a time or two, so you can get your dog used to the environment and see if they actually enjoy it and can stay calm when they’re not in their normal surroundings. The more familiar they become with the camping experience, the easier it will be to travel the country and hit up some of your favorite campsites with them.
Maybe your interests and hobbies focus less on physical activities and more on mental stimulation and creativity. Including your dog in things like that can be great for their brain health, keeping them sharp and alert for years to come.
Music is a wonderful thing to share with your pet. You might be surprised to learn that music often has the same soothing benefits on dogs as it does on humans.
Your dog probably won’t have a musical preference the same way you do. So, try playing some of your favorite tunes for them. Whether you’re just an avid listener or a musician yourself, your dog could end up being a big fan of the tunes you play simply because you’re spending time with them.
CONCLUSION
There are so many ways to include your puppy in your hobbies. Whether you’re interested in quietly crafting or knitting or playing guitar in your garage, your dog just wants to be a part of your life. As a den animal, they look at you as their leader. Whatever you can do to include them in your hobbies means they’ll get to spend extra time with you – their favorite hobby of all.