12 Spring Activities That Your Dog Will Love

The spring flowers are starting to bloom, the sun is getting warmer and the harsh winter chill is fading away; now is the time to get outside and start enjoying the warmer spring season with your pooch! Spring is the perfect time of year to find high-energy activities to do with your dog before it gets too hot and they start to become easily fatigued in the summer heat. It is the time of year for us humans to come out of hibernation, stretch our legs, and bond with our dogs outside in the warm spring air.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best activities you can do with your dog during the spring to make the most of this beautiful season.

1. Go Out Camping

Probably the top of most people’s lists as the seasons change is to go camping! A camping vacation in the spring is perfect; the sun isn’t too hot, but the days are still long, so you can get plenty of hours of entertainment in before settling down for the night.

Dogs are naturally drawn to the outdoors, so camping with your dog is ideal for them; not only are they getting to spend most of the day running around with their family, but this time spent outside together is the perfect bonding opportunity. If camping isn’t really your thing, you can book out cabins for you and your family to draw you away from town or city life and help you to enjoy the beauty of nature without being quite so exposed to the elements as you would be in a tent.

Take a look at our review of Dog Tents for more options.

2. Head to The Dog Park

If you’re not able to go camping, you could always head down to the local dog-friendly park for a stroll with your pup and give them a chance to stretch their legs and enjoy the sunshine. Most dog parks have an area designated for letting dogs off their leash and giving them a chance to really test their stamina, ideal for energetic dogs that need to blow off some steam.

Dog-friendly parks also give your dog a chance to see some of its friends and have a good run around with them, something winter often deprives them of, through no fault of their own.

3. Throw a Frisbee Around

Simple, but effective. Throwing around a dog frisbee for your little buddy is easy for you, but a workout for them, which means you could keep it going for hours and really help your dog to run out some excess energy after all those lazy weeks over the winter. Dogs get excited about the warm weather too, so let them enjoy it. Plus, if you’ve never been great with frisbees before, this is the perfect time to perfect your technique.

4. Take Them to a River

Paddling around in a river is perfect for helping your pooch to keep cool if it is getting a little warm. So if you’re out on a walk and you spot a river or stream for them to enjoy, let them wet their paws in the water, whilst you enjoy the relaxing sounds of the water babbling. If you’re lucky enough to have a lake nearby, this would also be a fantastic fit for your pup and a great chance to get one or two pictures of your pooch by the water’s edge.

5. Go Hiking

Hiking with your dog in the hills (or mountains if you’re lucky enough to have them) gives you both the opportunity to get some real fresh air and start the summer off on the right note. Dogs enjoy walking very much, as it gives them a chance to be out in nature whilst offering them a good workout at the same time, so taking your pup for a hike is perfect.

6. Go For a Picnic

Pack a bit of dog food, some food for yourself, and a few treats, and take your dog over to the local fields, or even just your backyard, to bask in the sunlight and enjoy good food in great company. Many people would not think of picnics as dog activities, but we all know pups love their food and love their exercise, so a picnic is the best of both worlds. Plus, you have to admit, a doggie photo would make an extremely cute photo for prosperity.

7. Go to The Beach

The perfect place for a swim! You could also take your pup to the lakes if the beach is a little bit out of your reach, as a lake has all the same advantages. With the springtime smells of the sea and sand on the air, why not go walking to the beach, look for a perfect spot, pitch a couple of lawn chairs and let your dog feel the sand and water between its toes?

The fantastic thing about the beach is that there is a lot of fun things a dog can do to pass the time, including digging, swimming, walking, and thinking of the best ways to cover you in sand, and if you get the timing just right, you could capture the perfect sunset photo of your furry friend.

8. Go to The Woods

Taking your furry best friend to the woods will give them a fantastic sense of adventure. A walk through the trees will give you both a sense of calm and relaxation, as well as giving your dog the opportunity to look for a new toy, as we all know sticks are a bit part of the fun for dogs in the woods.

Taking yourself and fido away from the city to soak in the sights of the local woodland can be revitalizing and ideal exercise for your pet dog, as wooded areas are often hilly, giving a woodland walk a hiking element, as well as usually having water around for them to paddle in if they get too warm.

9. Take Them to an Agility Course

Jumping posts, ducking bars, running through tunnels, hopping hula hoops, and climbing frames; everything a dog needs for a thorough workout. Taking your pup to an agility or obstacle course gives them a chance to learn something new and find new ways of working through their energy.

Intelligent dog breeds often benefit massively from agility training as well, as it helps you and your pup to bond with each other, and improves on trust (curbing potential behavioral issues in the future). Taking your furry friend for such an intensive class in the spring is best to start with, as they can focus on learning what to do, and keeping pace, without becoming distracted by the heat. For more options head over to our guide on dog agility tunnels.

10. Teach Them a New Trick

Spring is a great time to teach your dog a new trick! You could even teach them to do an Easter egg hunt with friends as a way of teaching them to scope out an area and track some treats. The arrival of spring means time for some fun new activities to switch up that lazy winter routine, and seeing as most animals use the time to prepare themselves for the year ahead, it’s unsurprising that dogs feel that same urge too.

Training is known for being a great activity between owner and pet, and plenty of training is always required to keep a new pup in check during those early, more troublesome years.

11. Go Shopping

Sometimes just heading out with your pup on the leash for a walk around the high street is plenty to give them a way of exercising without over-exerting them. This is perfect for the ones that perhaps don’t have the mobility they once did, as they can still be out in the sunshine for a bit of fun with their beloved owner without being pushed to move more than they are comfortable.

It’s also the perfect chance to treat your pup to one of two treats of their own whilst you are out and about (and perhaps a little something for any other pets you might have whilst you’re at it).

12. Play With Them!

As dog lovers, we can’t get enough of being around our pooch, so why not keep it simple and just play with them? Now that the lethargy of winter has worn away and we’re all feeling more active, break out the tennis balls, and toys and have a bit of fun!

Read here our articles on the Best Dog Balls and Best Dog Toys.

Enjoy the Season

Spring is many people’s favorite time of year, with flowers in full bloom and summer in the atmosphere, and who can blame them? The new year starts fresh when the days become longer again, so grab your dog, and head outside to enjoy some fun springtime activities and start the year right.