The warm breeze gently blows over you as you and your sleeping puppy relax in the low-slung hammock. You stare up at the rays of sunlight beaming through the swaying trees and listen to the song of distant cicadas, the birds chirping loudly above you as you hear little puppy snores. You dare not move to disturb this idyllic scene, a peaceful feeling washing over you.
However, that scene abruptly ends as your puppy pops up awake and tries to comically scramble out of the hammock, flopping over feet first onto the ground. Your puppy starts tugging at the hammock trying to play. The time to rest is over!
Anyone who has been a puppy owner knows they only have two switches: Off and on! Now that it’s summertime, you may be wondering how to keep your puppy busy during the summer. We’ve got outdoor suggestions for adventure when the temperature is just right and indoor suggestions for those scorching hot days.
These summer activities you do together will help strengthen your bond with your puppy. Developing a bond doesn’t just magically happen on its own – you have to work on establishing communication, building love, and creating trust to form a perfect partnership.
Summer is a fantastic season to work together to form those strong ties with your puppy. Here are some ways to bond with your puppy this summer to create a long-lasting relationship.
Bond Over Outdoor Summer Activities For Puppies
The Great Outdoors is calling your name! Fields are full of colorful wildflowers, and that new trail is beckoning. Lace up your boots, grab your stocked backpack with puppy supplies, and head out on adventures!
Explore a short hiking trail
Exploring a new path or trail keeps your puppy active, engages his senses, and allows working on walking with a leash while paying attention to you. Choose an appropriate path to ensure a good, safe time based on your puppy’s energy levels and athletic abilities.
There’s nothing like reaching the summit after a long hike to take in the vista awaiting you as a beautiful reward with your puppy by your side. If you have one of the best dog breeds for hiking, you can choose more strenuous trails. If you have a low-energy dog that likes to chill instead of bound up the mountainside, choose a short path on a shaded greenway. No matter what dog breed or activity level, you and your puppy can bond during a walk in nature. Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!
Visit a dog-friendly beach, lake, or creek
Summer is a great time to introduce your puppy to swimming. Some dogs take to water, while others may be reluctant. Part of bonding with your puppy is learning how to read his or her body language, so pay close attention to see if they enjoy swimming. You can encourage your puppy to swim toward you, showing your puppy that you can keep them safe while building confidence.
Make sure to only go to dog-friendly places, follow the posted rules and signs, and never trespass onto private property. Research to see if your puppy is a dog breed that needs a life jacket for dogs or should limit swimming, such as brachycephalic dogs with flat faces and narrow airways.
Create a puppy-friendly backyard oasis
Puppies and humans can bond during a staycation, and what better way to enjoy being at home than creating a puppy-friendly backyard? Whether you spend minimal money on a few items or do a complete overhaul, you can offer several ways to bond with your puppy just outside your back door.
The easiest ways to stay cool this summer with your puppy outside are to create a shaded area, provide plenty of fresh water, and introduce water fun for puppies. You can hang up a tarp or build an open-air shelter for a spot to rest in the shade. A cheap kiddie pool, sprinkler, or splash pad will keep a puppy entertained for hours. Creating a homemade obstacle course for your puppy is a great way to work on training while having fun and solidifying your bond. Playing with your puppy outside engages their brains while you chase them around, watching them leap up to try to catch the stream of water from the hose. You’ll create core memories with your family while you enjoy a fun-filled afternoon at home.
Summer safety in the heat
Due to their young age, puppies are more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke in dogs. Their little bodies are learning how to regulate their temperatures, and it only gets more difficult when they can’t get relief from the heat. Puppies pant to cool themselves and have sweat glands in their paws, so protecting their paws from the hot asphalt and concrete is paramount for paw health. Dehydration in puppies can quickly turn into a serious health issue if fresh water is not available.
Indoor Activities For Puppies When It’s Too Hot Outside
Sometimes the temperatures soar too high to create a safe environment for puppies. It can be too hot for outdoor activities on days with heat advisories. However, your puppy won’t care and will still be full of energy!
These suggestions for how to keep a puppy active inside during summer mean you can still have fun on those days when it feels like you’re walking into an oven.
Keep your puppy mentally stimulated
When it’s too hot to go outside, providing plenty of mental stimulation for puppies is the way to go. Mental stimulation makes your puppy think in new ways, engages their five senses, helps them solve problems, creates important connections in the brain, and curbs behavior problems. Whether you purchase toys or create DIY mentally stimulating toys and brain games for dogs, you’ll have a fun time bonding with your puppy away from those harsh sun rays.
- Play hide-and-seek
- Go on a scavenger hunt
- Braid a tug toy out of old tee shirts
- Make DIY frozen treats for puppies
- Create a dig box with that Amazon box you’ve been saving
- Introduce an interactive toy, such as a Wobble Wag Giggle Ball or dog puzzle
Create videos for social media and friends
If your social media feeds are full of funny dog pictures and skits, why not make some of your own? Puppies are always doing hilarious things, and making videos is a great way to share their silly antics with the world to uplift people’s moods and make them laugh.
If you notice some of your favorite “dog influencers” are well-behaved, it’s no coincidence. Their owners and handlers have worked extensively with their puppies to guide them to perform, and the puppies are happy to oblige because there is such a strong, established bond. Your puppy will get excited when they see the tripod come out because they know they’re going to have fun – and get lots of treats!
You will also gain benefits from creating an account for your puppy. You’ll be able to perfect the craft of pet photography, video production, creating engaging storylines, editing skills, and more. You may also have the added bonus of creating a whole community of fans who eagerly await your next post. You’ll have friends around the world in no time. Famous social media dogs collaborate with favorite brands and get to have amazing experiences they otherwise would not. Hit record and give it a try!
Some Instagram accounts you may want to check out for inspiration are:
- Tika the Iggy, Italian Greyhound
- Todd and Tucker Budzyn, Golden Retrievers
- Good Boy Ollie and Tato, Labrador Retrievers
- A Guy and a Golden, Teddy the Golden Retriever
- Brodie the Goldendoodle
- What About Bunny, Sheepadoodle
- Walter Geoffry the Frenchie
Bond With a Pawrade Puppy This Summer
Summer is the perfect time to adopt a four-legged family member. From frolicking around in the outdoors or spending quality time inside away from the heat, you’ll always have opportunities for summer fun with a Pawrade puppy.
See which of our puppies for sale you’d love to create a deep bond with, and let us know how we can help you bring home your new companion!
