Top 10 Dog-Friendly Fall Activities
As the leaves change color and the weather cools, everyone around the country begins to gear up for fall. Autumn is such a beautiful season and offers plenty of activities you can’t necessarily do at any other time of the year. Check out our top 10 dog-friendly fall activities for all to enjoy.
1. Visit An Apple Orchard
One of the sweet things about fall is that apples are ripe for picking and a day trip to your local orchard is a great way to enjoy the cool, crisp fall air. Although many orchards are dog-friendly, be sure to check before you make the trek with your furry companion.
Not only will you enjoy cruising the rows and picking tasty apples with your friends, but your dog will get a kick out of snagging all the ones that fell on the ground. You can even use the apples you pick to make homemade dog treats!
FUN FACT: Apples help clean canine teeth and freshen breath and they're one of several fruits that dogs can eat, but make sure to remove the core and seeds as they can be choking hazards or cause gastrointestinal obstructions.
2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
It wouldn’t be fall without a visit to your local pumpkin patch! Although the majority of pumpkin patches allow dogs, make sure to double-check before you show up. Cruise the grounds and enjoy the activities. Maybe your dog will help you sniff out the best pumpkin for making an awesome, dog-themed jack-o-lantern. And, of course, a pumpkin dog shirt is a must-have accessory for pumpkin patch visits!
3. Indulge in Pumpkin Treats
Pumpkin is everywhere this time of year. From pumpkin spiced lattes to pumpkin pie, there’s a tasty pumpkin treat for everyone to enjoy — even your dog!
Now that you’ve selected the perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, enjoy having a slice of pumpkin pie for yourself and try adding a little pumpkin puree to your dog’s diet. Pumpkin is full of fiber and great for digestion. But don’t overdo it with how much pumpkin you offer - a few spoonfuls will go a long way and give your pup that fall pumpkin flavor.
4. Have A Tailgating Party
Football season is starting up, which means sporting your team’s colors, cookouts, and epic tailgating parties with your and your crew. Try bringing your dog to the next party! They'll love the chance to get outside and be around their favorite humans.
5. Go Hiking
When the heat of summer dies down, it’s the perfect time of year to be outside and enjoy a scenic nature walk with your dog. Grab your warm clothes (like our dog hoodies!) and research some dog-friendly trails to enjoy with your pup.
If you’re in a big city and nature walks are hard to come by, just take your fur baby on a walk around town. They will appreciate getting out of the house and smelling all the new, fresh smells autumn has to offer.
6. Enjoy a Dog-Friendly Workout
As the weather starts to cool, look for some indoor dog exercise programs. Perhaps try out “doga,” a version of yoga that you and your dog can do together! This is an excellent way for both of you to stay in shape throughout the holiday season.
7. Bake Fall Treats
It's fun to get crafty in the kitchen, especially to make yummy fall treats. Next time you go to the grocery store, bring back some of your favorite fall ingredients and try making some delicious homemade treats for your pup. Just make sure you're aware of which foods dogs can't eat so you know what to avoid.
Most homemade dog treat recipes take less than an hour to complete, so you and your pup don’t have to wait long to enjoy the taste of fall.
8. Watch a Halloween Movie Marathon
After you’ve spent some time exercising with your pup and them making them treats, it’s time to unwind to some spooky Halloween classics. You don’t have to watch scary movies if your dog gets frightened easily—snuggle up to family-friendly Halloween films or just throw on your favorite flick. And if it’s Halloween, simply leave a bowl of candy outside so you and your pup can watch in peace!
9. Go Trick-Or-Treating
It’s no secret that Halloween is the best time of year to dress up your pup, so long as they’re comfortable with it. And if you have a super social, outgoing dog, you can bring them along for a walk while the kids go trick-or-treating. Take it a step further and organize a group costume with your family or let them flaunt their stuff in an ensemble of their own.
If your dog doesn't enjoy being around big crowds, dress them up at home and pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Just make sure to have extra dog treats on hand for trick-or-treaters of the canine variety who come to your door!
Always be mindful of the Halloween dangers to dogs so you know how to keep them safe.
10. Go on Vacation
Autumn is a perfect time of year to get away - since fall is a light travel period, most accommodation prices are pretty low. Research your favorite dog-friendly hotels, plan some activities and get away from the hustle and bustle for a while.
Feeling inspired by our 10 dog-friendly fall activities? We hope you have a blast, whatever fall fun you and your furry friend choose to get involved with! Check out our Dogs Collection for dog hoodies, mugs, tumblers, and other fall essentials to see you through this beautiful season.
