Episode #228 Summer Adventures Your Dog Will Love

Looking for ways to make the most of the sunny season with your dog? We’ve got you covered with a guide full of exciting, safe, and fun-filled activities—from mountain hikes to beachside play.

In this episode, we’ll explore:
 🥾 How to prep for dog-friendly hikes
 🛶 Tips for kayaking with your pup
 🐕‍🦺 Fun dog sports to try this summer
 🌳 Park visits & more
 🚗 Road trip and beach safety
 🧊 Smart ways to beat the heat

Whether you’re an outdoor explorer or a weekend wanderer, this episode is packed with practical tips to make this summer unforgettable for you and your dog.

Grab the leash, pack some treats, and let’s get ready to play! 🐾

Chapters

• 0:00 Summer Activities With Your Dog
• 1:37 Hiking Tips and Safety
• 3:06 Kayaking With Your Pup
• 4:31 Engaging Dog Sports For Summer
• 6:31 Parks, Road Trips, and Beaches
• 8:48 Heat Safety and Closing Thoughts
• 9:54 Episode Wrap-Up

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Summer's coming up and it's time to get outdoors, so what are some fun things that you can do with your dog this summer? Let's talk about it. Welcome to the puppy training podcast. I'm Amy Jensen, founder of Baxter and Bella, the online puppy school. Here we are all about helping you create the best possible experience raising a puppy, from training tips to practical tricks, all aimed at fostering a happy, well-behaved dog who truly feels like part of the family. So if you are ready to enjoy the journey and strengthen the bond with your dog, let's get started. Hello everybody, welcome to the puppy training podcast. I'm so glad you're here.

Speaker 1: 0:43

If you know somebody this summer getting a new puppy or a new dog and they might need a little help, send them our way. This is what we do. We specialize in helping you train your dog and I know having a new puppy can be a lot. It can be a little bit overwhelming. It can seem like there's a million questions and we answer all of them, so send them our way if you know of somebody getting a puppy Today.

Speaker 1: 1:07

I want to talk about summer. I love summer and I'm so excited to be wearing flip-flops again and that the leaves are back and the grass is green. When you live in Utah, where we have four seasons, it's really fun. When that summer one rolls around, it's nice to be able to just walk outside without seven layers on, and all of those good things. Don't get me wrong, I do love winter too, but summer. There's just something special about summer.

Speaker 1: 1:30

So let's talk about a few ideas that you can do with your dog, that you can bring them along with you. My first idea is hiking. I love to hike. We have a lot of mountains here in Cache Valley, lots of trails that we can go on. It's a great way to get your dog outside and to explore together. But there are a few things that you'll want to be aware of. So, while it's a fantastic way to bond with your dog and enjoy nature, make sure, before you hit the trail, that you ensure you are prepared. We want to make sure that you bring a sturdy leash and a harness. I always travel with a collapsible water bowl and plenty of fresh water to give my dog.

Speaker 1: 2:02

You'll want to consider also paw protection. So, depending on how rocky the terrain is, it can be really tough on your dog's paws, especially if they don't get outside on these surfaces a lot. So I guess tip number one would be to start with short hikes and get them acclimated to that. But then also you can use some paw protection. So putting on little dog booties to protect against either hot surfaces or rough terrain can prevent their paws from cracking or bleeding. And then I like to carry just a little first aid kit with me. So just a basic first aid kit includes items for both me and my dog just in case something happens along the trail.

Speaker 1: 2:39

I do always keep my dog on a leash with wildlife out there. We don't want our dogs chasing them and we don't want them to be chased. So it'll be safer if you can keep your dog on a leash with you. But definitely take them on hikes with you. It's a great way to connect and to get outside. Remember to check the trails, pet policies and be mindful of your dog's fitness level. Work them up to longer hikes, don't just start with a great big long one.

Speaker 1: 3:04

Okay, next let's talk about water. Let's go kayaking right, paddle up with your pup. So if your dog enjoys water, kayaking can be pretty fun. Safety first Make sure that your dog is wearing a well-fitted life jacket you as well. Acclimate them gradually so your dog might not really enjoy the water yet. Maybe they have some interest in it but they've never been out in it. So we want to start slowly. I like to do this just by letting my dog explore the kayak on land before it's out in the water. Remember, when it's once it's in the water, it's pretty unstable, it's kind of wobbly. When we want to make sure that our dog feels comfortable with the kayak itself before it starts to wobble and be in the water, so just put it, pull it out on your lawn, pull it out on your grass, reward your dog for jumping on and off of it, for sitting on it, laying down in it all of the things, so that when you do take it out on the water, both of you are a little more confident and then recognize comfort matters. So that can be pretty slippery also for your dog. Make sure that you bring a mat or something along that will give your dog some traction on that. It'll help them feel more secure and safe. And then start with calm waters. Lakes are great, just nice still lakes that you can go out and float, not a lot of crazy or chaos happening, but they get to be out in the lake with you and enjoy being around without chaos of rough water or other things that are going to make it stressful for your dog. So short trips to build confidence again, start on land, then move it to the water, but kayaking can actually be something that your dog might really love.

Speaker 1: 4:31

Another great summer activity is dog sports. There's a lot of them out there, and you might have a local club or training facility in your area that highlights some of these fun dog sports as classes. So enroll in one of them that you find interesting, and definitely one that your dog will find interesting, and I think you'll have a lot of fun together. These can engage their mind and their body both at the same time. So summer is a perfect time for trying out some new activities. Here's a few ideas for you. You might find that you have a local agility training class. You can also set up an agility course in your backyard. You can get on Amazon and order some tunnels and jumps. You can build the jumps. You can really get creative with this, but you can find some equipment and either, again, do it at a local class or you can do this in your backyard.

Speaker 1: 5:18

Another idea would be scent work. It's often classes local to you that do scent work and teach your dog how to find hidden treats or toys, and it's a really good time, especially if you have a dog who loves to sniff. If you're saying, amy, you know what my dog's nose is always on the ground, then get them into scent work, stimulate their natural sniffing instincts. It'll be a great outlet for them and you might find some hidden talents. Who knew right? Maybe your dog's really really good at this and it becomes fun for both of you.

Speaker 1: 5:47

Another idea, speaking of instincts and traits that certain dogs have, is herding and rally. These are structured activities that can enhance obedience and provide mental stimulation for your dogs. If your dog has shepherd in them, they are going to love the herding aspect of it. One way that you can also engage them in this is to get a big, giant yoga ball. Blow it up. Let them push that around a backyard or a fenced in area and watch them have a ball. I know, see what I just did right there. That's kind of funny. I didn't mean to do that actually, but it worked out. So really try it. Have them push a ball around your backyard and I think they'll really enjoy it.

Speaker 1: 6:23

Okay, something else that my dogs and I love to do is just visit a park, have a social outing. You can even invite a friend and their dog to come along. But I love to go on regular walks in the park and I have a park that's about a mile from my house, so I load the dogs up in my car, we head to the park and this is where they do go sniff walks. We get to explore, they get to check out every tree we pass, and I also bring a long line and a harness and, if we want, we can take some time to play some Frisbee or fetch in the big open areas. It's a great way to burn off energy but also get them in a new environment and the park you know that's close to my house, for example it's just quiet. It's not crazy like a street or a sidewalk where you have cars passing you. I just like the peaceful serenity of being in a park and your dog might enjoy that as well. Not only can you go and walk around the park, you could also find a bench, have your dog settle and you can pull out a book and read for a little bit. It's a great relaxing summer activity and your dog learns to settle somewhere besides your house. Relaxing summer activity and your dog learns to settle somewhere besides your house.

Speaker 1: 7:29

Another idea for summer is a scenic drive and beach days if you have a lake or an ocean nearby. So let's talk about road trips first. Some dogs love car rides. Others are a little nervous in the car. So ensure that your dog is safely restrained and that you take breaks for potty and water, and if your dog is nervous to be in a car, let's work on that first. They might not necessarily love a road trip if the car makes them nervous, so we can help you with that if needed. But some dogs love car rides. So load them up safely, obviously, restrain them and then, yeah, to give them frequent breaks to get out, stretch their legs and get a drink of water.

Speaker 1: 7:57

Go to the bathroom If you do have a beach nearby. If you have access to dog friendly beaches, let your pup enjoy the sand and the surf. Always supervise them when swimming and provide fresh water to prevent any saltwater ingestion. But these are great public places that are often dog friendly. Do check with your local laws. Make sure your dogs are leashed where it says they need to be leashed and that you are only visiting beaches that are, in fact, dog friendly. But hopefully we have those locations near us right that we're able to take our dogs and use these public places to enjoy with both us and our dogs. A lot of this, you guys, depends on us. So here's your yearly reminder to clean up after your pet when they go to the bathroom. Please pick it up with a little doggy bag and throw it away so that these areas remain, or are more likely to remain, dog friendly.

Speaker 1: 8:46

All right, a few final reminders. Number one is to stay cool and safe. Remember summer heat can be dangerous. So first, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Bring water. Always have fresh water available for your dog during any of these activities that you're doing. You can also buy some cooling gear so they make cooling vests or mats to help regulate your dog's temperature. Avoid peak heat. So, especially for walks, remember that sidewalks pavement heats up really quickly. So schedule activities where they will be on hotter surfaces for the earlier part of the day or the later part of the evening when it's cooler. A quick test you can do is to place your hand on the cement or the pavement. Try to hold it there for five seconds if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog's paws and you need to go either earlier or later in the evening. Once it's cooled down, and that's it.

Speaker 1: 9:31

Summer offers endless opportunities to create good memories with your dog, so make sure you take them with you when you can. Whether it's cooled down, and that's it. Summer offers endless opportunities to create good memories with your dog, so make sure you take them with you when you can. Whether it's a hike or you're out on a kayak or just a simple game of fetch at the park, the key is to ensure that your puppy is safe, comfortable and you're both having fun. You guys have a great week. Happy training. Thanks for tuning in to the puppy training podcast. I hope today's tips help you feel more confident and excited about raising your dog. Remember, with a little patience and consistency, you can create a loving bond and a well-behaved pup who's a joy to have in your family. If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with fellow puppy parents. For more resources, visit Baxter and Bella online. Until next time, happy training.