Forever Dog Hobbies
Having a hobby that you enjoy can help enrich your lives and has many benefits such as boosting moods.
Read below to understand why it's good for dogs to have hobbies too.
What are the key benefits to your pups having a hobby?
There are many benefits. Including: physical Benefits (weight, joints and bones), natural mood boosting (releasing endorphins and reducing stress), helps prevent doggy dementia and a great socialisation opportunity.
Hobbies that you and your dog can do together:
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Jogging and running
It’s a great chance for your dogs to let loose and run alongside you. Great running companion breeds are Dalmations, German Shepherds and Border Collies.
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Hiking
Dogs that are perfect for exploring different terrains and hiking are Border collies, Bernese mountain dogs and Labradors.
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Travelling
This is a perfect hobby for those eager to explore. Taking your canine companion along is a great chance for them to experience sights and sounds from different surroundings.
Your method of travel is often the most important consideration. Breeds such as Maltese, Basset Hounds and French Bulldogs are great car companions.
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Outdoor water sports
Not all dogs will thank you for trying to introduce them to hobbies relating to the water, but many breeds absolutely adore getting wet.
Breeds such as Otterhounds, Labradors and Poodles will enjoy outdoor swims. You just need to be mindful of the salt in the water, as this can easily dehydrate your canine.
If you want to try a more exciting water sport, then boogie boarding or surfing with your dog might be for you. Breeds which are perfect to try this with are Golden Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers.
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Frisbee
All dogs love to fetch but breeds such as Border Collies and Golden Retrievers are renowned for their catching abilities.
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Competitions
Taking part in dog competitions is gaining in popularity. There are lots of different types of competitions out there to suit all types of breeds. I’ve listed just a few below and some pooches which are perfect for them.
Obedience/ Tricks Competitions
Brilliant breeds for this: German shepherd, poodle, doberman
Flyball agility courses
Breeds that are perfect for this: Staffordshire bull terrier, jack Russell, whippet
Herding
Breeds with the best success rates: Border Collie, Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
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Bike rides
There are many ways that you can enjoy bike rides with your pet. Smaller breeds such as French Bulldogs or Pugs are often happy to sit in a well cushioned basket.
Dogs with a natural instinct to pull (such as a Huskeys or a Samoyed) will often enjoy taking part in bikejoring. This is a sport where dog(s) run in front of a bike and pull.
The world of canine hobbies has gained huge popularity over lockdown.
Some other things you can look at trying with your puppy are:
- Football
Swap the frisbee for a football to shake up your dog’s day. - Cooking - Make your own gourmet dog food.
Your dog will certainly thank you for including him in your cooking hobby. Please consider what you are feeding your pets, not all human foods are suitable for dogs.
Take a look below at some of the foods you should avoid with your dog here.