As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, autumn provides the perfect backdrop for creating cherished memories with your furry friend. This season is a fantastic time to explore the great outdoors, with cool weather and breathtaking landscapes that both you and your dog will appreciate. In this blog, we'll outline the top 10 autumn activities to do with your dog, ensuring that you both have a blast while staying safe. Let's dive in and make the most of this wonderful season!
Autumn is synonymous with colorful foliage. Take your dog on a scenic hike through the woods or up a mountainside, and enjoy the vibrant fall colors together. Remember to pack essentials like water, snacks, and a leash for any potential encounters with wildlife.
Pumpkin patches are a quintessential autumn experience. Many of them are dog-friendly, so bring your pup along for some quality time exploring the pumpkins and enjoying the fresh air.
Raking leaves can be an enjoyable chore when your dog turns it into a game. Let your furry companion jump into the leaf piles or even hide a few treats for them to find within the leaves.
Head to an apple orchard and let your dog roam while you pick some delicious, crisp apples. Be sure to check the orchard's pet policy before you go.
Autumn wouldn't be complete without a corn maze adventure. Many farms offer dog-friendly options, allowing your four-legged friend to join in the fun.
Take advantage of the milder autumn temperatures and plan a camping trip with your dog. Make sure to choose a pet-friendly campsite and pack all the essentials, including food, water, and a cozy sleeping spot for your pup.
If you live near a body of water, take your dog for a swim or a leisurely stroll along the shore. Autumn is a lovely time to enjoy these natural wonders without the summer crowds.
Get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up your dog in a cute or spooky costume. You can even coordinate costumes for both of you and have a festive photoshoot.
Autumn offers a great backdrop for socializing your dog. Plan playdates at dog parks or with friends who have dogs. This will help keep your pup active and engaged.
As the temperature drops, spend some quality time indoors baking homemade dog treats for your furry friend. There are many delicious and healthy recipes you can try.
Autumn is a magical season for both humans and their canine companions. From scenic hikes to cozy evenings by the fire, there are plenty of ways to make the most of this special time of year with your dog. Just remember to consider your dog's safety and comfort, whether you're exploring the outdoors or enjoying indoor activities. By following these autumn activity suggestions, you can create lasting memories and strengthen the bond between you and your furry best friend. Get outside, have fun, and relish the beauty of fall with your dog by your side!
Preparation is Key
- Ensure a safe home environment by removing hazards like toxic plants, chemicals, and small objects.
- Gather necessary supplies, including food, crate or playpen, bowls, collar with an ID tag, leash, toys, and grooming tools.
Health and Nutrition:
- Consult your vet for a vaccination schedule and regular check-ups.
- Choose high-quality puppy food tailored to their nutritional needs.
- Establish a feeding schedule and avoid feeding them human food, which can be harmful.
Training and Socialization:
- Initiate basic obedience training early, covering commands like sit, stay, and come.
- Socialize your puppy with other dogs and people to prevent future fear or aggression issues.
Exercise and Play:
- Puppies are full of energy; provide regular exercise and playtime to keep them physically and mentally engaged.
- Utilize toys, puzzle feeders, and brain games to prevent boredom.
Potty Training:
- Set up a consistent bathroom schedule and reward your puppy for going outside.
- Exercise patience and refrain from punishing accidents; positive reinforcement is more effective.
Chew Training:
- Offer safe chew toys to prevent furniture or shoe damage.
- Redirect inappropriate chewing to suitable items and discourage undesirable behavior.
Crate Training:
- Use a crate as a safe space for your puppy and for housetraining.
- Make the crate comfortable with a soft bed and toys, gradually increasing their time inside.
Grooming and Hygiene:
- Regularly brush your puppy's coat to prevent matting and maintain healthy skin.
- Initiate tooth brushing early for optimal dental health.
- Trim their nails carefully to avoid injury.
Patience and Consistency:
- Remember that puppies require time and patience to learn and grow.
- Stay consistent with rules and training methods to prevent confusion.
Love and Bonding:
- Spend quality time with your puppy to build a strong bond.
- Show affection, praise good behavior, and use positive reinforcement for effective training.
Safety First:
- Supervise your puppy, especially around small children and other pets.
- Use a leash during walks and in unfamiliar environments to ensure their safety.
Regular Vet Visits:
- Stay up-to-date with vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and regular check-ups.
- Discuss spaying or neutering with your vet at the appropriate age.
Remember that raising a puppy can be challenging, but with patience, love, and proper care, you can enjoy a happy and healthy life together.
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You probably have noticed by now if your dog is a natural swimmer or not. If you find it challenging to get your dog to jump in a pool or go on a boat ride with you, there are a few tips you can try in order to make your dog feel more comfortable around water.
Before diving in, let’s take a look at why certain breeds are predisposed to loving water. Hunting dogs such as Labrador Retrievers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers LOVE the water. Why? Because they were bred to retrieve their hunter’s catch in often frigid water! Their coats are specially developed to withstand icy lakes thanks to a special undercoat. Breeds with “water” in their name, such as the Portuguese Water Dog, were taught to work alongside fishermen in the water! Other than having a natural predisposition for the water, these dogs also have the physical structure to be excellent swimmers.
Other breeds such as Dachshunds with short legs and Bulldogs with an uneven weight distribution will have a harder time swimming. Nevertheless, most dogs will have an instinct to start treading as soon as they enter a body of water. Ever noticed how when you place a smaller dog over a pool they immediately start moving their legs? Instinct!
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Ever have that “uh oh” feeling after giving your pooch something to nibble on?
Well, have no fear, the cheese police is here (was that too cheesy?)
No need to whip out the google search bar next time you want to give your little one a cheese-based snack. Simply put, yes, dogs can eat cheese. But should dogs eat cheese? That’s the real question.
Like humans, some dogs love cheese, some don’t, and believe it or not, some are actually lactose-intolerant! Look out for an upset stomach after feeding your pooch. If that’s the case, then (no more) cheese please!
Let’s break down this cheese-talk a bit more.
Cheese contains many healthy nutrients including protein, calcium, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and B-complex vitamins. Like us, dogs need these too!
Cheese is the perfect “treat” for pups because it is so smelly. As a matter of fact, many trainors use cheese to train dogs.
Similarly, many owners use cheese to conceal dog medication, and to help their pup swallow pills!
Similar to humans, dogs should still eat low-fat cheeses to avoid high cholesterol or weight gain. Some of our top picks are mozzarella, cottage cheese, or soft goat cheese.
Always make sure that your cheese has no added flavors to it, such as garlic, onions, and chives, as they are toxic to dogs!
Fun fact: Cottage cheese is the lowest in cholesterol and fats, making it the best option for your pooch! No need to worry about a tummy ache with this one.
Still worried about feeding your pooch cheese after reading this article? No problem, our wine, and cheese package are still up for grabs at www.woofpack.ca!
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Fitting in a yoga session can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you have a dog who often mistakes the exercise mat for a place to nap. Instead of seeing your pup as an obstacle to your yoga class, why not make them a part of it?
Doga is as fun as it sounds: yoga with your best friend, a.k.a dog! What could be better? If some of you are thinking to yourselves: “how on earth will I get my dog to sit still with me?!”, then keep reading for some great insights on this fun activity! After all, the Downward Dog was named after our furry friends, so they must be good at it!
Doga can actually provide a lot of happiness to its practitioners, which strengthens the bond between humans and dogs. The goal is to improve the relationship between humans and dogs, prevent or reduce behavioral disorders and enjoy a rewarding activity together.
There’ll be lots of laughs, and at the end of the session, you’ll feel proud of your pooch and yourself for what you’ve accomplished. You’ll learn how to practice yoga with your dog and actually integrate it into the yoga sequences. There are different types of Doga, some use the dog as more of an accessory, taking the role of a yoga block or a leg support. Others include the dog into the postures and will teach you a pose you can do together!
Gaby Dufresne-Cyr is a certified yoga teacher who specializes in animal behaviour and started her own version of Doga in Montreal, Quebec. Her philosophy is: “I teach humans how to teach their pet to do a posture along with them. Their pose becomes the trigger for the dog to do the same pose. So if I do the child's pose, my dog does the same.”
If you’re curious about practicing some Doga, inquire if there are any studios near you that offer this refreshing take on yoga! Remember that it’s all about having fun and spending quality time with your pup. If you’d like to get started at home, try observing your dog during your yoga sequences and see how it reacts. Patience, and possibly some treats, will be necessary, but teaching a dog a new trick (or in this case yoga pose), is never impossible!
Are you a breakfast in bed kind of person? More importantly, do you enjoy your dog’s cuddles while sipping on your morning coffee? Well… you’re in luck. On those slow mornings where all you want is a treat and doggy cuddles, you can resort to making a doggylicious breakfast that not only your dog, but you can also enjoy!
These “dog donuts” contain all-natural ingredients, so they are healthy for your pooch and are also safe for human consumption.
Click Here for the full recipe!
Top these “doggy pancakes” with dog-safe fruit for an extra twist and use gluten-free flour for pets with wheat intolerances.
Click Here for the full recipe!
This sweet and savory treat is the perfect “balanced” breakfast for pooches.
Click Here for the full recipe!
Enjoy these delicious meals with your pooch and let us know which recipe is your favorite!
Ever hear of the term pickleball? No, it’s not tossing pickles around like balls.
As a matter of fact… this might be your (and your dog’s!) new favorite pass-time.
Pickleball is a combination of a paddle and racket sport that follows the rules of many different games. Like all great things, pickleball was actually named after a dog…More specifically, after the sport’s founder, Joel Pritchard’s dog named Pickles. Sorry for the tongue twister.
In 1965, on a sunny day with nothing to do, Pritchard and his family found themselves using an old badminton court. Unable to find enough rackets for the whole family, they improvised by using spare ping pong paddles and a wiffle ball. Et voilà, Pickleball was born (because Pickles wouldn’t stop stealing the ball!)
Now the real question…Is how to play this glorious sport with your dog?!
Lucky for you… it’s as simple as 1-2-3.
Step 1: Get 1 pickleball racket and an actual pickle-ball.
Step 2: Find a tennis court near you and have your dog stand at the opposite net as you
Step 3: Like you would in tennis, hit the ball into the dog's side of the court and have him run it back to you!
Play back and forth as you would in tennis and VOILA! You have a pickle(dog) game.
Want to learn more about the history of the sport? Click here
Let us know what your favorite game to play with your dog is!
First, ask yourself what makes your dog unique. Why would others enjoy seeing photos and videos of your dog? Do they have a special trick, a quirk, a cute bark? Even if they can’t do any special tricks, remember that Instagram is a place to share photos, so if you love the photos, post them! If you’d rather keep your personal Instagram account separate from your pet’s, consider creating an account for them with their own unique handle.
Then comes the task of finding a good posting schedule. You don’t want to bombard your followers with new content 3 times a day so consider the stories feature as a buffer in between your regular posts using this time to interact with your followers. Ask questions, insert polls, and if you and your pup aren’t too camera shy, talk to your audience! When an influencer engages with its audience, people are more likely to form a connection with them.
You’ve figured out the Instagram logistics and schedule, now it’s time to create some content! You probably have hundreds (or thousands!) of photos of your dog on your phone, but will they make the Instagram cut? By no means do you need to be a professional photographer or have a fancy camera to take good pictures, but consider what style of photos you’d like to have on your feed. If you are an outdoorsy person and love going on hikes and to the cottage with your pup, this might be the theme of your feed. If you like dressing up your dog and posing it on fancy chairs, then go with that! This is your time to get creative and to channel your inner photographer! Plus, you get to work with your muse 24/7.
Utilizing appropriate hashtags can also help increase your photos’ visibility and expose your dog to other pet accounts all over the world! Doing a bit of hashtag research will help tremendously when dipping your toes into the world of social media.
Most importantly, remember to have fun! Social media can be a great place to share content and inspire others. After all, dogs are carefree, fun loving and don’t care about what others think. We can all take a lesson from our best friends! You might even make other doggy influencer friends and find ways to make a difference in the world through the voice of your pet. #PetFluencer
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Spending a lazy Sunday afternoon doing some painting, scrapbooking, or colouring is often exactly the type of activity we need! It can be stimulating, relaxing and rewarding, as you get to appreciate your creation! Although this activity is fun to do with fellow humans, it would be nice to involve our needy pooches who might feel left out of the fun and games! Here are 3 ideas to let the creative juices flow with your very own Vincent Van Dogue.
This one is a classic, for good reason! It makes a beautiful ornament for your Christmas tree, or a nice keepsake you’ll treasure forever. You can get a kit, or purchase some air-dry clay, which will make this project quick, easy and relatively mess-free! Roll out the clay disc to the desired size, get your pet’s paw (make sure it’s clean!) and gently but firmly press it into the clay. This may take a few tries to get right, and plenty of treats! Be patient, and remember to have fun with it! If you’re looking for a few extra tips, check out this step by step guide here.
Get ready for a bit of a messy but oh so fun art project with your dog. Get a big piece of white paper or cardstock and the idea here is to let your dog become Paw-casso. The more abstract, the better! Dip their paws in the water, let them walk around the blank canvas, and then using your paintbrushes, add dabs of watercolour paint to the paw prints. And there you have it, an abstract and colourful new piece of art to hang up! Check out this tutorial here for some inspiration.
]]>Do you have other art projects you like to include your dog in? Let us know in the comments!
Just like we, humans, love taking a juicy bite of an apple, so do our four-legged friends! Apples are an excellent source of vitamin A and C as well as fiber for dogs. They’re low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior dogs, just be sure to remove the core and seeds! As delicious as they are raw, here are some yummy apple snack recipes for your dog.
Recipe courtesy of For the Love of Cooking
The benefit of this treat is that it can be consumed by dogs and humans! Any time we crack open a chip bag, our dog seems to be instantaneously at our feet. Well, now it too can indulge in a crunchy, healthy, snack! All you need to do is slice your apples into half centimeter slices using a mandolin. Place the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 2 hours at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Let cool and enjoy this healthy and tasty snack!
Recipe courtesy of The Produce Mom
The perfect Fall combination, pumpkins and apples! Pumpkin is a pet favourite for so many reasons. It’s high in fiber which makes it great for digestion and relieving constipation. Natural canned pumpkin has no sugar and is low in calories, so it makes a great snack for your dog as well as delicious treats.
Recipe courtesy of Holistic Pet Wellness
For all of our health fans out there, you’ll love this treat recipe packed full of veggies! They’re gluten-free, grain-free and even suitable for humans to snack on! Plus, these treats are a great excuse to use up fruits and veggies in your fridge. That makes for a happy human and happy dog!
Recipe courtesy of The Speckled Palate
These are the perfect special occasion treats for your pup! Making your own cake or cupcakes for your pet is a great option since you know exactly what goes into it. The frosting is made of cream cheese and unsweetened applesauce, making this a real treat for your best friend!
Let us know if you try any of these yummy apple recipes! Your dog will surely appreciate the homemade treats, and your home will smell amazing!
It’s a day like any other, you’re scrolling on your phone double tapping on some hilarious memes and having a good time. When suddenly a picture of the cutest little puppy appears on your feed from a local shelter’s account. The urge to pet it and drown it in cuddles overcomes you until you can’t take it anymore: you will adopt this dog! But are you really ready for it? A lot of people underestimate the implications of adopting a pet and the responsibilities that come with it. So we’ve put together a few questions you should ask yourself before making such a big decision that will have an impact on another little being’s life and happiness.
Your puppy may be small and cute now but, depending on the breed, it may grow into a big doggo. Do you have enough space for that dog to be happy, especially during the day when you’re away at work? And let’s not forget about their daily exercise. Do you have a backyard where it will be able to run and do its “business” daily? If not, will you have the time to take it out for a walk everyday?
Moving into a new environment is stressful for a pupper, even when it’s for the better. That’s why it’s highly recommended that you take a few days off work when adopting a dog to help them get used to their new home and family, and prevent the development of separation anxiety. It’s also a great opportunity to start training them so they know the house rules. Are you willing to take that time off? If your pup is teething and won’t stop chewing on your furniture and clothes, are you willing to hire a professional trainer so you can co-exist in harmony? Not to mention “potty” training. Are you ready to pick up after your dog?
Dogs are emotionally dependent beings that need your love and attention. It’s not the kind of pet that you can leave by itself for too long. Are you willing to delay or skip your 5 à 7 with your friends after work to go walk and feed your dog? Will you get up earlier in the morning (even in the cold Canadian winter) to brush, feed and take your dog out for a walk if you don’t have a backyard? What arrangements will you make for your next vacation down south? These are the kinds of new responsibilities that come with a dog.
A 2018 market research made in Canada by RateSupermarket.ca shows that the cost of owning a puppy in the first year is on average $2,600.10 (it may vary according to your purchasing/lifestyle habits and the initial cost of your dog). Another research done by Global News with 7 dog owners shows that the annual costs related to their dog varies between $1,646 and $4,860, with the exception of a senior pup who’s medical bills made the annual cost rise up to $14,820. Are you able to put this much money aside, on a yearly basis, to tend to your dog’s needs?
If you have a spouse, make sure this is a commitment that they’re also willing to make. It’s also important to take into consideration other pets you may have as well as your children, if you have some. You have to make sure that your future pup will fit your family lifestyle and be surrounded by beings who will love them or at least get along with them (we’re looking at you Mittens).
There’s nothing more devastating for a dog than to find a new family only to be abandoned from lack of time or money. It’s so important to understand the long-term commitment you're making to this little bundle of joy. So, if you’ve answered yes to all of these questions and understand the implications: congratulations! You’re ready to adopt a dog! If not, don’t despair. Now that you know what is required for you to adopt a puppy, you can work towards these goals until you’re finally ready. And when you are, don't forget to “adopt, don’t shop”!