About This Event

Canine friends can play a wide variety of roles in a person’s life. They can be the food allergen detector, the stress reliever, the security officer, the travel companion, and even the wingman. However, it’s a fact that they won’t be around forever. This is why you should treasure every moment you have with them and what better way to do so than by ticking off a dog bucket list, right?

There are a lot of fun things to do with your pooch and this bucket list has lots of dog-friendly activities that will have your four-legged friend’s tail wagging until its dying day.

1. Eat a Gourmet Meal

I have eaten many incredible meals at memorable restaurants in my lifetime, but finding a restaurant that serves gourmet meals for dogs can be a challenge. Sometimes, it would be better off to prepare the food yourself, which should be fairly easy to do. There are several delicious dog-friendly recipes on the web that can be easy to make like peanut butter cookies and chicken jerky.

2. Stay at a Pet-Friendly Hotel

You can have a look around at pet friendly accommodation such as hotels, log cabins as well as a cottage selection, depending on where you’re planning on going, obviously.

3. Learn a New Trick

Depending on how long you’ve been training him, your pup likely already knows how to play fetch and roll over. Those are just the most basic of tricks that you could teach him though. There is also the army crawl, the salute, and the handstand which can leave other owners impressed once your doggy has mastered them.

4. Dress Up for Halloween

5. Play Frisbee

If your dog already knows how to fetch a stick or a ball, it can be easy to advance a level with a Frisbee. Though Fido might have some difficulty with catching a flying disc at first, you have to be patient. Remember to talk to a vet first though to ensure that your pup is physically suited for this active dog bucket list sport. You wouldn’t want him to end up with an injury, after all.

6. Take Your Dog to Work With You

7. Stand Up Paddle Board

If you haven’t already noticed, a stand-up paddle board just happens to fit more than one person, you can easily have room for a smaller sized dog. Honestly, teaching your pet to SUP may be one of the more challenging things to do on this list, but in the end it’ll be so much fun to paddle down a scenic river or on a smooth lake.

8. Do a Police Car Ride Along

9. Have a Social Media Fanpage

You’ve probably heard of Boo the Pomeranian who has over 17 million fans on Facebook. Just like him, your pooch can become a social media superstar too! Start by taking lots of fun photos of your furry pal and post them on Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. Or possibly even start a travel blog for your dog, but make sure you don’t make the beginning blogging mistakes I did! Take note to update the page on a regular basis and if there’s a high cuteness factor you should see the list of followers grow.

10. Sleep on the Bed

Sleeping on the bed can be such a treat for your pooch. Sometimes, if you let them sleep on your human bed too much, they won’t sleep in their bed! Some dogs can chew up their beds so that they can spend more time on your bed, a very nifty trick. Everybody knows that having your pooch lie in your bed with you is one of the best feelings in the world, but once they start snoring and slobbering, it might be worth putting them on their own bed.

11. Watch the Puppy Bowl

As tempting as it might be to switch the channel to watch your favorite American football teams going at each other, Super Bowl Sunday is the best time for you to binge-watch the Puppy Bowl with your pooch. Not only will you see puppies, but also other cute animal “tweeters” and “commentators”. You never know, you might find that squealing at fluffy furballs is a more enjoyable annual thing to do than screaming at sweaty athletes.

12. ✧ Have Breakfast in Bed

13. ✧ Go to a Dog Park

It can be a whole lot of fun to get your furry friend to socialize with other pets at a dog park. However, you need to have established a calm-assertive leadership over him by then. With this, along with remaining vigilant, you can rest assured that your dog will not become a fight magnet.

14. Have a Steak Dinner

15. Get a Doggy Massage

You’re not the only one who can benefit from a trip to the spa every once in a while; your canine friend can too! Many owners believe that a doggy massage can help to provide strengthened immunity, increased circulation, stress relief and improved digestion in their pets. You may not be able to get him a Thai massage like the one I had in Chiang Mai, but definitely something more gentle will be available for your deserving best friend. So, schedule an appointment with your nearest animal massage parlor today to give your pup a well-deserved break after a hard day at the park.

16. Get a ‘Pawicure”

17. Swim in the Ocean

Last time I swam in the ocean when was I was learning to surf in Costa Rica and there were plenty of swimming pooches around having a blast. If Rover doesn’t already know how to swim, now is the best time for you to teach him. To make the training process easier and safer, make the necessary preparations such as providing clean water to drink, bringing a flotation vest, and establishing rest areas with a lot of shade. Start in a shallow part of the water then just coax him in farther with a toy or a treat. Using a positive tone of voice and giving lots of verbal praise can go a long way too.

18. Warm Up in Front of the Fire

19. Hike a National Park

Even when I hiked the active Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala there were plenty of horses and a couple of dogs along the trail. Generally, pets are permitted in National Parks but they typically have to be crated or restrained on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length. There are several reasons behind this NPS policy but the main point is to protect your dog along with park resources. To avoid any mishaps, remember to maintain proper trail etiquette including observing the rules for the right-of-way.

20. Take a Picture with Santa

21. Attend the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

There is no better way to show off your amazing canine friend than by having him join this prestigious dog show. Apparently, cuteness alone won’t cut it in the big leagues though so you have to focus on improving other aspects such as cosmetic features and structure. This gives you all the more reason to drop by the animal spa every now and then, doesn’t it?

22. Try Something New Together

23. Ride in a Convertible

Just like you, your pup loves to feel the wind in his hair when cruising down the highways. The usual coupe or pickup is boring and confining though, so go on a drive on a convertible instead. Accessorize with cool sunglasses as you bask in the sun and you will feel like celebrities who have all the time in the world.

24. Go Shopping together at a Dog-friendly Store

25. Have a Doggy Birthday Party

You should be able to lookup your pooch’s birthday on his pedigree. If your dog doesn’t have one, you can pick a date that’s convenient to you, so he can check off this goal on his dog bucket list. It would be wise to send out your invitations and book the cake early so you won’t end up going crazy over last-minute arrangements.

26. Take a Nap Together

27. Visit a Nursing Home

There’s no denying the fact that playing with dogs can be therapeutic, especially to those who live in nursing homes. This is because friendly canines can encourage residents to leave the confines of their room and to recover faster from surgery or a stroke. Watching the older generation having fun with your pet is always worth the effort of driving to your nearest care home and it will be such a rewarding thing to do for everyone.

28. Play Hide n Seek

29. Be the Star in a Dog Calendar

Lots of organizations make calendars where owners can proudly display their pooches. The requirements for getting your pet in on the action can vary from place to place. Some clubs make it a contest to find suitable cover dogs while others are willing to print submissions. With companies like Shutterfly it’s also possible to create your own calendar with your favorite photos.

30. Play in the Leaves

Walk on the Beach: Dog Bucket List: Fun Things to do With Your Furry Pet

photo by Ricymar Photography

31. Walk on the Beach

With the summer season well under way, there’s no excuse not to schedule a day out frolicking on the sand. There are plenty of dog-friendly beaches around the US that you could visit, including the Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area in New Jersey and the Brohard Paw Park in Florida. Just make sure that you keep a look out for dangerous items and be mindful of sun protection so you’ll truly have a fun experience.

32. Play Sock Tug-of-War

Run Through the Sprinklers: Dog Bucket List: Fun Things to do With Your Furry Pet

photo by Michael Shick

33. Play in the Sprinklers

Owning a lawn can do more than just boost the curb appeal of your home. It also gives you plenty of opportunities to frolic with the furballs, particularly when you have a sprinkler system installed. Take note though that some doggies find it more interesting to chew, bite or dig your sprinklers so you might want to buy a few sprinkler toys to protect your hoses and spouts.

34. Play With Your Favorite Toy Together

35. Go on a Picnic

Some days you just want to relax rather than chase after Fido. The problem is that it’s highly unlikely that your pet will want to stay still for a long period of time. A picnic is the best way for you to meet in the middle. As he romps around in the grass, you can chow on some cake and roll on the blanket.

36. Dine on the Patio of a Dog Friendly Restaurant

37. Take a Boat Ride

Now that you’re done swimming in the ocean, you’ll want to drop by a lake too for a ride on a boat. But you have to realize that not all dogs may enjoy the experience. What you need to do is get him acclimated to the boat before the trip to minimize his distress about not having his feet planted on solid ground.

38. Take Obedience Classes

39. Do Doga (Dog Yoga)

Now that you’ve ticked massages off the dog bucket list, you should also give doga a go. Though you may not be able to find a doggy yoga retreat and hot Bikram yoga is out of the question, doga is not limited to just doing a variety of poses together. It may also include eye-gazing to enhance the human-canine bond. Overall, it’s an experience that can help both of you to relax.

40. Eat a Doggy Ice Cream

41. Go Camping

Want to embark on a camping or glamping adventure in the wild but don’t want to leave Spot behind? No problem-just bring him along! That is, if he is trained well enough to handle the activity. If he barks a lot or tends to snatch food from other people, you will want to rethink your camping plans.

42. Be an Extra in a Movie

43. Have a Doggie Play Date

If you’ve noticed that your pup seems to want playmates of his own species, you can find him one by setting up play dates with other people’s pooches. This shouldn’t be a problem when you know a few pet owners in your area, but if you don’t you can search for one in dog parks or at doggy daycares. Should you decide to meet outside of those places, do it in neutral territory as you don’t want to end up having to break up any fights.

44. ✧March in a Parade

45. ✧Romp Around in the Snow