9 Fun Outdoor Games to Play With Your Dog This Summer

The summer is finally here, and you have the opportunity to spend more time outside with your dog. The fresh air, sunshine, and new smells will be great for both of you! In this article, I will go over 9 fun games and activities that will help keep your dog mentally stimulated during the hot summer days. I hope these ideas can help make your next outdoor adventure with your pup a success!

Swimming is a great way to cool off your pup in the summer. If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, then you have a whole ocean to splash about in! Always aim for a dog-friendly beach that has a lifeguard, just in case, and whom you can ask about current conditions and whether it’s safe to be in the water. Make sure you check the weather forecast and tide timetables too for information before you head out. Two useful websites are magic seaweed or the Met Office for information about the weather, tides and swells. 
 

No ocean? No problem, a second option is finding a section of stream or river where you and your dog can swim for a while. When scouting out safe places make sure your dog knows how to get back on the shore and don’t use canals. If your dog is not a natural swimming breed then you ‘ll want to kit them out with a life jacket to be on the safe side.
 

There has been a recent trend of opening up lidos for dogs and even dog-friendly swimming pools so do a Google search where you live and see if you are one of the lucky ones. 

A trendy sport this year is stand up paddleboarding. This is a fun way to spend time with your dog. You can easily rent a board and give it a go or join a group for some expert tuition. You will need some patience at first as you and your dog get used to standing up on the board together and expect to fall in quite a few times! 
 

It isn’t as physically demanding as surfing and really quite peaceful. It’s magical to watch the sunset as you paddle about together. Your arms and legs will ache a bit the next day too, but it’s totally worth it. To find where you can do this near you, just Google "paddleboarding near me".

This is a really great way to keep your dog entertained, and it's also one of the easiest. Just turn on your sprinkler in the back garden and play! Some dogs like to try and 'eat' the water, so just be mindful that whilst this is fun, it can be dangerous if your dog ingests too much water (known as water intoxication). Double-check that you aren’t in an area with a hosepipe ban too, just in case. 

This is a more exciting option than turning on your sprinkler. Get yourself some bubble blowing toys and some dog-friendly bubble mixture. You, your family and the dog can spend time chasing and popping bubbles. If you’re wondering whether bubble mixture is safe for your dog, you can buy pet and kid-friendly bubble solution. You can even make your own chicken flavoured bubbles with this recipe from Ruffle Snuffle's Life with Pets. 

If your dog loves chasing after its toys, then this game is perfect. Grab a Nerf gun from Amazon and load up the tennis balls, ready, aim, fire! Remember to play in short bursts and rest in the shade in between games. Have fresh water available and wet towels to pop on your dog to keep them cool. 

Although summer games are fun, just remember that unlike us, our dogs can only sweat through their paws, and some breeds can overheat very, very quickly. 
 

Pop a cool coat on your dog, try and play in the early morning or late evening to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Always have a shady spot to retreat too with plenty of fresh water to drink for you both. Make sure you know the signs of heatstroke, too and how to help your dog cool down safely.