Fun Fall Things To Do with your Dog

Fall can be the time of year when we're either enjoying the beautiful weather outside or getting ready to hibernate inside. Guess what?

You can do both! Most dogs don't mind the cooler weather so if you're looking for ideas for fun things to do with your pup as the days get shorter and colder, I've compiled a list of ideas for you! 

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Make Some Pumpkin Treats

It's late fall, and that means it's still pumpkin and apple season! Fill a Kong (or other stuffable or lickable) with some Pumpkin Puree and treats for your pup.

​You can even get a picture of your pup with a pumpkin.

Extra Credit if it's a chin rest like in the photo above!

Practice Passive Attention
Teach your dog the Passive Attention exercise. Passive attention is the type of attention you need from your dog when you're working on the computer or stopping to chat with a neighbor. It's the one way street of attention where we are occupied but still can acknowledge our dog's amazing calm behavior. You can watch a video here to understand how it works. Then, print out this Fall picture to color and practice passive attention while you color! Post a photo of it in my Pup Parents Group on Facebook so I can celebrate you! 

A Fall Adventure
​Visit a pumpkin patch, apple orchard, or another new place. This will not only be fun, but also an excellent opportunity for your dog to explore new environments. Sniffing is very calming for dogs so encouraging as much sniffing as possible is highly recommended!

Sausage Tree
​Put smelly treats in a tree trunk and then encourage your dog to do some vertical hunting.

Stay engaged with him while he's doing this, as this can help strengthen your bond. You can watch this video for an example. This game was created by Simone Mueller in her Predation Games

Balance Training
​See if you can get your dog to do 2 or 4 paws up on something wobbly. This could be a fun way to improve your dog's balance and is a great indoor game for the colder days of Fall!

Here's a video demo of my dog practicing her wobble board for you.

Water Games
​When the weather isn't completely frigid, you can have your dog bob for treats. Place treats in a shallow bowl of water and encourage your dog to fish for them. This can help develop your dog's problem-solving skills.

Greeting a Ghost
​Practice Wait, Stay, or Place while you greet a ghost at a door. This may feel like a silly one that could get your neighbors talking but it's a skill that's really great for getting your dog used to visitors coming to the door.

Fall-Themed Exploration
​Take a Peek at some Halloween or Fall decor, at home or while on a walk. Stay at a distance your dog is comfortable with. This can be an enjoyable and enriching experience for your dog.

Play 101 Things To Do With a... Pumpkin?
​Play 101 things to do with a Pumpkin (or other fall item of your choice). This is a great game to help keep your dog's mind sharp in problem solving and experimentation. 

If you don't feel brave enough to use a pumpkin, no worries. You can use any item you're comfortable with but make sure it's a decent size so your dog has room to vary their behavior.

A Leaf Hunt
​Pile up some leaves and scatter smelly treats or favorite toys in them for your dog to find. Stay nearby for continued encouragement. I had to start doing this when Willow decided to start putting her favorite ball right in front of my rake when I was out there raking. She knew I HAD to move the ball in order to keep going!

This is a great enrichment activity that also takes advantage of the fall season. And talk about easy!

What's your favorite Fall activity to do with your dog? 

Share it with us over in the Pup Parents Group on Facebook! ​

or head over to the Membership or Courses if you're ready to dig in even further!