Fall is by far the best season for dog moms! I love fall because the weather is perfect, Halloween is a blast and Christmas season is right around the corner. 😉 I’ve created a list of fall activities to do with your dog so you both can have some extra fun this season!
Fall Activities To Do With Your Dog
Including your dog in fall activities doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Most of the ideas on our list are extremely budget-friendly, so anyone can enjoy them! We have both indoor and outdoor activities on our list, so you can find something fun to do no matter what the weather is like in your area.
Pick Apples at an Orchard
One of my fondest fall memories as a child is going to apple orchards with my family. Indiana has an abundant amount of family-friendly orchards, and my parents always took us to pick barrels worth of the delicious fruit. I can still smell the fresh apples…
If you live in a place with apple orchards, inquire as to which ones are dog-friendly. Apples are a delicious snack for pups, and it would be SO much fun to include them in picking out the most delectable fruits. Then when you get home, bake some yummy DIY apple cinnamon muffins for dogs!
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Not all pumpkin patches are dog-friendly, but it’s worth doing a bit of research to find one near you. Vertruccio Farms is literally two miles from my home, and they allow dogs to participate in all of the fall festivities. Dogs can run through the corn maze and pick out their own pumpkin. The photo ops are absolutely priceless.
Make a DIY Fall Gratitude Pumpkin
Whether you have a huge family or it’s just you and your dog (like us!), the DIY fall gratitude pumpkin will make an amazing tradition. All you need is a pumpkin and a Sharpie! This activity is inexpensive and can be personalized however you like.
Bake Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats
I have several “go-to” homemade dog treat recipes, and many of them include pumpkin! Pumpkin offers several health benefits for dogs, so we absolutely love pumpkin treats. All of my treat recipes are easy to make and require few ingredients. Check out all of our DIY recipes here!
Enjoy Local Pet Events
Fall is Arizona’s pet event season, as the weather is finally cool enough to enjoy the outdoors. Check for local pet-specific events taking place in your area, as there may be some fun costume contests that you can enter your dog into.
Participate in Trunk-or-Treat
The trunk-or-treat craze started a handful of years ago. Trunk-or-treat is an event that generally takes place in a parking lot. People park their cars and offer candy at each one. It’s basically a quicker, safer way to trick-or-treat (which is slightly ironic because kids are taking candy from strangers at their cars LOL). Typically these sort of events happen on the weekends in case Halloween falls on a weekday. Trunk-or-treat is fun for dogs because you can dress them up and participate in the festivities. But remember, if your dog is stressed when wearing a costume, it’s best to let it be. Opt for a cute t-shirt or bandana instead.
Do a Photo Shoot
Have some cute or spooky Halloween decorations laying around? Create a fun backdrop and have a photo session with your pup! You don’t have to put together anything too fancy. A photo shoot can involve a pumpkin and your dog wearing a festive bandana! Having a photo session is a fun way to bond with your dog and create some adorable social media content in the process. Just remember to have some delicious treats on hand!
Snuggle and Watch a Halloween Movie
Does your dog like to snuggle close to you? Grab your favorite blanket, put on a Halloween movie and simply relax. Give your dog some extra belly rubs and cherish the time together. Any time spent cuddling with your furry friend is time well spent.
Attend a Fall Festival
In the desert we don’t have super amazing fall festivals like northeastern states do. Our leaves don’t change colors and the air doesn’t smell of apples. BUT, I’m sure wherever you live there is some sort of harvest fest happening soon. Fall festivals are normally fun for the entire family, so don’t leave your pup at home! Just make sure they are secure on a leash!
Are you ready for fall? We sure are! There are lots of pet events right around the corner and we cannot wait to attend them. What are your favorite fall activities to do with your dog?
Fall is such a nice season although spring is my favorite. My whippets are enjoying cooler temperatures and staying outside longer. It’s been so hot this summer. I wish I could take them to the places you suggest but they do not like car rides. So I’ll do photo shoots, make them pumpkin treats, and get some fall produce they enjoy. Here’s a list of those healthy fall foods for dogs:
https://spoiledhounds.com/healthy-fall-foods-for-dogs/
Thanks for sharing that post! Summer sure was miserable this year, no doubt about that!
These are great activities to do with our puppies. Thank you for the list of ideas!
Love the activity ideas you included on your list! Great article, thank you!