The Best Fall Activities For Dogs

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Pumpkin spice lattes, changing leaves and shorter days are all signs that fall has arrived! And there are some great fall activities for you and your dog to get involved in and enjoy the season!

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Fall Hiking

There is no doubt that the changing color of leaves in the fall is absolutely beautiful. So finding a dog friendly hiking trail during peak foliage season is a great way to enjoy it! If you live in the United States, you can use the Smithsonian Magazine’s interactive weed-by-week predictions for peak foliage in your area! You can find the interactive map HERE. And while I couldn’t find a similar map for Canada, Trips to Discover has put out the top 9 places across Canada to view the fall foliage. You can check that article out HERE!

If you happen to be in Ontario, you can find the map to see the best times to plan a visit HERE!

Be sure to plan your trip well in advance, however, as some hiking trails may not necessarily be dog friendly. Also, be sure to keep your dog on leash and avoid disturbing the local wildlife! And even though the temperatures may be cooler, it is a must to pack extra fresh water for your and your four legged hiking companion!

Heininger Waterboy Portable Pet Bowl, 3-qt; Keeping your pet hydrated while on-the-go is easy and convenient with the Heininger Waterboy Portable Pet Bowl. It’s a large-capacity water bottle and a drinking bowl all in one compact unit, so there’s less to carry and keep on track of. The innovative design holds up to three quarts and automatically dispenses water through the slots on the attached bowl when the unit is laid on its side. Once he’s done drinking, turn the bottle back upright for storage and any remaining water drains back into the reservoir to be enjoyed later. Get it on Chewy here!

Pumpkin Patches and Apple Orchards

Did you know that some pumpkin patches and apple orchards will allow you to bring your dog with you?!? We love heading to a local pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins. And usually come home with WAY too many! Then I spend hours carving come Halloween…But it is a great way to get out there and have some fun with your dog!

Again, doing your research well ahead of time is a must. The last thing you want to do is arrive only to find that dogs are not allowed!

I have found that there are many near me that welcome dogs! Rules include being leashed at all times and picking up after your pet. If you live in Ontario, the Toronto Guardian has put together a list of pumpkin patches and apple orchards that are dog friendly! Check them out HERE!

Play In The Leaves!

I don’t know about you, but last fall my dogs didn’t find a single pile of leaves they couldn’t resist jumping into! And we have an abundance of large trees where we live. Which gives the dogs PLENTY of opportunity to get in there and mess them up while we are raking! There are also giant piles of leaves all along our walks. Our walks take a LONG time in the fall!

The leaves and fall foliage also make for some great photo opportunities! So be sure to have your camera ready!!

Throw a Party!

Dogs love to socialize as much as people do! Why not have a gathering of pups showing off their Halloween duds?!? When I had my pug, Nemo, we used to dress him up and take him to a local pug Halloween costume parade! Now is the time to start thinking of what your pup should be for Halloween as well! If you are looking for inspiration on Halloween costumes, check out our post for ideas HERE!

Play A Game

The leaves on the ground provide the perfect opportunity for some enrichment games! Dogs love to use their noses, so why not hide some favorite treats around the yard under the leaves?? Your dog will have a blast sniffing around trying to find them all!

Fruitables Pumpkin & Apple Flavor Dog Treats, 12-oz bag; Treat your pal to a tail-wagging goody—Fruitables Pumpkin & Apple Flavor Crunchy Dog Treats. These munchable snacks are a delicious combination of organic ingredients inspired by autumn including pumpkin, apples and cinnamon. You’ll even smell the goodness every time you open the bag—no nose-plugging required! Each treat is only eight calories for guilt-free treating throughout the day. Made with superfoods and antioxidants, they even support your furbaby’s health. Get it on Chewy here!

Or take a twist on the classic bobbing for apples. Use hotdogs or some sort of other dog-friendly food instead! You will have as much fun as they will watching them try to figure out how to get that prized treat out of the water and into their bellies! If using something like hot dogs, make sure that they are cut into small enough pieces so that they aren’t a choking hazard. A small pool will work great for this!

Make Some Fall Inspired Dog Treats

Homemade pumpkin flavored dog treats are sure to be a hit! The AKC has three easy homemade dog treat recipes that you can find HERE! Take note of their advice not to use anything but canned pureed pumpkin as anything else may contain sugars and spices that are not good for your dog.

We have some silicon cookie molds in the shape of bones and paws that I think we are going to have to put to good use! Pumpkin is also great for the gut health of your dog as an added bonus! If you want to get some molds for homemade dog treats check this one at Chewy out!

Le Dogue Dog Paws and Bones Silicone Baking Molds with Recipe Booklet, 2-pack; Your dog is so much more than just a household pet—she’s part of your family! So, treat her like family by baking your own, homemade dog treats with Le Dogue. This 2-pack comes with baking molds that allow you to shape dog-friendly cookies into paws and bones—for delicious, freshly-baked treats worthy of your furry daughter. The set even comes with a miniature booklet full of ideas and recipes to make your very own treats! It’s ideal for a pet-loving gift, pup bake sales, vet’s offices and pet parents who want to go the extra mile for their furbaby. It’s excellent for pets with multiple allergies, too, because you’ll never wonder what’s in your pup’s dessert when you made it yourself. Just like grandma used to make, and made from the heart. Get it on Chewy here.

You can also make these and hand them out in little gift bags to any dogs that are out on the trick or treating route!!

Check Out A Fall Festival

There are plenty of fall festivals to check out, with many of them fall friendly! Oktoberfest can be a fun activity just be sure to plan it out if you are bringing your dog. We have even seen some Dogtoberfest activities out there!

In Ontario, there is a HalloWOOF day coming at Pingle’s Farm Market near Oshawa coming up on Saturday, October 30th! And they have a corn maze and wagon ride that you can bring your dog on! Costumes are also highly encouraged! You can check out the details and purchase tickets for it HERE!

Bark Post has also put together a list of 25 dog friendly events around the United States. Check out the post HERE to find something near you!

Enjoy The Season

No matter what you choose to get out there and do with your dog, the cooler temperatures are a great time to get out before the cold of winter arrives! With so many dog friendly options available, you should have no trouble finding something fun for the entire family!

My dogs are already loving the cooler weather and reprieve from the summer heat. With winter right around the corner, I plan on getting out there and fully enjoy the fall season!

Are there any other fall activities that you like to do with your dog? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!