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101 Things to Do with Your Dog

October 29, 2008 - 9:00 pm Central

Special thanks to co-host  Lisa Robinson, publisher of Urban Dog Magazine, for joining our show today as co-host.

Here's our list of 101 things to do with your dog. Some may not be appropriate for your climate, location or dog's size/temperament. But we're sure you can find some inspiration here for fun new things you and your dog can do together.

Sign up for a 5K for charity

Visit the elderly

Visit a school class

Go for a hike

Let your dog paint an original piece of art

Go camping with your dog. Take a digital video camera and send clips to your friends.

Enter a costume contest

Attend an Easter egg (biscuit) hunt - check your local papers and even websites to find one near you.

Join a parade. Your local shelter might have an entry you could walk with.

Go to a dog park

Dine al fresco at a dog-friendly restaurant

Teach your dog to surf

Run on the beach

Take a nature walk

Do errands together and go through the drive through

Go to Home Depot or Lowe’s together

Have a dog birthday party

Teach trust by holding your dog on his back until he relaxes. Some dogs really enjoy this once they learn to relax, and it's great for bonding.

Give your dog a massage

Take a nap together

Sing to your dog

Teach your dog a new trick

Bake your dog a treat

Make a one-of-a-kind collar for your dog

Show a child how to greet a dog

Take a training class

Attend a dog competition as a spectator. There are always agility events, dog shows or other events going on, and dogs are almost always welcome

Have a picnic

Practice commands using only hand signals

Go to an outdoor festival

Take candid photos of your dog

Take a swim in a pool at the end of the season. Check with parks, apartment buildings and home communities that have pools. More and more are having "K-9 Kerplunks" at the end of the summer.

Do some people watching at a coffee house. Stay there for an hour or two to give your dog a chance to calm down and get used to the activity.

Fill up a wading pool with sand and hide bones or treats for your dog to dig up. A digging place is something that most dogs enjoy.

Take a boat ride

Let your dog record a song. You can do this at a recording studio (some have pet programs) or you can do it at home with software that probably came with your computer. Take video of your dog recording the song and post it on YouTube.

Go door to door with doggie treats at Holiday time. It's a great way to meet your neighbors

Collect towels and blankets for your local vet or shelter

Teach your dog dock-jumping

Create a scrapbook of your dog's life

Make an outfit for your dog

Hand out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters with your dog

Go window shopping. Find a cute town center area and walk around with your dog. It's great for socialization.

Fill a wading pool with water and let your dog splash around

Go on a road trip together. More and more hotels not only accept dogs, but actively attract them.

Hike a national park

Have a portrait taken with your dog

Send a gift to another dog from your dog. This is especially effective if you're trying to win someone's heart (pay attention, guys)

Tour a vineyard

Teach your dog agility

Learn how to take your dog’s vital signs, and take them

Give your dog a spa night

Make a gravy or topping for your dog’s regular meal

Play “it’s raining Cheerios”

Give your dog a thorough brushing. Take your time and do it gently.

Play soccer with your dog

Let your dog chase a laser beam

Buy your dog a new bed (or two)

Enter a competition

Get together with others who have dogs from the same shelter/litter

Get matching outfits (design them or buy on Café Press)

Watch a doggie video

Foster a dog

Create an original recipe together (biscuits, meatballs, etc.)

Teach your dog to sit/stay when you open the front door/car door

Start an exercise program together

Take your dog to give blood

Make a play date

Go to a playground (when no one else is there)

Attend (or help with) a doggie singles’ mixer

Go to camp

Take your dog to see the mountains, ocean or desert … for the first time

Wrestle

Hide a toy in the house, then call your dog to find it

Treat your dog with organic flea control products

Give your dog an ice cube

Donate your dog’s gently used toys to a shelter

Help a child or adult overcome a fear of dogs

Start a blog in your dog’s name

Learn and teach your dog a dance routine, then perform it for family or friends

Have a puppy shower for someone you know

Get a big beach ball and push, hit and kick it around

Help your dog get over a fear

Visit a dog resort and write a review

Herd sheep

Make a paw print imprint plaque

Celebrate something together, with champagne and doggie beer

Visit a vet school and let the students examine your dog

Create a playlist for your dog on your iPod (dogs love classical music)

Have your dog blessed on the Feast Day of St. Francis

Make postage stamps with your dog’s picture, and write to a pen pal with a dog

Make an Easter basket or Christmas stocking of toys and treats for your dog

Create an obstacle course in your back yard, and take your dog through it

Go sledding

Go to a baseball game on “dog night”

Test your dog’s IQ

Play with bubbles

Organize a neighborhood dog wash

Give your dog a "Make a Wish" day - do all his favorite things

Take a picture of your dog underwater

Have a "Sit" competition with family or neighborhood dogs. The dog who holds a sit longest gets a prize.

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