outdoor activities Archives - Mad Paws Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:16:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 How to host your own Pet Olympics https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/pet-olympics/ https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/pet-olympics/#respond Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:58:27 +0000 https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/dog-scooting-copy/ With excitement building ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games, why not set up your own Pet Olympics with your four-legged…

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With excitement building ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games, why not set up your own Pet Olympics with your four-legged friends? Not only will you and your pet have heaps of fun, but you can also provide them with a good dose of exercise.

From opening ceremonies to athletic events, archery competitions and sailing tournaments, we have a wealth of ideas to get you and your four-legged friends active and excited.

Follow this guide to hosting a Pet Olympics

Before you begin:

As a pet parent, safety is always at the forefront of your mind. When selecting materials for your Pet Olympic games, ensure they are pet-friendly, undamaged and have no sharp edges. Ensure your pet has full supervision for each event and avoid trying to force them to do things they don’t want to do. This is all about creating a safe and fun environment for your pet!

In the spirit of fun games, why not host your own pet olympics?!Starting with an opening ceremony…

Every significant event needs a grand ceremony to begin proceedings. Get into the spirit of the games by playing your pet’s favourite songs while they parade around the room, getting excited about the games to come. They could carry a flag or toy torch and wear bandanas with the Australian flag.

Gymnastics

Create a low balance beam from a sturdy plank of wood. Guide your pet to walk along the beam, stand on their hind legs, and engage in other poses such as sitting or bowing. Use a sturdy box and cushions to create a “pet vault.” Encourage your pet to jump onto the box and land on the soft cushion.

Lay out yoga mats or foam squares and get your pet to have fun with a floor routine. This could include spins, rolls, and jumps; you could even include props such as rings for them to jump through or ribbons to interact with.

Or, like Olympic gymnasts combined with world-class runners, see if your pet can beat the world record that this dog holds:
Check out Sweet Pea, a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd cross who ran 100 meters in 2 minutes and 55 seconds while balancing a can on her head!

Can your dog beat a world record holder at your pet olympics? 

Hurdles

Purchase a set of agility hurdles, or get creative and make your own. You could use crates or boxes with poles threaded through or make mini hurdles from PVC pipes or pool noodles. For small dogs and cats, start around 6 inches so that the jump is manageable for your pet. For larger dogs, try hurdles around 12 inches; you can always adjust the height based on your pet’s size and agility.

Set out a course; this could be a straight line, a “track” (circle), or a zigzag pattern. Ensure that there is enough space between each hurdle. Start easy to build your pet’s confidence, and you can increase the height as they gain confidence.

You can also continue your hurdles into an obstacle course with simple household items such as cones, cardboard boxes, blankets, and collapsible tunnels. Create zigzag courses, jumps, and tunnel runs. You can change the course around to make it fun and engaging for your pet and get creative with your own ideas!

Try this dog fitness activity - hurdles  Pet olympics, here we come!

High jump

Create a high jump with a pole or broomstick and encourage your pet to leap over it. Gradually increase the height to see how high your pet can reach. You can also stack toilet rolls across a corridor, increasing the height one toilet roll at a time until your pet knocks them over.

For those who want their pet to be the next Olympic superstar, Amazon have a range of various agility courses and fitness equipment for dogs!

Pentathlon

Host your own pet pentathlon, or ‘Doglympics’ by completing five tricks across five categories: hoops, balls, balance beam, fetch, and torch relay, and maybe walk away with the gold medal.

Still, it’s not only dogs who get to compete in the pentathlon – you can create your own event for cats and smaller pets. There are plenty of activities that smaller pets will be able to try, including:

  • Come when called
  • Jump through a hoop
  • Give you a high-five
  • Shake hands/paws with you
  • Give you a kiss
  • Stand on hind legs
  • Speak on command
  • Stay
  • Roll over
  • Spin or complete a figure of eight by following your guidance
  • Walk on a leash
  • Climb something safe and size-appropriate like a cat or rabbit climbing tower
  • Ring a bell
  • Guess the cup or hand (that’s holding something)

Shot Put

Think of shot put like a reverse game of fetch where the aim is for your pet to place an item – like a ball, toy, or frisbee  – onto a chosen target. You could incorporate this with an archery-style event and create a large target with more points awarded as they get closer to the centre.

Boxing

Hang a ball or soft toy and encourage your pet to “box” it by hitting it with their paw. It’s easy to create a mini boxing gym for your pet using PVC pipes or a cutout cardboard box, string, and toys. Include a variety of toys in different colours and textures, plus some that make noises when you bat them. This will add enrichment and keep your pet motivated to explore the toys.

You can also swing the toys to create moving obstacles, which helps your pet develop hand-eye coordination.

Klever Cages make these great pet boxing activities - perfect for pet olympics!

Football

See how many goals your pet can score in the Pet Olympics. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a goal; use a large box or two posts or craft your own using wood or PVC pipes. Take it in turns to let your pet be the striker and the goalkeeper and see which position they are best suited to!

If you have a garden or outdoor area, encourage your pet to dribble the ball before aiming at the target. This is a great way to get fresh air and bond with your pet while keeping them active and healthy.

Table tennis

Set up a game of paw pong with a lightweight ball that you bat backwards and forwards with your pet.

If you have a larger dog, they may be able to hold the paddle in their mouth and hit the ball back to you. But this will be far too tricky for cats and smaller dogs; instead, sit opposite your pet and bounce a ping pong ball across the floor to them. Encourage them to hit the ball with their paws – extra points if they hit it back to you!

Sailing

Place a small boat into a shallow tray of water and train your pet to use their paw to push it from one end to the other. You could also include other water sports in your event with toys to retrieve (such as plastic fish), items to catch (like moving boats or other wind-up toys) or even swimming (probably not one for the cats!)

And finally, the closing ceremony of your pet olympics

Reward your pet(s) for completing the 2024 Pet Olympics with a closing ceremony. Play a slideshow with any videos and highlights you have captured while praising them for being a good boy or girl.

Create a podium out of cardboard boxes and award each pet with a medal, certificate or treat. You could even have a special (pet-friendly) buffet of their favourite food to round out the tournament.

And most importantly, post pics of your pet olympics and tag @madpawsau so we can see too!

How to host your own pet olympics

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7 Summer activities to enjoy with your dog https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/activities-with-dog/ https://www.madpaws.com.au/blog/activities-with-dog/#respond Thu, 01 Feb 2024 01:55:00 +0000 https://www.madpaws.com.au/2016/10/05/7-activities-you-and-your-dog-will-love-doing-together/ Looking to embark on outdoor adventures with your canine companion? We have 7 activities to do with your dog that…

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Looking to embark on outdoor adventures with your canine companion? We have 7 activities to do with your dog that will make the Summer season extra fun.

In this list are activities that cater to dogs of all sizes. We delve into a medley of activities that go beyond the routine walk, unveiling a world of fun and fitness for both you and your furry friend!

Check out these 7 fun activities to try with your dog, and make the most of the summer sunshine! 

1. Go boating with your furry bestie

Kayaking, canoeing and boating in general is an incredible and enjoyable activity for both you and your furry friend! The versatility of kayaks & canoes accommodates smaller breeds comfortably at the front, while larger dogs can find solace closer to your feet. This water adventure is perfect for exploring inlets, small bays, and slow-moving rivers.

It’s as simple as hiring a boat, canoe or kayak and hitting the open water!

GoBoat have easy-to-drive boats for hire in most states of Australia – no boat license needed! Or, another option for those in Victoria; head to Studley Park Boathouse with your four-legged friend and paddle your way down the gorgeous Yarra River. 

outdoor activities with your dog hire a boat pet friendly outdoor activities hire a boat pet friendly

2. Try stand-up paddle boarding

Stand-up paddling (SUP) offers a spacious board for your canine co-pilots. Dogs of all sizes can enjoy the ride on the board’s nose. Opt for a calm day on a lake or bay for your initial excursion together, allowing your pup to acclimate to the new experience. If balancing becomes challenging, paddle on your knees to lower your centre of gravity. Consider investing in a life vest for your dog, making it easier for you to lift them back onto the board after an inevitable dip.

3. Enjoy a day at the dog beach 

Embrace the sun, sand, and boundless joy of a trip to your nearest dog beach. As soon as your furry companion sets paws on the soft sand, the exploration begins. The beach offers a vast playground for unrestrained frolicking, digging in the sand, and water play. Dogs of all shapes and sizes revel in the freedom to run unleashed, with their fur flying in the sea breeze!

Check out where the best dog-friendly beaches are near you >

4. Find fun in frisbee throwing

Dogs adore playing with frisbees, providing both pleasure and potential for friendly competition. If your dog is a fan of ball games, why not switch it up and introduce frisbee into your routine? It’s an excellent form of exercise involving running, jumping, and tapping into your dog’s instinct to chase and catch moving objects. For those seeking a more structured challenge, buy yourself a dog disc and delve into the world of Disc Dog competitions, combining physical prowess with artistic flair. 

outdoor activities to do with your dog5. Bond over a bike ride together

For dogs with exuberant energy on walks, cycling can be an ideal activity. Keeping pace with your pedalling will burn off excess energy, promoting relaxation later on. Ensure you choose dog-friendly paths and keep a close eye on your furry companion to make the experience enjoyable for both of you.

6. Skate down the esplanade

Similar to cycling, roller skating, skate boarding and scootering all offer a fantastic outlet for your dog’s energy. Assuming you’re a skilled skater and can confidently control your dog, this activity promises excitement! Opt for traffic-free zones like parks to fully enjoy your skating excursion with your enthusiastic canine companion.

Important note: As well as maintaining temperature, dogs are at risk of burns from pavement when it’s too hot. To tell if the pavement is too hot, if you can’t hold the palm or back of your hand on it for more than 7 seconds, it’s not safe to take them out for a walk.

summer activities with your dog7. Compete against one another in an agility course

Explore the world of agility, a high-energy and competitive sport that not only provides excellent exercise but also builds confidence and new skills for your dog. The obstacle course requires teamwork, with dogs relying on their human friends for directions. While competitive agility involves rigorous training, you can always introduce your pooch to this exhilarating sport and see how you both fare!

Are you heading out with your hound this weekend?
We’d love to see! Tag #madpawspack and you could appear on the Mad Paws Instagram

 

Remember though….

Summer time offers the perfect opportunity to head outdoors and enjoy wide open spaces with your four-legged best friend by your side. However…. heatstroke in pets is a very real risk. So always bring water with you and assess the temperature and overall conditions before deciding which activity to jump into. 


Consider a Mad Paws Pet Sitter, Dog Walker or Doggy Day Care.

Did you know we offer all types of services to keep your dog entertained, exercised and stimulated? From dog walking to doggy day care, and even overnight dog and house sitting services – choose Mad Paws when you need a helping hand with your pupper.

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