5 Ways to Spend More Time with Your Dog

As a dog lover, I want to do nothing more than hang out with my dogs. Having a dog is a 10+ year commitment, so spending time with them is a huge part of your relationship together. How can we spend as much quality time with them as possible? Here are ways that you can spend more time with your dog in your everyday life with minimal extra effort.

Work or study remotely:

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a greater number of jobs are now operating on a remote or hybrid working model. This means that many jobs are now entirely remote, or only require attendance to a workplace for a certain number of days per week. Changing jobs to a career where you can either work remotely or on a hybrid basis can have a very positive impact on your furry friend. Dogs can get anxious if left alone for long periods of time, so spending more time at home will benefit both of you. Your dog will feel more at ease in your company, and you may will less stressed with your working day. Being around dogs is really good for our physical and mental health after all.

Studying at university is a big commitment but having a dog doesn’t have to put your life on hold. You can study an undergraduate or postgraduate degree remotely with universities like Anglia Ruskin, who have an array of distance learning courses that will fit around your other commitments, including spending time with your dog.

Start a dog related career:

Working in the dog industry is a sure way of spending more time with your own dog and be around furry folk. Consider training to be a groomer, walker or perhaps start an online pet related business? There are plenety of great jobs for pet lovers so get hunting!

Exercise Together:

There are loads of great ways to work out with your dog, including agility, running, Canicross and flyball. All are so much fun for both of you and give both of you plenty of fresh air and activity.

Don’t overlook good old walking! Walking your dog is a daily necessity. You can take your dog on small errands and explore new walking routes around lakes or down public footpaths in the countryside. Spending more time outdoors and around dogs and other people will socialise your dog more thoroughly and help to keep them stimulated. Sniffing while walking is also a natural calming activity for dogs.

Get social:

Fortunately, there are now so many places that welcome dogs and owners, so meeting your friend for a coffee and taking your companion along for the ride has never been easier. Even if your dogs are not allowed inside, most places have tables outside that are dog-friendly and some coffee shops will even bring your puppy a puppuccino!

Lots of shops and shopping centres (apart from supermarkets) are now also dog-friendly, but it’s advisable to phone ahead and check with the manager before entering. You can also use tools like DogFriendly to check if shops, restaurants and hotels allow pets.

Go on a dog-friendly holiday:

There are many dog-friendly holiday locations in the UK and following the rise of holiday home sites like Airbnb, it’s now easier than ever to find a pet-friendly holiday home. These are particularly prevalent in areas near major walking trails and the coast. Additionally, some larger holiday resorts like Center Parcs offer dog-friendly lodges to stay in, with specially marked out exercise areas.

We hope that you enjoy all of that lovely time with your dog. Do you have any tips for spending more time with your dog? Please let us know in the comments below!