Activities For Dogs At The Lake
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
Want to take your doggo buddy to the lake this year? Well, you definitely can! Most dogs love the water, and they all love being with their humans, so this would be a nice change of pace for your best friend. Just remember, lake trips mean tons of water all around, and although dogs can swim, it's always a good idea to play it safe. Make sure to equip your dog in a cute, functional life vest before going into deep water!
Boating
Popular
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Sunny Day
Moderate
Easy
30 - 60 min
Items needed
First Aid Kit
Water for rehydration
Treats
Boat
Life Vests
Activity description
Assuming you have your own boat, or are interested in renting one for an hour or so, there is plenty of fun to be had out there on the lake! Enjoy a joyous ride full of gorgeous views and excitement with your dog. Simply rent a boat, or take yours to the lake. Then strap a life vest on yourself, and on your dog, as a precaution. Most dogs love to jump and swim, and because you're going on a boat, the water will be extra deep. You want your dog to be safe out there. Once you're set, hop onto the boat together and go exploring!
Step
1
Prepare for the excursion
Start by either renting a boat and hauling it to the shoreline, or by hauling your own boat to the shoreline. Prepare any boating materials as necessary, including a medical kit, life vests, water and snacks. Don't forget the dog treats! Make sure you take the sunscreen too, as the water makes the sunlight reflect hotter.
Step
2
Start sailing
Once you and the dog are ready and safe, call your dog onboard and take off into the water together. Your dog should be fine onboard, too curious and cautious with whatever is going on to really jump out. That being said, prepare for your dog to eventually jump into the water, which may happen. It may be a nice thing to do if it's too hot, so try not to do this activity on a really hot day. Your dog should be just fine onboard though, especially while the boat is moving. If your pal seems hesitant at all, begin with a slow exploration close to shore. Once he seems at ease, you can begin the tour. You shouldn't need to do anything entertaining once you've begun, being on a boat is excitement enough!
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Dock Jumping
Popular
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Sunny Day
Free
Easy
5 - 10 min
Items needed
Water for rehydration
Doggy Life Vest
Activity description
Want to do something fun, simple, and 100% free? Take your dog to the lake and jump off the dock together! It's great exercise, it's exhilarating, and most importantly, it is bound to make your dog very happy. All you need to do is start at the middle or back end of the dock, facing the water. Then get a running start and jump off at the edge, making sure there's a safe distance between you and the dock. Keep the activity safe by practising first, building up the speed.
Step
1
Prepare to jump
Start by standing either at the middle or the back of the dock. You want to face the water, but give yourself enough space to run and jump. Remember to check the water first for depth, rocks, or other hidden dangers. The water should be deep enough that when you jump in, you and your dog don't hurt yourselves.
Step
2
Run and jump
Now that you're right where you want to be on the dock, it's time to run. Run moderately fast for a medium jump, or as fast as you can for a much larger jump. Once you jump, you should land in the water. Make sure not to jump too early, or you could hit yourself against the dock.
Step
3
Encourage your pal
Now that you've done the dock jump alone, probably, your dog must be super intrigued and ready to join you. Repeat the same process, only this time make sure to leave enough room on the dock for both you and the dog. Hold the dog's collar, or give the "sit and stay" command while you prep, then say "go" and start running. Your dog will run and jump into the water with you. Cheer and praise your buddy, then repeat!
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Water Retrieval
Popular
0 Votes
Sunny Day
Cheap
Easy
15 min
Items needed
Floating Dog Toy
Activity description
Want to have some fun with your dog for super cheap? If you include the cost of one floating dog toy, water retrieval is not expensive and can be loads of fun! It's a great way to get some exercise, while having fun together at the lake. It's also a great photo op. All you need to do is hold the toy in your hand, build up some excitement, and then toss it into the water. Make sure not to throw it super deep or your dog may start to get tired. Unless you have a life vest, don't throw it a far distance into the lake.
Step
1
Increase the tension
Begin by selecting a dog toy that you know for a fact, floats. Test it in shallow water if needed. It needs to float easily, or else it will sink, putting your dog in danger. Once you know it works, show the dog the toy, and hold it up in the air. This creates tension. Get excited to throw the toy, as this will make the dog excited about the activity as well.
Step
2
Throw the toy
Now that you have the dog's attention, it's time to throw the toy. Throw it into the lake, not too far in, and watch with amusement as your dog runs excitedly to fetch the toy. Once the dog swims back with the toy, collect it, and repeat the process again. If you see signs of fatigue, take a break for some hydration, a snack and a rest before seeing if your pup wants to continue to play. If your dog is not an avid swimmer, be sure to play it safe by keeping a doggy life vest on at all times.
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More Fun Ideas...
Towing
If your dog is wearing a life vest, attach a ski slope leash to it. Attach the other end to an inflatable tube you can relax in, while the dog pulls you along. This is called towing, and is a valuable rescue skill for your dog to learn. If anything were to happen out on the water, your dog would suddenly be equipped to pull you out to safety. But it goes without saying, be logical before practicing this. If your dog is very small, this may not be the ideal activity.
Go Paddleboarding
This Hawaiian sport is key to building better balance and muscle tone for you and your dog. Since most paddle boards (think of an enlarged surfboard) are built with two people in mind, you can get in the water, hop onto the board, balance yourself and start moving with the paddle. Your dog will undoubtedly get in the water with you and follow along. Call the dog up and cheer when there's successful boarding. From there, let your dog stand or lay down on the front end. All you need to do is paddle right along as you normally would.
Conclusion
Taking your dog to the lake should be a blast! There's water, there's sun, and most importantly, there are life vests. Do make sure that no matter which water activity you choose, your dog is absolutely safe. Although dogs can swim, they eventually do get tired, and sometimes it leads to drowning in deep water. So, equip your doggo in an adorable, efficient life vest, and go hit the water together! This should be a fun time, not a dangerous one!