Activities For Dogs In Pennsylvania On Cold Days
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
When the wind begins to bite and the snow begins to fall, residents and visitors of Pennsylvania alike know that winter is well on its way. What many don't know, however, is what to do with their dogs. While some of the more resilient people go about their business anyway, going on walks, hitting up dog parks and so on, many others feel trapped by the weather, unsure whether their dog can handle the cold or if they want to brave any potential precipitation. The good news is, with a bit of bundling and preparation, you can both do both! Besides regular outdoor activities, there are plenty more that are done inside as well, so you and your pooch can enjoy winter whatever the weather!
Get Festive
Popular
0 Votes
Cold Day
Cheap
Easy
1 - 3 hrs
Items needed
Leash
Dog Bags
Activity description
While you can go to a dog park anytime it's nice enough, there are certain things you can't take advantage of for more than a month or two. The holiday season is exactly that, as Christmas and other late-year celebrations usually start in November and are done by December, leaving you only a short window to enjoy. The best part is, there are plenty of different activities to check out, some outdoors, some indoors, so you'll get a good variety of different ways to enjoy the season, and most of them take nothing more than a little planning, some warm clothes, and maybe some extra cash, and can provide hours of easy and fun entertainment. Instead of steps, we'll give you several options below so you can enjoy your holidays to the fullest.
Step
1
Share the LOVE
Out of all the truly Christmasy things to do over the holidays, one of the best has to be checking out the Christmas Village at LOVE Park. Set up like a traditional German Christkindlmarket, it offers little lit up shops full of Christmas toys, decorations, and other goods. Many places offer hot chocolate and other snacks while Kylie's Canine Treats offers a free treat to your dog. Even Santa Paws is there, waiting to take a memorable holiday picture (both are exclusive to Fridays). The two of you can walk around and take in the lights, smells, and atmosphere and check out all the neat stuff the market has to offer.
Step
2
Attend a howliday event
This time of year, there are plenty of places holding dog-friendly holiday events. For instance, BARk (Burough Animal Response Krew), a non-profit community organization holds their annual Holiday Bazaar in early December, as does Humane Pennsylvania, both of which offer various vendors, food, raffles, activities, pictures with Santa, and other holiday themed fun and better yet, many of the proceeds go back to the non-profits to help benefit the animals who need it most.
Step
3
Get lit up with holiday lights
One of the most accessible things to do during the holiday season is to take in a light show. Since many light shows don't have food, many of them are dog-friendly, but you'll want to make sure in advance regardless. Some require a fair amount of walking, so you'll want to bundle up accordingly, but many others you can do from the comfort of your heated vehicle. Check your local neighborhood and see what's nearby. It's a great way to spend an hour or two on a nice walk (or shorter drive) you won't find other times of the year.
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Get Spooky With Poochy
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0 Votes
Cold Day
Cheap
Easy
1 - 3 hrs
Items needed
Leash
Dog Bags
Costume
Activity description
Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza aren't the only holidays that come during the cold weather. Halloween is another great time of the season to get out and do something that's only offered for a couple weeks out of the year. There are plenty of activities inside and out and most of them entail some combination of eating some tasty treats, dressing up and getting spooky. Pennsylvania offers a few extra options as well since it's long-standing history is full of haunted locations to boot. All you'll need are some basic supplies, warm clothes, a fun costume (for some), and a little extra cash and you'll be set for hours of fun!
Step
1
Celebrate Howl-o-ween
Like the late-season holidays, there are plenty of Halloween events to take part in with your pooch. Events like Howl-o-ween: Pets at Fort Hunter offer a costume parade, vendors, crafts, exhibits and demonstrates. Tailwagger's Trick or Treat in Lancaster also has music, contests, and lots of other fun. But if you want to do some good while you celebrate, consider the Halloween Sprint for Service Dogs & Trick-or-Treat Fun Walk in Scranton. It includes a 5k run/walk, costume contests, prizes, portraits, dancing and hot chocolate/coffee/tea, a bake sale, raffles and much more. Just make sure to pair up your pup with a great costume and enough extra clothing to stay warm while you're outside!
Step
2
Get spooked
While most museums and other types of tours won't allow your dog to join you, plenty of outdoor walking tours will and Pennsylvania haunted tours are no exception. Thanks to the state's history, it has more than enough places where you can take a creepy tour. You may have to call ahead to make sure your dog is allowed, but most places are pretty easy-going and some even encourage it. Places like Haunted Gettysburg Tours and Ghost Tours of Philadelphia were on our list of dog-friendly places, so all you need to do is call ahead to let them know and get your ticket in advance if need be. Then, you'll be set for 45-120 minutes of spooky fun learning about the haunted history of America's second state, all on the cheap.
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Enjoy a Barktoberfest
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Cold Day
Cheap
Easy
1 - 3 hrs
Items needed
Leash
Dog Bags
Activity description
While many of the holiday events above are specifically themed, there are plenty more that are just plain designed to enjoy fun in the fall. Several organizations hold Barktoberfests, which are essentially Octoberfests for both people AND dogs. The best part is, they're not limited by holiday, just by month, which means you can find them for over a month long (as many as bleed into late September and early November as well) throughout the season. There is always plenty to do and they are fantastic events for you and your dog to socialize with like-minded people. If nothing else, they're always a great place to grab some grub and have some fun with various activities.
Step
1
Barktoberfest pet fair
This pet fair held in Macungie is easily one of the most dog-friendly. They don't play loud music or have deafening announcements on the loudspeaker, they just show up with tons of vendors, animals to adopt, and even service people. You can mingle with others, make new friends, adopt new friends, check out tons of new treats and products and even find your dog a new groomer or sitter. It's very low key, so even your skittish ones may enjoy themselves at this easy-going gathering.
Step
2
Barktoberfest Philadelphia
This event hosted by J & Co Dog Rescue is a great benefit event all-around. The five-hour event is loaded with stuff to do from games and raffles to checking out the local food, drinks and even craft beers in their beer garden. All benefits go to help J & Co continue their rescue efforts to provide their canine companions food, shelter, and with any luck, even a new home, as there are even onsite adoptions.
Step
3
Mums and Mutts fall festival
Like the event listed above, Mums and Mutts is aiming at providing two important things: fun and charity. It features a doggy costume contest, games, prizes, vendors, food, drinks, and more, and much of the proceeds go to local animal rescues. What more could you ask for?
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More Fun Ideas...
Re-tail Therapy
With the holidays coming up, you'll likely be needing to stock up on gifts for others. Do some research and find shopping areas that have numerous dog-friendly shops you can check out. Bigger cities are usually better spots, but plenty of smaller towns also have dog-friendly plazas full of friendly shops for you and your pooch to peruse.
Go Out to the Drive-In
While some drive-ins only run during the warmer months, there are several that push into the later months. If you want to catch a new or classic flick in a new way, you and your pup can cruise in, park, pump the heaters, and munch on whatever treats you decide to bring with you.
Dogsled Team
In your have a small enough or brave enough dog, head on over to a dog-friendly park with a small incline and try your paw at sliding down the hills.
Conclusion
While winter can often damper the weather, it shouldn't dampen your spirits. There are plenty of opportunities in the Quaker State to get out and enjoy the weather or even avoid if it necessary. Tons of local businesses and non-profits are opening their doors for dogs to explore and numerous others are hosting entire events for you and your pooch to enjoy. For more great ideas, check your local events listings and see what other dog-friendly events will be popping up as the season nears.