12 Cute Mother's Day Activities for Dog Moms

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate all the things our mothers do for us, and to show them how much we appreciate the care and love they give. But it isn't just for the humans. For dog moms, this day is also a time to celebrate the bond with their canine kids who give that love right back. 

Gifts for the mom who's always there are furbulous, but new adventures and spending time with their loved ones create memories which are treasured for years to come. For those moms whose kids have fur and four legs, check out these cute activities that you can do together on this special day!

Eating out at a nice restaurant is always more fun when you have a canine companion with you, and taking your pup for a dinner date is a grrreat way to spend some quality time together. Some pet-friendly restaurants also have a doggie menu so you can treat your furchild to something new!  

Make your way to a drive-in theater and enjoy a movie on the big screen with your furkid. Most drive-ins welcome four-legged patrons as long as they’re quiet and well-behaved. Drive-in theaters are also cheaper than indoor theaters and serve puptastic food, just be sure to bring some treats for your pup too. Plus, many offer back-to-back screenings! Be sure to bring some bedding for when your pup falls asleep.

How about spending a relaxing weekend with your furkid in a pet-friendly tourist town? Places like Key West, Florida and Asheville, North Carolina are teeming with accommodations, restaurants, shops, hiking trails, and sightseeing spots that welcome four leggers. Don’t want to venture too far from home? Have a staycation at a nearby pup-friendly hotel instead.

Did you know that most US national parks are dog-friendly? Not only that, but many parks also have activities and events especially for canine visitors such as the B.A.R.K. Ranger program. Puppers who complete this short program are “sworn in” with an official certificate or dog tag. Other activities that you can enjoy with your outdoor-loving pooch at a US national park are hiking, camping, and paddling.

This is a cute craft project that anyone can do even if you don’t have any sewing skills. All you’ll need is enough fabric to make matching bandanas or a shirt pocket to match your pup. Choose a fun patterned fabric or dye white fabric to any color or design you like. You can find free sewing patterns and instructions online, but a simple way to do this is to cut out bandanas for both of you, or cut a bandana and pocket using pinking shears, then adhere the pocket to the shirt using fabric glue. Now you and your furbaby will be celebrating in style!

A number of wineries around the country are dog-friendly, including those in world-famous Napa Valley. Stroll through the vineyard and enjoy a picnic lunch with a view with your furbaby by your side. Remember to bring some dog wine too so they won’t feel left out while you're sampling the local vintages.

Take your camera with you and turn your pup’s daily walk into a photo shoot! You can stick to your usual route or switch things up by going to a different park or neighborhood. Plan your shots in advance or be spontaneous and catch fun candid moments of pure pup bliss. Either way, you’ll end up with pawsome photos of your pooch that you can look back on fondly in the future.

Treat yourself and your dog to a spa day at home. Give your pooch a nice warm bath and massage, then pamper yourself with a sheet mask, hand massage, and foot soak. Don’t furget to put on some calming music and light a dog-friendly scented candle or two to create that spa-like ambience. Finish off the experience with homemade smoothies!

Several sightseeing boat tours allow canine passengers on board, sometimes for free. If you live near a river or the ocean, check to see if your local cruise company offers dog-friendly boat rides. Boat tours are usually one to two hours long and are a great way for your furbaby to experience new sights and smells!

There are tons of recipes for pupcakes, dog cakes, and other baked goodies for canines online, and baking can be a fun bonding activity for you and your pooch. Let your furbaby “assist” you by having them taste test the ingredients and final product.

Let your pup channel their inner Pawcasso with this fun, mess-free activity. Put three or four pet-safe paint colors on a small blank canvas and then stick it in a Ziploc bag. Spread some peanut butter on the bag and let your dog lick it off while you paint a masterpiece of your own above their level. Be sure to keep an eye on your little artist so that they don’t puncture the bag and lick the paint. Take the canvas out of the bag when they’re done and admire both your masterpieces side by side!

Sometimes, the best activity is no activity at all. If you’re always busy, then you may want to take this day as an opportunity to relax and just do nothing. Spend more time cuddling with your pup, binge your favorite show with your snuggle partner, or try going to bed earlier to recharge your batteries so you can keep being a pawsome dog mom! 

How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day this year? Share your favorite Mother's Day activities in the comments below or tag #wagwalking or @wag on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our feed!