Top Tips For Enjoying Spring
As we look to leave the cold weather behind us, it’s time to start thinking about how you and your pet can be enjoying spring this year. With birds in full song, trees coated in green leaves, and flowers in a colourful blossom, spring is a fantastic time to get out and explore all that nature has to offer.
Now is an excellent time to get out and get active, a time to make the most of the warmer weather, and longer days. Your dog will appreciate the new adventures, and the exercise that they’ll get from their longer, more enjoyable walks - and so will you!
If you’re struggling to find ideas as to how you can get the most out of the season, we’re here to provide you with some inspiration. Keep reading to find out some of our top tips for enjoying spring!
Enjoy Nature in Bloom
Plan a day out with your furry friends to give them the chance to embrace the new sights, smells, and sounds of spring! There’s so much to do, and to explore across the UK’s diverse landscape, no matter where you are. Whether it be an adventure on your doorstep, or you plan a trip to explore a new area, we’ve got plenty of ideas to help you plan your perfect day out with your dog.
Hike up a Mountain
The UK is host to plenty of gorgeous hills, and mountains, all with mesmerising sceneries, and views, a sure way to tire out both you and your dog! Taking on a mountain hike is no easy task, but if you and your pooch are up to the challenge, we’d highly recommend planning a day out climbing one of the country’s dog-friendly mountains.
To find some of the perfect dog-friendly hikes in the country, read the article Dog Friendly Hikes in the UK - by ‘Mountain’.
Explore a Woodland Trail
If you want to really get your pooch’s tail wagging, treat them to a woodland walk in the spring! There’s no doubt that a trip to the woods will stimulate your pup’s senses, with all the excitement of nature being sure to give your pup zoomies.
There are plenty of trails to explore all across the country. If you’re looking to travel to your local woods, or explore further, your pup will really appreciate the adventure, regardless of where you go.
With your pup’s curiosity, comes a need for a resilient ID tag. Many pups like to head off the beaten path, chasing the scents their noses pick up, that’s why we craft our beautiful brass tags with exceptional resilience. Explore our range of reinforced dog tags, the most durable of our range, built to endure any of your adventures for years to come.
Visit the Countryside
Another excellent way to embrace spring is to embark on a countryside walk, or perhaps a trip to one of the UK’s stunning national parks! The countryside is filled with plenty of picturesque sights, wildlife, and walkways for you and your dog to explore. There are 15 national parks across the UK, giving you plenty of options, and adventures to choose from.
Establish a New Routine
It’s easy to let yourself fall into the same routine during the colder months, and that’s likely down to the restriction of certain outdoor activities due to poorer weather conditions. With spring comes new opportunities to get out and establish a new routine that allows you and your pooch to get out and get active!
You can set fun, engaging goals for you and your dog to stick by each week, as a way to better the health and wellbeing of you both. As an example, you can set a target to explore somewhere different every week with your dog, or you could even set a goal to walk a certain number of steps.
We previously wrote a blog regarding New Year’s resolutions for you and your pup, and while it may be a little late to make resolutions for the new year, you can certainly read the article to inspire a new routine! Read it here.
Engage in Dog Sports
Were you inspired by the thrill of Crufts, which took part this month? Now is an excellent time to join many other owners aspiring to train their pups into athletes! Exercise, and dog sports, are an excellent way to improve the health and wellbeing of your dog, whilst also strengthening the bond you share with them as they look to you as their trainer.
Get out in an open space and begin training your pooch. We’d recommend starting off slow if your pup doesn’t often engage in exercise, with basic exercises such as fetch and running. It’s important to encourage your dog to be able to follow your lead, as this will set the foundation in training for sports like dog agility, where your dog will have to listen closely to you in order to compete.
Some of the most popular national dog sports include dog agility, British flyball, and heelwork to music. If you’re looking to get your dog involved in a sports club, visit The Kennel Club’s website to Find a Club.
If you’re looking to get involved in dog sports, read our previous article to learn about the Top 5 Sports to Introduce to Your Dog. Before you start your training, it’s worth checking out our agility collar tags, the perfect dog tags for high-intensity sport! View them here.
Take a Trip to the Beach
Plan a day out to the seaside, with a visit to one of the UK’s many dog-friendly beaches! With plenty of beautiful stretches of sand to visit across the outskirts of the country, your pooch will greatly appreciate a trip to the beach; make the most of the open space and bring their favourite ball to play fetch!
Whether your dog likes to paddle in the sea, or not, a trip to the beach is always an enjoyable experience for both you and your companion. But for the dogs that do like to get wet, and sandy, it’s worth investing in a durable tag designed to endure salt water. When you choose our reinforced dog tags, you can rest assured that your pup’s tag will last for many adventures to come. Explore your options here.
Please keep in mind that your local authority may impose restrictions depending on the time of the year regarding having dogs on the beach. Before visiting, it is important to check that your dog will be allowed on your desired beach, as offenders may be prosecuted for breaching policies
Head on Bike Rides
Keeping up with your dog’s speed is most likely an impossible task, particularly when you own a Whippet, or a Border Collie! Give yourself a better chance of keeping up with your pooch when you take them out on a bike ride with you. A bike ride is a fantastic way to get your dog running, improving their cardio, and yours too!
It’s important to ensure that your dog is trained appropriately for bike rides, and it’s worthwhile having a few practice sessions to make sure your dog is able to safely head on a bike ride with you. If you’re looking to get started, check out Daily Paws’ article, where they explored the Do’s and Dont’s for Canine Cycling.
Summary
Hopefully we’ve inspired you to get out and begin enjoying spring! There’s so many options for you and your dog to enjoy the great outdoors, leaving the winter behind and embracing the warmer weather.
Whether you’re looking to pick up a new sport, establish a new routine, or make it your mission to explore as many new places as possible, we’d love to see the best moments from your adventures. Make memories sure to last this spring and take photos of your trips out, so that you can look back on this season and smile.
Share your highlights with us for the chance to have your photogenic pup featured on our profiles! Make sure to send your photos to @engravingstudios on either Facebook, or Instagram, and we’ll tag you when we use your photos in our future social media posts.