Everyday Outings as Enrichment

Not every outing needs to be special. Even the simplest outing can be a change to enrich your dog’s life and get in some socialization (for both of you!)

Simple enrichment beyond the home might include:

Sitting in the car in a parking lot with your dog and just letting your dog enjoy watching the world go by. This can be a great exercise for shy dogs, puppies who aren’t yet fully vaccinated, dogs recovering from surgery or senior dogs with limited mobility. Our Barli loves to hang out with us in the car, with the window partially down, just watching everyone and taking in some new scents. (Remember: this means sitting WITH your dog in the car…not leaving your dog unattended when you shop.)

Walking through a dog-friendly store at a relaxed pace. There are more dog-friendly stores to choose from than ever before. (Don’t miss our list of dog-friendly stores.) If your dog gets too excited by seeing other dogs, instead of starting at a pet supply store, try starting your shopping experiences at a store where you might not see other dogs, such as a boutique or crafts store.

If the only dog-friendly store in your area is a pet supply store, take baby steps to work up to shopping in the store. For the first few visits, you might just walk around outside the store, letting your dog take in the many smells. If your dog is concerned about automatic doors at large pet supply stores, you might make a few trips just to get him accustomed to the automatic doors, treating from a distance and slowly working your way closer to the doors in later sessions.

Taking a dog walk in a new neighborhood. Even a nearby neighborhood can be a whole new experience if it’s not a neighborhood where you typically walk your dog. If there are no other options nearby, hop in the car to explore a neighborhood in another part of town!

Visiting a park or open space. A park can be a great option for your dog–and it doesn’t have to be a big park to be meaningful for his enrichment. One of our dogs’ favorite stops is the parking lot at Buc-ee’s. (If you know, you know!) They have a large perimeter area set aside as a dog potty area, and it’s like Disneyland to our dogs!

Running a short errand together. If you’re dog’s not a shopper, consider drive-through options. Do you need to run to the bank? A drive-through window can be very enriching for dogs. Need to pick up a prescription? Head for the drive up window. Similarly, a grocery pickup can be fun (just be sure your dog is secured before opening your car to load the groceries).

Even brief outings can be meaningful when dogs are allowed to observe and explore at their own pace.

Why “Beyond the Home” Enrichment Matters

New environments offer dogs something that your home routines can’t:

• New sights, sounds, and scents
• Different surfaces and layouts
• Opportunities to observe the world
• Social exposure

Experiencing new places together with your dog helps build your dog’s confidence. Our dog Barli was very, very shy when we first adopted him; today he loves to go to the park, the beach or just out for a drive. The key was taking baby steps! Before taking him in a new store, I often just take him outside the store and sit and watch people come and go. We might do this several times before we ever go into the store–and even then it will be a short visit so we leave while he’s still enjoying himself.

If your dog is more outgoing, like our Isla is, you can move at a faster pace. She’s far more confident so we can go into a new store she’s never experienced–but I still watch her body language to make sure she’s feeling good about the experience.

The goal isn’t doing more — it’s letting dogs experience more, gently.

Paris Permenter is the award-winning author of over 30 pet and travel books and 2000 magazine articles for publishers ranging from Reader’s Digest to Simon and Schuster. Paris is a certified canine enrichment specialist with a focus on enriching your daily dog walks.

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