From dog backpacking and bikejoring to weight pulling for dogs, there are plenty of activities for you and your dog to enjoy in the great outdoors.

Activities for you and your dog

When thinking of activities for you and your dog to enjoy, what initially springs to mind? We'd guess walks in the park, fetch and frisbee score pretty highly for most people - but there's actually a whole world of other fun activities for you and your dog in the great outdoors.

From weight pulling to bikejoring, there's a number of exciting pastimes for you and your dog if you know the right places to look.

Activities for you and your dog - Dog Backpacking

As its name suggests, dog backpacking involves heading into the great outdoors for a long hike - or even camping trip - with your canine companion in tow. Many of the principles are the same as if you were exercising in this way with human pals - the idea is to carry just enough equipment to last you both for the duration of your trip. It is not unreasonable to expect your animal to carry his own gear while dog backpacking - in fact, it's central to the appeal of the activity. Make sure you buy a sturdy pair of dog boots to protect your dog's feet.

Dog backpacking is one of the safest activities for you and your dog to enjoy, allowing you both to explore the world around you while getting valuable exercise.

Activities for you and your dog - Bikejoring

Many activities for you and your dog build on pastimes you may already enjoy, such as cycling. Bikejoring, for example, involves attaching your canine to a bike with a dog harness. Once set up with the right equipment, the world is your oyster - you can explore anywhere you normally would with a bike. The key is to maintain a regular speed that means neither party is working too hard to keep up with the other. It is also important to start off slowly and build up your exercise gradually in order to avoid exhausting your dog.

As with dog backpacking, dog boots are an essential purchase to protect your dog's feet. Once you've got the hang of bikejoring, it's worth checking out local races and competitions, which are great fun. Bikejoring is also an excellent exercise activity for working dogs outside of the skiijoring and dog sledding seasons.

Activities for you and your dog - Weight Pulling with Dogs

While many activities for you and your dog offer mutual exercise benefits, weight pulling for dogs is focused on a canine's abilities. It involves dogs pulling weights behind them while wearing a dog harness - materials on the sled can include concrete or other heavy materials. Although only the canine really takes part, this is one of the activities for you and your dog which could build a strong bond. You role as coach and nutritionist is just as important as your dog's job of pulling the sled.

Mainly popular with working dogs such as Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes, many smaller breeds also enjoy taking part in weight pulling with dogs. It is a good idea to protect the dog's feet with dog boots and a good quality dog harness is also essential considering the nature of the task.

Why take part in activities for you and your dog?

Activities for your and your dog can vary in scale, scope and difficulty, but they all share a few common themes.

Exercising with an animal is not only a great way to stay in shape - physically and mentally - but also builds an unbreakable bond between man and his best friend.

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