Summer fun together with your dog

Summer entertainment for pooches - how do you provide just the right amount of entertainment during sunny days so as not to strain your pets?

It has been known for a long time that playing with four-legged friends is mutually beneficial - it relieves tensions, reduces stress but, above all, strengthens the bond and this simultaneously in both parties. Through simple infantile play, we not only express our feelings, but also become gentler and involuntarily relaxed. Our pet feels this too, and for him daily entertainment is even essential for proper functioning. The harmonious development of the dog will therefore allow the carer to be sure that he is fulfilling his role in an exemplary manner.

It is therefore important to be aware of the real power of playing together. Otherwise, your dog may show his boredom in the form of chewed carpets, furniture and/or torn slippers, and in extreme cases he may even become depressed. This is why it is so important to provide its company and a solid dose of entertainment in a skilful manner. So you can't limit yourself to just walks. What's more, you need to ensure that your pet can also have fun while you are away. Absorbing and developing toys and other interactive gadgets can help.

Summer is therefore a special time where you can take care of your pet easily and effectively: provide your dog with physical activity or teach new dog games.

But how do you organise a play when heat is pouring down from the sky?

The summer heat is not only hard on carers, but especially on their shaggy pets. The dog has a different way of regulating body temperature than humans. Their fur protects them from skin burns, while their sweat glands are mainly located on their paws, so they pant more quickly to cool themselves down. Therefore, when choosing entertainment during warmer weather, as a rule it is important to take into account not only the temperament of the dog, but also the time of day and the ambient temperature.

The play should be of optimum duration, intensity and difficulty adapted also to the weather conditions. Safe play should not tire the dog too much, so developmental play, olfactory play or simple play with a tug or other interactive toy that teaches the dog mental effort without excessive physical strain will be best.

Fundamentally, all we need to do is follow these 4 simple rules to ensure that our friend doesn't lose his taste for fun and summer prancing:

1. "Water to cool off!" - maybe a swimming pool maybe ice cream? The most important thing is hydration! So provide your mutt with constant access to fresh cool water to drink. Use the water for playtime, too, and in this way combine the pleasant with the useful by providing your dog with new excitement.

2. Lightly digestible meals - just like humans, dogs do not want to eat in hot weather. With reduced physical activity, food with the same calorie content will make him feel sluggish and lazy and eventually even put on weight. For this reason, be careful when giving your dog treats, but above all ensure that the food is easily digestible, but not at the expense of quality. Ensure a worthwhile, well-balanced meal.

3. Time of day - adapt the entertainment to the time of day - a long walk in the crisp morning in favour of an afternoon lounging in the shade why not? And if you add some mental games to the mix, not only will your pet not be bored and superfluously tired, it will also develop its cognitive skills.

4. Interacting with nature - avoid concreted heated spaces such as asphalts, pavements especially among dense housing. A garden, forest or city park are the only sensible alternatives on hot days. A dog spending time in nature feels like the proverbial "fish in water". Although it is one of the most domesticated animals, nature is still its natural habitat.

So what kind of dog games will work best?

To avoid boredom, they need to be creative and varied. Providing your dog with a varied play experience is our primary goal, so we have divided our suggestions according to the level of engagement of the senses while keeping the physical effort moderate.

Games using dogs' main instincts.

The vast majority of dogs love to play using their natural predispositions, i.e. tracking, sniffing or biting and tugging instincts. That's what they were made for and such play should therefore incorporate them. Here are some of our suggestions for this special idyllic time:

• Track down treats on the grass in the park or in a secluded garden - don't make your pooch run just lay down sniffing mat In the shade of the trees, hide a few treats and you're done. After all, it is a well-known fact that dogs love treats, and if, in addition, you give a few commands such as sit! or search! this will, after a while, allow your dog to better use his investigative potential. Summer is not only sunny days - when you can't go outside because it's raining outside the window, you can also play with a sniffing mat at home.

• Tugging the rope - this additional entertainment during walks is an optimum exercise that mongrels simply love. It is fun to pull the rope out of the dog's mouth during walks, but it should be done sensitively. The tug toy will be more attractive if it is only available when playing together. When walking, don't forget to hydrate properly, take a folding bowl.

• Dragging, running and jumping over water - teach your dog to fetch at the shore. Even dogs who are afraid of swimming will like this. By playing by the shore, you can cleverly encourage your pet to dip his paws in the water and, in doing so, also cool down. For this we can use ring, which floats on its own or ball with a glowing squeaker.

• Hide-and-seek game - use all your dog's senses in this game too. Hide a favourite teddy and then let your dog find the toy. There is, of course, a reward for finding it. Another form can be using family members. Instruct the dog to 'search' by giving the name of the hidden household member and, at the end, don't forget to reward the dog. By playing in this way, the pet learns commands and stimulates memory.

Development games

Most of dog owners are aware of the importance of caring for their dogs' intellect as well. The development of cognitive and mental abilities is just as important as their physical activity. However, when movement is not very possible, various toys can help. Dog games at home can be attractive because toys can be used in many ways.

The role of toys

Among the dog's entertainment needs, toys play a very important role - attention and concentration is directed to the object and not necessarily to the carer. Hence, toys or other gadgets work very well in our absence, and interactive toys deserve special attention, as they teach the dog mental effort.

• Olfactory game -Teach your dog to play on his own. Hide some treats in the educational game - this will focus his attention for a long time while providing mental stimulation. The tricky part is finding the food using his nose, paws or teeth and the reward is a great treat.

• Labyrinth for treats - The ball stimulates another of the dogs' instincts of getting food. Thanks to the spacers used, the treats fall out while being rolled. Through play, your pet learns patience.

• Reverse fetch - A different form of teaching your dog new commands, replacing the traditional running after a toy. A ball or tug toy can be used for teaching purposes, give the command "leave it" by teasing the toy thrown. In return for completing the exercise, reward with a treat and return to play again.

Relaxation games

After the summer's antics, the dog especially needs respite and tranquillity, so relaxation games are designed to harmoniously transition into bliss and rest.

• Ice-cream rarities - a suggestion for effortless afternoon entertainment in the form of homemade ice-cream. Licking is a natural calming activity and, what's more, your four-legged friend can choose his own playing time. So pour water mixed with yoghurt into a rubber bowl, add his favourite treats or a bone and place in the freezer. You can also use licking mat- frozen treats will be more difficult to eat and will prolong the pleasure of eating

• Relaxing massage - relaxation after the games will be provided by a gel cooling mat combined with massage. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and does not require refrigeration so it is ready for use at any time.

To summarise

Every dog needs to be provided with a daily dose of activity, and within that, play is key. It is one of the most important needs of dogs, apart from the physiological ones naturally.

The form of play, as well as its nature, should allow the dog to develop, giving incredible fun, but not only to them, but also to their carers. After all, it's not just about entertaining or making them happy, it's about sharing and enjoying the fun together. Through play, the pet learns a lot from us and we from it - we get to know its preferences, character and temperament. Therefore, while entertaining our shaggy friends, let us not forget about relationships - let us build them consciously. Let's listen to and respect the dog's needs, let's give support in appropriate moments, we will receive in return a priceless bond and trust.

Also leave your suggestions in the comments on what works best for you? We are curious about your ideas? Which dog games are the most fun?