Cress in his raincoat

This week’s Friday Five is brought to you by the rain in Sydney. Since we have not been to the park as much as Cress and Eddie would like this week we have put together a list of five other fun activities you can do with your dog when the rain won’t let up.

1. Teach your dog a new trick

The Wonderdogs love tricksOld dogs can definitely learn new tricks! Teaching a new command through positive training means you are spending good quality, one-on-one time with your dog and also stimulating their mind by getting them thinking. Just like us this means they use energy which is great on a rainy day when they might not get a long walk or a good run around the garden. There are a lot of books and websites that can give you ideas on tricks to teach and great tips on how to do it. Some useful references are 101 Dog Tricks, Zac George’s 10 Easy Dog Tricks and 50 Tricks to Teach your Dog. The Wonderdogs also have a book on the way! Just remember to have some yummy treats on hand and be a patient, consistent and a fun person that your dog wants to be around!
DIY Treats from Pretty Fluffy

2. Make some dog treats

Making something delicious is always a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon. It is even better if you can create something in the kitchen for yourself and your dog at the same time. Over on Pretty Fluffy there is a fantastic DIY post for some dog and human treats that are quick and easy to make and share a core ingredient. For your dog there are Puppy Peanut Butter Balls and for you: Apricot Bliss Balls. The best part is the amazing images that will entice you to try the recipes out for yourself.
Dog Pull Toy

3. Make your own dog toy

Want to make a toy that allows you and your dog to have a good old tug-o-war? We found this great Dog Pull Toy tutorial that is so easy to make — all you need are some old sheets (or any spare material) you might have at home and some fabric scissors. No sewing is required, just some cutting, ripping, knotting and plaiting. Your dog will think you are a creative genius! We love the pinks of the one Kasey made in her post, this will definitely be on our rainy day to-do list.
Brush your dog

4. Have a doggy pamper session

Rainy days are often a great time to pamper yourself so why not your pooch as well. You can start with a nice brush all over using a suitable brush for the type of coat your dogs has. For dogs with longer hair, lift the legs to access the friction areas where hair can knot. Take care to work in the direction of hair growth for a nice finish. If you want to spoil your dog and invest in some doggy spa products choices include Relaxing Aromatherapy Detangling Spray, Paw Balm and Pet Towelettes to make the pamper session complete.

5. Watch a dog movie

Watch a movie
There is nothing better than snuggling up on the lounge on a rainy afternoon and watching a few movies with the ones you love most. Now this might sound strange but I am not the biggest fan of dog movies as they always make me cry. I watched Marley and Me on a plane and was sobbing so loudly the flight attendant came over to ask if I was okay. But I have found the antidote to the sad moments in dog movies: as the tears well-up just give your own dog a squeeze and think about how lucky you are to have them snuggled next to you. So grab a box of tissues and your pooch and enjoy some guilt free time on the couch. The only way to make this better is to add the treats from above

Some dog movie ideas are Marley and Me, Dean Spanley, My Dog Skip, Turner & Hooch, Beethoven, Lassie Come Home, Benji, Homeward Bound, Red Dog and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.

Let us know what you and your dog like to do when it rains.

Photo credits: Dog with brush by Anniina Rutanen; Dog on Couch by Matan Rochlitz.

Published on February 2, 2012

8 comments from other dog lovers

1. Serena {Pretty Fluffy} commented on February 2, 2012

   Cress is SO cute in his raincoat!! And I love the Collie with the brush. Great idea to have some pamper time this weekend. Soda gets a few allergies in rainy/summer weather so some spa time will be just the ticket for her. Thanks for sharing the treats as well – I can vouch they are the EASIEST treats I’ve ever made.
   Have a great weekend! xx

   • Lisa Miller commented on February 3, 2012

     Thanks Serena we love the DIY treats. I got Cress his raincoat in Japan, I really had to control myself they had so many cute dog clothes over there!

2. Lisa commented on February 3, 2012

   this is a great post, lots of great ideas! thanks

   • Lisa Miller commented on February 3, 2012

     Thanks Lisa, I reckon Birdy would like the tug toy

3. Teangi commented on February 3, 2012

   Cress looks so cute in his raincoat!
   Thanks for the tips ~ we use techniques like these all the time as my dog Bart is unable to walk too far so we need to come up with other ways to keep him entertained, so these ideas are useful for us regardless of the weather!

   • Lisa Miller commented on February 3, 2012

     Thanks Teangi, yeah good point about dogs who can’t go for a big run. Does Bart have any of those enrichment toys like the dog treat games and puzzles?

4. Gill commented on February 3, 2012

   Cress is super cute in his raincoat. Buddy goes crazy in the rainy weather he loves getting wet.. is that a Spoodle thing?

   • Lisa Miller commented on February 3, 2012

     Hehe, maybe because of his dense poodle-like coat he doesn’t feel the rain as much…I don’t know Eddie also likes to run out in the rain.