Springtime is Fun Time for You and Your Puggle

FINALLY, the cold weather is behind us, and spring is here! This is a time for opening up the windows and getting outside for some fresh air!

Not only are my kids ready for the outdoors, my dogs are too! They have been cooped up all winter long and their favorite thing to do in the entire world is play with the kids outside. At least Reece and Daisy want to play. The other two, which are older Shitzu’s, are content to just be outside and not be bothered!

We went out in the backyard for some family time and brought the entire clan, dogs and kids! My almost two year old daughter was playing out there without me hanging on her for the first time. She was having the time of her life.

Reece, my Puggle, loves to play games. We have come up with so many fun things to do with him that sometimes it is hard to decide which game we are going to play. The kids love to play hide and seek with Reece and Daisy. They love it because the dogs are always “it” and they always get to hide. And, Reece and Daisy are pretty good at finding!

Some other back yard games we have come up with are flag football, follow the leader (running style), fetch and Frisbee. Their favorite game is playing in the hose. They love to chase the water hose.

Last year, we packed everyone up and went out to the lake. They love running around and even love swimming even more! We invested in life jackets, so we would not have to worry if they fell in while we were not watching.

We have plans on going back out to the lake this year. I would highly suggest that if you plan on taking your Puggle to the lake that you invest in a life jacket. It is a stress saver and possibly could save the life of your “best friend”. Don’t take any chances. It is always better safe than sorry.

We have plans on going to the park in a couple of weeks. The important thing to remember is to make sure your dog has had enough training that he will listen to your commands. It is great to get your dog out into the world for new experiences, however, it is important for the safety of your dog that he has been trained to listen to you.

Dogs love to play, especially those energetic Puggles. They do not have to be stuck indoors, while the rest of the family is enjoying the outdoors. Let them join in your family fun and you will be surprised at how much fun they can contribute to your family time outdoors!

Just remember to watch them at all times and make sure they have plenty of water. They will be doing a lot of running and will need to be hydrated. Plus, be sure if it is pretty hot out, that you limit their playtime.
After that “fun time” outside, they will be ready for a long nap, inside!