25 Things To Do With Your Dog in 2025

What does 2025 have in store for you and your pup? Make it the best year yet! The new year is a great time to try some new activities together, strengthening your bond while enriching your pup’s day-to-day life.

From exciting games you can play at home to enriching trips you’ll both enjoy, we asked the experts and rounded up 25 things to do with your dog in 2025. Read on, and join in the fun!

Find special “Dog Day” events at nearby destinations, such as zoos, botanical gardens, baseball games, and aquariums, where you and your pup can enjoy unique experiences together. “This is a great way for a social pup to explore a new environment,” says Erin Askeland, a certified dog trainer in the Atlanta area and Camp Bow Wow’s animal health and behavior expert.

Is your bud a beach bum? If so, head to a dog-friendly beach for some surfside fetch, wave-chasing, sea-sniffing, and more!

To avoid heatstroke, plan your excursion for a day with moderate temperatures, make sure you have access to shade, and bring plenty of fresh water. “Pet heatstroke can develop in less than an hour on a hot day,” cautions Kevin Kelley, DVM, an emergency veterinarian at BluePearl, in Clearwater, Florida. “Provide ample water regularly to help replace your pet’s losses.”

With interesting smells and plenty of sightseeing, city life can be exciting for dogs too. If your dog is comfortable among the hustle and bustle, plan a trip into town together for some urban exploring.

“While every store may not be pet-friendly, many cafes with patio seating and outdoor spaces are,” says Ashley Reely, a St. Louis–based certified dog trainer and founder of Meraki Dogs.

Enjoy the great outdoors together with a trip to the campground.

“Set up camp and discover new ways of bonding with your dog while exposing them to new environments,” suggests Joanna Herberger, DVM, an Asheville, North Carolina–based veterinarian with Pet Sprint, who shares adventures with her German Shepherd.

Be sure your campsite is dog-friendly before booking and that your pet is up to date on vaccinations and monthly preventives.

Whether you’re at home or on vacation, check out the sights (and smells!) at a new dog park. Need a recommendation? The BringFido app has dog park guides for cities across the United States, complete with photos and reviews.

Keep in mind that dog parks are dynamic, potentially stressful environments—your dog should be well-trained and socialized before attempting a dog park trip.

Whether your dog is a newbie or an experienced student, training classes offer a great way to learn new skills, brush up on the fundamentals, and have fun together. Ask your veterinarian to recommend a certified positive-reinforcement trainer, and get to work!

“Whether it’s basic obedience or advanced classes, continual learning helps keep your dog mentally stimulated,” says Reely.

Stimulate your dog’s natural scent-tracking abilities by enrolling in a nose work class, suggests Askeland.

“They’ll get to hone their best sense, which can help build confidence and focus while also creating great communication between you and your pup,” she says.

Ask your veterinarian to recommend a local dog sport club, then join in the fun.

“These clubs offer great physical and mental exercise,” says Reely. “Your dog can engage in Fast CAT (a timed 100-yard dash in which your pup chases a lure), dock diving, and more.”

The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers tons of training and enrichment programs for dogs, including trick training. Your pup can perform tricks live for an accredited evaluator, or you can submit videos of your dog performing tricks.

“Teach your dog new tricks and earn titles along the way—your dog does not have to be a purebred to participate,” says Reely.

Ready to take things to the next level? Unleash your dog’s inner artist by setting up a canvas and some non-toxic, dog-safe paints.

You can let them “paint” by first teaching them to hold a paintbrush and then teaching them to target the canvas based on where you point, says Askeland.

“This is a high-skill trick that can pay off and amaze your friends and family, or create great little gifts,” she adds.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program involves a 10-skill test that assesses dogs on their good manners and pet parents on responsible dog ownership. Any dog-human team can learn the skills, get evaluated, and earn the title.

“It’s a wonderful way to showcase your dog’s obedience and manners, and is open to all breeds and mixes,” says Reely.

If your dog loves to dig, a digging pit can provide endless entertainment (and a welcome break for your lawn).

Nicole Kohanski, a certified dog trainer based in Frisco, Texas, and owner of Wiggle Butt Academy LLC, suggests burying a children’s plastic pool so that the top is flush with the ground, then filling it with dirt, sand, or mulch. Hide treats and bones in the pit, then sit back and let your dog dig to their heart’s content.

Indoors, you can fill a plastic bin with dog toys, towels, bones, and treats for digging excitement.

Turn your garden into an exciting pup paradise! With a few plants and a little work, you’ll have a sustainable space for your dog to explore and enjoy, suggests Askeland.

“Visit a local gardening supply store and pick out pet-safe plants with a variety of textures and scents—such as lavender, chamomile, and ornamental grasses—to build a sensory garden that stimulates your dog’s senses and provides a peaceful retreat,” she says.

Turn mealtime into playtime with a fun new puzzle feeder, suggests Dr. Herberger.

“Puzzle feeders enhance your pet’s problem-solving skills and slow their eating—they enrich your dog’s mental faculties and prevent obesity simultaneously,” she explains.

Hide-and-seek isn’t just fun for kids—pups love it too, says Dr. Herberger.

Start off hiding in familiar, easy-to-find spots and pick a phrase (such as “Come get me!”) to let your pup know it’s time to seek. Gradually work your way up to more difficult spots, and don’t forget the prize.

“Give treats as rewards for finding you,” says Dr. Herberger.

They don’t call it “down dog” for nothing! Doggy yoga (aka “doga”) combines traditional yoga poses with dog-friendly exercises and stretches for a fun, relaxing activity you and your pet can do together.

“It’s one of the best ways to bond with your pet,” says Dr. Herberger. “Besides, it’s hilarious to watch your dog attempt some exciting poses.”

Inspired by the urban sport parkour, “barkour” is a fun name for dog agility training.

“Barkour is essentially an obstacle course for your dog,” says Dr. Herberger. “You can set one up in your backyard using household items.” With some creativity and everyday items—such as chairs, parking cones, and PVC-pipe “weave poles”—you can create a fun and challenging circuit.

For an easy rainy-day activity, treat your pup to a game of sniffing and sleuthing, suggests Dr. Herberger.

“Hide treats and toys around your house, and let your dog sniff them out,” she suggests. “It enhances their natural smelling instincts and is incredibly fun.”

Want to add a delicious, nutritious treat to your pup’s menu? Get in the kitchen together and make homemade dog treats, suggests Dr. Herberger.

Your pup won’t be able to help you mix and measure, but you can work on training by offering small pieces of the ingredients as treats. “It’s educational and fun!” she says.

A well-groomed dog is a happy dog! Spend some quality time together taking care of the basics—a good brushing, followed by a dog massage targeting all their favorite spots.

And of course, don’t forget the best parts of any proper spa day: a healthy treat and a relaxing lounge session. (Ready to take your spaw to the next level? Try a nourishing coconut-and-blueberry face mask!)

Sniffspot is a fun service that allows pet parents to rent private, secure, dog-friendly spaces, from small backyards to large pastures to agility courses.

“Let your dog roam freely in a new space full of adventure and exploration,” suggests Askeland. “Read reviews before you go, and follow safety policies to make it a great experience.”

The outdoors is even greater with your best friend by your side. Hit the trails with your pup for some enriching hikes.

If hiking is a new activity, make sure to start off slowly, advises Kelly Fishman, DVM, a Kennett Square, Pennsylvania–based veterinarian and owner of Strut Animal Mobility.

“Slowly increase activity to build endurance,” she says. “Build up to longer walks and hikes by adding five minutes of activity weekly—this will help your dog build the strength and endurance needed for injury prevention.”

Is your pup a water-loving breed? “Find a dog-friendly beach or lake where your dog can splash around and play fetch in the water,” suggests Reely.

Choose a shallow entry point so your dog can gradually get used to the water, and never leave them unsupervised. If your dog hesitates or doesn’t seem to enjoy swimming, never force the activity—some pups don’t enjoy water, and swimming doesn’t come naturally to all dogs.

If you live or vacation in an area that gets snow, you’re in luck—many pups love a romp in the powder.

“Make the most of the winter months by enjoying snowball fetch,” suggests Reely. While some breeds are cold-weather pros—such as Huskies, Akitas, and Saint Bernards—dogs with a shorter coat might need to wear jackets during winter weather.

Stumped for ideas? Relax—quality time together goes a long way.

“Sometimes simply being together, whether lounging indoors on a lazy afternoon or quietly watching the sunset, can be incredibly enriching for your pet’s emotional well-being,” says Reely.