Dogs constantly demand walks, especially if you have a high-energy breed like a Border Collie, German Shepard or a Bloodhound. But it can be boring taking them to the same park and the same route day in and day out. What do you do when fun fades away?  We’ve come with seven ways you can spice up your outing with your pet.

Visit a New Neighbour

Use dog walking as an excuse to visit a neighbourhood you’ve never explored before. Take your car and go on a little road trip to Shaughnessy or False Creek or East Van. Visit a park you’ve only ever driven past. Most of us have busy schedules and don’t like to venture outside of our comfort zones so use this to increase you knowledge of your city.

Break it up

Bring back some fun by planning the walk around some other activity, such as going to a dog-friendly restaurant for dinner or shopping in a dog-friendly store. You can choose a different destination each time. When you’re done, you can continue the walk and be happy that you accomplished another task as well.

Add in an obedience training session

Another way to break up your walk is to make it part of obedience training. When your dog acts up, stop them, so you can correct their behavior and don’t continue on the walk until they are calm. You should try this in a quiet area that isn’t surrounded by distractions such as other dogs, people, or cars. Bring treats with you to reward good behavior.

Complement the walk with playtime

A walk doesn’t just have to be a walk. Yet another way that you can break it up is by bringing some toys with you and engaging in some play time. One of the best ways to do this is to walk to a park and bring a flying disc, ball, or tug-of-war toy with you to have some fun with your dog while you’re out.

Make It a Group Activity

Invite other pet owners and dog walkers to join you on your daily walks. Your dog will not only appreciate a new pack of buddies to hang out with, but you’ll find that walking in a group can be a great way to make new friends, get to know a new neighbour, and trade good pet care tips. Check places like Facebook groups and MeetUp.com for existing dog-walking groups or start your own!

Have a Photoshoot

Bring a nice camera along and take some pictures of your dog during your walk. You might even create a Facebook or Instagram page just to share your best pictures, and invite comments. Who knows, your dog might become famous one of these days!

Make Dog Walking a Challenge

Download a mobile app that will help you measure your daily steps and set a few goals for yourself. Each week, you can extend your goal just a little and make dog walking a way to ensure that you and your dog are getting the daily exercise that you need.