Fall Dog Favorites: Toys, Dog-Friendly Activities & Fall Recipes | Pupford

Happy fall y’all! And that includes all the fall dogs!

If you’re the kind of person who lives for sweater weather, crunchy leaves, and pumpkin spice everything, you’re probably thriving right now.

So why not share that with your dog?

Even if fall isn’t your favorite season, there are a ton of fun things you can do with your dog to make the most of the cool weather and seasonal happenings.

Today we’re going to share some fall favorites for dogs to help you create and kick off your bucket list for this season -- activities, recipes, toys, and more!

DOG-FRIENDLY FALL ACTIVITIES

Let’s be honest, things are just more fun with our dogs beside us.

Here are some ideas for dog-friendly fall activities:

1. Jump in a pile of leaves
2. Go apple or pumpkin picking
3. Take a scenic drive
4. Have a backyard bonfire
5. Plan a playdate at the park
6. Do an arts and crafts project
7. Grab a puppuccino
8. Go stargazing
9. Plan a Halloween movie marathon
10. Host game day
11. Work on new training behaviors
12. Do a dog-friendly race
13. Take a ghost tour
14. Plan a hike to see the fall leaves

Let's look at each one below. 👇

JUMP IN A PILE OF LEAVES

Channel your inner kid! You have to rake your leaves at some point anyway, right? Might as well turn it into something fun by letting your dog jump into the leaf piles (and jumping in with them).

Enjoy this video compilation of a dog named Stella, which is on our list of most popular dog names, absolutely loving the piles of leaves!

GO APPLE OR PUMPKIN PICKING

A quick Google search will help you find farms in your area that are dog-friendly. Take your pup and the family out for apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn mazes, etc. -- your dog will love the new sights and smells.

Just be sure to follow all leash rules and clean up after your dog!

Related Reading: Can Dogs Eat Apples?

TAKE A SCENIC DRIVE

Fall foliage is at its peak right now, so buckle up your pup and head for a drive to check it out.

Related Reading: Ways to Help Your Dog Have a Positive Association with the Car

HAVE A BACKYARD BONFIRE

Invite your human and dog friends over for a backyard get-together with a bonfire and smores.

Just be sure to keep the dogs a safe distance from the fire… and the chocolate!

PLAN A PLAYDATE AT THE PARK

The weather this time of year is perfect for walking around the park and having a picnic with friends.

DO AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECT

Get creative with your seasonal decor with your pup.

Use their pawprint to decorate pumpkins or as leaves in a project like this one.

GRAB A PUPPUCCINO

While you’re out grabbing your pumpkin spice latte, take your dog along and get them a puppuccino. Just be sure to limit this to a once-in-a-while special treat!

GO STARGAZING

Before the weather gets too cold, grab a blanket and head outside after dark to look at the stars. Your dog will love the new environment and can help keep you warm if it gets chilly.

PLAN A HALLOWEEN MOVIE MARATHON

There are so many classic Halloween movies -- why not watch a bunch in one night? You can invite your friends (and their dogs) over for snacks and a marathon while the dogs play.

HOST GAME DAY

Football season is in full swing! Gather with friends and their dogs to watch your favorite team.

WORK ON NEW TRAINING BEHAVIORS

The fantastic weather you'll likely find this fall is the ideal time to work on some new training and behaviors.

Head out with your 30-foot lead to work on behaviors like distance stays, recall, and even distraction training.

Related Reading: Long Leash Training: 3 Vital Behaviors to Teach

DO A DOG-FRIENDLY RACE

Cooler temps make for better running weather. Depending on your and your dog's activity level, you can find 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and more.

Run That Mutt is a great resource for all dog-friendly races in your area.

Related Reading: Running with Dogs Guide

TAKE A GHOST TOUR

Some areas have ghost tours that are dog-friendly. Use a website like BringFido to find one in your area!

PLAN A HIKE TO SEE THE FALL LEAVES

Look for dog-friendly hikes in your area where you can bring your pup and enjoy the cooler weather and fall leaves. Make sure to check leash laws before getting there. Learn all about hiking with dogs here.

If you have any other fall activities that you’ve done with your dog, be sure to share them in the comments!

FALL TREATS & RECIPES FOR YOUR DOG

Apples and pumpkins and spices… oh my!

Fall is most famous for its delectable seasonal treats. And the good news is that many fall staples like apples (no seeds or core), pumpkin, and sweet potatoes are safe for your dog to eat!

Here are some recipes you can make for your dog this fall:

• Apple carrot biscuits - Combine whole wheat flour, oats, apple, carrots, egg, coconut oil, and water. Roll out the dough and cut with a cookie cutter. Bake for about 40 minutes. You can top these with peanut butter too if you’d like! Full recipe here.
• Pumpkin peanut butter treats - Combine whole wheat flour, eggs, pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!), peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon. Roll out and cut into half-inch pieces, then bake for about 40 minutes. Full recipe here.
• Sweet potato dog chews - Cut lengthwise slices of sweet potato, about ⅓ inch thick. Bake at 175 degrees for about 8 hours until dehydrated. Let cool and serve! Full recipe here.
• Pumpkin spice oatmeal cookies - Combine pumpkin puree, water, olive or coconut oil, cinnamon, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour. Roll out dough thinly and cut with cookie cutters (we've heard that pumpkin shapes taste best). Bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Full recipe here.
• Healthy "Candy Corn" frozen dog treats - This simple three-ingredient frozen dog treat is super easy to make, plus it’s filled with ingredients that are actually good for your dog (you already know we are big fans of that)! See the recipe here.
• Turkey and cranberry treats - Combine whole wheat flour, baking powder, shredded cooked turkey, dried cranberries (no sugar added is best), egg, olive oil, and low sodium chicken broth. Knead the dough and roll out, then cut with a cookie cutter. Bake for about 25 minutes, then turn the oven off with the treats still inside so they can dry out. Full recipe here.

As is the case whenever you’re making a treat for your dog, steer clear of flavorings, sweeteners, added sugars, chocolate, and other dangerous ingredients. You can always call your vet and double check your recipe with them -- it’s always best to be safe!

And with all treats given to your dog like this, remember to treat them as special treats and give them to your pup in moderation.

Need some balance for your pup? Check out our low-calorie dog training treats.

PS- Here's a bonus Thanksgiving meal recipe for your dog!

🐶 Don't miss out! Shop our full line of high-value dog training treats here!

FALL DOG TOYS

You can also celebrate the season by getting your dog a new toy (or two, or three…) that fits the theme. After all, they totally deserve it.

Related Reading: Are Laser Pointers Bad for Dogs?

A few that we love:

• A “Yorkie Candle” pumpkin spice candle toy that matches your (probably too many) fall scented candles, minus the dangerous flames.
• Apple cider donut toy - While apple cider donuts aren’t a great snack choice for your dog, the plush version makes for a great toy.
• A “pumpkin” spice latte that’s a squeaky, plush version of everyone’s favorite basic fall drink.
• A Cherry Pie shaped enrichment toy, the perfect fall dog toy.
• Fall themed bandanas and sweaters - so these aren’t necessarily toys, but they’re adorable and provide entertainment… for the humans!

What are your other favorite fall toys? Tell us in the comments!

Make sure to monitor your dog with new toys.

PS- Check out the perfect-for-fall wood chew toys for dogs here.

🐾 Shop Wood Chew Toys here to keep your pup engaged this fall!

MORE FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR DOG THIS FALL

The fun doesn’t have to stop here. There are some other activities and things to do with your dog this fall:

• Create a DIY dog Halloween costume and submit it for a local/social media contest. Show off your cute pup and hard work!
• Make sure your dog is up to date on grooming in preparation for cold weather walks.
• Make a gratitude list in preparation for Thanksgiving where you can either list all the reasons you’re thankful for your dog, or show gratitude for all those who help your dog be happy and healthy -- be sure to share with whoever makes the list!
• Take advantage of the weather not being too hot or too cold in most places by adding in some long walks, hikes, and extra fetch sessions outside.
• Find a dog-friendly destination for a weekend getaway to enjoy the best of fall in a new place. Plus, the scenery and foliage will make for a great family photoshoot opportunity!

FALL DOG FAVORITES RECAP

Fall is one of the best times to get outside with your pup. So, head out for some dog-friendly activities with your pup and enjoy nature before it's too cold!

And be sure to bring some tasty treats for all of your dog's Fall adventures!

What else do you like to do with your dog in the fall? Be sure to tell us in the comments below!