As summer draws to a close and the weather turns cool, there’s an inevitable excitement in the air. The change in seasons offers an unprecedented, joyous adventure for puppies and their owners experiencing it together for the very first time.
Cooler weather and shorter days are accompanied by sounds and smells that bring back memories for us—and create brand-new experiences for our four-legged companions. Remember the joy of running through a freshly raked pile of leaves? Try doing it again—this time, with your puppy sharing the excitement! You’ll quickly find that your puppy can teach you a thing or two about getting out and enjoying fall.
“Willow was just getting old enough to become really active when fall started last year,” recalls Caren Baginski of Denver, Colorado. Although the Papillion pup was still tiny at less than 10 pounds at eight months old, it didn’t stop her from taking big leaps to enjoy the crisp weather and the many changes that came with it.
When the pinecones began falling from the trees, Willow took the challenge in stride and made a hobby out of finding and collecting pinecones. For the young puppy, it was an autumn equivalent of an Easter egg hunt.
“She loved finding pinecones!” Baginski says. “She would run around with them until she decided to tear them apart. I had so much fun going out and doing that with her.”
Games like “fetch” can become more entertaining for both of you when the crunch of dried, fallen leaves is added to the game, and it may even turn into a game of hide-and-seek.
“It was a lot of fun for us both to just get outdoors and enjoy the cold weather. It’s a great time of year, and it’s the perfect time to do things together. I’m looking forward to doing all those things again this year,” she says.
Even taking a walk around the neighborhood looks and feels different as the weather heads toward winter—which brings even more chances for your puppy to enjoy a few “firsts.”
Winter Wonderland
When fall gives way to winter, puppies have even more new sights and sounds to explore. Watching your puppy discover snow for the very first time is often a magical experience for both of you!
“Willow was pretty clueless about snow,” Baginski says. “She’d sniff the air and try to figure out what it was.”
Most puppies will be curious about the snowfall, so explore together! For those who live in cooler climates and enjoy snowfall that stays on the ground for days or weeks at a time, the winter brings an endless supply of adventures for both of you. Puppy’s first romp through the snow may be a tenuous adventure at first; the cold, wet, white “stuff” is completely foreign to him. But together, as you let him know it’s okay to walk on it, he’ll adjust to the snow and discover a whole new way to play!
Playing fetch is even more fun when your puppy has to run through the snow, and he’ll love digging for sticks, pinecones or toys in the snow. Try making a snowball and letting him chase it down a hill.
While this winter thing is old hat to you, seeing it through the newness of your puppy’s eyes can put a fresh spin on the season.
“It doesn’t really matter what you do, it’s more about being able to experience it together,” Baginski says. “For me, a lot of the enjoyment came just from seeing how much fun Willow was having.”
