5 Free Riding Certified Adventures for You and Your Pup

Let’s ride certified to…. (gas not included)

1) Explore a new city 

Pick a place you’ve never been before, and go check it out!  There’s such magic in strolling down the streets of a new town.  

If your dog is a little shy, pick a rural area to visit.  Have you ever been to Boring, MD?  Yes, it’s an actual town, and it IS pretty boring.  But it was named after a postmaster named David Boring, not because there’s not much to do there!  Regardless, a small, quiet town like that is a great place to take a shy dog to experience new sights and smells, without the hustle and bustle of people, cars, and noises of a busy city.  Another plus, how many people can say they’re been to a town called Boring?? 

Need a city closer to you?  You can just Google “cities in _____ county, (your state)” and a list shows up. Or, try “cities with cool names in (your state).” Boom! You’ve got a mini road trip mapped out for you. 

On the flip side, if you and your pup love people, excitement, and a faster paced kinda time, visit a town center, or historic downtown area.  Downtown Annapolis is right on the bay.  Downtown Bethesda has a dog-friendly farmers market on Saturdays (did you know not all farmers markets are dog friendly?).  

2) Pretend you live in a different neighborhood

Oh this is a fun one.  Find a local neighborhood park or school to park at (after hours of course), and walk around!  Every neighborhood has its own unique vibe, style and charm.  Admire the houses, view the decorations (this can be really neat especially during the holidays), and meet new dogs and people as you pass by.  Some neighborhoods have small trails connecting them - will you wander down a new path?  

There’s also something playful about seeing a house for sale and imagining you and your pup living there.  In some way, exploring a new neighborhood is kinda like playing pretend with your dog, letting your inner child out to play.

Does it sound silly?  Good.  Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!

3) Get in touch with nature

There’s something about the woods that brings a dog’s nose alive!  The crisp air and feel of the great outdoors…ahhh.  For a free hike, hit the local park.  There are plenty of good ones at the county parks.  Just search “parks in (your county, state)” and the list should pop up.

MoCo friends…Wheaton Regional Park and Lake Needwood are a couple good ones.  

Howard County: a bittersweet location, but a good one nonetheless, Centennial Park. (This is the place Piper and I were headed on the day of the crash.)   

If you prefer a bigger adventure, state parks and national parks are amazing, but you’ll have to do your research to figure out what’s free and when.  If there’s a national park that you really want to go to, there are 5 free entrance days in the year.

But be sure your dog is on a flea/tick prevention before you go!

P.S. If you haven’t been to Catoctin Mountain, you should.  It’s a beautiful, invigorating hike, and a substantial day trip.  Bring some snacks and have a picnic at the top of the mountain, you’ll want to take it in.  Plus, there’s no entrance fee at any time :-)

4) Go to the beach

Although the beach is automatically linked to summertime, for a dog, the off season is the BEST!  The sand isn’t scalding hot for their paws, there’s less crowds, and less restriction on when and where dogs are allowed to be.  Bring a ball for play, and a book and blanket for cozying up while your pup takes a break.  

Ocean City allows dogs on the beach and boardwalk anytime between October 1 - April 30.  Go on Monday-Thursday for free parking!

Virginia Beach allows dogs on the beach and on the boardwalk anytime Labor Day - Memorial Day, and with a little planning, you can find free parking there too.

North Carolina beaches are the BEST, hands down.  There’s a sense of great peace and serenity here.  Drive to most any beach town and you’ll find water access points and free parking.  Is it a day trip?  It can be, if you really want it to be! 

5) Go window shopping

Well, from the inside.  When you need an indoor kind of adventure, there are plenty of non-pet stores that allow dogs inside!  Home Depot, Michaels, Home Goods, TJMaxx, Barnes and Noble, Bass Pro Shops, to name a few.  Department stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom too.  

However each store might have its own policy, so you’ll want to double check.  It’s best to call ahead.  It never hurts to ask, especially if it’s a store that doesn’t sell any food or beverages.  Many small local businesses might say yes too!

If you can refrain from actually buying something, it can very well be a great free adventure.  You know everyone will be ooh-ing and ahh-ing over your dog’s cuteness.  So be sure to bring treats, and work on greeting strangers, walking by your side, waiting as you’re browsing, and keeping an “indoor voice.”

So, where to?

As a dog person, you naturally want to spend time with your pup.  Sometimes this looks like curling up on the sofa together, watching your favorite show.  Sometimes this looks like a leisurely walk around the block, or a game of fetch in the backyard.  But sometimes, it looks like an adventure!  

Unlike humans, dogs get a LOT of rest while we’re working.  So they are ready to go when you get home!  Here’s a challenge for you - plan one  day this week to take your dog on a Riding Certified outing.  Bonus points if it’s on a workday.  Why?  Because this special time with your dog has so many benefits to you both, especially in the middle of a work week.

For your dog, you’re stimulating his/her senses with something new and exciting, and that’s going to give your pup a way to release energy and boredom.  As a result, you’ll have a calmer dog the following day.  You also get a mental reset by doing this.  Put work aside for a couple hours while you’re adventuring with your furbaby.  You’ll find that your brain is able to let things settle, so you can focus and think with higher clarity when it’s time to turn work mode back on again.

Plan it just right - an adventure before the busiest day of the week, and you’ll have a low maintenance dog to keep busy and the best productivity for when you need it most.  How could you not want that?

And the most important part of it all?  Making great memories with your 4 legged BFF.   NOTHING beats that!

*Need a certified seatbelt for your furbaby to stay safe on the ride?  Get your seatbelt here :-)