A GUIDE TO DOG FRIENDLY FALL ADVENTURES

I have always loved the Fall, but I'll admit I took it for granted year after year.  Only after living in Phoenix, Arizona for nearly 10 years did I really appreciate the joy of a majestic Fall season.  In Phoenix they joke that there are only two seasons; Hot and Hotter!

Although we loved living in Phoenix, we soon missed the blazing beauty of the Autumn leaves.  Even driving on the highways you can't help but be struck by Fall's gorgeous hues. The bright yellows, fiery reds, and deep rust tones create a stunning landscape against cool, crisp, sunny skies. Dogs love Fall too, so I've compiled this Guide to Dog Friendly Fall Adventures!

Enjoying the beauty of Fall with my dogs

I love outdoor activities with my dogs in every season.  Each season is special, with it's own brand of fun things to do with your dog unique to that season.

Fall is one of the best times to embark on outdoor fun activities and adventures with dogs! The weather is cooler and the Summer crowds have thinned out.

As October approaches we start thinking about Pumpkins, Hiking & Biking in cool weather, Fall Festivals & Costume Parades, Apple Picking, Corn Mazes, Fall Foliage, and Hay Rides!  So much FUN and bonding to be had with our dogs during the Fall season! 

Great Fall activities to do with dogs  

Plan Fall adventures now before the beauty of Autumn is gone!

My dogs love outdoor Fall activities and Halloween treats!

FUN FALL ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR DOG

Be ready for outdoor Fall activities with dogs by having the right gear!  For all that outdoor fun with the dog, you want to make sure your dog is comfortable and safe!

Fall hike with my dog

The two activities I look forward to the most with our dogs are hiking and bike riding.  We hike and bike in Summer, but heat and humidity often makes hiking and biking trips with the dogs short.  Not so in the Fall, here's when we go all out!

BIKE RIDING WITH DOGS

Bicycle riding with your dog is a great activity, but you should do it safely.  Dogs have a habit of getting too close to the wheels of the bicycle or crossing out in front of the bike.  To avoid an accident I bought a Bicycle Leash for my Husky, Icy.  A bike leash for dogs keeps your dog next to the bike and away from the wheels!  I use the Walky Dog Plus bike leash, but there are others on the market.  I couldn't find dog bike leashes in bicycle stores (weird, right?!), but a Google search pulled up several.  Walmart, Chewy and Amazon have a couple of them online.

My dog Icy gets so excited when she see's my bicycle come out!

My Walky Dog Plus dog bike leash helps me bike ride safely with Icy

You can usually bike ride from early Fall until December in the Northern U.S.  In this video you can see how the bike leash keeps her at a safe distance from the bicycle.

Bike riding with your dog is not only a total blast, it has health benefits for both of you!  Need more reasons to bike ride with dogs? Here are 6 Reasons To Bike Ride With Your Dog!

My dogs are very different in size, strength and endurance.  I can't bike ride with both of them together on bike leashes, but I could attach a Pet Basket for Bicycles to my bike for a smaller dog.  That way both dogs could join in for bike rides and not feel left out.  PetSmart, Chewy, and Amazon sell bicycle baskets for small dogs (or other small pets) online. 

A bicycle basket made specifically for small dogs or other small pets!

HIKING WITH DOGS

We've done so much fantastic hiking with our dogs, from Sedona, Arizona to Montauk, Long Island with tons of places in between!  I have to say, hiking is probably my favorite activity to do with dogs.  I love to get out and explore nature with my dogs.  It's a great activity for the 4 of us to do together.  Although my dogs are active at different levels, hiking is something they can easily do together.  If Icy and my husband forge ahead, it's no big deal to stop and wait for me to catch up with my smaller dog.

DOG CLOTHING AND OUTERWEAR

When I think about my dogs being safe and comfortable during outdoor Fall activities, the first thing I think about is clothing and outerwear.  Being a Siberian Husky, Icy pretty much never needs dog apparel of any kind!  As soon as Fall weather arrives however, some small dogs get chilly.  I always had to break out a sweater or jacket for my dog Phoebe when the weather turned cool. They have the cutest clothing for dogs, especially for smaller dogs.

My dog Phoebe in her Cheeta print sweater - I love the pink bow!

For cold Fall mornings, or if there's a chance of rain, your pooch might need a waterproof dog coat like this one.  I love the adorable wool hood on this jacket!

Phoebe was always cozy warm in her hot pink Winter dog jacket

When we go on longer hikes, I often use a dog backpack for Icy.  It helps with carrying gear like water bottles, snacks, bowls, and waste bags.  It also helps reduce her pulling on leash!  Many dogs pull on their leash.  Using a backpack is one way some trainers recommend to reduce the pulling.  Be sure to check with a trainer or pet store staff on how much weight is appropriate for your dog to carry in the pack, if any.  The rule I've heard is to never put more than 10% of a dogs weight in a dog's backpack.

We often used a backpack for Icy on hikes.  It helped keep her from pulling like the sled dog that she is! She can carry her water bowl, water, and snacks!

Some dogs may require less weight or none at all in a backpack. Check with your Veterinarian before using a weighted backpack on your dog for the first time.  Here are more tips to get your dog to Stop Pulling On Leash.

This stylish Dog DayPak by Outward Hound is neon green with reflective accents so Icy is visible among the trees. You may not consider reflective safety strips when hiking, but more than once we've found ourselves still hiking after the sun has set.  Sunset is often when wildlife start hunting - yikes!! 

Make sure you bring plenty of water on any outing with your dogs! Remember to bring along portable bowls and a water bottle.

SAFETY FIRST!

Fall is actually prime season for Fleas and Ticks!  Be sure to protect your dog with Flea & Tick control like Bravecto   which provides up to 12 weeks protection from ticks and fleas in a tasty chew.  Note: Always Consult your Vet before you begin using any flea/tick product.

Fall is prime Tick and Flea season! Make sure your dog is protected

If you plan to take your dog near beaches, lakes, ponds, pools, or out on a boat you should consider a Life Jacket for Dogs.  A life jacket is a great safety option for dogs around water, especially if your dog is unfamiliar with the area, isn't a strong swimmer, or if she'll be out on a boat.

Icy wears this Outward Hound life jacket when we're near water

I also like the Kurgo Surf 'n Turf life vest which doubles as a life vest or rain coat.  It has 2 handles to help get your dog in and out of the water, and reflective trim.  The flotation layer can be removed so the waterproof shell can be used as a raincoat!

If your Fall adventure with your dog involves a car ride or a weekend getaway, consider a Dog Carrier or Pet Crate and a Dog Safety Harness for the car.

PET CARRIERS AND CRATES

There are SO many beautiful and versatile pet carriers to choose from these days.  Pet carriers come in lots of shapes and sizes, some models even have wheels.  A carrier or crate is a great way to keep your pet safe and secure while riding in the car or at the airport.  If your Fall adventure involves taking your dog or cat on an airplane, here is some information you should know; Tips For Air Travel With Pets.

Phoebe loved her Sherpa pet carrier!  I often left it open for her on the floor of my office so she could nap right next to me.

Outdoor Fall adventures with the dogs usually come with mud, sand, or dirt!  For all those great outdoor Fall adventures with your pup, make sure you protect your car seats with a Car Seat Cover  like this one from 4Knines!  They come in all sizes to fit pretty much any vehicle you've got. 4Knines makes great car seats, I love our 4Knines back seat cover for our Honda CRV!  Investing in a quality seat cover like the one we got from 4Knines is a great idea. 

Outdoor adventures with dogs almost always involve mud, sand and dirt! 

Even if you have a car seat cover don't forget to bring along Pet Wipes and a Towel or Paper Toweling. You'll probably want to get the dirt off their paws before going back into the house after a day of  outdoor fun & adventure!  I always have pet wipes in the car and in my backpack, you just never know what your dog will roll in, step in, or swim in!  If there's anything massively stinky to roll in, my dogs are sure to find it!

One of the things I can't do without on any of our adventures with the dogs is a First Aid Kit.  I can't tell you how many times we've traveled with our dogs or gone on long day trips and needed the First Aid Kit!  It's essential to get a pet first aid kit, or assemble one yourself.  I'll never forget the time my dog Icy cut her paw open on broken glass on her last potty break of the day.  It was at a hotel in Albuquerque, around 11pm.  No Veterinarian's were available and our first aid kit literally saved us! Paw pads bleed a lot more than I expected!

You can find Pet First Aid Kits online, there are tons of them. You can also assemble one yourself. Make sure you have a bag or case fits well into a backpack or your overnight bag.  We never leave home without a first aid kit for dogs!  

In our Dog First Aid Kit we have antibiotic ointment, essential to prevent infection if our dogs cut themselves.  I use Zymox Topical Cream with .5% Hydrocortisone.  This cream is made specifically for pets and is used for wound care, hot spots, and skin infections. 

Anther fun Fall activity is to head for your favorite dog friendly cafe for a mug of steaming pumpkin spice latte, hot apple cider or hot chocolate.  While you relax and enjoy a delicious Fall beverage, your dog can enjoy a special chew stick or her favorite toy, right beside you.

Pumpkin picking is a perennial Fall favorite, so look for a dog friendly farm and take your dog pumpkin picking!  I love taking pictures of my dogs out in the field among the bright orange pumpkins, the photos come out so pretty with all that Fall color. Rich Fall color brings so much warmth to a photo.

One thing we look forward to all year in our area are the Fall Festivals and Pet Costume Parades.   It's so much fun to see all the dogs out and about, trotting alongside their family enjoying Fall festivities.  A Pet Costume parade is always fun.  Some people are really clever in the costumes they create for their pets!  It's so inspiring.

Icy marched in our town's Pet Halloween Costume parade looking BOO-tiful in her Headless Horseman costume! 

I'm sure this year's hottest Dog Halloween Costumes will be super heroes again, like Wonder Woman for the girls and Spider Man or Super Man for the boys.  Do you dress your dog up for Halloween?  What will your dog, cat, lizard, or other pet be for Halloween this year? Tell us in the comments! 

I love the little skirt on this Wonder Woman costume, it's so cute!  

You don't even have to leave your own yard to enjoy the beauty of Fall with your pet.  Rake up the leaves in your yard and let your dog or cat play in them!  Throw his favorite ball or toy into the pile and watch him have fun digging and jumping through the leaves to retrieve the prize.  So what if you have to rake the leaves up again, it's worth it!

Once again, I'll be searching for a dog friendly Hay Ride and Corn Maze!  I was unsuccessful last year.

I'm always excited to see Fall themed dog treats, like Greenies Pumpkin Spice flavored Dental Chews for Dogs!  No reason why our pets shouldn't enjoy the flavors of the season, right?  While you enjoy a mug of hot apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte at an outdoor cafe, give your dog a pumpkin spice flavored treat to enjoy and celebrate Fall together!

Pumpkin Spice flavor treats for dogs.  Our pets should enjoy the flavors of the Fall season too!

If you have the time, you can make your own dog treats with Fall themed flavors like pumpkin, apple, or pear. Here's a simple, no bake Pumpkin Spice Dog Treat Recipe.

I take advantage of all those freshly picked pumpkins of Fall.  I add some pure pumpkin to my dogs' food each morning to give them the health benefits of pumpkin all year round. 

In the Fall I make my own pumpkin mush for them from fresh pumpkins we bring home. I add around a tablespoon of it to their food each morning.  If you've never made fresh pumpkin mush yourself, you'd be surprised at how much pumpkin mush even a very small pumpkin can yield!

My dog Phoebe, surrounded by pumpkins at our town's Fall Festival!

🐾 After removing the seeds inside, I cut a fresh pumpkin into large chunks and boil until the pieces are soft.  

🐾 Then I peel off the outer skin (Skin comes off easily after boiling) and mash it all up in a bowl.  You can puree it in a blender if you prefer. 

🐾 Cooked pumpkin freezes well so it should last a couple of months in the freezer.  

Always check with your Veterinarian before introducing any new food into your pet's diet. Never feed raw pumpkin to your pet, raw pumpkin can make them sick.

Whatever you do to celebrate Fall with your dog, cat or other pet be safe and Have Fun!!

Sharing is Caring! If you enjoyed this post, we would really appreciate a social media share! 😍

Please visit my ETSY store, Nature and Critters, where you'll find lots of products for Fall and all year round! Printable art prints, Pet Health Tracker, Pet Emergency Preparedness checklist, Holiday products, and more, all inspired by pets and nature.

HAPPY FALL!!

Dogs Playing in Fall Leaves

FALL, WHERE ARE YOU??  

It's been in the 80's in New York for the last two weeks, c'mon Mother Nature hit us with some FALL already!

Phoebe loves play in the leaves!

If you love Fall as much as we do .....

Fall, or Autumn as some prefer, is a great time to take a special trip with your dog.  The Summer crowds have thinned out and the weather is cool and crisp.  

🐶 How about a Fall trip to dog friendly Montauk  or The Hamptons in New York?  
🐶 History buffs that love witches, ghosts, and goblins, can bring the dog along on a "Witch Hunt" in Salem, Massachusetts.  
🐶 A weekend getaway to historical Colonial Williamsburg is a fun and educational vacation for the whole family.  

🐶 If you're on the West coast, Fall is the perfect time to visit Sedona, Arizona.  The scenic beauty will literally take your breath away!  The miles and miles of dog friendly hiking will keep your dog's tail wagging with sheer joy. 

We took Icy and Phoebe to all these places, each one warmly welcomed our dogs!

What is your dog's favorite activity to do in the Fall? Please leave us a comment and share!

A SPOOKY DOG FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN IN SALEM, MA

What better place to spend a spooky Halloween than Salem, Massachusetts, or "Witch City" as it's been nicknamed!  Salem gets it's Witch City moniker from the infamous Witch Trials that occurred in Salem in 1692, when witchcraft accusations occurred throughout New England.

The Coven's Cottage,  just one of the many interesting shops around Salem, Massachusetts.

I learned that there are actually practicing witches who reside in Salem today!  Several of the village stores are "witch shops" that even carry paraphernalia that might be used in practicing witchcraft.

An entire season of the popular 1960's TV show BEWITCHED was filmed in Salem.  Sometime later, this beautiful statue was erected in honor of Elizabeth Montgomery, the show's star.

Although Salem is a pretty dog friendly place, there appear to only be two pet friendly hotels in the town of Salem.  We stayed at The Salem Inn's West House, a lovely quaint B&B across the street from the historic Witch House.  Their location is perfect and they're very welcoming to dogs.

Relaxing in our room at The Salem Inn's West House.

Our favorite place to eat was the Gulu Gulu Cafe.  They have the best Goulash and an awesome, unique Mac 'n Cheese.  The food was delicious and they were so friendly to us and our dogs on the outdoor patio!  The hot chocolate was to die for, and according to John so was the beer.

Our favorite Salem restaurant, Gulu Gulu.  "Do You Gulu?"

I thought our trip to Salem would be interesting, fun, and mostly kind of hokey.  It was all those things, but a large part of it was more sobering.  The witch hunts and Salem Witch Trials were real.  It wasn't some scary movie or novel, these horrific events actually took place.  Innocent people, real people, were subjected to horrible accusations and torment, and suffered even more horrible deaths.

The Witch House, the gabled house on the right, in Salem Massachusetts where initial examinations of the accused witches were held in 1692.

Inside the historic Witch House in Salem, owned by the wealthy Jonathan Corwin from the late 1600's to mid 1800's.

The table where accused witches were confronted and questioned by Jonathan Corwin  and John Hathorne.

This plaque hangs in the gift shop just outside the Witch House.  It lists the names of each of the 25 falsely accused victims of the Salem Witch Trials.

Plaque bearing the names of the 25 victims accused of being witches during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.

Far more important than the house itself are the people who were falsely accused of witchcraft and subsequently condemned to death.  Most of the accused were women, two of them being elderly. Contrary to popular belief, the accused witches of Salem were not burned at the stake.  Most were hanged, one was pressed to death with stones, and the others died in jail awaiting their fate.  Burning at the stake had been outlawed many years before by British rule.

Salem Witch Trial Memorial that remembers and honors those accused of witchcraft and condemned to death in 1692. 

A memorial was erected in Salem to remember and honor those falsely accused of witchcraft and to reflect on the tragedy of the witch trials. The accusations lasted barely a year, but the horrific incident lives on in the hearts and minds of Americans.  This large grassy area has stone benches all around it, each one dedicated to the memory of one of the 25 condemned victims.  Here is an up close photo of one of the benches, this one dedicated to Wilmot Redd, condemned and hanged for using witchcraft:

Salem Witch Trial Memorial stone bench dedicated to accused witch Wilmot Redd.

The fear of witches and witchcraft was a very real threat in the minds of the early settlers, especially the Puritan Pilgrims.  It was one of the things that caused the community and it's leaders a lot of stress and anxiety.  There were even books written about how to judge whether a person was a witch and how to guard against witches and witchcraft.

One of the early books written about witchcraft and how to ward off the evils of it.

I found one of the strangest ways the Puritans judged whether or not a person was a witch involved dogs.  They would bake a "witch cake", containing rye flour and the urine of the person believed to be bewitched, or tormented by a witch.  They fed the cake to a dog and if the dog showed the same symptoms as the afflicted person, they believed witchcraft was to blame.  The dog was then believed to have the ability to point out the witch responsible for the afflicted person's torment.  

In addition to cats and other animals, they also believed that dogs could be a type of familiar associated with the devil and witches.  As such, at least two dogs were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials.

Seriously??  Dogs doing the devil's bidding!?  Ridiculous!

It all started with 3 Salem village girls who claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft.  It was largely fear and suspicion that led to the hysteria and subsequent witch hunts.  Greed also appeared to be a cause of people accusing each other of practicing witchcraft. You could accuse a land owner of witchcraft and ultimately end up taking possession of his property. 

I was greatly moved by the following words, which I saw mounted on the wall as I was touring the Witch House:

"Throughout history, when one group perceives a danger or threat from another group, mankind is capable of great cruelty in our effort to nullify or remove that threat.  We consent to acts that bring dire consequences in our attempts to control our circumstances, our fortunes, and engineer their improvement.  From the ongoing persecution of "child witches" in Africa to global terrorism, to classroom and cyber bullying we are still surrounded with events that marginalize the group or individual through acts of violence or domination."

Although these accusations and subsequent hysteria seem ridiculous to most of us, it's important to remember and reflect on events like the Salem Witch Trials.  We must be careful not to let fear and suspicion convert sensible people into terrified beings that commit acts that chip away at our humanity.

In addition to discovering it's rich history, there are SO many fun and interesting things to see and do in Salem Massachusetts. There are museums, Witch Trial re-enactments, historic places, ghost walks, historic walks & lectures, harbor tours, a trolley tour, some great restaurants to eat in and more!  Start planning your Salem, Massachusetts trip by visiting the Salem visitors site.   We stayed only 2 nights, but I'd love to visit again to see and do all the things we didn't get to on this trip.


Of course, no trip to Salem Massachusetts would be complete without a visit to the House of the Seven Gables, on which the 1851 novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne is based.  The home was owned by his cousin and Nathaniel spent much of his youth at the house.   His ancestors were involved in the 1692 Salem witch trials.  His novel makes references to the supernatural and witchcraft.

The gardens at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem Massachusetts are lovely and overlook the harbor.

On our way to the House of the Seven Gables we passed lots of fun little shops and attractions.

I popped into a place called WITCH WAY GIFTS.  Lo and Behold, I found the adorable Halloween flag I'd seen a year ago but didn't buy!

I'd been searching for it for 2 months in stores and online.  How fitting that I finally found it in SALEM MASSACHUSETTS days before Halloween!  Coincidence?  Hmmmmm.....

What spooky or fun Halloween places have you taken your pet too?  Leave us a comment and share!

Visit my ETSY store, Nature and Critters for one of a kind items. Printables, Wall Art and Products like this beautiful OWL MUG!

Have you ever visited Salem, Massachusetts?  Please tell us about it in the comments!

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Have a spooktacular Halloween in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Happy Fall!

Dogs love FALL just as much as we do!

We love the beauty of Fall, but mostly we love the pumpkins!

Seriously though, when are we gonna eat this sucker?!  I'm ready to tear it open right NOW!

Whether we're at a Dog Friendly Fall Festival, or right here on our front porch, Icy and Phoebe love to get their Pumpkin on!  

This guy is starting to creep me out, when's he leaving??

Remember, Fall is peak FLEA and TICK season in many areas so be sure your dogs are protected against TICKS and the TICKBORNE DISEASES they carry, like Tick Fever (Anaplasmosis)!

Are your dog's enjoying Autumn?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it, we love hearing from you!!