Amazing Sports and Activities to Do with Your Dog in the Lake County Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin Areas

Sep 30, 2024

Love your furry companions so much that you can’t get enough togetherness? We’ve got great news for you! Today’s blog is dedicated to helping you find some new and interesting sports and activities to do with your dog locally, as well as some fun training you can try out together to make car trips a breeze. Before you know it, you and your pup will be on the road to adventure in your new car from Classic Auto Group of Waukegan, and off to making memories in that big beautiful world of ours.

What are dog sports and how do they benefit me and my canine companions?

Dog sports are fun activities that hone and test your dog’s athleticism, obedience, agility, scenting abilities, and mental fitness. They also provide an excellent outlet not only for mental and physical enrichment, but opportunities for handler-canine bonding and relationship strengthening. Some examples of handler-led sports include lure coursing or FastCAT, dock diving, disc throwing, flyball, herding, barn hunt, etc. Sports that require very active hands-on time between handler and pup include canicross, bikejoring, skijoring, canine freestyle dance, dog sledding, and agility coursing.

Learn more about these fun dog-and-human centric sports:

What fun sports or activities can I do with my dog locally in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin areas?

We’re so glad you asked! Check out our list of fun sports, training sessions, and classes you can enjoy for some human-pup bonding time.

How do I get my dog ready for traveling to new places for road trips and extended travel?

Start slowly and consistently introducing your dog to their new method of transportation by creating a positive and reinforcing experience! Here are some suggestions on ways to go about it:

Keep early desensitization training sessions short so as not to overwhelm your pup, and provide a safe and comfortable experience in the car, and use only positive reinforcement training and never leave them unattended in the vehicle for any reason.
Do not force your dog into the vehicle; be patient, work with your dog’s comfort level, and gradually build up their tolerance and provide positive methods to peak their curiosity and excitement.
Let your dog explore the environment before you embark on your journey! Facilitate a positive experience of the in the cargo area or backseat of your vehicle with a scavenger hunt for treats, and by placing their favorite toy and/or familiar bed/blanket inside while you sit in the front seat and chaperone.
Once your pup is comfortable inside the vehicle, turn on the engine and give them a treat and some more positive verbal reinforcement and praise. Turn on the radio to some soothing music or upbeat tunes, open the windows a little (not enough for them to put their head out!) and the air vents to get them used to the sounds and smells of the car.
Start by slowly backing out of your parking space or driveway, and doing a trip down the block and back. Slowly increase the duration of your trips, and start off with a fun destination like a local park, a local beach, or a drive through with a pup-cup option! Once your dog is feeling safe, secure, and no motion sickness, you are ready to hit the road comfortably and go just about anywhere!

If slow and steady still isn’t helping, it might be time to consult a professional behaviorist and trainer to assist you with interventions and comforting training techniques.

Remember to always travel safely: properly secure your pets and do not allow them to free roam or sit on your laps without restraints for everyone’s safety!

Distracted driving due to roaming pets is a deadly road hazard! Make sure that your dog feels comfortable, safe, and secure! Keep the lives of you, your passengers, your pets, and other drivers safe by ensuring your pup is belted/buckled just as you would fellow humans. Here are some tips that can help alleviate their stress, and help them be more comfortable with traveling:

Introduce your pup to safety restraints, crates, and other car ride harnesses while indoors, and always while reinforcing positive experiences such as treats, praise, playing with their favorite toys, and physical affection (if your dog appreciates that!) Your job here is to associate the safety gear with a happy, wonderful, enjoyable experience ahead of time so that when you’re ready to get on the road, they’re excited to use it!
Crack the windows no more than a few inches, making sure your pup cannot get any paws, their nose, or any other body part out the window. Just enough for some fresh air!
Use a crate to keep them safe and sound, a grate between the front and back seat or cargo areas, or secure them with a pet-friendly seatbelt, car seat, or click their harness into a seatbelt attachment.
Have a friend or family member that your dog is comfortable with sit in the back seat alongside your pal to help them remain calm and seated or lying down.

**This post does not constitute or act as a substitute professional training advice. It is meant as a purely informational springboard and for entertainment purposes only.**

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