For a child their dog is the best kind of best friend. Dogs don’t judge and they’re always there to provide comfort and distraction if school gets stressful, they argue with friends (or their parents) or life gets hard. That kind of relationship can take time to build, but there are some really great activities that can help them build it. Or, if your child and dog are already best friends, might give them a way to connect that’s not just creating chaos together…

Trick training is an amazing way to keep your dog’s brain active, entertain them when you can’t walk them and build your bond with your dog. And as a bonus you can show off how cute and clever your dog is to all your friends. There are an almost endless list of tricks you could teach your dog so you’ll always find a trick that suits you and your dog’s skills and personalities.

Most dogs will have an operation at some point in their lives. Whether that’s being neutered, recovering from an accident or being treated for an illness or joint issue. And you’ll usually have to restrict your dog’s exercise after the surgery to allow them to heal properly. How long that will last and how much you’ll have to restrict their exercise will depend on the operation. Small operations like neutering are usually on-lead walks for 1-2 weeks but if your dog’s broken a bone or needs orthopedic surgery they might be confined to a crate for months.

Every summer we're all given warnings about the dangers of walking our dogs in hot weather. Dogs can quickly overheat and get seriously ill walking while it's hot and the risk is increased for young puppies, older dogs, toy or giant breeds, dogs with thick coats or flat faces.

But just telling you not to walk your dog doesn't help if your dog will go stir crazy and destroy your stuff without a walk. Luckily, there are some easy ways to occupy your dog's brain in hot weather.