Do you often take the same walks with your dog and get "caught up" in the routine? We all know that, but it doesn't really take much to go on an adventure. Even on a weekday.
I wonder if many of us know this: In a busy everyday life, we often become creatures of habit, and perhaps often go on the same walks and do many of the same activities with our dogs. And perhaps settle for dreaming of going on an adventure when we have a vacation again one day. But why wait so long? Lots of exciting experiences await right outside the door, which don't really require much preparation.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Hiking.
Go on an everyday hike with your dog. There are many wonderful routes all around Denmark. Many of them are marked. So it requires minimal planning to get there. This week, for example, we did part of "Halsninoen", which is a lovely route in North Zealand. We parked the car at a station and walked to the next station nearby and took the train back to the car. A small backpack with snacks and water. And then we had some lovely hours together in nature. Previously, we have parked the car at a bus stop on the route and then took a bus back. Of course, you can also find loop tours if you want to avoid being dependent on return transport. I often use my hiking app "Alpenverein" and see if others have added routes to an area, or I enter a route suggestion myself. It sometimes happens that a path may be closed, but most of the time it is fine to follow new paths via my little maps.
A hike doesn't have to be a full day, but can easily be a couple of hours or three. And it's great for both two- and four-legged friends to get new impressions. Inspiration for routes can be found on the Danish Nature Agency's website and various hiking apps, where people share their routes. Websites from people who hike, such as Frie Fodspor or Sara In the Green , have also given us good ideas for finding new places to go.
2. Try a new activity
There are now countless activities that you can do with your dog. So how about trying something new together. In addition to traditional training, agility and the more commonly known forms of training, there are also dog fitness and places where you can train yourself, for example "dog parkour" with balance training and fun challenges. Here in North Zealand we use the place Equiility, which is a large hall filled with exciting things. But a good playground or natural obstacle course can also give ideas for new activities.
There are also fun obstacle courses that challenge both dog and owner. In these "K9 biathlons" you have to go over, under and through obstacles together, and usually you will also have to face mud and water. The races have both walking and running heats, so neither you nor your dog need to be super athletes to take part. There are different organizers of these races. The largest is K9 Biathlon for everyone, but also, for example, DCH organizes such events.
If you want to run with your dog, there are now various running clubs around the country. Here you can go to canicross, as the sport is called. The largest club is DIRTY PAWS with local clubs around Denmark. Check the Danish Canicross Association for other clubs. In DIRTY PAWS, many of the clubs love to SUP (stand up paddle) with their dogs in the summer, so they also offer an introduction to SUP with a dog! It's a fun and different way to spend time with your dog.
I hope you've been inspired to try something new with your dog and have some more fun experiences together! Enjoy your everyday adventures.
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper in the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and the World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower
Everyday little adventures
Do you often take the same walks with your dog and get "caught up" in the routine? We all know that, but it doesn't really take much to go on an adventure. Even on a weekday.
I wonder if many of us know this: In a busy everyday life, we often become creatures of habit, and perhaps often go on the same walks and do many of the same activities with our dogs. And perhaps settle for dreaming of going on an adventure when we have a vacation again one day. But why wait so long? Lots of exciting experiences await right outside the door, which don't really require much preparation.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Hiking.
Go on an everyday hike with your dog. There are many wonderful routes all around Denmark. Many of them are marked. So it requires minimal planning to get there. This week, for example, we did part of "Halsninoen", which is a lovely route in North Zealand. We parked the car at a station and walked to the next station nearby and took the train back to the car. A small backpack with snacks and water. And then we had some lovely hours together in nature. Previously, we have parked the car at a bus stop on the route and then took a bus back. Of course, you can also find loop tours if you want to avoid being dependent on return transport. I often use my hiking app "Alpenverein" and see if others have added routes to an area, or I enter a route suggestion myself. It sometimes happens that a path may be closed, but most of the time it is fine to follow new paths via my little maps.
A hike doesn't have to be a full day, but can easily be a couple of hours or three. And it's great for both two- and four-legged friends to get new impressions. Inspiration for routes can be found on the Danish Nature Agency's website and various hiking apps, where people share their routes. Websites from people who hike, such as Frie Fodspor or Sara In the Green , have also given us good ideas for finding new places to go.
2. Try a new activity
There are now countless activities that you can do with your dog. So how about trying something new together. In addition to traditional training, agility and the more commonly known forms of training, there are also dog fitness and places where you can train yourself, for example "dog parkour" with balance training and fun challenges. Here in North Zealand we use the place Equiility, which is a large hall filled with exciting things. But a good playground or natural obstacle course can also give ideas for new activities.
There are also fun obstacle courses that challenge both dog and owner. In these "K9 biathlons" you have to go over, under and through obstacles together, and usually you will also have to face mud and water. The races have both walking and running heats, so neither you nor your dog need to be super athletes to take part. There are different organizers of these races. The largest is K9 Biathlon for everyone, but also, for example, DCH organizes such events.
If you want to run with your dog, there are now various running clubs around the country. Here you can go to canicross, as the sport is called. The largest club is DIRTY PAWS with local clubs around Denmark. Check the Danish Canicross Association for other clubs. In DIRTY PAWS, many of the clubs love to SUP (stand up paddle) with their dogs in the summer, so they also offer an introduction to SUP with a dog! It's a fun and different way to spend time with your dog.
I hope you've been inspired to try something new with your dog and have some more fun experiences together! Enjoy your everyday adventures.
About the blogger:
Karoline lives in Birkerød with her boyfriend and their two golden retrievers, Frida and Vilde. Karoline is a trained veterinarian and dog trainer and is co-founder of the dog running club Dirty Paws, where she is also a trainer/rope keeper in the local club in North Zealand. Frida and Line love running canicross together and have participated in many competitions at home and abroad, including the European Championships and the World Championships. Their most important motto, however, is "Better together" - that the trips are about teamwork and understanding for each other. And that everyone can join in. In addition to canicross, they also participate in K9 biathlons (obstacle races with dogs) and do dog fitness. And hiking both in Denmark and around Europe is also a hit.
Frida is a super fast runner when it comes to it. And can hike for hours in the Alps. But she also just loves to be petted on the stomach and sleep for a long time. She can be stubborn as a donkey if there is something she doesn't like. On evening walks, for example, she is the one who decides the route. And she "talks" a lot by purring, including when she thinks she has earned an extra treat.
Vilde is from the spring of 2023 - and in many ways Frida's opposite. She is full of mischief and always happy and cheeky. She can howl like a wolf or jump like a kangaroo when she gets impatient - and otherwise she is a smart and brave girl who loves wild play and training. She will do pretty much anything for a treat.
Frida, Vilde and Karoline can be found on Instagram with the profile @teamgoldenpower