June 29, 2026 –
With school out for the summer and temperatures on the rise, there are more opportunities for your family and pets to head outside. As you continue to make summer plans and fill up your calendar, you may plan on attending several dog-friendly events in your community. Here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure you and your pets stay safe while having a great time!
Will Your Dog Have Fun?
Live music, a great crowd, and plenty of food vendors may be staples you look for when deciding whether to attend a local event, but these factors may pose challenges for your pup. If your dog gets overstimulated by strangers or other animals, make sure there’s room at the event to give them space. If an event is so crowded that extra space cannot be provided (leaving your dog in the car should never be an option), then it may be best to let your pet stay home.
Similarly, if loud noises cause anxiety for your pup, leaving them at home will ensure their comfort if the event in question would include stimuli such as fireworks or live music. While everyone enjoys a tasty meal, keep an eye out on what is within reach of your dog. Many of the meals we eat contain spices that can cause an upset stomach. Fatty foods, as well as sweets and spicy foods can cause further problems, and chicken bones should always be avoided. Garlic, onions, and chives should be kept away from your furry friend, as well as many types of nuts and salty foods in excess. This is not an exhaustive list of foods to avoid – to best understand your dog’s specific dietary restrictions and needs, please consult with your veterinarian.
Check the Weather
While a warm day at an outdoor market may be ideal for you, your pup may disagree! Keep an eye on how hot surfaces like asphalt or concrete may be when temperatures are soaring and ensure that your dog has access to cooler surfaces, such as grass or a splash pad, to keep paws cool. You might also consider training your dog to wear dog booties for further protection.
A dog wearing booties
Come Prepared
To make certain your dog will have a good time, make sure to bring all the things they may need throughout the length of the event. Always bring plenty of water, a bowl for them to drink out of, treats, and poop bags. Consider a non-retractable leash since retractable lines can easily become entangled around objects or other attendees.
Ensure your dog is wearing a collar with up-to-date identification tags. Also make sure that their license is up to date, which is the law in many places including all of Larimer County and many jurisdictions in Weld County. Not only that, a pet license is your pet’s ticket home. If your pet becomes lost, a license tag significantly increases the chances of a safe return home. To be extra safe and prepared, microchipping your pet is also important!
Don’t forget the treats or your dog’s favorite reward! Reinforcing good behavior with a positive stimulus, a practice known as positive reinforcement, is an incredible way to train your dog and help them thrive in public settings.
Interacting with Others
Whether your pup is a huge fan of making new friends or prefers the company of a few, be prepared to monitor and control interactions they will have with other people and pets. For outgoing pups, remember that not everyone is a fan of dogs and prevent yours from approaching others without their express interest. Reward your dog when they play nicely with others, keeping their paws on the ground, and be ready to politely redirect your pup if they or another person or dog becomes too rowdy in the interaction.
When humans approach your dog, ensure they do so properly by not hovering over them, lunging in to pet them, or going straight for their face/head. A proper introduction involves offering a relaxed hand to the dog (but not in their face) and giving the dog an opportunity to approach and sniff their hand. Next, if your dog chooses to continue interacting with this person, ensure they are pet along their sides and on their back. If needed, remind others that direct eye contact and looming over a dog can cause anxiety for them.
For pups that do not enjoy meeting new people or other pets, make sure the area has enough space for them to keep their distance. If this is not a possibility, then your dog will be much more comfortable at home.
Monitor Body Language
The ultimate tell for if your dog is having a good time at an event is to understand and keep close watch on their body language. From the way in which they wag their tail to the rigidity of their body posture, our furry best friends are always communicating their feelings, even if they can’t put them into words.
Starting with a wagging tail, it is a common misconception that any wagging indicates happiness. Speed and the level at which the tail wags are key in deciphering this behavior. A tucked tail or one that is very low while wagging often indicates fear or discomfort. A tail raised high in the air, wagging stiffly can indicate that your pup is on alert or agitated. If this is paired with perked ears and a stiff, forward body, your pup likely needs to be removed from the situation to calm down. A loose tail, wagging neither too high nor too low is often an indication of joy, but keeping tabs on other signals in their body language is still important to get the full picture.
Common signs of stress in a dog include: panting when they haven’t been exercising or when it is not hot outside, yawning in new environments, lifting up their front paw as they are approached, lip licking when not eating or drinking, avoiding looking at other people or animals, repeatedly shaking themselves off, feigning a play bow but not wanting to play, or quickly exhaling a puff of air (sometimes accompanied by whining).
A fearful dog may: drool, pace (often in a circle), tuck their tail, whine, begin sweating through their paws, raise the hair along their spine (usually with their tail held high or low and a stiff body), growl, curl their lips, or bare teeth.
When deciphering your pup’s body language, keep in mind other indicators and the stimuli around them. Some of the behaviors associated with stress or fear may not indicate such emotions on their own, which is why you must stay alert to their full body language as well as the environment around them. Check out our blog post for a full overview of dog body language and what your dog may be communicating at any given moment.
Be Safe and Have Fun
No one likes to be dragged along to an event they don’t want to attend, including your dog. But if your pup is one who enjoys the outdoors and local happenings, ensure they have fun while being safe this summer.
