Article: One of the most classic games you can play with your dog outside is fetch.  Traditionally, you’d throw a ball or a stick you found outside for your dog to retrieve and bring back to you.  You can, however, vary how you play fetch to keep it interesting for your dog.  For instance, try bringing some other toys with you, like a toy bone or stuffed animal, and throw these for your dog to retrieve.  Also, vary the height, direction, and length at which you throw while you’re playing fetch with your dog.  This will help keep it interested in the game.  While you are playing, work on your dog’s obedience training.  Focus on training your dog to learn commands like “come,” “drop it,” “lie down,” and “release.” Playing Frisbee with your dog is a bit different than playing fetch.  The Frisbee hangs in the air after you throw it, giving your dog an extra challenge in trying to catch it before it hits the ground.  Once it catches the Frisbee, have your dog return it to you so you can throw it again. You can buy Frisbees in varying degrees of toughness, depending how aggressive your dog is when playing this game.  If your dog is rather gently with the Frisbee, a soft Frisbee will be fine, but if your dog is tough on Frisbees, get one that is more durable. Generally, dogs love water and yours will probably enjoy playing or swimming in it while it is outside.  Try setting up sprinklers for your dog to run through in your back yard. If your dog can swim, take it to the beach or lake to play in the water. You can also use a pet life jacket to make sure your dog stays afloat. Make sure you have a towel handy to dry your dog off before it comes inside the house or gets into your car. Nose work is a scent detection activity used by professionally-trained K9 dogs that work with police. You can teach your dog to do it by first practicing inside by hiding a toy or food in an enclosed room. Don’t interrupt or try to help them; let them find it on their own, then reward themselves by eating the treat or playing with the toy. Keep training them for 3 months to a year before introducing a “target odor”--a specific scent for an object you want them to find. When your dog gets skilled at this, you can start taking them outside for a fun hide-and-seek scent game. To learn more about nose work and sign up for workshops, visit the official site here: https://www.k9nosework.com/about-us/what-k9-nose-work Another way to have fun with your dog outdoors is to get it to chase you.  To do this, mimic another dog and bend down in front of your dog, putting your hands on the ground.  Then take off in one direction.  Your dog will likely catch on and chase you.  Vary the patterns in which you move, making it more challenging for your dog to catch you. Buy some pet-safe bubbles online or at your local pet store. You can blow some bubbles around your dog and allow them to chase after them, snapping at them with its mouth and bursting them with its nose or paws. It’s important to get pet-safe bubbles, because regular bubbles will be toxic to your dog if ingested, as well as irritating to your dog’s eyes or skin. Tie a string around one of your dog’s favorite toys—preferably one it has just been chewing on—and drag this toy along the ground in some type of pattern (like an “L” or “S” shape, for example).  Hide the toy at the end of the trail under a big leaf, some sticks, or a pile of grass.  Bring your dog to the beginning of the track and tell it to “find it.”  Your dog will love using its scent-tracking skills to locate the toy. If your dog is having trouble, try pointing to the ground or dragging your finger along the scent trail.

What is a summary?
Play fetch. Throw a Frisbee. Play with water. Practice nose work with your dog. Get your dog to chase you. Blow pet-safe bubbles for your dog. Work on scent tracking.