January blues? 3 mood boosting activities to do with your dog

Did you know your dog can help you to sail through the most depressing month of the year?

Yep, your 4-legged friend has a superpower! 

They can transform you from feeling down, tired and fed up back into your positive, energetic self. 

This list of mood boosting activities to do with your dog can help you to beat the January blues. Or prevent those negative feelings from creeping in altogether. 

And your dog will feel incredible too! It’s a win, win for you both. 

3 mood boosting activities to do with your dog

1. A walk in nature

Even if the weather is shit outside. It’s blowing a gale and raining. Get kitted out with protective walking gear and brave the elements (safely of course!)

NHS inform encourages physical activity and being outdoors in the natural light for anyone suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) amongst other remedies. Please click here to read their full list of tips. 

So this basic activity you do with your dog every single day can help to boost your mood. 

But don’t settle for purely street walking because if you surround yourself with the beauty of nature, it can give you an added za za zing!

According to a 2020 study by the University of Exeter, people who spend “two hours a week in green spaces — local parks or other natural environments, either all at once or spaced over several visits — were substantially more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those who don’t.”

That’s amazing really isn’t it? Switching up where you walk your dog increases those happy hormones. 

Personally, I have found the natural world to impact my well being immensely. I find it fascinating and comforting.

Try it and see if it works for you. 

Click on the short video below to view a few clips I captured early this year (2023) on one of our beautiful beaches in Barrow-in-Furness.

2. Playing with your dog

Your dog is made for playtime and it’s easy to push your own physical boundaries because you become immersed in the activity too! 

We already know exercise is a great mood booster and the best kind; when you don’t even realise you’re doing it! 

7 quick tips for playing with your dog

You can also find a section on enrichment and training inside the New Year, New Skills Hub where you can access my dog training secrets (for FREE!) and build an amazing relationship with your pup. Sign up below for complimentary access. 

According to the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), “just playing with dogs has been shown to elevate oxytocin and dopamine, creating positive feelings and bonding for both the person and their pet”.

So, playing with your dog is a fun way to boost your mood AND build an unbreakable bond. Which will make training them so much easier! 

3. Learn something new with your dog

Here at Landing On Your Paws we only use up-to-date, science based puppy and dog training methods. We know this is the most effective approach to training in terms of progress and also to raise a confident, calm and happy dog. 

Your dog gets their reward and feels good doing it, but what’s in it for you? 

There’s a gazillion benefits of living with a well behaved dog. Here’s a few examples:

There’s also a crazy amount of value in the actual journey. 

According to Dennis Buttimer, a life and wellness coach, developing a new skill builds courage and confidence, “which helps you override fear and anxiety. You’ll feel more empowered.”

Dog training is as much about your learning as it is about your dog’s learning, and is a fantastic, worthwhile activity to boost your mood. 

I’d love to be a part of your journey.

Don’t forget to join us inside the New Year, New Skills Hub here.

I’ll leave you with this great advice from Dogs For Good, “dogs are great teachers and we can, by following in their own ‘pawsteps’ take our lead from them, particularly regarding mental wellness”.

In this blog post, we’ve shared 3 mood boosting activities to do with your dog and how they can help you to beat the January blues. 

If it has helped you, please let me know in the comments below. And if you enjoyed it, please share it! 

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Lindsay xx