My Favourite Top 10 Dog Activity - Dog Walking at Crescent Beach in South Surrey
SIGNATURE PET - TOP 10 DOG ACTIVITIES
If you are new to the South Surrey, White Rock, Cloverdale, Langley or Surrey areas or you are just looking for some fun (and perhaps unusual) dog activities, I hope this list of my favourite Top 10 Dog Activities will inspire you. These dog activities will mostly include dog walking activities and dog and puppy socialization activities that take anywhere from 15 minutes (if your schedule is very busy) to half a day. These activities are a great way to bond with your dog or puppy, meet new people, relax and leave the stress of the office behind and most importantly...have some fun!
1. CRESCENT BEACH & BLACKIE SPIT, SOUTH SURREY
My most favourite dog activity is to take my dog Madeline to Crescent Beach on my day off. This is also a great way to start the day or unwind at the end of a busy day. There are a variety of things to do at Crescent Beach.
Just take your dog for a dog walk, you can walk the entire area on leash (be careful of the City's bylaws and date restrictions) and then head to Blackie Spit off-leash beach area and off-leash dog park. You and your dog can have a blast at the off-leash beach area especially when there are other well socialized dogs playing there, just beware you both may need a bath after. While I am not a big advocate of off-leash dog parks as I have seen many situations between both dogs and dog owners go terribly wrong, this off-leash dog park is one of the best around. This is a smaller off-leash dog park and so far my experience has been that the owners who take their dogs there seem to have an interest in their dog's behaviour. It is always a good rule, and one I follow all the time, to take a few minutes to watch who is in the off-leash dog park before entering with your dog. The things I watch out for are what the dog owners are doing, what the dogs are doing, how many dogs are there and is there aggressive pack behaviour. Only well socialized dogs belong at the off-leash dog park - aggressive dogs should not be there to be socialized. If you do have an aggressive dog, check out my Favourites page and go directly to the link for Zen Dog Canine Training.
Usually, on a Friday or Sunday night after spending the afternoon at Crescent Beach dog walking I will get take-out from Pelagos Restaurant right on the beach and O-Hara Lane (pictured above). Even if you have a busy schedule, you can drive down to Crescent Beach, order some take-out and while your are waiting for your order (usually 20 minutes) you can take your dog for a nice 20 minute dog walk on the beach or around the Crescent Beach neighbourhood. That way you and your dog get some quality time together, some relaxation, some fun and you do not have to cook!
You can usually find parking on Crescent Road, but when the weather is good it is best to go to the large gravel parking lot at the end of McBride Street where there is always plenty of free parking. The address for Blackie Spit Park (just north of Crescent Beach) is 3136 McBride Street (take Sullivan Street off Crescent Road) in beautiful South Surrey, BC.
2. RONA - KING GEORGE LOCATION, SOUTH SURREY
At first glance, you may think this is an odd (very odd probably) dog activity but I have to tell you Rona was a very valuable tool in my puppy socialization tool box when my Doberman Pinscher Madeline was a puppy. You see with a powerful breed such as the Doberman, an owner has the responsibility to socialize the puppy (no exception). We knew we needed to socialize her and because we had just moved to South Surrey and knew no one this was not an easy task especially when it came to having her socialized around little kids and men. It was during our renovation when we began making regular trips to Rona and started to bring Madeline along. The staff at Rona were friendly and always offered her a dog treat and because she was so cute little kids wanted to meet her and because she was a Doberman men wanted to meet her. An added bonus was that other people had their well behaved dogs there as well so Madeline was able to receive great puppy socialization that included the car ride to Rona, being around cars and a busy parking lot, meeting lots of people and their dogs, and she got to practice her obedience and leash manners. Today Madeline is a highly socialized dog who is very comfortable in busy, noisy, crowded environments, meeting new dogs, and people. Thank you Rona!
3. TAKE AN OBEDIENCE GROUP CLASS
Taking a dog obedience group class is another excellent way to socialize your dog or puppy. The City of Surrey offers several levels of obedience classes for both dogs and puppies. Now these classes are not small (and yes usually a good rule of thumb is the smaller the class the better) however, these classes are inexpensive, fun, informative, and a great way to bond with your dog or pup and meet new local folks. If your dog is walking you instead of you walking your dog - this class may just be the help you need. I am all about good value for my dollar and these courses fit the bill. I am actually taking another of the City of Surrey's obedience classes this May and I hope to blog about it.
4. PUPPY SOCIALIZATION PARTY
One of the Dr. Ian Dunbar's (see link on my Favourites page) suggestions for the always important puppy socialization is to host a puppy party. This is simple and fun way to socialize your pup and a great reason to have a party! Invite a few friends over who have a new pup and/or a well socialized dog (so your pup has only positive experiences at his party). Don't just invite your dog park pals - unless you know them and their dog's behaviour and house-training status as this may be a recipe for disaster. Be sure to invite some men too (for some reason dogs tend to be apprehensive about men) or ask a pal to bring a man as a date to your puppy party. Plan a few puppy socialization games such as Hide and Seek or the Treat Cup Name Game. Be sure to pick up some yummy puppy socialization party treats at the Three Dog Bakery (see link on my Favourites page). In fact taking your pup to the Three Dog Bakery is also great socialization for him and he can sample some of their wonderful treats while he is there. As for human party treats - my favourite place for baked goods is Fieldstones Artisan Breads just off Crescent Road in South Surrey. Even if you do not engage in any structured puppy socialization games - your puppy will find plenty to do with all the guests.
Here are some quick instructions for a fun game of Puppy Hide and Seek. As good finding skills lead to good dog walking skills, this is a good game to start with. Best with puppies around 14 weeks old. Leave your puppy with one person or sitting quietly in a room (if just you are playing). Hide (make it easy - remember your puppy has puppy brain still) and shake a little cup with some treats inside of it. As you shake the cup, call your puppy's name repeatedly. As your puppy gets closer/warmer, praise him wildly and give him a treat as a reward, once he finds you. If he is in the wrong direction or changes direction - be very still and quiet. One rule: If your puppy is taking longer than 30 seconds to locate you, you are hiding too well. Remember, quick and easy will build your puppy's confidence and his determination.
5. SUNNYSIDE PARK - 24TH AND 148TH, SOUTH SURREY
Sunnyside Park is a really good nature trail to enjoy with your dog. This is a smaller park and does get busy but is always still enjoyable. My favorite time to go is earlier in the morning or on a rainy day when it is not too busy. I like to take my bike and my dog and we ride the trails together - this is a blast! This is not an off-leash trail and if you do bend the rules and go off-leash in the early morning - I caution you and your dog to respect the coyotes who live in the park area as you may be sharing a trail or two with them and they are not always shy (also a great photo opportunity).
6. EXPLORE YOUR OWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
Exploring your own neighbourhood is an easy, quick and inexpensive activity. Just leash up your dog or pup and take them for a stroll around your neighbourhood. If you are new to your area, this is a fun way to meet new people and to socialize your dog or pup. Even a quick 20 minute walk will allow your dog or pup to sniff, explore and receive outside stimulation and feel much more fulfilled and better about himself. In a perfect world an hour a day walk is best but 20 minutes is better than no walk at all, and your dog will thank you. Don't forget to pick up after your pooch as it is the law and will not endear you to your neighbours if you do not.
7. WALK YOUR DOG IN STYLISH MORGAN CREEK
Morgan Creek is a pleasant place for an easy dog walk, especially when you are looking for a change of scenery. It is a beautiful and well kept area and traffic is very slow during the day so it makes for a quiet place for a dog walk. One of the best things about walking your dog around Morgan Creek is there is always a sidewalk to walk on. It is also nice to admire the stylish homes and golf course nearby. If you are a bird watcher, make sure you take a walk down the chip trails that lead to the water areas, there you can find ducks, swans, geese, red-winged blackbirds and a variety of fowl. Make sure you keep your dog on his leash or you may find yourself fishing him out of the water (as I saw happen today with an off-leash dog and his owner). Tip: There are no garbage cans to be found - so be prepared to pack your poop bag out with you. After your dog walk, stop in at the Morgan Creek golf course for a quick lunch. The golf course is located at 32nd Avenue at 160th Street in South Surrey. Remember if the day is at all warm - make sure you do not leave your dog in the car.
8. TAKE A TRACKING CLASS & DO TRACKING ACTIVITIES
My husband and I recently took our dog Roman to private tracking classes with experienced dog trainer Joan Klucha through K9 Kinship Training Inc. based in the lower mainland area.This is a truly amazing dog activity that builds the dog owner's leadership skills and can help an anxious dog to focus and achieve a calmer state of mind. For all you forensics and search and rescue buffs out there - this is a fun and fascinating activity for both dog and human.
9. CAMPBELL VALLEY PARK, LANGLEY
Campbell Valley Park is a fantastic park in the Langley area and it is enjoyed by dog walkers, nature lovers and local historical buffs. There are picnic areas, great trails, plenty of wildlife, and really cool wooden walkways and the old Langley Speedway. Campbell Valley Park tends to attract friendly people which makes this a great place to meet fellow dog walkers or just local folks out enjoying the park. We find that when we are walking our two dogs that families often stop us and ask us about our dogs, which of course we love. In general, this is a very large park and provides something for everyone. We love to go for dog walks with our friends in the summer evenings and after sit down for a picnic which sometimes includes a lovely (discreet) glass of wine from one of the local wineries.
The park can be reached from either Hwy 1 or 99. From Hwy 1, take the Langley City–200th Street South exit (exit 58) and travel 9 miles (14.5 km) south. Turn east on 16th Avenue for the North Valley entrance. Or turn east on Eighth Avenue for the South Valley entrance. From Hwy 99, take the Eighth Avenue East exit (exit 2), travel 4.7 miles (7.5 km), and follow the park signs.
10. ART KNAPP PLANTLAND - 4391 KING GEORGE, SURREY
Plantland in Surrey is another excellent place to take your dog or pup for socialization. In fact, once your dog or pup has graduated from a few trips to Rona with flying colours - this would be the next place to visit for socialization. I am a regular there with my dog Madeline so I never need to check before we enter the store. If it is your first time and your dog or pup is new to busy places, it is a good idea to ask one of the staff if it is ok to bring your dog or pup in while you are browsing or shopping. It is also a good idea to check out Plantland beforehand as there is alot going on there from trains, to a large selection of caged fowl, fountains, plants, people, children, carts and trinkets galore. These are all great for socialization but may be too overwhelming for some puppies. Also, children will likely want to meet your puppy so be prepared for this, whether you decide to let them meet the puppy or not that is up to you. I must admit that when I first took Madeline there as part of her puppy socialization - she nearly jumped right into one of the little ponds. There was an ornament in the pond that was spewing water and she must have thought she needed to visit it. I got her just in time before she was fully submerged in the pond and every time I go to Plantland I am reminded of that day.
Please continue to comment on the above list - I appreciate your input!