8 Ways to Spend Valentine’s Day With Your Pet

1. Spend time and splurge on their favorite thing

Often life makes us limit time at the dog park, visiting friends with canine pals or fetching with your dog’s favorite squeaky ball. For Valentine’s Day, plan ahead and carve a solid chunk of time to spend with your dog doing their very favorite thing (unless that thing is rolling in mud, in which case you might choose their second-favorite thing).

2. Make them special Valentine’s treats

Skip the box of chocolates and red-white-and-pink cookies but keep the heart shapes and head to the kitchen with your pooch. Pick a few of their very favorite flavors and bake them something special to enjoy on Valentines Day. Try this recipe for KONG mini-pupcakes, made with healthy ingredients. Be sure to have your canine sous chef test the recipe as you go. The mini-muffins just require 10-15 minutes of baking in case your Valentine’s tail is longer than their patience. Or, grab a heart-shaped cookie cutter and four simple ingredients to make heart-shaped peanut butter treats for your pup. These easy-to-make snacks make sweet (and nutty) Valentine’s gifts your dog can give to friends.

3. Donate to your favorite rescue

Make a donation in your pet’s name to the shelter or rescue organization that helped you find your true, wagging love. What better way to honor the joy your dog brings to your life than to help other dogs find their own happily-ever-afters?

4. Capture the love in photos

While standing or sitting still for pics may not be your pet’s thing, treats probably are, so grab a bag of their favorites—and maybe a friend to help—and a Valentine prop or two, like heart-shaped pillows or an oversized Valentine card. Check out these tips for making pet pics Insta-wonderful, and click away for lasting memories.

5. Pet shop shopping spree

Take your dog to their favorite pet store and let them wander the aisles, sniffing to their heart’s content, and choose a favorite toy (or toys!) to take home. Most stores ever-so-helpfully place racks and bins right at snout level to entice their most valuable customers.

6. Get crafty

As long as there are ample treats, your dog will enjoy lending a paw to a project devoted to him or her, like a finger/paw painting masterpiece to frame or clay pawprint keepsakes. Or, customize a treat jar with their name and favorite accolade then (of course) fill it with homemade Valentine’s biscuits.

7. Escape for a long weekend

Get out of town for a few days to explore new places with your pup. Many rental sites like airbnb.com let you search for rentals that welcome dogs. From beachfront cottages steps from dog-friendly surf to mountain A-frames near miles of trails, lots of places come with dog beds and biscuits to help your furry family member feel at home.

8. Date night (or day) out

Check your local event calendar for special dog-friendly Valentine’s Day happenings. Lots of rescues partner with bars, restaurants and pet supply shops to host fundraisers this time of year, like yappy-hours with photo-friendly kissing booths, to raise money, bring pet parents together and celebrate the love our furry family members bring.

Whether you spend the day at a special event with other pet parents and dogs or simply snuggle on the couch with your furry cupid, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to deliver extra hugs that someone special who is always ready to make your day instantly better with a wag and smooch.