10 Cute Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Your Dog
Our dogs give us the best welcome home, are there to comfort us when we’re down, and make us smile each and every day. So, on a day dedicated to love, why not spend it with the real love of your life… Your dog!
Who cares if your pup doesn’t know what day of the week it is, let them know how much you adore them with these fun Valentine’s Day ideas.
At Yappy we’re all about the furry friends in our lives and we firmly believe that the 14th of February shouldn’t just be reserved for the love between hoomans, it can be enjoyed with our dogs too. They are man’s best friend after all and caring for a dog has been proven to make us less stressed, happier, and healthier too (think about those countless dog walks).
So, sit back, scroll away, and be inspired to share the puppy love with your pooch this Valentine’s Day!
1. Pamper your pup
Watch out world, here comes your dog! Transform your pup into a canine Casanova with a bubble bath and spruce them up with a gorgeous groom.
Your dog will love the attention from you, and you’ll be rewarded with a sweet-smelling pup so it’s a win-win. If your dog isn’t a fan of baths, you can always give them a relaxing brush and even a little massage. Ahhh, bliss.
Looking for the most woofly dog grooming accessories? From dog-friendly shampoo to luscious lavender soap and personalised dog towels, we’ve got your dog’s bath time covered.
2. Create a mixtape for your dog
Music has been proven to have a calming effect on dogs, so why not use Valentine’s Day as the perfect opportunity to curate your canine a personalised playlist? You could include tunes that remind you of your pup or songs that you can tap your feet (and paws) to.
It’s believed that our pooches are particularly fond of classical music, so don’t forget to add some Barkhoven to your mutt’s mix as well.
3. Dine out with your doggo
It’s always nice to go for a stroll followed by a comforting hot drink or a well-deserved pub lunch, and these days, all it takes is a quick search online or a phone call to figure out which of your favourite establishments are dog friendly.
Pick somewhere that suits you and your pup’s tastes – whether that’s a cosy pub complete with a crackling fire or a coffee shop that offers a selection of treats for your dog. Walkies and the promise of some tasty treats at the end? Yes, paw-lease.
Some big chains such as Shake Shack and Starbucks also offer doggy treats on their menu, such as Puccinis and Puppacinos! Or, if you’re off to the pub, why not pack your pup a dog-friendly beer?
4. Have a picnic
Walks and snacks are probably two of your dog’s most beloved things, so a fun picnic trip is sure to make your pooch tail-waggingly happy. Providing the weather is in your favour, throw on some warm clothes, grab a flask of your favourite hot drink, and pack a basket full of dog-friendly treats, like yummy dog biscuits, apples, carrots, and dog-friendly peanut butter. A charcuterie board for you and a barkuterie board for your dog, pawfect!
Don’t forget to pack some fun dog toys so you and your pup can enjoy some post-picnic playtime.
5. Bake yummy dog treats
Homemade dog treats baked with woof… What could be better?
Your pup will fall head over heels for these delicious peanut butter and apple dog treats. Plus, they’re super easy to whip up. Grab your ingredients, pop on your apron and channel your inner Paul Hollywoof. Bone-appetite!
Peanut Butter and Apple Love Heart Dog Treats
Ingredients
1 banana
50g apple
150g wholewheat flour
40g peanut butter (make sure it’s xylitol-free so it’s dog friendly)
30g unsweetened apple sauce
1 egg
Method
Preheat your oven to 180°C/160° Fan/Gas Mark 4.
Add the banana to a large bowl and mash it with a fork.
Chop the apple into small pieces or use a food processor to cut it up into even smaller pieces, add it to the bowl with the banana.
Add the rest of your ingredients to the bowl and mix until well-combined, you should end up with a soft ball of dough.
If your dough is too sticky, just add a bit more flour until you get the right consistency.
Roll your dough out on a floured surface until it’s about ¼ inch thick.
Use a biscuit cutter to cut your biscuits out of the dough – use a heart-shaped cutter to make your love heart treats!
If you end up with any excess dough, roll it out and cut out more shapes until there’s no more dough left.
Place your dough hearts onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
Once your treats are baked, place them on a cooling rack and let them cool fully before feeding them to your dog.
6. Go for a long walk together
You, your dog, and the great outdoors, what more do you need? Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that truly are the best. To mix things up, why not go somewhere new? The National Trust offers lots of dog-friendly places that are just waiting for you and your pup to explore – from winding woodland parks to stunning coastlines.
A scent walk is also an easy but pawsome way to delight your dog – just let your dog’s nose lead the way when you’re out walking! It may sound simple but allowing your dog to stop and smell the roses (or whatever has caught their attention), especially somewhere new, is a real treat for their senses.
7. Organise a play date for your dog
If you fancy being social with other hoomans and not just your doggo on Valentine’s Day, how about organising a fun play date for your dog? It’ll give your pup a chance to run around and have a ball with another furry friend, plus they’ll get a pawsome mental and physical workout too so they’ll be ready to rest their paws and Petflix and chill afterwards.
Or, if you’re dating a fellow dog owner, why not…
8. Take your doggo on a date
We have 6 fur-tastic date ideas that will impress both your date and your dog. Barks will fly with these fun date ideas. Check them out here! And, if you want to dress your dog to impress, take a peek at our gorgeous range of personalised bandanas.
9. Have a chilled day together
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be complicated. Fur-get stressing about finding things to do and give in to relaxing with your best furriend. First things first - grab your favourite snacks and some dog treats for your pup – did you know that Yappy stocks dog-friendly beer bundles that include popcorn and crisps too? Pawfect for movie nights!
Then, wrap up in your cosiest blanket, pop your feet up and enjoy chilling with your canine companion. You could even watch your favourite dog-themed films – we’re talking Lady and the Tramp, Isle of Dogs, and 101 Dalmatians (we’d recommend giving Marley and Me a hard miss).
10. Have a photo shoot with your pooch
Lights, camera, bark! A photoshoot with your dog is a pawsome way to commemorate your special day together. Plus, you can send all your gorgeous photos to your pals - because who wouldn’t want to see cute snaps of your doggo? It’s the pawfect way to share puppy love on Valentine’s Day.
Then, why not go one step further and treat yourself to some dog photo gifts, they’re a furbulous way to show off your love for your pooch, and they’re sure to impress your friends and family too.
If you’re looking for beautiful home fur-nishings like comfy cushions, ceramic mugs, clocks and coasters that feature your pawfect pooch, simply upload your photo today!
Need help capturing your dog in their most woofly light? Check out our post on taking better dog photos.
Don’t fur-get their Valentine’s Day card!
Sending a card is a small but sweet gesture that’ll go down a treat with your loved ones. Plus, as all of our cards are personalised, they’re guaranteed to impress! Simply choose your favourite design and customise your card with options to add your dog’s name and their cute icon to make your card super special for the recipient.
Yappy to Help
If you’d like to know more about what Yappy offers, don’t hesitate to contact us at help@yappy.com.