Do you ever lock eyes with your dog and just feel so guilty that you’re leaving them again? It’s like the minute you spray on your perfume, they can sense you are heading out for the night- and you get those puppy-eyed stares.
While we all can feel a little cooped up in the winter, our dogs definitely do too. I know first hand, as an owner of a high-energy Boston Terrier/Frenchie, I am always looking for ways to get my dog exercising in the winter. The obvious answer is take your dog to a dog park, or enroll them in a day care or enrichment program. I am all for that, if your dog is! Stocking up on new toys for a ‘rainy’ or ‘snowy’ day is never a bad idea, either. We like to get toys on sale and pull one out on a day where we need a saving grace. Playing fetch a gazillion times down the long hallway in our condo usually helps a bit.
But if you have an extremely high energy dog or puppy- or a ‘tough customer’ is how I refer to Carmelo🥲, here’s what I recommend to get your dog moving and grooving in the thick of a wet, cold Chicago winter day. Get in Carmelo, we’re going shopping!
Take them on an adventure! Here are ~9 dog friendly spots that you can explore with your pup:
-Petsmart/your local pet store – The obvious choice! An outing to a pet store can definitely tire your pup out.
-Nordstrom Michigan Ave – They also have a bar at this location. Cheers, dawgs!
-Old Orchard Mall – Nice mix of indoor outdoor. Melo loves Free People! lol
-Northbrook Court Mall – This mall doesn’t have too many stores left- but what it does have going for it right now is a really nice walking trail. You’d be surprised at the amount of people that come there to get some steps in the winter- and maybe stop for an Auntie Anne’s pretzel on the way out. But for real- it is clean, indoor, dog-friendly, and they even have mile markers! Ha
-Woodfield Mall – Malls are all the rage to walk your dogs at- heard it here first, folks! Just be sure that you check with each individual store before bringing your dog inside, as sometimes stores have their own specific policies.
-Yorktown Mall – This mall as well, I’ve heard! Just be sure to check your local mall website policies before heading there with your pup, incase they have made any policy changes!
-HomeGoods – Make sure you call your specific location to ensure they allow dogs- ours does! 🙂
-Home Depot – Carmelo’s favorite store is not a pet store, but Home Depot. A lot of the employees give out Milk Bones- nuff said. The aisles are so spacious here that you don’t have to worry about bothering anyone while your dog can get some good sniffs going.
-Take them for a drink! – Many local breweries in Chicago allow/ welcome dogs indoor! To name a few- Whiner Beer Co., Solemn Oath Brewery, and Midwest Coast Brewing Company.
If you aren’t local to Chicago or would like more recommendations for dog friendly areas, some great resources are https://www.sidewalkdog.com/cities/ or https://www.bringfido.com/.
PSA: Bring poop bags with you, always!
Happy exploring, peeps and pups!
