Our four-legged family members are some of the best friends we ever have.
They are unconditionally supportive and optimistic, an encouraging and loving face at the end of the day. They are our constant companions, and they are always ready for an adventure.
The loss of a beloved pet can be a painful blow — they are so supportive and loving, we want as many experiences with them as possible.
This unique kind of love has led some pet parents to create bucket lists for their dogs. Filled with experiences owners want to give or share with their pets, these lists provide a way for people to spend meaningful time with their four-legged friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Bucket List Ideas for You and Your Dog
- Breakfast in Bed
- Party
- Dog Massage
- Sunset Walk
- Go to a Lake or Ocean
- “Pawdicure”
- Park Day
- Social Media Page
- Go to the Dog Park
- Give Back
If you know you don’t have much time left to share with your companion, you want to make the remaining months or weeks as joyful as possible. There are no right or wrong items to put on an elderly dog’s bucket list, or a bucket list for a dog with cancer.
Every list should be unique and personalized to your companion. If they love exploring the outdoors, a camping trip to a national park could be a perfect way to celebrate that part of their personality. If they adore getting pampered, you could treat them to a Doggy Cafe, professional massage session and a “pawdicure.” Anything you think of will be perfect — you know your dog better than anyone else, and above everything, they will enjoy spending quality time with you.
We’ve listed 10 of our favorite bucket list items for you and your dog. See which ones seem like a fit for your companion, and begin enjoying new experiences together.
1. Breakfast in Bed
Few things are as luxurious as breakfast in bed. It combines a lazy morning with a spread of delicious food — for once, you get to enjoy breakfast without leaving the warm comfort of your bed.
Your dog will love breakfast in bed just as much as you. Cuddle with your pet and watch them enjoy a breakfast specifically designed with their tastes in mind.
Make sure to prepare healthy, dog-appropriate foods for your pet — sometimes our favorite foods are harmful to them. However, you can find plenty of recipes to transform your favorite breakfast foods into dog-approved treats. Try cooking your pet a batch of pumpkin dog waffles alongside your human-appropriate Belgian ones. If you are more of a pancake person, you could prepare some dog-approved buckwheat pancakes shaped like bones.
If your dog loves everything to do with bacon, they will probably adore blueberry bacon dog treats. For a truly gourmet breakfast, you could bake some peanut butter dog doughnuts for your furry friend. The best part about these doughnuts is that they contain all-natural ingredients, so you can enjoy them along with your pet.
2. Have a Party
Your furry best friend deserves a celebration.
Nearly everyone loves an upbeat birthday party — your friends and family gather to spend time with you and show you love and support. You get to enjoy meaningful gifts, incredible food and fun, lighthearted games and conversation, all with the people you care most about in the world.
Let your companion experience the joy of a party that’s all about them. A birthday party is a perfect choice for a celebration, but if you don’t know your pet’s birthday or don’t want to wait that long, you can choose any day that’s convenient for you.
Invite some of your good friends and their sweet dogs to the event, and encourage them to bring a small dog-themed gift or treat for your pet. Instead of gifts, you could ask them to bring something to share with the whole group — a plate of cute dog treats, for example.
You can make the party as involved as you want. If your dog loves to dress up, pass out cute, themed party hats to all the canine guests. You could host the party at your home, or you could reserve space at a dog park. Bake or order a dog-friendly cake, have plenty of water available and provide some food for your human guests, too.
Make sure to take plenty of pictures — your dog’s party will be a day neither of you will ever forget.
3. Dog Massage
Even our four-legged friends can get tense from time to time. Let your companion experience complete relaxation with a dog massage.
For humans, the benefits of massages are well-known — studies have shown massages can alleviate a variety of conditions, including anxiety, digestive disorders, headaches, muscle and nerve pain, sleeping problems and soft tissue strains.
Your pet can benefit from an occasional spa trip, too. Whether you take your pet to an experienced dog masseuse or teach yourself some techniques, letting your dog experience a massage is a wonderful addition to a bucket list.
If you decide to give your dog a massage yourself, create a relaxing setting in your home. Light some naturally scented candles on a table or mantle, and play some gentle music over a speaker system. Have your pet lie down on a cushion or couch and methodically massage their muscles for around 20 minutes. A massage can be especially beneficial for dogs suffering from arthritis — a routine of kneading, squeezing and stroking the stiff muscles and joints can give them relief.
4. Watch a Sunset
Around the world, people gather together to watch sunsets. Whether it’s on a golden beach or the top of a mountain, the sight of the sun dropping below orange and pink clouds is always breathtaking.
Bring your pet with you the next time you watch a sunset. But the sky probably won’t be enough to grab your pup’s attention — pack other things with you and make the evening an event to remember.
Spread out a comfortable picnic blanket and bring some of your dog’s favorite toys and treats. Arrive at the location you’ve chosen roughly half an hour before the sun sets, and spend the extra time playing and enjoying your pet. Invite your dog to sit next to you or in your lap as the sun begins to dip below the horizon — your dog will love the care and attention, and you will enjoy the memory of a night spent with your four-legged friend.
If you have friends with dogs of their own, invite them to go with you to watch the sunset. The dogs will love the opportunity to play together outside, and you can enjoy conversations with your friends.
Watching a sunset together is fun for both you and your four-legged friend, making it a top choice for any dog’s bucket list.
5. Go to the Lake or Ocean
Most people and dogs are naturally drawn to water. The refreshing feel of the water and the warmth of the sun is a perfect combination — whether you love to relax on the beach or dive into the waves, there’s something about water that appeals to nearly everyone.
Your dog probably enjoys being in the water as much, if not more, than you do. Give them an experience they’ll love with a day spent at the lake or ocean.
If your dog doesn’t know how to swim, this is an excellent opportunity to introduce them to water. Bring a flotation device and plenty of fresh drinking water, and set up a shady rest area. Begin by walking with them into a shallow area of the water, and try to coax them deeper using a treat or a toy. Speak in a calm, confident tone, and give loads of verbal praise — before you know it, your dog will most likely be leaping through the waves.
Make sure to research safety tips before bringing your pet to the beach. If you don’t live near a lake or ocean, you can spend a day at a local creek, river or dog-friendly pool. However, be careful when you bring your four-legged friend to a river or fast-moving creek — if your dog is elderly or an inexperienced swimmer, any water with a current may be dangerous for them.
6. Get a “Pawdicure”
Manicures and pedicures are the peak of pampering. For many people, no spa or relaxation day is complete without giving your hands and feet a luxury treatment.
Let your companion experience the same luxury. “Pawdicures,” or pedicures for dogs, are sweeping the country. These treatments do more than pamper your pet — they also help your furry friend’s health.
If your pet is primarily an indoor dog, they won’t have the opportunity to file their nails naturally by spending time outside. That can lead to too-long nails, which in turn results in scratches on you, your dog, your floors and your furniture. Additionally, if your four-legged friend’s foot fur grows too long, they can lose traction and slide across smooth floors, potentially hurting themselves or damaging low-lying furniture. A regular nail-trimming session is outstanding for the health of your pet, and taking them to an expert ensures they’ll receive the best care possible.
However, for your dog’s bucket list, consider more than just clipping their nails. Scheduling a professional pawdicure for your pet ensures they get a full spa experience specifically designed for them. At a dog salon, an expert will file and shape your pet’s nails, and they could even moisturize their paws and nose or spritz them with a specially designed dog perfume.
7. Go to a National Park
If you and your companion love the great outdoors, there’s no better way to be together than at a national park.
National parks protect some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and ecosystems. Explore a gorgeous location with your best friend by spending a day or a weekend at a national park.
Some parks are more pet-friendly than others — research which parks best suit the personality and capability of your pet before planning a trip. If your furry friend loves water, try to find a park that features several creeks or winds along the coast. Alternately, if rocks and mountain hikes are more of your thing, go for a destination with high elevation.
All you need is to pack a leash, plenty of treats, drinking water and a camera, and you’re ready to enjoy a memorable day in nature with your dog.
8. Create a Social Media Page
You are your dog’s biggest fan. But why not share their sweet, adorable and funny moments with the rest of the world?
One way to memorialize your pet is to start a social media page dedicated to them and their bucket list adventures. You can use your commentary and captions, or you could write from their perspective. Invite some of your friends to follow your dog’s account, and before you know it, your pet could generate its own impressive following.
If you would like to wow your followers with the photographs on your account, you could schedule a professional photo shoot for your pet. An expert photographer could capture the best angles and lighting to make your furry friend look their best. Even if you choose not to post the photographs, they’ll be yours to keep, so you will have gorgeous, high-quality pictures to remember your pet.
When you are taking pictures of your pet, include props and settings that reveal their unique personality. If they love a certain toy or place, feature it on their page — it will help establish their character to their new fans, and it will create meaningful photographs you’ll treasure for years to come.
9. Play at Their Favorite Dog Park
For a fun and accessible bucket list item, spend a day at your dog’s favorite dog park.
Dog parks create a safe and beautiful space for dogs and their owners to enjoy a day outside. Not only does a dog park give your companion some exercise, but it also allows them to socialize with other dogs. In dog parks, you don’t have to restrict your dog with a leash — they are free to run, roam and play as they wish.
If your dog doesn’t have a favorite park, switch it up by trying a new one, maybe even one in a nearby city. You could make it a goal to visit as many dog parks as you can, meeting new friends as you go. Your dog will love the freedom and fresh air, and you’ll get to enjoy watching them explore and play.
10. Give Back to Others
If your dog loves people, consider letting them share their joy as a therapy dog.
The Alliance for Therapy Dogs is committed to helping dog owners and their loving companions spread happiness to the elderly and sick at special needs centers, nursing homes and hospitals — some therapy dogs can even help people dealing with grief or mental illness. Your beloved pet could bring happiness to people across all spheres of life, ensuring they pass on a legacy of love that will endure long after they have passed.
To ensure your dog is a good fit for a therapy position, applicants go through a testing process to determine their handling and temperament. Let your dog experience the joy of giving back to others — applying as a therapy dog is a beautiful addition to any dog’s bucket list.
Pet Memorials and Cremation Support at Agape
Bucket lists are a way to treasure every moment you have with your pet. To intentionally create memories that will last a lifetime, try building a bucket list of experiences to share with your four-legged friend.
One way to celebrate the legacy of your pet is to honor them with a memorial. At Agape Pet Services, we provide pet cremation services along with bereavement references. Our pet memorials can give you a way to remember and honor your pet, and our professional care can help you and your loved ones in your grief.
We’re here to help — feel free to contact us with any questions you have about the passing of a pet.
