A Guide To Tailgating With Your Dog

There are many things to celebrate during the fall season, but there's few events quite as entertaining as throwing a raging tailgate party. After all, gathering together friends and family to celebrate your favorite football team is a time-honored tradition, one that can even be shared with your pets.

However, before bringing your beloved canine along, it's important to consider all the details of the event in order to determine what you'll need to bring to guarantee that your pup stays comfortable and relaxed amongst so many partygoers. Here is a handy and responsible guide to tailgating with your dog the right way, and how to create lasting memories with your fur baby for years to come.

Check the Weather Forecast

While some human football fans may be willing to put themselves in any kind of extreme weather event to cheer on their favorite team, your dog doesn't have the option of letting you know how he feels. This means doing your homework and checking into things that may affect him, like a bad weather day.

Whether rain or shine, you should adequately prepare your pooch for handling any cold or hot temperatures. Bringing extra water, a cooling bandana or a large umbrella or dog tent to keep a shaded shelter over your pup on hot days is key. Or, in contrast, you should opt for tossing in additional blankets and a sweater or jacket for your canine to protect him from the cold while you're outdoors.

Avoid Taking Him Off Leash

Tailgating parties inevitably mean lots of people in a small setting who may be drinking and partying hard enough that they won't be inclined to consider the best interests of your dog. For this reason, it's important to keep your pup close at hand and on a leash at all times to avoid any harassment or potentially dangerous situations with your four-legged friend.

Supervising him is crucial to maintaining his safety and well-being, giving you clear indicators of how he's doing physically and emotionally throughout the day with so much excitement and commotion around him. And, given that many tailgating parties take place in large parking lots, there are simply too many opportunities for an accident to occur if you allow your dog to run free within such a busy, crowded setting.

Bring His Own Food and Water

Even if Fido tries to sneak his way around the barbecue for some meat drippings or he decides to stick his nose in the ice chest, you need to be cautious of letting him consume anything other than his own regular food and water. Feeding him bites off your plate may be acceptable at home, but avoid letting him graze across anyone's food plates or drink cups at the tailgate party if you don't know what's on or in them.

Food products like pork ribs or spicy chicken wings can be harmful to your dog's safety and digestion, while any traces of alcohol in a leftover cup can also be just as hazardous. Since it's a special occasion, bring your loveable furball some of his favorite jerky treats to snack on while everyone else eats their own barbecue feast. This will allow him to not feel neglected during the celebration, while also keeping him distracted from any remaining scraps around him.

Outfit Him in Doggy Football Gear

Your cheerful pup can hardly feel like a member of the party if he isn't properly dressed for the occasion. Suit him up right in the canine version of your beloved team's jersey, and maximize his style with other logo accessories that match for an all-out doggy football makeover suitable for tailgating. This can help dictate which crowd he belongs with should he get off leash at any point, as well.

However, given the rowdy nature of tailgating parties, be wary of any inebriated partygoers that attempt to mess with your pooch because he's wearing said person's opposing team jersey. Your dog deserves his own space and should never be forced to endure harassment, which is again why supervision is crucial to help safeguard him from any obnoxious guests.

Give Him Personal Space

Regardless of whether or not your fur baby is used to lots of social activity on a regular basis, major events like tailgating parties can still be emotionally overwhelming for your dog. Take him for a quick walk around the venue to escape the noise. Once you return to your group, allow him to find a quieter, secluded place of his own should he need to separate from the large, rowdy crowds by bringing an outdoor bed or travel blanket with you. This will give your pup somewhere to treat his anxiety by settling into something comfortable and familiar that smells and feels like home.

Don't Forget to Clean Up After Him

Leaving a mess after a tailgating party is generally frowned upon, for both humans and dogs alike. Partygoers are expected to clear out their space and leave a minimal footprint behind, and this means also picking up your dog's waste as part of the cleanup process. Even if you've taken him outside of the venue area to do his business, it's always courteous to pick up after your dog in public areas.

Inviting your exuberant pooch to a tailgating party this fall is a great idea, allowing you and your furry friend to spend extra quality time together and bond over your favorite hobbies. By keeping this handy guide in mind, you'll be sure to make the overall experience extra enjoyable for him.