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    27 Things That’ll Help Your Pet Enjoy Backyard Time As Much As You Do

    Because your furry friend deserves to have some fun in the sun, too.

    1. A tree tugger for all the fun of playing with a pull rope without tiring out the human in the scenario. Take it to the park, tie it to a branch, and they’ll have hours of fun.

    2. Or an automatic ball launcher so you can play fetch while getting more momentum than a mere human arm can. Go long!

    a reviewer's dog playing with the machine

    3. An outdoor playpen to keep your doggo safe while having *so* much fun. There’s plenty of room for them to do zoomies without worrying that they’re going to escape from the yard gate that you accidentally left ajar.

    A reviewer's photo of the playpen

    4. A splash pad for frolicking and rolling around in the water. It'll keep your four-legged friends cool and will basically be like a day at the beach for them, minus the dirt and sand sticking to every inch of fur.

    5. And a personalized pet towel to dry them off afterwards. It also works great as a blanket for them to lie on during park or beach time.

    the personalized pet towel with the name Bailey on it

    6. A cat harness and leash for taking your feline on a stroll. Cats deserve to go walkies too!

    7. A cooling dog bed to keep your doggo from overheating in the summer weather. I don't know about you, but I want one of these for myself.

    a reviewer's dogs on the medium bed

    8. A paw protection cream to use year-round. It will guard against scorching hot sidewalks and sand in the summer, as well as ice and salt in the winter months. It'll keep paw pads really moisturized, too.

    Reviewer before and after showing how effective the balm is moisturizing a dog's paw pads

    9. Or a set of dog shoes because not only do they protect little feet from the harshness of the sidewalk, but they also look super cute. Whenever I see a doggo with shoes on it brightens my day...and don't get me started on dogs wearing rain boots. 🥺

    10. A pet water bottle so your best friend can stay hydrated while on the go. It's perfect for taking on long walks, and can be used as a bottle or as a detachable bowl.

    11. A bike-mounted leash attachment because bike rides are even better with your best friend by your side. It's designed for extreme durability, is recommended for medium to large-sized dogs, and will make sure you're keeping both hands firmly on the handlebars. 

    Promising review: "Before I got this attachment, I broke an arm cycling with my dog. Since I got this, it has been sooooo much more secure and it is safer than just using a leash. This gives you a lot more control and stability. I have used it on my dog, as well as several other dogs I sit, and they love it! I loved it so much I went ahead and got a second one for my other bike. I leave the attachment piece on when I am not cycling with a dog and just disconnect the stick. It is super quick and easy." —Hannah Legerwood

    Get it from Amazon for $66.

    12. A rubber football that you can fill with their favorite little treats. It'll make playtime even more tempting.

    Promising review: "Two years later, the Hol-ee Football is still a favorite of my boxer. It has held up under many rousing games of fetch and his moderate chewing proclivities. I agree with other reviews that this toy isn't for heavy chewers, but I don't think that's what this toy was designed for. I'd say that if you are going to get a Hol-ee, opt for the football style, as they last longer (it has a better hole to rubber ratio) and are just as fun!" —Aggie

    Get it from Amazon for $3.96+ (available in four sizes and six colors/styles).

    13. fully enclosed mesh outdoor cat tent so you can let your house cat chill outside with you sans worrying that they're going to wander off. It's spacious, breathable, and will provide a little protection from the sunshine. 

    Promising review: "I bought this cat tent because our two fur babies will sit in the window and cry if we are outside. I tried a leash, but they didn't like that, and they often escaped it. I came across this tent, and it was the BEST purchase I made. The quality is great! Both cats fit in it, so the size is perfect. Very excited that this is actually a product for the cats!!!" —hgrizz

    Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in two colors).

    14. A Chuckit! floating fetch toy to make pool time even more exciting. The bright colors make it easy to find so they're sure to be splashing around for a while. Warning: It might take you some time to coax them out of the water when you're ready to head inside!

    A reviewer photo of a dog with the toy out of the pool
    A reviewer photo of a dog with the toy out of the pool

    Promising review: "This is hands-down my dachshund's favorite water toy. Lasted over a year through river trips, dog beaches and pool days. Very durable, floats very well. Easy to throw and does not hold water or smell after use at all. We just bought him another after much use." —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $8.36+ (available in two sizes).

    15. An Outward Hound life vest because keeping your pets safe in the water should be your number one priority. This vest will give you peace of mind during those lake days.

    Promising review: "Great life jacket! I ordered this for my mini long-haired dachshund, who tries hard but is not a strong swimmer. He's able to stay afloat with this vest (we're still working on keeping his head above water, but the neck piece on this vest helps a lot). We ordered a size small. For reference, he is only 9 pounds (which is in range for size XS), but all of his measurements put him in the small range. I was worried it would be too big, but he fits (almost) perfectly in the small since the straps cinch him in. It's a little big in the back, but he's still young so he's got room to grow." —Kristina Circelli

    Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL, seven colors and three styles).

    16. training course that will give your precious pup lots of exercise without long trips to the park. Place this course in your backyard and watch them have the time of their life. Crufts, here they come.  

    girl leading Australian Shepherd through the obstacle course
    Amazon

    This set includes a high jump, a collapsible tunnel, and six weave poles.

    Promising review: "For the price, this training course set can't be beat. Yes, it is plastic and lightweight, but it's a great set to start teaching your puppy to jump and weave on command. The tunnel is short and wide enough that they feel safe enough to go through it. We followed this with some agility classes for fun (not competition) and Juliette knew just what to do. People were amazed that it was her first class. I had taught her the commands to tunnel, jump, and weave, and she understood. This will absolutely help your dog get some exercise and have some fun." —K.C.

    Get it from Amazon for $38.34+ (available in various styles).

    17. spray-on sunscreen for protecting your doggo's ears, nose, paws, and legs from the harsh sun. This must-have is equivalent to SPF 30 and can be sprayed on any exposed areas.

    Promising review: "I love this product and it’s great for my pitty because he has very sensitive pink skin. He really wants to lick it off, which is to be expected. Lol. No bad reaction from licking it though! :)" —Angela

    Get it from Amazon for $17.76.

    18. An adjustable lizard leash because walkies shouldn't be limited just to dogs and cats. This will let your bearded dragon or other lizard friend roam the great outdoors in a safe way — and the adorable wings will make them look even cooler than they already are. 

    a reviewer photo of their bearded dragon wearing the leash inside
    a reviewer photo of their bearded dragon wearing the leash on a lawn

    Promising review: "I love this leash. I put it on my dragon when I let her out of her habitat so I can find where she has run off to and hidden. I also get a lot of looks and whispers when I bring her to the store. The wings are really cool, and you can take them off if you want. I love that there are three different sizes of the harness. We started with the smallest, and have been on the medium for a while. It's still in good shape." —Cheri A

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

    19. A durable glow-in-the-dark ball so playtime can extend right through the evening, and beyond. Reviewers say it even works with tennis ball launchers and will hold up against even the most enthusiastic of chewers.

    Promising review: "My dog loves this ball! I have a 1-year-old husky who loves to chew on everything. This ball can handle her destructive nature. I work late and by the time I get home, it's dark out but I still want to spend time playing with her and this ball works amazingly. I toss it in front of a light for a few minutes and it's charged and ready to be thrown. She loves the ball so much that when she's done playing fetch, she'll bring it to bed with her. There's a hole in the middle that makes a whistling noise when thrown, which catches her attention. Great ball, glad I bought it." —Quyen

    Get it from Amazon for $5.87+ (available in four sizes and a pack of two).

    20. And a rechargeable LED dog collar that will let your pup wander around the yard without worrying that you're going to lose sight of them. It's basically a glow-stick necklace for your pet, which is pretty cool.

    Reviewer photo of their dog wearing the red LED version
    Reviewer photo of their dog wearing the green version

    Promising review: "Stealthy alpaca is...well, stealthy. He's very difficult to locate on my five acres in the dark. He doesn't make any audible noises and unlike the horses, you can't even hear his footsteps. He takes great pleasure in hiding behind bushes and not revealing his location as I walk just 10 feet away calling his name. I'm sick of thinking he's escaped, stolen, or dead. Illumiseen collar solves the problem. Ninja no more, ha!" —Polomare

    Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in eight sizes and six colors).

    21. A cooler vest so your furry friend doesn't overheat in the scorching summer weather. Simply soak the vest in cold water, wring out the excess liquid, and put it on your dog to keep them cool and comfy. 

    Promising review: "My Boston Terrier simply cannot take walking in 80-degree-plus heat. With this vest on, she acts as if she's 10 degrees cooler, at least. We are able to walk normally. She still pants and gets hot, but she stays energetic and is able to handle the temperature much better than without it. When I've taken the vest off, I have noticed that the inside was noticeably cool to the touch. This is a good quality product and has afforded my girl some summertime freedom otherwise lost to the heat." —Raymond

    Get it from Amazon for $32.95+ (available in seven sizes and two colors).

    22. Or a cooling bandana complete with Velcro closures. It's perfect for any pups that aren't a huge fan of clothes and will either A) resist wearing a vest or B) try and eat said vest. 

    Promising review: "This 'ice bandana' is perfect for a hot dog. Our Lab suffers in the summer heat, panting heavily. I rotated two of them, but have since purchased two more. She happily wags her tail when she sees me approaching with the cool collar. It works like magic and I highly recommend this product. What’s even better is that the gel is nontoxic. I store the collar in the refrigerator and the temperature is very soothing." —Jeanette T.

    Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in sizes S–L).

    23. A flying squirrel toy that's essentially like a Frisbee but *so* much more fun. Launch this across your yard and watch your doggo literally jump with joy. 

    Promising review: "Our 4-year-old German Shepherd will go absolutely BONKERS if she sees this bad boy coming out of the closet. We have to keep it locked away, otherwise she will dig it out of her toy box and smack us with it until we take her out to play with it. It's a fun toy to throw in the park for her to chase, and once you figure out the perfect throwing technique, it'll have 'hang time' in the air to allow for the dog to jump up and snag it before it hits the ground. Just buy the dang squirrel, you won't regret it!!" —Loakes13

    Get it from Amazon for $9.40+ (available in three sizes).

    24. A collapsible pool because, yes, Buddy and Bella deserve to splash around in the water after a long day lazing in the sun. Ah, summer.

    a reviewer's photo of their dog in the pool in the backyard

    25. A 2-in-1 rope and ball toy perfect for those doggos that can't resist a good game of fetch or tug. Plus, at $3, it's a wallet-friendly playtime essential.

    a hand holding the red and yellow toy

    26. A sunhat for your Sphynx cat. It'll keep them shaded from too much sun and looks incredibly cool at the same time. Petition for them to wear hats all year 'round.

    27. And a back seat extender for those long road trips with your pet. The raised sides will make sure your doggo stays put *and* will also protect your car seats from any muddy paws.

    a reviewer's dog sat on the black seat extender

    The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.