Author: Stephanie Castro
Sometimes, the best adventures don’t need to be fancy. Take my dog, Canelo—he’s a pit mix with more energy than I can keep up with. One Saturday morning, I decided to switch things up and turn our own backyard into an adventure zone. No big hikes or road trips—just a simple, fun day at home.
I woke up early and took Canelo for his usual morning walk. The air was cool, the sun was just rising, and Canelo was already in full “let’s go” mode, sniffing everything in sight and chasing squirrels like it was his full-time job. But I had a different plan in mind. Instead of the usual route, I thought, “Why not turn the backyard into his very own adventure park?”
I started by grabbing a few garden chairs, some old pool noodles, and some ropes I had lying around. I set up an obstacle course—tunnels to crawl under, chairs to weave between, and even a couple of jumps. Canelo was watching me, looking a little confused but definitely intrigued. Once everything was set, I called him over, and he immediately bounded over to me like, “What are we doing, and can I eat it?”
“Ready for your big adventure, buddy?” I asked, and Canelo’s tail started wagging like crazy.
First, we tackled the chair weave. Canelo’s strong legs made it look easy, weaving in and out with a huge grin on his face. Then, it was time for the pool noodles. I didn’t think he’d jump over them so easily, but nope—he flew right over them, no hesitation. He was in his element.
As we went through the course, I added a couple more challenges—some sprint races, a “hide
and seek” behind the bushes, and even a final crawl under a row of chairs. Canelo powered through every single task like a pro. And the best part? He was LOVING it. His excitement was so infectious that I couldn’t help but cheer him on like he was in the dog Olympics.
By the end of our little backyard adventure, Canelo was tuckered out but still grinning ear to ear. He plopped down in the grass, tail wagging, looking at me like, “That was awesome. What’s next?”
We finished off the day with a special treat and a nap in the sun. The whole experience was a reminder that sometimes, the best memories are made right at home. Canelo didn’t need to go on a big trip to have the time of his life—just a few simple obstacles and a lot of love made for a perfect day.
