As a pet parent, you know that any activity you can do right alongside your best furry friend is a whole lot better, and that includes visiting a pumpkin patch or an apple orchard. The cooler weather makes it fun to get outside, and visiting a pumpkin patch is a fun and festive way to involve your dog in the season. Wouldn’t it be great if your dog could share in the fun of this kind of outing with you? There may just be a dog friendly pumpkin patch near you!
Pumpkin patches and farms open to the public with autumn events like corn mazes are often dog-friendly believe it or not. Bringing your dog to a pumpkin farm or pumpkin picking is a great way to spend quality time with your dog this autumn. We love anywhere dogs are welcome!
Finding Dog Friendly Pumpkin Patches & Farms
Before bringing your dog to a pumpkin patch, make sure that the specific farm you plan to visit is welcoming to dogs. Every dog friendly pumpkin patch will of course be family friendly. Some pumpkin patches are working farms that don’t allow dogs to visit because they are growing other foods, but many are dog-friendly or will have specific days where they welcome people to bring their dogs for a visit to the farm.
Before heading out with your dog, check online to find out the rules for any pumpkin patches you’re interested in to see what their rules about pets are, if dogs are allowed, and what areas of the farm you can bring your dog.
Also Read - Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Make Sure Dogs Are Welcome:
Before taking your dog to explore a pet friendly pumpkin patch this fall, consider how your dog will respond to the outing. Pumpkin patches are generally busy this time of year, and dog-friendly locations are likely full of dogs and people. Make sure you bring your dog to the pumpkin patch so that they are comfortable maneuvering through crowds and around people and dogs. If your dog is still working up to being comfortable in more crowded environments, consider picking a different autumn outing or visiting the pumpkin patch early in the day before it gets crowded.
What To Bring:
When visiting your local pumpkin patch or farm with your dog this autumn, you’ll want to come prepared with everything your dog will need for a fun day out with you. Autumn weather can be unpredictable, so it may be warmer than expected. Pack enough water for you and your dog and a portable water bottle, making it easy to keep your dog hydrated.
You’ll want to have a six-foot leash for your dog to wear. Avoid bringing long or retractable leashes to keep your dog close to you while at the pumpkin patch, corn maze, and other activities. You’ll want lots of high-value treats to reward your dog’s behavior. For a festive touch, consider bringing treats made with pumpkin if your dog likes them! You’ll also want to have poop bags, and consider adding some pet grooming wipes into your car so you can wipe the pumpkin patch mud off your dog before heading home.
The Best Time of Day To Get a Photo Of A Dog and The Perfect Pumpkin
Unlike flowers that sometimes close at night and open during the day, pumpkins look the same no matter what time of day you are viewing them. However, in regards to photography, there are more and less ideal times to capture memories.
Most photographers will agree that sunrise and sunset, when the light is warmer and softer, are the best times of day to capture stunning photos. In the afternoon, when the sun is directly overhead, the sunlight is harsh and can cast extreme shadows on the pumpkin fields.
If you are lucky when visiting dog friendly pumpkin patches, the weather will be overcast, but not rainy, all day. I like to call these days nature’s “softbox” in regard to lighting. When the sky is overcast, the light is diffused, soft, and minimizes harsh shadows, making every moment prime lighting time for photography.
So, on a cloudy, or mostly cloudy day, you have plenty of options to visit and take photographs at the beautiful pumpkin patch. On a sunny day, try to stick to the morning between sunrise and about 10am, or just a couple of hours before sunset.
Note: be sure to check the pumpkin patch hours because not all of them will open early enough, or stay open late enough, to make both of those an option for you.
The Most PUP-ular Dog Friendly Pumpkin Patch in New York:
Bowman Orchards
147 Sugarhill Rd., Rexford, NY 12148
Season: Late September to late October
Cost: Small pie pumpkins: $0.79 per pound; large pumpkins: $0.59 per pound; admission to the U-pick pumpkin field: $3-$5.
At Bowman Orchards, you can buy U-pick pumpkins during the week or, on an extra-special outing, plan to visit on one of the farm’s Fall Festival days, which run each weekend from early September through the end of October. On these weekends, Bowman Orchards offers family friendly tasty treats, like their fan-favorite homemade cider slushies, to hayrides and a corn maze. Leashed pups are welcome to tag along with you nearly everywhere on the farm, apart from the farm store and U-pick berry fields. The farm also has pet waste stations for your convenience. This large pumpkin patch is definitely a fan favorite among all dog friendly pumpkin patches in New York!
When At the Dog Friendly Pumpkin Patch:
While at the farms pumpkin patch, always follow instructions from staff and any signage about areas where you and your dog can and can’t go. If the pumpkin patch has a petting zoo area, that likely won’t be an area you are allowed to go with your dog so they don’t stress or disturb the farm animals. Similarly, you may be unable to bring your dog out into the fields where the pumpkins are grown.
This is because it is considered a working agricultural area where food is produced. Usually, pumpkin patches will also have a smaller area with pre-picked pumpkins where dogs will be allowed to accompany you. When you get to the pumpkin farm with your dog make sure to give your dog a chance to potty before entering the pumpkin area. By giving your dog a chance to relieve themself before going into the pumpkin patch, you’ll reduce the chances of your dog needing to potty near the pumpkins.
Feel free to pose your dog with the pumpkins, but don’t let your dog stand on, pee on, or damage the pumpkins. If your dog poops while you’re at the pumpkin farm, be a respectful guest and clean up after your dog. Not all pumpkin patches will have waste bags, so bring your own.
Many pumpkin patches also include activities like photo prop areas, which are perfect for capturing festive pictures of your dog. Pumpkin patches also frequently have corn mazes, which are usually dog-friendly. Exploring a corn maze with your dog can be especially fun as you can work together to find your way out of the maze… or at least enjoy getting lost together!
The dog friendly pumpkin patch may even have a wagon ride, pony rides, food trucks, hay bales, a farm market or tractor rides during the fall season. Always call ahead to find out which activities your dog is welcome to join.
While at the pumpkin patch, focus on your dog to ensure they are comfortable and having a good time. Always have your dog on a leash, and keep your dog close to you. Even if your dog is friendly, not everyone wants to say hi.
Don’t allow your furry companions to approach other people and dogs visiting the pumpkin patch. Keeping your dog close is especially important if you’re going into a corn maze or other crowded pumpkin patch area where people and other dogs could appear unexpectedly from around a corner.
Take Breaks at the Pumpkin Patch:
When visiting the farm with your dog, give your dog plenty of breaks from activities like wandering the pumpkin patch, corn mazes, and other farm events. Spending time at a farm can be exciting and overstimulating for your dog. During the outing, give breaks in a quiet area to let your dog drink water and relax. Take the visit at your dog’s pace, and use lots of treats and praise to reward your dog for paying attention to you while on your outing.
Remember that your dog will be in a new and distracting environment with lots of new sights and smells, so might be slower to respond to cues than usual. In a new environment like a pumpkin patch, you’ll want to increase your rate of reinforcement, meaning more praise and treats than you might use in a less distracting government like your home or neighborhood where your dog walks daily.
After Visiting The Dog Friendly Pumpkin Patch:
After you’ve visited a pumpkin patch with your little pup-kin, you may be wondering if they can eat fall’s most popular gourd!
Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin in small amounts.
We think about bright and beautiful pumpkin in fall (Lattes! Breads! Pies!) but with its superfood status it’s a vegetable to eat-up year round. But is it safe for you to feed to your dog? Yes, pumpkin is safe for dogs to eat and contains lots of beneficial nutrients that can help with everything from a shinier coat to better eyesight. However, too much of even a good thing isn’t good for your pup. Here’s what you need to know about feeding pumpkin to your dog and the best ways to dish it up.
Benefits of Eating Pumpkin for Dogs
Pumpkins are a healthy treat, loaded with nutrients, fiber and other good things for dogs too.
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Pumpkin pulp is naturally low in calories and sodium.
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Pumpkin pulp is naturally high in antioxidants beta-carotene and lutein that support eye health and healthy skin and coat as well as potassium and Vitamins C and E. It’s particularly high in Vitamin A. Eating pumpkin pulp can support your dog’s immune system with potential to help fight off some diseases and infections.
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Pumpkin can act as a prebiotic that feeds the friendly bacteria in your dog’s gut, which helps with everything from colon function to the immune system.
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Pumpkin’s blend of soluble and insoluble fiber can be an effective remedy for both diarrhea and constipation.
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Pumpkin pulp’s fibers can help prevent anal gland irritation, which can mean fewer trips to the vet.
If weight loss is an issue, as with human foods, pumpkin pulp makes an excellent fat substitute when making dog treats. -
Adding a little pumpkin to your dog’s diet can also help your dog maintain a healthy weight because the fiber in pumpkin can help your dog feel fuller for longer.
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Pumpkin seeds are rich in Omega-fatty acids and in consultation with your vet might be used to treat parasites, dislodge kidney stones, and help control urinary incontinence.
Conclusion:
Before you head out for your dog friendly pumpkin patch adventure, make sure to check the farm’s website or call ahead of time to learn more about their pet policies and if dogs are welcome. Basically, all pumpkin patches will require dogs to be leashed, and some require dogs to be up to date on all of their vaccinations.
