50 Date Ideas for You and Your Foster Pet

Fostering a pet is one of the most rewarding ways to make a difference. To help you and your foster fling make the most of your time together, we compiled 50 of our favorite activities to do with a foster pet. It’s packed with fun, heartwarming, and enriching ways to make a lasting impression on one another and ultimately set your foster pet up for a successful adoption when they finally meet ‘the one’.

Bond & Connect

1. Spend time together in every room of the house to build confidence

2. Read a book aloud while they relax nearby

3. Set up a cozy corner with blankets and wait quietly until they come to you

4. Take a nap together in a sunbeam or on the floor

5. Snuggle on the couch for a cozy movie night in

6. Make a relaxing bedtime routine for winding down together

7. Give a daily belly rub or scratch session

8. Sit quietly and reflect on how far they’ve come with your help

9. Show your love by giving them a gentle grooming with a soft brush

10. Set up a soft perch by a window and sit with them while they enjoy the sights and sounds

Explore the World

1. Take a sunset sniff & stroll to expose them to new smells and reflect on the day

2. Sit under a tree and relax after a walk

3. Have a picnic in the park with pet-friendly snacks and shade

4. Take them for a car ride in a secure crate or harness

5. Go on a field trip to a dog-friendly hiking trail

6. Sit outside together and listen to the birds

7. Watch the sunrise and soak in the calm, nature together

8. Explore different textures (grass, sand, carpet, hardwood floors) side by side

9. Take them for a beach day and let them dig in the sand, splash in the waves, and enjoy a breezy walk by the water

10. Pack the blankets and enjoy a night under the stars together

Playtime & Training

1. Practice basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “come”

2. Play hide and seek in the house (you hide, they find you!)

3. Use a flirt pole or wand toy for chase games

4. Dance around and see what music and moves gets your pet to join in

5. Play fetch and reward them with a treat when they bring the toy back

6. Teach a new trick like “shake” or “spin”

7. Play “find the treat” around the house to put their nose to work

8. Create an obstacle course in the living room or yard and do it together

9. Practice leash walking in your yard or hallway

10. Enjoy a classic game of tug-of-war (don’t forget to let them win a few times)

Get Creative

1. Blow pet-safe bubbles for them to chase and try to swat away

2. Make a DIY snuffle mat, sock fish or other enrichment toy and test it out together

3. Bake pet-safe treats and share the taste test

4. Enjoy an at-home spa day with brushing, paw massages, and tasty treats included

5. Do a pet-and-me paint night, like paw print painting or abstract tails

6. Have a karaoke night at home and see if they’ll purr or sing along with you

7. Make a paw print craft together and keep as a memento of your time together or gift it to their future adopter

8. Create a cardboard box playground with paper balls or dangling strings for hours of low-cost entertainment for cats

9. Give them a mental workout by dragging a ribbon across the floor in unpredictable patterns to mimic prey

10. Curate a taste testing with a variety of pet-friendly treats to see what they like best

Socialize & Help Them Meet ‘The One’

1. Take them to a dinner date at a pet-friendly patio where they can enjoy a pet-friendly treat

2. Visit a quiet pet-friendly store during “off-hours” for new environments and people

3. Introduce them to your trusted pet-lover friends on a walk or park picnic

4. Sit at an outdoor café and people-watch together: You just might cross paths with a potential adopter!

5. Record a “day in the life” video to show-off your foster pet’s personality and favorite activities

6. Have a photo shoot with fun backgrounds or props and outfits (if they are okay with wearing pet clothes)

7. Take selfies together to make adorable keepsakes and adoption promos

8. Make a “dating profile” for them with your favorite cute quirks. Check out our pet bio writing tips.

9. Write a letter to their future adopter, sharing your favorite memories

10. Take them to your foster organization’s adoption event, if the pet is ready and you’ve connected with the shelter

Petco Love recognizes June as National Foster a Pet Month to help save the lives of shelter pets across the country. Help us inspire more people to jump into the foster dating pool by sharing your favorite foster date activities on social and tagging @petcolove.

To further elevate the importance of fostering, Petco Love has joined forces with Animal Welfare leaders PEDIGREE Foundation, Maddie's Fund and others, to launch Foster 50 - a new national initiative encouraging pet parents to foster and help more animals find loving homes.