need help on how to tire out my dog .......

[mctraill]

I have to go into hospital where the recovery time is going to be 6 weeks. I wont be able to walk my dog for that length of time. My dog is 3 years old she is a lab chow mix. We adopted her one year ago today.

My dog is used to being walked everyday for at least 45mins in the morning and twice again throughout the day for 3o mins a time. I usually also throw around the ball in the garden where she runs around chasing it. I dont have any family or friends just moved from the UK to Texas, my husband is out at work so its just me and the dog.

As I cant take her for a walk, but can throw her ball about in the garden, I was wondering how I am going to tire her out, I thought about going back over the basics on the training, she sits well, but the rest is when she feels like it, I know she's spoilt, will this be enough, just to go over the traning with her all the time. I know she will miss her walks and where possible my husband will take her, but it cant be every day.

Any idea's?

 

[jess2416]

Are there any dog walkers in your area ??? that you could maybe hire to take your dog for a walk ??

 

[mctraill]

No am afraid there isnt, good business opportunity there. I have spoken to the vet and at the local petstores they just suggested taking her to doggie day camp, but I cant drive for a while and I cant get her from the car to the camp as she is inclined to sometimes when seeing other dogs pull to get to them, this is the reason I cant walk her, she is unpredictable on a leash.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Are there any trustworthy teens in your area ?

~Tucker

 

[Herschel]

Have you called any of the Doggy Daycares to see if they will pick her up?

 

[mctraill]

The children around me are quite young and I dont know anyone around me. I did ask one of my husbands friends wife who has a dog of her own if she would bring her dog round so they could play together in the garden, thought that would help, but they dont ever walk their dog, they let it out into the garden and then bring it straight back in, so she doesnt trust it with another dog as it has never been around with other dogs.

I would be able to walk her myself after 1 week if I could trust her not to pull, if she pulls she could tear my stiches, which would be a disaster. The trouble is most of the time she is brilliant its just that one off time.

We are wondering if I was to put a belt on and loop her leash through that then I could walk with her like that but if she pulls I can dig my feet in and there wont be any strain on my upper body.

 

[Chell]

Something I often do when I need tot ire my dogs out is sit at the top of my stairs in my house and play fetch with them up and down the stairs (throw the ball downstairs, have him chase it and bring it up). This seems to work pretty well for my energetic dogs and they love it.

 

[Doberooney]

Something I often do when I need tot ire my dogs out is sit at the top of my stairs in my house and play fetch with them up and down the stairs (throw the ball downstairs, have him chase it and bring it up). This seems to work pretty well for my energetic dogs and they love it.

I agree.. I have an energetic dog and when the weather is bad, I play fetch on the stairs.. 10-15 minutes a few times a day should keep your dog satisfied.

 

[xPwincessJaffa96x]

Maybe get your friend to just do a favour for you or something? OR, you could get one of these things where umm...They have these machines to walk your pup? Sorry, I'm just making this up as I go...Is there such a thing as that?

 

[Cattrah]

Maybe get your friend to just do a favour for you or something? OR, you could get one of these things where umm...They have these machines to walk your pup? Sorry, I'm just making this up as I go...Is there such a thing as that?

hehe, sounds like a horse walker. Attach them to a spoke and they walk around and around and around!

 

[Baileys]

Working their minds will tire them as effectively as working their bodies. Gracie is a border collie mix (most folks think she's got some golden retriever in there), and dogs like that take a LOT of stimulation.

If there are neighbor kids who you would trust to play with her, have them take her outside for a nice long romp. It will wear her out as well.

 

[noludoru]

Working their minds will tire them as effectively as working their bodies. Gracie is a border collie mix (most folks think she's got some golden retriever in there), and dogs like that take a LOT of stimulation.

If there are neighbor kids who you would trust to play with her, have them take her outside for a nice long romp. It will wear her out as well.

I agree.. Also with the stairs thing.

You could also invest in a treadmill, and (gently) teach her how to walk on it. It might help you during your recovery, too.

And, if you have a month or a couple of months before your surgery, you might want to teach her how to pull you. You'd have to invest in a proper harness and some sort of rigging to a wheelchair or something for her to pull you, but it would be great fun for you and great exercise/mental stimulation for her.

 

[mctraill]

Many thanks to you all for your suggestions. I have found someone to help me. There is a lady over the road who has just got a puppy, talk about fate having a hand, the puppy escaped and found its way over to our garden. I didnt know it was theirs, so I held on to it for a few days and spent my time in the front yard with it on a leash, took out a chair and sat there hoping someone would drive by and see it and then come and ask, sure enough thats what happened, they had been out every day early morning until late looking for it, they didnt think to knock on doors, they were so over joyed, the pup is now chipped and had a collar and tags fitted just in case. Anyway the lady has agreed to walk my dog for me and to bring her puppy over so they can have play dates.
Funny how things work out.

Thanks again.

 

[EbonyDal]

We have an electric treadmill that I've trained my adult dalmatian to use. I fed him on it with the power off for a few weeks then flashed the power on/off and jackpot-treated him; gradually until he was walking on it. Then I put a bell on the doorknob; now he rings his bell to ask to get on his treadmill when he's bored. We don't use a leash he gets on it himself and hops off when he's done. [This is in addition to a fenced yard but he's more active than I am so it works well for us].