 Not enough exercise
#183423 - 03/01/2008 08:50 PM |
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The weather has been lousy for about a week and my puppy isn't getting enough exercise. The rain finally stopped today, so I took her to the park (not a dog park, a children's park with my grandson, ex and his dog).
This helped a lot today. She is tired and settled in now.
We will have another couple of months of mostly rainy days here and I am looking for ways to get rid of some of her energy. We play fetch games with a small ball and do sit, place and come commands, but still she doesn't settle down easily.
I am tethering, too, so she goes every where with me but that isn't enough.
She was already used to a crate when I got her (4 wks ago, she's 7 mo, 8 lbs) but now is starting to whine and bark while in crate. I don't know if I was keeping her out of the crate too much and now she doesn't like it. Do I put here in more?
Any ideas for exercise in the house for a small energetic dog?
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Nora Ferrell ]
#183425 - 03/01/2008 08:56 PM |
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It doesn't seem she needs more crate time; she needs more exercise.
The dog/puppy doesn't care if it's raining. Cover yourself up, take her out in the rain and play ball.
Edited to add: remember to dry her with a towel afterwards.
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Sandy Moore ]
#183427 - 03/01/2008 09:08 PM |
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Thanks, Sandy, but actually she doesn't like to go out in the rain.
I'm in the middle of potty training, too, and I had a time last week getting her to go outside. She acted like she didn't want her feet to get wet. One day I practically had to drag her down the steps. Oddly enough when it turned to snow, she loved it. Even played in it. But with the rain or really wet outside, she acts like she doesn't want to touch it.
Any other suggestions?
ps
I don't like to go out in the rain either. We're talking 30 degress and rainy here.
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Nora Ferrell ]
#183430 - 03/01/2008 09:40 PM |
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I have one of those dainty dogs who doesnt like wetness.
here are a couple of ideas; Is she a small dog? Its hard with a big oaf because they have a tendency to get accidently destructive when excersising in the house :smile:
hide n seek with a toy or treat or yourself.
chase with a ball, toy or if she isnt in to those objects you might try a stick with a treat on some string on the end (think cat toy) that will have her doing some acrobatics or running to get it...
just some ideas
Might I add that basic obedience and simple tricks like "sit" "down" and "beg" take concentration and can use some of the energy up as well
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Mary Velazquez ]
#183431 - 03/01/2008 09:51 PM |
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you might try a stick with a treat on some string on the end (think cat toy) that will have her doing some acrobatics or running to get it...
This is a good idea. My dog will chase anything that moves (think prey drive) and LOVES things on strings. Of course, he is huge so we usually play this in the yard with a fishing pole and plastic bag. But I would tie some cloth to the string so she can catch and bite it once in a while.
One thing we play on rainy days is keep away, but that takes two people. We just throw a stuffy (stuffed animal) back and forth over his head. Start by getting her excited over it, a little tug maybe, then occasionally let her get it, more tug and back to the game. They get the excercise, and you control the "flight path" so they don't destroy anything!
I sympathise on the rain thing, mine hates it too. He is a 115 lb prima donna who can't get wet or he will melt...
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Mary Velazquez ]
#183433 - 03/01/2008 09:53 PM |
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Mary, thanks.
We play chase the ball and bring it back. She likes it but gets bored after a few minutes. The treat on a stick sounds great. I'll try that tomorrow.
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Nora Ferrell ]
#183434 - 03/01/2008 09:59 PM |
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Thanks, Shody.
The cloth on a string sounds good, too. I got her a tug toy and she likes that, but after I read some of the ebooks, I was afraid I was encouraging dominant behavior.
I know what you mean about the big prima donna's, too. I had an 80lb boxer who would barely stick her nose out the door to make sure the weather was just right before going out. She would hold it all day rather than go out in the rain or cold. She liked the indoor temperature between about 70 and 72 degrees. lol
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Nora Ferrell ]
#183435 - 03/01/2008 10:07 PM |
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Mary, we are doing sit and I think she came with the beg command built in. The down is still difficult for us. I still just get her down on her front legs. So, any advice for that is helpful.
Someone posted to try sitting on the floor with knees bent and get her to go thru. That is a difficult maneuver for me (Old and fat syndrome). She seems to be right at the down and then doesn't follow thru. I wonder if I should hold on to the treat longer. I've tried to push her but down while she is down in the front but then she moves away.
Edit: Also, when I do the down, I start with sit. Should I try the down without the site?
Edited by Nora Ferrell (03/01/2008 10:17 PM)
Edit reason: small dog-8lbs
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Re: Not enough exercise
[Re: Nora Ferrell ]
#183444 - 03/01/2008 10:35 PM |
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Reg: 12-24-2007
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Loc: Texas
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Ah, I know what your talking about (the light in their eyes as they expectanly wait for the treat yet they're ready to pop up) yes, what I did is I just waited until they relaxed into the full laying down to reward and release. BUT Ive found that this works best if they are being taught the long down (10 seconds is still long) then they might think, when I pause "maybe I'll be here for awhile" so they relax a little and the elbows ectually touch the ground. (Gypsy is my offender here, shes high strung and I always figured that had something to do with it)
As for the sit first then the down, I would work the dog both ways. Another fun thing is teaching the down from a distance. that can be worked into a game where you unexpectedly tell the dog to sit or down while your walking or they arent expecting it and by showing them (with facial expression and voice) that its supposed to be fun the dog will think its a fun challenge.
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