We are absolutely buried in snow here in Vermont. There are no sidewalks to speak of, the roads are narrow because of snowbanks (which are about 7'-8' high in many places) and the snow at the park is up to my waist. Even my snowshoes can't help me much at this point because of the consistency of the snow.

Today is the first day I've been able to get my car out of the garage in a couple of days. My dog and I are feeling a little closed in, and I'm running out of ideas for exercise. To his credit, he's been a very good boy in spite of the confinement, but I know that he can only take so much.

My usual spots (the sidewalks, paths, roads and parks) are out, and our back-up spot (a rare, empty parking lot) is flooded AND frozen. We live in an apartment building and don't have a yard. Even if we did, we wouldn't right now anyway. I don't own a treadmill.

Just to blow off some steam, I did send-aways and recalls in the (wide, indoor, carpeted) stairwell of my building until my dog started looking worn out. He is now sleeping peacefully...phew.

We have an elevator and very few people use the stairs, especially up where I live on the fourth floor, so it seems like a decent option. I can't just play with him in my apartment because the woman below me complains about the noise (which admittedly sounds like a herd of elephants). I'm really feeling very limited in terms of what I can do.

BUT.....is all this running up and down stairs potentially damaging to Murphy? He's almost five, both his parents had 'very good' OFA's on their hips and 'normal' elbows, but he's a big guy.

What do you think, structurally risky? I also welcome other ideas in terms of exercise. This has been the worst winter I can remember and it's really got me stumped.

To be really ultra-cautious, which may not be warranted, can you do stairway stuff that is more walking than running? I'm thinking that taking the elevator down and climbing up a bunch of stairs and then taking the elevator back down, etc., might be great exercise and also eliminate what is probably the scariest part for joints (coming downstairs).

I'm picturing climbing a few flights of carpeted stairs as being pretty good exercise and pretty safe too.

I wonder what other folks will say.

Kudos to you, Kristel, for getting him out there and into some work!

 Quote:

I'm thinking that taking the elevator down and climbing up a bunch of stairs and then taking the elevator back down, etc., might be great exercise and also eliminate what is probably the scariest part for joints (coming downstairs).

Ooh...great idea. I will do that! Not sure I can keep him from running, but I can keep him from running DOWN. Thanks Connie!

I even thought that maybe walking him in the deep snow might be good exercise but it's just too deep to be realistic or fair. I'm curious to hear if others have ideas too. Vermont can't be the only state getting buried this year

Vermont got hammered, eh? 3 + feet reported by my brother in Newport. Wow.

Deep snow is frustrating. Are there any non-road packed snow areas you could try? I'm thinking snowmobile trails. Generally, if you go out on weekdays, you won't see many snowmobiles out there, and I've found that most riders are respectful of other users and yield and slow down. I've taught my dogs to stick to the side of the trail. Vermont has lots of snowmobile trails, if you google 'VAST' you should be able to find a map for your area.

If the snow is powder and 4-5 feet deep, you probably won't be able to get very far even if the dog could. I'd try to find a packed area. Stairs are a good fallback too. However, I've found that the mental stimulation of an outdoor run helps tire a dog out compared to indoor stuff, but sometimes that's just not possible.

Other places to try might be a plowed parking lot like at a highschool after hours. I'd stay off the roads for walking unless you are going a very short distance. Those drifts, the ice, low visibility, just too dangerous for you both.

The Vast trails should be usable in a few days, but they are a mess right now. It's a great idea though, one I hadn't considered before. I like it!

You know we got buried when even the snowmobile tracks are impassable eh? Three feet sounds about right in Newport. I grew up in the Northeast Kingdom and there was always more snow there than we have in the Burlington area and we really have a ridiculous amount right now. We had the snowiest February on record, and so far we are having the third snowiest winter on record. So far. Something tells me we may beat that before all is said and done.

I agree 1000% that running outdoors is the absolute best exercise of all. Pretty much every day in the winter I grab the electric collar, strap on my snowshoes and we go. That 'system' usually sees us through even nasty weather, but this is so far beyond doable. Maybe that's why we (or mostly me) are having such a hard time. We're spoiled and I'm not used to having all of my contingency plans foiled.

I thought spring was supposed to come early? We're supposed to get more snow at the end of the week

Kristel,
I've been doing stairwork with my male Briard (now 9) for years. Same thing...he's a high strung dog, and when the weather is lousy, it helps keep him exercised. We are fortunate to have stairs *inside* the house, but same idea.

This started as part of his agility/contact training, he has to stop at the bottom (two feet on the ground, butt on a step). This helps slow things down on the descent. It's great though, as I can say "climb!", and up he goes. "Stick it!" and he will come back down and wait to be released. He'd do this for hours if I let him. LOL

Anyhoo, like I said, he is nine years old. He rated OFA "Good" at 2, and we've had absolutely no orthopaedic issues.

Best (and stay sane up there in all that snow! )
Tracy

Wow, great to know! Thanks Tracy! I feel encouraged

This winter has been so terrible. I know your pain, Kristel. There were a few days this year that I basicaly just had to let the pup be crazy.

Boundaries were kept, of course. But the usual no nos of running around the house and barking were out the window. She was so under exercised that it wasn't fair to expect her to chill out.

The idea about using the stairs is a good one. Maybe I will try it in the future. I also might ask my landlord if I can run the dog in the basement for a future bad weather option.

I actually found a video of it! In reviewing, it looks like he cheated a little and started to come down before I said "stick it". Also I had a cold and sound like a 100 year old chain smoker...it's terrible! LOL

As you will see, it also is helpful for when he is feeling energetic, and I am feeling lazy. I am sitting on the couch filming with my phone while he is "working".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbdKPRbPGcw

Tracy

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

This winter has been so terrible. I know your pain, Kristel. There were a few days this year that I basicaly just had to let the pup be crazy.

Do I hear dog-fishing in that post?

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=15&Number=166671&Searchpage=1&Main=17224&Words=dogfishing&topic=0&Search=true (third post)


http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=306107&Searchpage=1&Main=28249&Words=dogfishing&topic=0&Search=true#Post306107