i do the tennis court thing too, or we wil go to Home Depot or Bass pro shops, both places who allow dogs without the crazy dogs of the petstore
last spring we went and got two truckloads of free mulch from the local green waste disposal place. and I put a thick thick layer of it along their chase path, behind the garage and anywhere else shady and cool that stays muddy asnd gross
It helps with drainage and keeps the mud off them.
Most of the time
Levi was a Mudpuppy, he would be absolutely covered head to toe in it, and then an hour later dry to a pretty white again and, Tonka..(the new puppy and yes thats our final answer)likes the mud too, drives me nuts!
And I bought about 5 of those rough door matt rug things and made a path of them on the deck and into the back door, it helps to keep the mud on their feet confined and i also keep an old bath towel and baby wipes by the back door.

 Quote: john j. miller

My dogs and I don't have an issue with snow and cold. I throw on the cold weather gear and go out and train. The issue I have in Chicago is that we had about 6 inches of snow on the ground last week. Then it gradually warmed up to 60 DEGREES! In Chicago! In January!!! Everything is wet, dirty, and a mud pit.

And here is the first hand description of that Saturday training field today. "Sugar Creek" is a little - well, CREEK that runs on our property outside the fenced in part. Yesterday, it was Sugar River running outside that fence, feeding Sugar LAKE which is normally non-existant. WAY inside the fenced part. Today, we still have Sugar Pond. Me thinks we will be doing OB and PR at the nearby park on Saturday.

Mean time - hide and seek is a fun house game that also ties into "ring training" for those with show line pups OR those with working lines who eventually want to get a show rating and a KKL rating. Since show lines and German style ring training are not "hot topics" here, stop reading now if not interested.

(I secretly hope that anyone with a working line dog going for a conformation rating under the German SV style will at least ask for some ring training tips. If you can train for SchH titles, you can ring train a dog in your sleep. I've seen many a nice working line dog get a lower conformation rating - and more importantly a KKL rating- than what might be deserved, just because of no or bad ring training. But I'll save that rant for another day or another thread.)

Mean time, hide and seek requires two people and one dog. Person 1 holds the dog on a short leash in a room. Person 2 goes to a differnt place in the house with a noise maker (i.e. whistle or duck call or something else loud) and some treats or a toy. When person 2 is out of site in a different room, they use the noise maker. Person 1 releases the dog to go find Person 2 and get the treat or toy.

At first, start this at short distances. (i.e. right around the corner) Expand the game once the pup understands it. Our dogs have fun doing this between multiple floors, and with Person 2 pretty well hidden - i.e. in closets and such. We've found it to be a fun winter activity when everyone is cooped up.

And the purpose for all this in the context of ring training is so that the dog hears it's "noise" and starts looking attentively for the "Person" and the associated reward.

OK - I know that sounds completely juvenile and stupid to folks dealing with the intracacies of SchH training. But trust me - this little stupid activity DOES make a difference when presenting your dog in front of judges for SG or V, KKL2 or KKL1 rating. And that's just my first ring training tip.

Beth

We've had quite a bit of snow on the ground here since the end of November and the only thing that has saved my sanity and kept the dogs from going bonkers are SNOWSHOES.... I got a nice little set for Christmas from L.L. Bean.

Good workout for me, great exercise for the dogs. When they get tired from running through the deep snow, they walk behind me in my tracks.

we then do marker training in the kitchen or living room after the dogs have had a good hike.

I second the Chicago weather complaint. My backyard is mush, which is where we do must of our training and energy burning. I also have done the tennis courts, its a good half mile walk there then some fetch then a walk home does burn some energy. I am seriously considering a treadmill for inside running in these weather situations. We also have been driving to some different walking trails Zeus has never been to. The change of area from what he is used to seems to keep him from getting bored.

 Quote: Cindy Easton Rhodes

We've had quite a bit of snow on the ground here since the end of November and the only thing that has saved my sanity and kept the dogs from going bonkers are SNOWSHOES.... I got a nice little set for Christmas from L.L. Bean.

Good workout for me, great exercise for the dogs. When they get tired from running through the deep snow, they walk behind me in my tracks.

I'm interested in your snow shoes. But for now, does Leerburg sell waders? That's what I need right now...
Beth

We train in any weather Rain , Snow Mud it never stops plus three of the four training days are done at nights with Flood Lights on. If the ground becomes dangerous for humans and Dogs then it is cut back to a safety limit but training goes on regardless

 Quote: John Malufka

I am seriously considering a treadmill for inside running in these weather situations.

I was literally thinking this very thought last night while watching Diesel practically spontaneously combust. Anyone have any success this this?

 Quote: John J. Miller

 Quote: John Malufka

I am seriously considering a treadmill for inside running in these weather situations.

I was literally thinking this very thought last night while watching Diesel practically spontaneously combust. Anyone have any success this this?

Talk to Dave. He has one.

i think this weather is great, if only for the melting of the ice.

just a thought for taking the dogs for runs outside - you can put icers or yaktraks on your shoes (yaktraks aren't good on sheer/black ice but are good on other ice/slippery surfaces), or you can put a couple of screws into the sole of your running shoes for traction.

for snow, you can get a short pair of gaiters to keep snow out of your shoes - i use these ones when running http://www.outdoorresearch.com/home/style/home/gaiters/gaiters_trail/61005 since i don't want the heat trapping that my regular, taller, hiking gaiters would create.

 Quote: Beth Fuqua

 Quote: John J. Miller

 Quote: John Malufka

I am seriously considering a treadmill for inside running in these weather situations.

I was literally thinking this very thought last night while watching Diesel practically spontaneously combust. Anyone have any success this this?

Talk to Dave. He has one.

I see Ceaser use them on his show and the classifieds are filled with them for very good prices. I would think it would also help with training, to take the edge off and focus more. Zeus has ALOT of energy