Dog Community

Cold Weather Indoor Activities???

Posted : 1/25/2007 11:13:53 AM

Ok, it took a while but winter has finally arrived (much to my dispair). Today our highs are going to be in the single digits, who knows what the wind chill will be. Before I go any further I must confess I AM A WUSS when it comes to cold. Don't ask me why I still live in Michigan. Anyway due to other responsibilities I have had this week, my poor dogs have not gotten their usual walks and now it is COLD. So I was wondering if any one had some creative ideas to let them know they had "exercise" without going for walks. We have a smaller ranch house with a decent sized finished basement.

Belle and Teddi do play together quite a bit, which I think is more tiring for the puppy (13 1/2 weeks) especially if she starts the Teddianapolis 500 (laps around the basement sectional). For her too I was thinking some leash obedience work if I can get the other show off dogs out of the room. I need to do more of that and get her to start at least paying attention (not expecting miracles yet). Belle is probably my biggest issue. She has a lot of energy and usually the only way to get it out is to take her for a walk, run, play at the park etc. My dog trainers always say a good obedience session wears out a dog. Not Belle. She can do a solid hour of work, and when you release her she will take off running and jumping around (even inside). We play a little catch inside with her but I am trying to think of something new and different.

Maxine well she is 10 so even though she still needs exercise (she did get a walk yesterday from DH) she isn't a requirement. I thought I would take some time with her to refresh her obedience but she is perfect so that won't last long. She does get her nose out of joint if Belle and Teddi are getting the attention. So I need to entertain her too.

Any thoughts?
Can't wait for spring when it will be fun again to walk, swim, work agility outside, ah I miss the sun and warmer (drier?) weather. We were lucky it has been in the 40 & 50's most of the time, but WET WET WET. Our back yard at least now is firm, ok it is ICE but we can walk back there now and the dogs don't come in covered in mud.

Thanks All
Ann

seashell

Posted : 1/25/2007 1:07:57 PM

I am a wuss too. I live in Wisconsin so I know what you are going through. It took so long for it to get cold this year that we were getting really spolied for awhile.
This is my first winter since adopting Abbi and it is tough to get them enough exercise. We just got back from Petco and spent quite some time walking around there, of course I always end up buying something while we are there.
The other things we have been doing is playing keep away inside the house. We try fetch sometimes but that doesn't hold her attention very long. I also taught her "upstairs" and "downstairs" so we run up and down the stairs alot
On Fridays she goes to Doggie daycare which helps out a lot. Her daycare is in a converted warehouse so even if it is cold they have lots of room to run.
Good luck. I can't wait for spring.

jones

Posted : 1/25/2007 1:25:54 PM

Freeshaping, hide n seek (w treats), all meals in the Buster Cube or freeshaping sessions.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 1/25/2007 1:55:43 PM

Fortunately, Max is just sooo content to veg out on the sofa when the weather is bad. He'll squeak some of his toys, but he really doesn't get that pent up energy when he doesn't get out. [] He exercises himself going from sofa to bed to food bowl to rug.

Joyce

simcoe

Posted : 1/25/2007 3:34:00 PM

ORIGINAL: fuzzy_dogs_mom

Fortunately, Max is just sooo content to veg out on the sofa when the weather is bad. He'll squeak some of his toys, but he really doesn't get that pent up energy when he doesn't get out. [] He exercises himself going from sofa to bed to food bowl to rug.

Joyce

Boy, am I glad to hear I don't have the only lazy dog out there. When I adopted Toby his shelter bio called him "Toby, couch potato terrier." I didn't believe it, who ever heard of a lazy terrier? But boy, they weren't kidding. If he's not allowed to run off-leash and full bore on his own through the woods then he doesn't want to move at all. If we're inside for the day I can't get him to play with me for love or money, he just wants to lounge around on the sofa or his comfy cushion.

It's nice that he's so content to be a slug, but I do worry he's going to atrophy altogether and I'll wake up one morning to find Jabba the Hutt in my living room.

[

] Simcoe

Caryl Peters

Posted : 1/25/2007 3:46:50 PM

Those are all great ideas!! I used the up stairs and down stairs with bronx when I lived at my parents house in PA. When he was young he could do that for close to an hour before he would tire out. Also you might try ( if you have one) is a tred mill a lot of show dog use this when they cant take there pups on walks.