In WI, there are days when we simply can't give our dog the exercise he needs. Yesterday he was cooped up much of the day in the house because we had a busy day. Sometimes I do bring him to "doggie day care" but that can get expensive and these next few days might not be possible because of our schedule/car situation.
What are some indoor ways to exercise a higher energy dog - he is a goldendoodle, so he has energy and is LARGE.
I have used some treat toys - where they work to get out a treat, lick out a kong toy, etc. Fetch is always an option, but he seems to get bored of that one quickly. He seems too smart. Any "outside the box" ideas?
EDIT: Generally when I mean we can't get outside for a walk, I mean we can't get outside AT ALL. I have a 3 year old and sometimes the temperatures are just too cold for him to be out a lengthy period of time. I go to work at 12:00 so there is no morning nap to devote to going outside even if it is too cold for DS.
What kind of dog is he?
My Goldens will chase a ball up and down the stairs until they drop dead. 5-10 minutes twice a day.
:)
How cold do you think is too cold for a 3 year old? I live in AK and my kids have been out at -48 with no issues, you just have to put on the proper clothing. Dogs need exercise, and if you fail to give it to him I hope you are not punishing him if he acts out but destroying items or going potty on the floor. Dogs can not talk so when they are not getting what they need acting out is the only way they have to show they are unhappy. Even if a walk is only 20 minutes that is something, and even at the coldest of temps a child will be fine for 20 minutes outside if he puts on the proper gear.
Ah, the weather & dogs... not always a harmonious blend!
Having 5 large dogs (Rhodesian Ridgebacks) myself, I can understand the frustration.
I read somewhere once (sorry, long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I don't have a source) that mental stimulation can be just as beneficial for dogs as physical exercise. Not that you can cage a dog 24/7 & give him a book to read, but some breeds (like my in-laws Border Collie) need more than just a daily run to wear them out... they need a -job-.
I found a great article that talks about how to combine the physical with the mental to fulfill a dogs needs:
http://www.4pawsu.com/fetch.htm
It talks about playing fetch, but breaking it up with obedience work, or even using the concept of fetch but doing so with immobile items, more like "find" or scentwork.
Although it references doing some of the activities outdoors, many of them can be adapted to in the house work, with a bit of creativity. My dogs & I have proven that you can do basic obedienc work (sit/stay/down/heel/pivot/turn/figure 8) in the space between the TV & the sofa. And TV commercials are a great way to do a little bit of work, & then rest & let the dog absorb what is being worked on.
Keep in mind, the best way to do this is with a few treats and LOTS of verbal, happy-voice praise. Let your dog know he is doing what you want. And don't wait for him to do it completely perfect.
You ask him to sit, & he sits (somewhere) YAY!!! good boy good boy good boy... Then, maybe you take some time (a week) to teach him to sit -at your side-, by patting your leg, telling him 'closer closer', etc., rewarding him for the improvements along the way. Same thing with shake paw, roll over, etc. (obedience work doesn't need to be just sit/down/stay, it can include tricks)
Look stuff up on the internet, I'm sure you can find a ton of resources on things to train, how to train, etc. Just whatever you do, have fun with it. You'll be able to bond with your dog, and have a happy, obedient partner at the end of the winter. And you may just find new skills in your dog that you'll want to continue with outside when the weather is warmer!
Just one tip - please DO NOT use laser pointers to stimulate your dog with. I don't know if there are any official studies out, but the anecdotal evidence is concerning, & I personally know someone whose dog was a bit scrambled after a time. Dogs cant 'catch' light, and it doesn't behave like other prey. This can cause them to continue to look for it, even well after it's been put away.
Best of luck to you & your pooch! T. =-)
When I can't get my Lab out for a walk I just take her outside and throw the tennis ball for her. Over and over and over and over. Even just ten to fifteen minutes of that is enough to burn off most of her extra energy.
We used to live in Alaska and I have to say you can just dress your kid up warmly and go! We went out daily even up to 20 below. Run, walk, have fun! Dress your 3 year old in layers with a snowsuit or a winter coat and snow pants. Fleece in the middle over his clothes. Warm socks and winter boots. Mittens and a hat. I'm sure he will still have fun stomping on ice and snow...my kids sure love that. The other suggestion I have is get up early and take your dog for a walk. And my last suggestion is hire a neighborhood kid (age 12 or so) to take him on daily walks. It's important for your dog! And it's great to get your kids out in the fresh air. I highly recommend it.
I vacuum, nothing gets my dogs and cats running like running the vacuum.
My neighbor will use a flashlight on the floor. The dog and cat will chase the light around.
I get it we have had some extreme cold lately and we are getting it again starting tonight.
You can teach your dog to walk on a treadmill. But you CANNOT just tie them to it, turn it on and walk away--EVER. There is a very real risk of severe injury if you are not right there with them.
http://www.petcentric.com/07-15-2009/train-your-dog-to-ru...
Just google "training dogs on the treadmill" and there are tons of links, including Youtube vids.
Do you have a stairway you can have him chase up and down?
Talk to your vet. I'm sure he runs into that issue often and would have a better idea based on his breed.
Hide and seek is lots of fun and makes them think so mental and physical exercise. Put him in a sit stay and hide somewhere with treats and release and let him find you. Our lab used to love this game and we could play for a long time. Your three year old could hide too.
Work on tricks- anything that is mental stimulation is good. Sit, down, sit, down= puppy push ups! Training a new trick, indoor heel work, etc. If you have ever done clicker training or shaping that is a lot of fun and the dog as to figure out what works to get the treat- can do just about anything with that.
Frozen kong with PB takes longer for the dog to work on. Use regular meal food as treats if he is food motivated throughout the day for anything- coming when called, sits, downs,etc.
Hide treats/food in a room and then let him in to find the food. Hide food under cups and let him find the right cup- might be good for your three year old to have fun playing with him doing this too. Nosework might be fun- looks for how to teach videos, but involves finding the right scent.
I have a mini-schnoodle (10 pounds) so I get what you're saying about him being too "smart." My girl just seems to NEED mental stimulation as well as physical. I can only imagine how tough it is with a big doodle.
She LOVES hide and seek. One of us will hold her while another of us hides. We call her and she has to find us. We usually have a little treat. She runs as fast as her little legs will carry her.
We also practice the STAY and COME commands. That involves running this long straight-away in our house.
I might try an indoor agility course if I were you.
Good luck and hope you get some good ideas.
Get a tennis ball and sit at the top or bottom of the stairs and toss the ball and have him run up and down to fetch.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
Hi. I had two Jack Russell terriers for many years, just rated the #1 most energetic breed by a veterinarian group, including when my kids were little, and I live in MN so I can relate to your problem. I now have a Miniature Poodle and although he doesn't need quite as much exercise as a JRT he does need mental stimulation. I agree with those who suggested a tennis ball up and down the stairs if you have any stairs. That's what we did with one of our JRTs and I think the record once was about 250 consecutive times up and down the stairs.
For some mental stimulation a trainer once recommended to me to make it a bit of a mental challenge for them to eat their meals. We have two different devices, "puzzles" of sort, to feed our Poodle. One is a plastic kind of mushroom shape and you unscrew a cover to put the kibble in it. The dog has to roll it around the floor to get the food to fall out a little at a time. I also have a flat tray divided into about 12 compartments each with a sliding cover. I put the food in the compartments with the covers on and he has to slide them to get to the kibble. It took him a couple of times to get the hang of it, but after more than a year it's a piece of cake and I'm thinking I need to find him a new "puzzle." I got these at a Chuck & Don's if you have those in WI, otherwise you might be able to find something online.
Finally, this isn't my thing because I don't like the combination of cold and dark, but many people in our neighborhood bundle up, wear a reflective vest or bright head lamp and walk their dogs in the evening. Maybe you or your husband could walk him in the evening when one of you can stay in with the three-year-old? And like others have suggested, we have teenagers in our neighborhood who walk dogs after school for a little extra cash. Cheaper than doggie daycare.
sooo your dog doesnt go outside all day? maybe i misunderstood..i have 2 lil dogs and we go outside-not long but they have to potty outside.i guess if a dog with a 3 yr old is to much to handle maybe you should consider rehoming him.bundle baby up-lil cool air isnt gonna hurt any.but really if your to busy for a dog,do the dog a favor n rehome him.
I have a labradoodle who is high energy + 2 pups.
when we're cooped up, we run the house. Around & around. :)
If you can't walk your dog (which I find to be a good outlet for high energy), how about throwing a tennis ball over & over? Even if it's in a
small area.
Do you have a 'dog sitter in your area that you could pay to just walk your
dog? We have several small businesses here that do that while you are
on vacation but you could hire the on just random days. They are trained, licensed, bonded etc.
Have the dog chase your 3 year old around the house for a toy. It wears them both out.
