Help me entertain my dog

[lovemyoldguy]

I had to have unplanned surgery on Tuesday to remove my gallbladder, and I need help entertaining my dog while I'm laid up. :no: My younger dog is a 6 year old Chinook - kind of like a Husky crossed with a Golden Retriever - and she's fabulous but energetic. I normally take her and my older Lab out for a walk every night to wear her out, but right now that's not an option...and she's bored!! They have a fenced back yard to play in, but she really wants ME to play with her.

The pet sitter is coming twice a day to feed the dogs (since I can't bend over to put down/pick up feed bowls) and she's going to take the dog out for a quick spin around the block, which should help. I'm out of commission at least until my post-op appointment next week, when I should get the all-clear for minimal activity. Any suggestions for anything to entertain her until then?

(On a side note...I'm home alone, stuck on the couch, and going stir crazy too...thank you COTHers for keeping me entertained!)

[threedogpack]

I had to have unplanned surgery on Tuesday to remove my gallbladder, and I need help entertaining my dog while I'm laid up. :no: My younger dog is a 6 year old Chinook - kind of like a Husky crossed with a Golden Retriever - and she's fabulous but energetic. I normally take her and my older Lab out for a walk every night to wear her out, but right now that's not an option...and she's bored!! They have a fenced back yard to play in, but she really wants ME to play with her.

The pet sitter is coming twice a day to feed the dogs (since I can't bend over to put down/pick up feed bowls) and she's going to take the dog out for a quick spin around the block, which should help. I'm out of commission at least until my post-op appointment next week, when I should get the all-clear for minimal activity. Any suggestions for anything to entertain her until then?

(On a side note...I'm home alone, stuck on the couch, and going stir crazy too...thank you COTHers for keeping me entertained!)

teach her to fetch, teach her to do tricks, teach her to settle down and relax, teach her to identify different toys, or different scents. Hide toys and teach her to find them. Brain games will tire her out far faster than physical games.

[WombatCA]

Chewing is also really good exercise. Use some of your dogs kibble and stuff it into Kongs. You can use Peanut butter as glue, and add some really yummy smelling treats at the bottom to encourage him to keep working at it. If he gets good at de-stuffing, you can freeze them to make it harder.
Also getting him a nice big bone to chew on will also be good.
Good luck!
P.S. You can clicker train without having to move at all...

[rizzodm]

Put some treats in a empty water bottle (leave the lid off). My GSD loves this and it is quite entertaining to watch too!

[Guin]

If she retrieves, you'd be amazed how long a dog will want to play "Couch fetch" with you. My dog will bring me a tennis ball to toss while I'm lying on the couch indefinitely, until I get exhausted and tell him to go away.

[lovemyoldguy]

These are all great suggestions - thank you! I knew COTH would come through for me with ideas. The dog-walker just took her for a 30-min. walk, which has tired her out for a bit; but I'm going to try these games out in the morning.

[citydog]

Brain games, yes, absolutely.

If you really can't move much at all yet, there's always 101 things to do with a cardboard box (http://www.clickertraining.com/node/167). :winkgrin:

[Brio]

You could try a buster ball or buster cube. Its a ball or block that you can fill with kibble. They have to roll it to get the food out. keeps them occupied for a while.

Hope you feel better soon!

[FindersKeepers]

I'll second the buster ball. I did this with my pup when I had my tonsils out. I couldn't move, and he couldn't sit still.

I tried making my own with a water bottle, but he got frustrated and shredded it. The buster ball worked like a charm. I'd fill it with dog food and a couple little treats, and he'd spend the next 2 hours emptying it. Then he'd take a nap. So I only had to refill the ball once each day. If you have someone that can make a quick trip to the pet store and get one, make that call immediately.

O, and get 2, one for each. They can get a little irritated sharing... (or, it will create endless entertainment as you watch 1 dog desperately flipping the ball around, while the other follows, eating all the rewards.)

[BuddyRoo]

Have any neighbor kids who want to make a buck?

Does your dog chase reflections or lights? I can have hours of entertainment with my lab and something shiny that makes light on the wall. Granted, you end up with slobber on the wall, but in your situation, it may be worth it. CD's, watches, flashlights, laser pointers...all effective.

Sorry to hear about your surgery. Hope you recover quickly.

[bdj]

The buster cube is great, but be warned - it is NOISY! When I lived in an apartment, I actually worried about all the noise my guy made with his, so I got him another toy that's very similar, but it's an orange ball and is made of a much softer plastic, so the noise is significantly less. And I was very surprised that my big guy, who is a chewing monster, never actually sat down to chew on his Orange Treat Ball.
Found it - the Tricky Treat Ball! http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751743&lmdn=Product+Type

I'm sure you already know this, but don't forget to subtract whatever you put in the Buster Cube or food dispensing toy from your guy's meals - so you don't end up with an entertained but fatter pup!

[mjmvet]

Check out Premier's line of dog toys too- mine likes the "Tug-a-Jug" and "Squirrel Dude".

I second clicker training - lots of service dogs are trained by their disabled owners this way. There's even a horse trained by a woman in a wheel chair. Really cool stuff.

Hope your recovery is swift!
m