Isabel964 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Went to the vet again today. My Kelpie has soft tissue issue damage and a swollen wrist, and needs 4-8 weeks rest. I need more advice on how to keep her mentally well during this time. She is 10 years old, and one of two dogs, the other dogs will need to have exercise continued. She is used to doing the following, with me and our other dog; 1-1.5 hour walks a day 2-3 drives in the car a day A trip to a park 3 times a week for a run and play Occasional trips to the beach Now she has to stay at home for 1-2 months and rest. I have ordered a clicker and will do some clicker training. How else do I handle this to minimise her being unhappy and utterley miserable, and feeling left behind and left out. She is a very sensitive girl, very loving and highly active - she lives for the active times. This is a massive change to life as she knows it and I want to do the best for her. I am not working at the moment, so I can make the time for whatever I can do to help her through this. You help and your ideas is very much needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Rides in the car? At least then she can get out and about without having to walk. I don't have any, but have heard good things about the Nina Ottosson toys/puzzles. So maybe something like those (or even some homemade things that are problem solving/puzzles) might at least keep her brain happy. Maybe do training with scent work type things???? I don't envy you! Good luck and hope the wrist heals up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Having just been through this with a super energetic 3 year old BC who was on 4 weeks strict crate rest and restricted exercise for what seems like an absolute eternity due to a damaged shoulder ligament (its been on-going for the last 6 months or so months) these are a few suggestions I was given: - Scent work type games - Stuffed kongs/bones - Training activities which involve working things out rather than moving Since I was on the position to be home she only had to be crated if she wanted to do to much. Otherwise she was leashed to my desk where I was working and allowed on a dog bed. Was really hard in the first week, she mellowed a little but towards the end of the third week she was well over resting. She got taken out in the car whenever I had to duck down to the shops. She ran errands with me. Mine also loves squeakie toys so I would give her one of those so long as she was laying on her bed and she would sit there squeaking it. Staranais on here gave me the suggestion of driving to a local park or somewhere and having a cup of coffee or something. This worked to a point but towards the end she was absolutely fed up with not being allowed to run. Here is another similar thread with some ideas and suggestions: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/218947-ideas-for-a-seriously-bored-dog-on-crate-rest/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 What about teaching some new tricks to mentally engage her: paw on nose etc, etc? Maybe scattering her meal in the yard so she has to sniff to find it (if that's not too much walking?) I wish you the best of luck, my girl has recently had a soft tissue shoulder injury and drove me mad being cooped up And if all else fails, some bones to gnaw on or stuffed kongs for some respite for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzy82 Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Would swimming be ok? You could see if there are any pools in your area, you know, the type for injured dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel964 Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 Thanks so much. I never heard of scent work - I'll research it. Nina Ottosson toys/puzzles - will need to look those up too - thanks heaps. They might be good to give her when I leave with our other dog for walks. Pity she is not chihuahua size - I could carry her on walks! As for rides the car, I found out today I can lift her. Never had to do it before and she is a bit bigger than a purebred kelpie as she has a little bit something else in her. So getting in and out of the car is going to be ok, but she stands and has to balance in the car - so I thought that is bad for her. Mind you, I could just take her to a park really close by and drive like an old woman and let people honk at me cos I go like a snail around the corners. Is there a way to get a dog to sit in the car...on a car seat? We used to have a wagon and the dogs would just jump up in the back and ride in there. Never use a seatbelt and made them sit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esky the husky Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 You can get harnesses or your dogs that with an loop on the back that you feed the seatbelt through, this helps to keep them in place while the car is moving. IMO much safer than a loose dog which could become a deadly missile if you had a crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rastus_froggy Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Go into the training thread and check out the tricks, there are lots ther that you can work on without her being too active. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monah Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 I feel your pain! I've had a dog 'onleash' for 8 months now and over the weekend another had emergency surgery and now she is on leash for 6 weeks.. some great suggestions already. I hope your lovely dog is OK. The only other thing I can say is 'tough love'..it's so hard when they are used to being active. I actually taught mine a lot of words etc. to ensure they are careful and even this keeps their minds active. My BC who is the only fit one ATM also has had to learn constraint etc. so I've found the whole experience can have a positive side and have to think of this when I'm climbing the walls!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Buy a second hand kiddies pram or pushchair, strap her in & take her on the walk with the others. I did this for years with an old dog that had arthritis & couldn't walk far. A converted shopping trolley was her pram being small. She loved going with the others & not missing out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Buy a second hand kiddies pram or pushchair, strap her in & take her on the walk with the others. I did this for years with an old dog that had arthritis & couldn't walk far. A converted shopping trolley was her pram being small. She loved going with the others & not missing out. Emma wasn't able to walk her last Million Paws Walk so we created a trolley for her, she loved it because she could speak to everone still and got to smell all the smells and hear what was going on. A bit easier for me because she wasn't in a position to jump out (she did try once, but then figured it was just easier to sit!!). So if your dog will sit in a cart of some sort this can be excellent. Em in her trolley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel964 Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) Great idea but, she is bigger than a purebred kelpie - but not quite as big as Labrador. I don't think she will fit in a pram and I sure as hell aint pushing a shopping trolley on the footpath LOL. I like this idea....maybe a large wheelbarrow type thing....but she will not want to sit in there, she will want to walk - but I can work on that. This morning my heart broke. For the first time I took my westie out for a walk. Well my keplie turned herself inside out and my son thought she broke her leg or something she was carrying on so much. Meanwhile my westie yelped and carried on during the walk and I gave up after 10 minutes. It was all just so traumatic .... but the pram type thing would work....gotta find something big enough. I found THIS....it says it can fit in dogs up to 30kg - my kelpie is 20kg. But it doesn't look like it will fit her in it. I might call them. Its damn expensive though. And I found THIS ONE which is lower and seems better - but its in Japan and I can't work out if the handle bars come with it. Edited July 19, 2011 by Sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I don't think she will fit in a pram an old style pram- not one of those pusher things . A rottie could fit in a 'proper' pram ! ;) go looking in opshops etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 if you fit a harness - she could sit in something like THIS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Have a look at this one... ebay I was going to get the trailer version for my bike. Much more affordable and might do the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 something like THIS ? ooh... or THIS ONE !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Buy a second hand kiddies pram or pushchair, strap her in & take her on the walk with the others. I did this for years with an old dog that had arthritis & couldn't walk far. A converted shopping trolley was her pram being small. She loved going with the others & not missing out. Emma wasn't able to walk her last Million Paws Walk so we created a trolley for her, she loved it because she could speak to everone still and got to smell all the smells and hear what was going on. A bit easier for me because she wasn't in a position to jump out (she did try once, but then figured it was just easier to sit!!). So if your dog will sit in a cart of some sort this can be excellent. Em in her trolley Oh !!!! That's just the sweetest pic, very cute Pretty Miss Emma, I'm going to do that when mine aren't able to do the Paws walk as well. Wonder if I will be able to find a tandem one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel964 Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 if you fit a harness - she could sit in something like THIS Nah, she won't fit into one of those. But also I would need something low for ease of her getting into it. Thanks for the idea though. Have a look at this one... ebay I was going to get the trailer version for my bike. Much more affordable and might do the job. yep, this is the sort of thing that would work. I found This and This I've sent them an email asking few questions. This is here in Australia, but the don't have the 3 wheel ones which I prefer. I walk fast and prefer something that is smooth and easy to manoeuvre. I'm so glad I have these options - I would never have thought these things exist! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I think your dog would fit in an old type baby pram too, if you can find one. Toddlers up to about age 2 were comfortable in them. Otherwise you may just have to get inventive if you don't want to spend much. What about one of those flat type trolley things that you can buy at garden places or Sams Warehouse variety store type places. They use them at the cat shows to push a few cages on at once. No so expensive you could make a guard rail around it with some wood or even tie a big dog crate on it securely. Here is what I did for pups for socialising before vaccines. Made of a childs pushchai & stuff around the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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