Heat And Exercise!

[LisaCC]

It's my first time having a dog in a hot climate, the sun is setting and it's still 36 degrees!!

Walking/training first thing in the morning ties Nova over for the day, but I like to give him another walk and training sesh in the evenings. I don't feel completely safe walking around by myself at night (it's still expected to stay in the 30s tonight though anyway) does anyone have some alternative exercise ideas for days like today?

I played some tug during training this afternoon with him in the air con, I guess I could do that again but I don't want him to loose interest in it.

Edited December 18, 2013 by LisaCC

[Salukifan]

Swimming?

[ness]

Indoor tricks/hiding toys and having the dog go and find them?

[LisaCC]

We've been going to the river, when the sun isn't blaring down. But when the sun is fully out at this temp he just seeks out shade to lay down even when the river is right there.

[LisaCC]

Indoor tricks/hiding toys and having the dog go and find them?

I guess thats going to have to be the go. Morning walks will have to suffice when we can't get to the river.

Just tried some games the back yard to see how he would go with the sun down, he was much more interested in the shadier places and trying to get back into the air con.

Hide and go seek seems like a great idea

Edited December 18, 2013 by LisaCC

[LisaCC]

Well he just discovered his own exercise. Fly hunting He is surprisingly good at it, I'll never need fly spray again!

[raineth]

Using gym balls, and fit paws equipment can also be really good, works their mind and their body, and you can do it in the house.

It might be a good option if you run out of flies :)

[Tassie]

Well he just discovered his own exercise. Fly hunting He is surprisingly good at it, I'll never need fly spray again!

It's fine as long as you don't have bees or European wasps around. Then it's a real worry.

Do you have a paddle pool of any kind. Most of the cheap shops have some for under $40. Or you can get a kid's plasstic sandpit (deeper than a clam shell) for around $40 sometimes.

[Kavik]

Body awareness exercises :)

[Tassie]

Body awareness exercises :)

Good call, Kavik. Pivot bowl/disc, platforms .

[LisaCC]

We do both of those :)

I have a wobble board too for him, we did have an exercise ball but teeth got involved

[Tassie]

:laugh: Love the intense look on his face - trying to save his isqueak from drowning. :laugh:

[LisaCC]

Thanks Ness for the hide and go seek idea. He knows to target a coaster when I ask him to, so I started slowly hiding that, just spent half an hour with him madly looking for it, pouncing on it like an arctic fox then rushing back for a tug! I inadvertently got a more reliable 'out' from the game too

[SonnyBC]

not a game, but I freeze iceblocks for them

Using a low salt beef stock, put in a plastic disposable cup, 1/3 stock, put in some dry food, cut up snack foods (smackos) or even some cut up meat, top with water and freeze.

They love eating these on a hot day :)

[LisaCC]

Thanks! I made up some sardine iceblocks for him today actually :)

[mixeduppup]

I put two bags of ice in the kiddy pool today, it kept them occupied for ages, taking every piece out and piling it next to the pool, only to be confused when the ice started disappearing.

[LisaCC]

I put two bags of ice in the kiddy pool today, it kept them occupied for ages, taking every piece out and piling it next to the pool, only to be confused when the ice started disappearing.

Good idea!

When I went to Petstock the other day I got some free samples of "ice bones", they are basically just beef stock in a bone shaped container you freeze and pop out. Nova put it away after a while, he got a bit of a shock when some one had obviously stolen it from his hiding place because it "disappeared"

[Guest hankodie]

I put two bags of ice in the kiddy pool today, it kept them occupied for ages, taking every piece out and piling it next to the pool, only to be confused when the ice started disappearing.

Good idea!

When I went to Petstock the other day I got some free samples of "ice bones", they are basically just beef stock in a bone shaped container you freeze and pop out. Nova put it away after a while, he got a bit of a shock when some one had obviously stolen it from his hiding place because it "disappeared"

Hahahaha I bought these for my 2 and the exact same thing happened, Hank was so sad when his treat was reduced to just a puddle on the floor

[Jed]

Childs wading pool. They can lie down or sit in it - they run around, they get hot, they lie down in the pool, they get cool, then they run around and get hot again. This is off lead in the garden. I never walk them on lead when it is very hot. They make their own decisions about playing or lying around. In the pm when it is cooler, we might play ball, or dog-rugby for a while.