what do you do daily for your very active dogs?
every since I rescued my puppies I’ve gotten so much help and info from this forum..from health, aggression, training, feeding, you name it.
Ok I really need your help again.
My puppies are 8 and 9 months, border collie/retriever and jack russell/beagle mixes.
They are super high energy, and not easily entertained. they run for hours. they NEED to run for at least 3 hrs straight. I don’tknow how else to do it. that’s what i’m asking for help with.
I work from home and take care of my sick mom. My dream is to get a job in the health care field..but I don’t know how to make it work with my 2 dogs.
i’m the least assertive person you’d ever meet..my philosophy is, let the dogs go where they want on the lead, they don’t have to heal.
Ok so my problem is, how can I get a job away from home if these dogs need constent attention? My JRT mix can NOT be left anywhere (dog daycare) without me except the home or she cries the whole time, it breaks my heart her face looks in pain (continue)
ok sorry this got so long. My problem is I need a schedule for my 2 puppies who are super active and energtic. they show no interest in retrieving balls and stuff like that, i mean honestly the only thing i know what to do with t hem is take them to a dog park and let them run and play for 4 hours. I don’t know what else to do. But i want to change jobs and not work from home some time in the future. so what do you all do for your very energetic dogs every day? what’s your schedule like?
oh yeah forgot to say, in the AM i take them for an hour long walk, i let them off the lead in a safe place where they can’t get out for a little bit and let them play tug of war with a frisbee.(they dont fetch). but then we get home i have to do work, they want to keep going, i don’t know what to do anymore really i don’t know how to explain it, they just need constant attention.
my BC mix could go to dog daycare fine, but my JRT mix can’t she freaks out. i didnt want to just take one and leave the other home because feel bad for her then
also they have toys, i mean they have every toy you can think of lol. and i don’t leave them all out at once i rotate but they havent show interest unless it’s edible (like a bully stick) since they were 4 months..i dontknow why. they don’t want to play with toys or me they just want to go to dog parks and run.
i’ll keep working home like this if another way is impossible..i guess i just don’t understand why they aren’t happy dogs unless theyre running in parks for hours every day. I tried just 1 hour too. they act like they didn’t do anything when we got home.
greek- you always make me come to my senses thank you.
linda- congratulations at getting into med school and thank you for the tips.
Everyone else-thank you also very much.
It seems as it is YOU who has the problem, not the dogs.. Dogs will do and fit in whatever schedule YOU make for them, period. To not be able to work or have a life because of dogs is ridiculous, you are being held hostage by your dogs lives.
Put the JRT in a crate, put a bark collar on it and get a job that you want outside of the house.
The dogs do not pay the bills, YOU do, you will need to learn to become assertive.
There are millions of people out there that own dogs and have a life and are able to work, you can too.
As far as energetic dogs, let them run around the yard or get them small size backpacks and let them carry water bottles while walking them. Hook them both up to a bike and let them pull you for several miles, great exercise too.
In short, it is YOU that needs to decide that you must stop living life according to your dogs wishes and start living it according to yours. Good luck!!
Thought about a doggie daycare? Your JRT will have to learn to be left alone. HAVE TO LEARN. It may make you sad at first, but he HAS to learn – or your stuck at home for the rest of your life and that sounds pretty lame.
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I have two Labs, and I work from home, getting a job that will take me away from them is not an option, they need lots of walks and would not cope with being left indoors all day, I think you need to carry on working from home.
The lengths we go to for our dogs!
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You don’t seem to want to, but teach them to heel. They will feel like they are on a mission and get focused on where they are going (use dog backpacks too). It drains a lot more energy than letting them wander wherever they want. When you’re at home, you can let them use a treadmill.
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Dog Owner
Shelter Volunteer
It seems as it is YOU who has the problem, not the dogs.. Dogs will do and fit in whatever schedule YOU make for them, period. To not be able to work or have a life because of dogs is ridiculous, you are being held hostage by your dogs lives.
Put the JRT in a crate, put a bark collar on it and get a job that you want outside of the house.
The dogs do not pay the bills, YOU do, you will need to learn to become assertive.
There are millions of people out there that own dogs and have a life and are able to work, you can too.
As far as energetic dogs, let them run around the yard or get them small size backpacks and let them carry water bottles while walking them. Hook them both up to a bike and let them pull you for several miles, great exercise too.
In short, it is YOU that needs to decide that you must stop living life according to your dogs wishes and start living it according to yours. Good luck!!
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Find him another dog to play with and if that does not work swimming is the next best thing cause they are not very streamline.
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I have a husky mix, who is also pretty high energy, and I am just now looking into buying him a doggie backpack by Mountainsmith. These little babies let you pack water bottles and things for your dogs to carry. Some people will use them for hiking, and many use them just to help wear out the dogs!
When your dogs have finished growing, they will naturally be less hyperactive, and the backpacks will help immensely to drain all that energy!
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Well, I have to agree with you. I am a pre-med student, which means TONS of homework…and studying..I still go out and have fun with my friends (sometimes)…and I just got into med school (yay)…which means less time for my dogs. I can’t say that I’ve gotten it just right, but here’s what I do…
1. I don’t believe in crate training (maya is too big for her crate now anyway) so I got her a big dog bed and leash her to my closet door. She has toys so she’s not bored. she loves it. She’s even stopped peeing at night (which she would do in the crate because she was uncomfortable).
2. Get the right toys. When I’m studying, maya likes to sleep at my feet, but, in case she’s not sleeping, I like to keep an assortment of toys at hand on my desk. Randomly, I’ll catch her attention with a ball and she’ll run after it. Those plush, squeaky toys drive her wild even though they don’t last very long with her. I also bought one of those toys where you put food inside and they try and get it out. She LOVES to play with that for a really long time.
3. I am TRYING to get up early and walk them before my day starts, but I am a night owl, so what I do is every time I come home, they walk for ten-30 minutes (which is like eight times a day)…study breaks: walk the dogs. exercise: run with dogs OR I put the chihuahua in a doggie backpack and use my bicycle to go to the nearest park (10 min. away) with maya running next to me. Then we play at the park. This way, I don’t get as tired and maya runs more:D…I’ve done this before with our rat terriers. You just need to be very careful that they’re used to running NEXT to the bike as opposed to UNDER it :S before you take off to the streets.
I really hope this helps. Having dogs does not mean you have to sacrifice you life. And the separationg anxiety thing…well, maya cries at the foot of the door when I seclude myself in the bathroom…BUT she HAD to get used to me having separate time….Also, I never travel without my girls…I feel like I’m missing a part of me…You see, I have a ridiculously close relationship with my dogs, but I don’t let them CONTROL my life…I simply schedule around their needs and we meet halfway…
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I have four Border Collies so I bet you can guess how buy I can with them. lol
You need to excerise your dog’s minds. Try just basic training, keep them active. Go to the dog park, go take mile long walks, just go play with them in the backyard.
If you’re really into getting involved with dogs, try some dog sports like agility and disc dog!
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I think a treadmill is a great idea. Having had a border collie/retriever mix myself we taught her to pull a sled. We never put anyone on it (except for toddlers–under 40 lbs) and she loved it. I think more than really active your dogs are just really bored. I also agree that a backpack with a bottle of water is a good idea. Training is most important here. They sound like they are trying to rule you not the other way around. Running around is not always pent up energy but often a way to release frustration. Start obedience training and stick with it. Remember to stay calm and know that you are in charge. You might want to get crates (just big enough for them to turn around in) and use those some of the time to help them relax. If a crate is to big it will tend to cause the dog to get more stressed. You can be home with them while they are in the crate. Often times leaving the door open you will find the dog goes in by itself for relaxation. Don’t give to many toys as that may help heighten their frustration. Training is most important.
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Feed your dog peices of Fish.
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Can they be left at home with a doggie door to the outside?
Can you get a job close enough to home to be able to check on them mid-day?
I have left my dogs every week day from 7:00 am until 6:30-7:00 pm all the time. They will adjust to you being gone.
Good luck.
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But I digest…..
Just my 2 cents.