What do you do in bad weather?

[jocoyn]

Where I live, the main issue is summer heat and I don't think the situation will improve. We do most of our active stuff before dawn and right after dusk but that is when the mosquitos can be horrid and 90F and 70% humidity is still wicked. Asphalt is only useful in the am, it is still hot at night. So that is why I am looking into treadmills right now.

[Linda1270]

The cold weather invigorates my 5 month old GSD Tess, she could be so sleepy when heading out the door, but when she comes back inside, LOOK OUT, here come the zoomies. What I do then, if it's raining or snowing, is pick up her Frisbee and toss it off of our back deck. Tess will charge after it no matter what and when she brings it back, I just toss if off again.

If it's not raining and just really cold, I bundle up and use the flirt pole until my fingers are too numb to feel it.

[selzer]

I took Hermione and Hannah in to be groomed today. I let them out the front into the field. I got Hermione in the car. Hannah was having too much fun laying in the snow and rolling in the snow, and running in the snow, and jumping through the snow. I almost didn't want to put an end to that she was having so much fun.

[doggiedad]

what did your do to indicate she didn't want to
be outside? as part of my dog's training we went
out in all types of weather. you can train in the damp
and cold and you can train indoors.

Originally Posted by arby665

Looking for ideas to keep Miss Karly busy when the weather is too bad to spend much time outside. This morning we went for a very quick walk, maybe 10 minutes.

>>>> It was so cold and damp neither of us wanted to
be out there!<<<<


We worked on commands and she spent some time chewing on her antler and emptied the food from the Kong. She spent a little time playing in the back yard too. Now, she is still full of energy and I don't know what to do with her. She is confined to the kitchen, which isn't small, in order to let my old dog have peace. She will play with her toys for a bit then start whining. I know she is bored. I taught a new command last night. How often should I add new commands? I don't want to confuse or overwhelm her. Thanks for any replies!

[arby665]

Originally Posted by doggiedad

what did your do to indicate she didn't want to
be outside? as part of my dog's training we went
out in all types of weather. you can train in the damp
and cold and you can train indoors.

She plopped down on the sidewalk and refused to move!

To everyone else, thank you for the suggestions. I really didn't want to buy extra winter clothes as we really don't have much of a winter. Maybe 2 months of cold. I can deal with the cold but the wind and rain are another story and we've been getting a whole lot of that lately. I was more looking for games or some type of activity that we could do indoors. I tried the treadmill but she didn't want anything to do with it and I wasn't about to push it on her. I have a food puzzle but it seems to be way too easy for her. She can have as much time in the yard as she wants and she loves it out there. The problem is she wants me to be out there with her constantly. She doesn't like to play by herself and I really don't blame her. I don't mind being outside at all but I work from home and I can't sit outside all day long. I really have to work.

Karly got to play with the neighbor's Schnauzer a couple of days ago and it was wonderful! She was so worn out after a couple of hours. She was like a different puppy! We are meeting up with a friend today who has a young Golden. Hopefull all goes well and she will have another playmate.

On more question. Karly starts puppy class on the 14th. I found another puppy class and am considering signing her up for a second class. Good idea? Bad idea? My concern is would this be too confusing for Karly? I'm sure no two instructors are alike. If she were in two classes she would go on Monday and Thursday. Should I go for it or just forget this idea all together?

Thanks everyone!

[arby665]

Originally Posted by EchoGSD

My friend and co-trainer started a Puppy Playtime group last year to address this issue for youngsters. We held classes for puppies under 6 months and another for puppies 6-12 months old...they were not formal training but instead were an "indoor dog park" where we could monitor and control the environment and participants. Limited enrollment, an indoor school gym with matting, toys, water bowls, etc. The whole point was to let the puppies "run free" to wrestle, run, bark, chew, and generally have a ball while learning socialization skills, bite inhibition, etc. We had informal discussions with the owners about typical puppy issues, and at times had everyone call their dogs to them for a quick break, etc. Was a WONDERFUL success.

That is a great idea! After I read this post I started looking for something like this but it does not seem to exist in my area. Dang it! The best I can find is the local AKC Kennel Club will let pups come into some of the classes for the older dogs for some socialization time. I start puppy class there tomorrow (Karly starts the next week) and I'm going to ask more about that. I will take any socialization time I can get especially with dogs that I don't have to worry weather or not the owners have control over them. My biggest fear is baby Karly getting attacked!

[JakodaCD OA]

The majority of my dogs never minded any kind of weather.

Rain, wind, snow, heat, Masi the energizer bunny doesn't care one bit..I do at times, but she is always raring to go ..

With that, the heat is also the type of weather I limit her on, she would go till she dropped dead So I'm very careful with overexposure to heat..

The other weather, I have to put my big girl pants on and get out there with her because it's boring for her alone)