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Client Inquiry: What’s the Best Way to Exercise My dog? Part #2
I currently have an older client with physical limitations who has an energetic pittie mix pup named Luke. They live in a condo with no fenced yard, no fenced doggie area in the complex, and are unable to go for long walks. I recommended things like fetching indoors, food hides and scatters, ample use of food puzzles, and going to her daughter’s home so Luke can play off-leash in her fenced yard as often as possible. These things do help somewhat. I also recommended day care and/or adventure hiking services, but both ideas were rejected. This is a tough situation! Luke’s behavior is challenging to live with because he gets little aerobic exercise. He’s frustrated and so is his pet parent!
What other ideas may be helpful for Luke and his pet parent?
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12 Replies
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That is almost the identical situation as I described in my surrendering as a loving decision post a couple of weeks ago. Mostly, they were frustrated with the (just over 1 year old) dog for her zoomies and nipping behaviors, but I told them it was mainly inactivity and their inability to get her outside that was causing such frustration in her, translating into those behaviors (as she was a mix of Border Collie, ACD, Husky & Malamute).
I really like the idea you suggested of the hikes, or a service that takes the dog outward bound. I wonder what was holding them back from that? I think with the client I had, it was money and they didn’t want to change up their routine, because people get lazy and expect the dog will “grow out of it”.
Do you think a Jolly Egg could be used indoors, in their apartment? I’ve wondered if there could be something rigged like a flirt pole type thing from a doorway, maybe on one of those pull-up bars that hang from the doorway, with a toy on a string? I am just throwing out silly unfinished ideas…Maybe we can inspire each other to think outside the box?
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Those are awesome ideas, @bernerlabreclectus ! Thank you. I think I may have shared a toy-on-a-bungee-leash idea early on (that’s one of my fave suggestions for puppy people!), but may have to remind. (I’ve been trying to gently remind A LOT!) The Jolly Egg could be great fun for the dog, but maybe not so much fun for the furniture that will get in his way. ????
My sense was that they weren’t rejecting the daycare and hiking services ideas due to finances, but more because “we never had to do that with our dogs in the past.” But… they’re also 20 years older now with physical impairments. I get it — it can be hard to stare reality in its face.
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Love this bungee idea.
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I agree with @Shari ! What a great and reasonable fix. Almost anyone could construct that, I’m guessing. Thanks @virginiad !
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Here’s another pup I used it with, at the client’s house. She stayed busy for 15 minutes straight, sparing me from constant jumping, nipping, and clothes tearing!
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I LOVE IT!!!
Could you tell me exactly what type of bungee set up you use and preferred toy? Are the toys interchangeable?
This seems like a REALLY good idea for those pups that solo play well and need an outlet, and especially for elderly folks, who want to play tug, but can’t, due to arthritis, or too powerful a dog.
⛈️BRAINSTORM! It skips over the Tug with Rules etiquette, too. Not saying that’s necessarily a good thing, but eventually, could a parameter of rules be taught with such a set up?
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You can find bungee leashes online, and you just tie an enticing toy to it — whatever you think the pup will like. Fleecy / stuffed toy / squeaky, etc.
And you could certainly use this set-up to teach the pup to DROP. I’d prefer to teach DROP and other impulse-control skills with me holding the tug toy, but if that’s not an option, having the tug anchored like this should work too. ????
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SIDEBAR: I guess a Jolly Egg would be better indoors in a spare room with little furniture, or a large playpen set up. I know not a lot of folks have a spare room, but some might. Could be a cool idea to explore, not necessarily with this particular client, but it depends on what the resources of the home life are.
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Yeah, I see it as a great option in a basement area perhaps!
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Yes, you’re right! I know that doesn’t always work in apartment buildings, but one of my very first training clients had two ACD’s and we used to do recall training in the basement of their apartment building, instead of the actual apartment. I guess it depends on the building and how many people use apartment basements, right?
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Oh, I was just thinking of a person’s own basement. But now that you mention it, I have plenty of clients in apartments who use the hallways and indoor parking areas for training, albeit on a leash or long line.
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Apartment common areas: It’s a good way to get practice on rainy days without the dog being cooped up, or to generalize behaviors. Totally agree about the long line being a must in those common area situations.
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