You guys, we’re going nuts. Seriously stir crazy. The temps haven’t climbed above 0 (that’s F!) more than a few times in a few weeks. I’m an introverted homebody, but even I’m ready to get out.
It’s hard to go anywhere with the baby when it’s this cold, and Cooper… well, Cooper hates being cold… but he needs his exercise, though there have been many days where there’s been a frost-bite warning. Even in his coats, boots, and snood, it’s too cold for him to be out for longer than a quick bathroom break.
He’s losing it without enough exercise!! I’ve tried many of our old tricks, but the physical energy is just swirling, and he’s turning it onto the cats. He’s not being aggressive, but he’s trying to get them to wrestle and play, so he thwomps them, runs at them with big, leaping play bows, bops, chases, and so on. They’re not happy. We’re not happy.
So, the other day he happened to leap from our bed to a chair in the corner of the room, and I though… Hmmm… Maybe leaping can become a game! And, sure enough, it totally did. I had him jumping for a toy, and by the end he was panting! Victory!
Then, tonight he was getting that edge again, that look that causes the cats to back slowwllllyyyy out of the room.
I decided to play the leaping game again. Little did I know that John was in the kitchen filming! But I’m glad he did because Cooper is hilarious!
Did it blow off some steam?
Sure did!
Of course, it’s temporary tiredness, like how you feel after a jog… I bet in a couple hours he’ll be itching to chase some cats again, but now I’ve got this game in my back pocket!
Last thing: I want to try to train a trick that requires athleticism in some way. He learns tricks quickly, but most don’t involve enough physical movement for his current state of mind. Any ideas? I was going to start looking on YouTube, maybe with doggy dancers or agility performers… Hmmm…
How are you guys hanging in there? Are you as stir crazy as we are?? What a winter we’re having, huh? Hope you’re warm and cozy where you are!
Clearly, this is an ongoing issue for Cooper:
Looking for MORE ways to tire out your dog indoors? Check out 10 fresh ideas for indoor dog fun here, another 10 more ways to tired out your dog indoors, and another set of 5 indoor activities for a rainy day!
If you saw my IG post, the one where Cash was wearing pajamas, a hoodie, booties and a snood, you know how we’re dealing with the cold. We try to go when the sun is the strongest or if it’s snowing during the warmest hour of the day. The longest stretch we went without a walk was about 4-5 days, I was going a bit stir crazy myself and lost count of the days. Cash is pretty good about being mellow during the day, he’s content sleeping on the couch or in front of the fireplace but he gets extremely restless during the night when we are sleeping. He will wake multiple times, get up walk around our bed, shake his head, jump off the bed, walk around the room, jump back on the bed, you get the idea. He needs his walk, even if it is just the quick walk around the block version, it’s only about 800m and if we have to we run/walk it.
D is not a fan of rough housing in the house So we don’t play many games but one we play that seems to entertain him is hide and seek or as I like to call it “come find mummy” I hide, call out to him and he finds me in the closet, hiding behind a chair, wherever! I always make a big deal and he is always thrilled he found mummy, like I was missing for years and he found me.
YES! Ugh… I imagine you guys are going nuts with your extreme cold. “Come find mummy” sounds SO fun and a perfect way to burn off that extra steam! Spring is around the corner, yes? 😉
I love that video, Cooper is in good shape! I take Noel out everyday unless it’s under 5 degrees F. This winter has been brutal and I find myself driving to the trail where she can run through the fields unleashed and expend a lot of that pent up energy. Luckily she loves snow, and seeing she is a short hair pitbull I am pretty lucky. So. we trudge through these bitter temps, although I have shortened the walks to 30 minutes or so. She also has a lot more bulk that Cooper. And although she wears a coat and scarf she refuses boots. And while I am against real fur coats I am considering looking in some second hand stores for old minks and putting together a coat for my dog. They say there is nothing warmer than fur, and with 20 below 0 F in Michigan I may try this…just a thought.
It HAS been a brutal winter! How fun that she loves the snow!!! There’s been plenty of it! It sounds like you’re making the best/most of this weather, and putting together a coat sounds like a great idea, especially since Noel likes being outside so much. In the meantime, counting down to spring… 😉
This is awesome!! We are going through the same type of HORRID cold winter here as well and Monty does NOT do cold well. We do take quick walks when it gets up a little bit on the cold scale but for the most part we are also housebound. I shall try some jumping exercises as well…thank you!!
Poor Monty! This has been such a horrid winter… not just with snow, which doesn’t bother me as much, but the sub-zero temps just wear me down! Let us know how jumping exercises go for you and Monty! 🙂
It’s so hard when you’re stuck inside and you to find a way to blow off excess energy. I used to take Zora downstairs in the basement and throw a tennis ball around until she got tired. Now she’s so old she just wants to sleep all day!
It IS so hard… I’m actually starting to feel the same way. I’m even thinking about going to the gym after work tonight… ugh! 🙂 Sweet Zora! Give her a scritch for me!
With this arctic weather we’ve really been limited in physical activities so we’ve upped our mental exercises with the utilization of our snuffle mat and trying to add some tricks to our repertoire. Ray isn’t allowed to jump or run so he really has to make use of his brain power more. Julius gets much more cranky if he isn’t stimulated so we do extra running and jumping in the basement to burn that extra energy off.
We’ve been using a snuffle mat, too, and Cooper LOVES it!! He seems to enjoy it more than a regular puzzle toy for some reason. I suppose it’s because it uses his nose rather than having to work with his paws? TBH, I should add running in the basement to his repertoire, but… it’s where the spider live, and I just… shudder. 😀
I usually have my dogs play fetch inside or play tug of war during the winter months. This gets their heart going though not as good as a long walk outside. You do need a large living room to be able to play fetch in. I will try making them jump for treats next.
Great tips!! One way we’ve made fetch work (for us and for Coop!) has been to play up and down the stairs! It’s a killer workout for him… and I can sit at the top and sip my tea or wine whilst throwing his toy! 🙂