How do you exercise your dog when the weather is nasty?

[NMAmy]

I've had dogs all my life and my golden retriever puppy is the first one that just HATES snow. I have to literally push her out the door to go to the bathroom--when we try to get her to walk with us or play in the yard, she sits on the deck and looks at us like we're crazy. (I can see her point. I feel the same way about snow myself!)

For those of you with goldens, you know they need a lot of exercise or they drive you crazy. For the last two weeks, DD, DH, and I have been taking turns running around the house with her (inside.) Luckily, we have an open floor plan so we can chase her around the living room, dining room, and hallway and play with her that way (and tucker her out.) We'd look a little crazy if you saw us through the window, though!

So, how do you all get your dog enough exercise when the weather is nasty?

 

[diesel]

we take our lab mix to building parking lots (after work hours so there are no cars to dodge). They're usually plowed so the dog can walk around on the asphalt. Just be sure to wipe down their feet when you get home from the salt that may be on the parking lot. Also my husband will actually shovel out a circle around the yard and run the dog around that.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I tie a piece of sausage to the cat.

 

[airhead]

Raising a pup in the winter can be a challenge. I know this is going to sound crazy,but in the winter I shovel paths in my yard. Right now I have a huge baseball diamond shovelled out so my girl can run the paths,she loves it! If your pup is still little it will help her be able to run without getting swallowed up in the snow. Try it. Let me know if it helps.

have fun!

 

[icebrat001]

I have a small dog (less than 10 pounds)

I just run around the house, play with her, throw toys around the house, she gets tired, takes a nap and we repeat.

I don't know who hates the rain and the cold more, me or her.

 

[hercamore]

Actually my beagle likes the snow. It's the below zero weather he hates to go in (so do I.

Anyway, one trick I use to give him exercise is to throw a tiny bit of treat down the basement steps. Do this half a dozen times and he's got a bit of exercise, LOL. We use Purina Beggin strips cuz they're not messy.

Another thing I do is fill his play ball with about a doze pieces of dry dog food and he kick this around for awhile trying to get the food out. This is the play ball you get at Pet stores with a hole in the top and it's called a Buster Cube.

herc.

 

[pumba]

our dalmatian is 18 months old and hates cold on her feet......She lifted them up the last few days to say .....this hurts......My husband does snow blow all around the back yard so she can run to her hearts content........We did this with our last Dalmatian...
We had boots for our other dog too....but she would shake them off when she could.....

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I have a golden retriever too. She's a mutant when it comes to retrieving though! She'll retrieve, but she won't give it back.

She wants to be chased! As soon as we reach for it, she jerks her head away and then when we advance towards her, she runs for it. Her favorite place is the dining room. She loves for us to chase her around the dining room table!

Speaking of looking stupid to the neighbors! She can't be seen from the outside, but we are!

Now see... if yours was a mutant like mine, she'd make up her own routine.

 

[stinkerbelle]

our dog likes snow too...we'll just chuck snowballs at her...she loves trying to catch them.

however, the PEOPLE in the house don't always love hanging out outside...so we'll throw a ball (open floor plan makes this easy)...or play "can't find me".

yeah, "can't find me" is DH's version of "hide and seek". you never know when a game will commence...I'll be sitting down stairs watching TV with the dog...all of a sudden you'll hear DH yell (in this cute voice) "can't find me!" then the dog will go absolutely BONKERS trying to find him.
that usually gets her riled up.

'I'm gonna score on you' is another one of DH's games to play with her. he makes her be the "goalie" and he'll kick this "ball" at her. (the 'goal' is the archway between the greatroom/and kitchen/dining room) besides me having to clean the ball marks off the wall...the dog enjoys that too. hehehe

 

[NMAmy]

I have a golden retriever too. She's a mutant when it comes to retrieving though! She'll retrieve, but she won't give it back.

She wants to be chased! As soon as we reach for it, she jerks her head away and then when we advance towards her, she runs for it. Her favorite place is the dining room. She loves for us to chase her around the dining room table!

Speaking of looking stupid to the neighbors! She can't be seen from the outside, but we are!

Now see... if yours was a mutant like mine, she'd make up her own routine.

Well, mine is a mutant just like that! It's my own fault, I taught her tug of war and now she thinks every day is a good day for tug of war.

The worst part is sometimes we'll be throwing a toy for her to retrieve and she'll get tired of fetching it and just look at me like, "Your turn." If I don't go get it, she barks at me. We've tried telling her that RETRIEVER is part of her name but she doesn't care.

Thanks everybody for the great ideas!

 

[Hootiss]

It rains alot here in SW Florida in the summer, my German sheppard loves to run on my treadmill. I will have to take a pic. and post it, too funny!

 

[Pam]

Our beagle insists on a walk - every day - no matter what the weather. If it's really nasty outside, DS will only go a mile with him.

Our chocolate lab is 12 years old and having hip problems. On cold snowy or rainy days she prefers to just stay at home.

 

[NMAmy]

It rains alot here in SW Florida in the summer, my German sheppard loves to run on my treadmill. I will have to take a pic. and post it, too funny!

DH actually suggested this but Sunny is just so easily distracted, I can totally see her stopping and getting thrown off the end.

Lucky you to have a dog that will do that!

 

[LuckyCharm]

Here's a way.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Well, mine is a mutant just like that! It's my own fault, I taught her tug of war and now she thinks every day is a good day for tug of war.

The worst part is sometimes we'll be throwing a toy for her to retrieve and she'll get tired of fetching it and just look at me like, "Your turn." If I don't go get it, she barks at me. We've tried telling her that RETRIEVER is part of her name but she doesn't care.

Thanks everybody for the great ideas!

I tell ya, they are smart dogs! When mine gets hungry (which is constantly), she just stands there and stares at me. It drives me crazy!

I work from home and if I ignore her (because usually it's way too early to eat), she'll walk over and rest her head on the other side of my desk and just STARE at me.

Works every time. I'm very well-trained.

 

[luvwinnie]

I tie a piece of sausage to the cat.

 

[Disney Doll]

I tie a piece of sausage to the cat.

 

[Black Diamond]

I tie a piece of sausage to the cat.

That is obviously a cruel joke...right?

 

[Disney Doll]

Ted is a Springer Spaniel and likes the outdoors. I am the neighbor that everyone drives by my house and comments on how mean we are to the dog because he's out there in rain, snow, wind. If it's windy, he stands facing into the wind so his ears blow back!!!

I am out there in the rain, snow and wind fighting with him to come back in!!!! I guess those hunting breeds are bred to like the outdoors.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Our dog gets exercise in our yard via soccer ball kicks and running around with the kids. She also goes for walks on the beach, even in this lousy weather - she doesn't mind at all. aw:

Hootiss, I want to see that picture.

Lucky Charm, I see you've got it all figured out. Nice shot.