is there an alternative to a walk

[hocuspocusherewego]

Was just wondering, what can you do to wear your dog out on a day like today. It is chucking it down, my DD5 is off school having spent the whole night throwing up, my DH has been away all week and is expected back at midnight tonight. So how on a shite challenging day like today do I wear the dog out (lab collie x so not easy) without dragging the sick 5 year old around an hour long walk.

My dog doesn't like rain so is not keen to go out anyhow, I have the back door open so he has the garden (which is very large) to play in but won't even chase the ball for the rain.

Currently, due to the rain, he is quietly lying on the floor sleeping. But I KNOW that tonight once DD is in bed he will be going nuts if I don't take him out for a walk. It isn't normally a problem as he usually gets 2 hour long walks a day, even when DCs are off school. Problem is DD is, quite rightly, feeling rubbish so has already stated she is NOT going to take the dog for a walk.

[NuggetsForTeaAgain]

could someone sit with ds while you take dog out later? An older sibling? Or could someone take dog for a run - neighbour? Teen in need of pocket money etc.? Or maybe if it has stopped raining in a while the fresh air might do your little one good. Just 30 mins round the block for the day... hope he feels better soon x

[mistlethrush]

Nearby indoor riding school? I used to take a dog to agility classes in one of those.

[DaisySteiner]

Could one of your older children take him out later? That's what I normally do in this situation.

[hocuspocusherewego]

Nuggets if it stops raining we may have a quick one around the block, but DD is feeling weak and hasn't eaten so it will be quick. Teenage neighbour would normally sit with DD or take dog for walk (she is training to be a vet nurse so loves any chance to walk dog) but is typically away this week on a residential course.

Have done a little clicker training, trying to teach him a new trick (DCs want him to play dead) which has given him a little mental stimulation. Guessing as the rain looks like it is here to stay (again) I will be walking him at midnight when DH gets in (hope his flight is early) older DCs are away at school during the week so no chance of them watching her :(

As they say it never rains but it pours

[hocuspocusherewego]

on a plus side he did get 4 hours wandering around the forest yesterday I was lost as we went for a long walk so maybe he is still tired from that [hopeful over optimistic icon required]

[exexpat]

If I need to give my terrier some indoor exercise, I give him a large empty plastic bottle (something that held a fizzy drink) and let him chase it all over the kitchen. It's noisy, but it can keep him busy for aaaages, as it refuses to die and keeps slipping out of his mouth just as he thinks he's got it. Would that work for a labrador? Or lots of vigorous games of tug-of-war.

[hocuspocusherewego]

Exexpat, we just finished the milk so I may try that (if I move the table out the way) he does chew a lot, the only ball he hasn't broken is a hockey ball and that is starting to look like its on its last legs after a month

[exexpat]

Milk bottles are too soft in my experience - terrier teeth can 'kill' them in seconds. You need the tougher kind of plastic bottle for fizzy drinks, they bounce around in a very satisfactory way.

[mistlethrush]

We had to stop that as the caps, when chewed, end up with sharp bits that can hurt gums.

One of our previous dogs (a collie cross) went mad for balloons and would spend hours frantically bouncing them up to the ceiling. Was great fun to watch too. She always wondered where they'd gone when they popped.

Our collie crosses also used to play chase round the house - the track went round the back of the sofa, through the dining room, along the (slippery) hall, up the stairs, under my parents' bed, round the bottom, down the stairs, along the hall etc etc etc - they would quite happily play it on their own but with two going it really got excited - lots of energy used inside (although they normally also played for hours in the garden together, and also needed a good two walks a day).

Cat biscuits - or other small tasty treats are also an interesting option to chase as you throw one at a time (with plenty of feints) in different parts of the room - also makes them use their nose.

[hocuspocusherewego]

Yes have discovered the milk bottle also has a handle that he just picked up and ran off with to sit in corner and chew

Will resort to tug-of-war, although at the moment he is lounging by the front door and not interested in playing at all

[supergah]

Ours goes mad chasing bubbles from a bubble machine but not all dogs go for bubbles (our old dog didn't).

Also, you need a space where he can jump about and not knock anything breakable over or hurt himself - emptyish garage maybe?

[MousyMouse]

depending on how sensible your 5yo is, I would leave him at home, go for a short walk talking to him on the phone all the time.
hope you all feel better soon.

[hocuspocusherewego]

supergah you do not know my DH if I even dared to go in his pristine garage where everything is suitably boxed and in its place (unlike in the house where he just dumps everything) I would dread to think what would happen, especially if I let the dog in there

DD joked that we should put him on the running machine but then remembered he is scared of the noise

[signet2012]

I'd just have a few energetic games of ball in the house and take him for a quick walk at midnight. It won't kill him for one day. Mine was kept indoors for two days due to reports of a loose husky in the area attacking dogs and he wasn't impressed but I just played with him a lot and carried on the bed routine wee biscuit bed and he settled with a look of disgust

[hocuspocusherewego]

Thanks signet that sounds like a plan, DD should be fine to walk him tomorrow, she won't be at school due to the silly 48 hour rule so we can go splash in the puddles with him then.

I will get DD to play with him later, she is good at getting him to chase his tail for hours on end

I was worried that he may get fidgety but so far he is just lounging around, I think he dislikes the rain more than the need to go have a run and play. Think his sleep was also disturbed last night by DD so maybe he too is tired

[Labradorlover]

Hide and seek with a biscuit or favourite toy.

[CakeMeIAmYours]

A few short training sessions of about 5 mins each spread over about 40 mins tires my Labradoodle out far more than a run with me.

Not ideal for every day, but will occupy some time and tire him out

[hocuspocusherewego]

have just had a great game of fetch the dryer ball and find the treat in the kitchen and he is now lying in his favourite position on the front door step looking whacked with his tongue hanging out.

will give him a few more training sessions later, maybe do a bit of stay and come it can only help with his recent appalling recall

Thanks for all the suggestions :)

[ArcticRain]

My shepherd can't always go out because of her arthritis. We cut up some smelly food , ask her to sit in the hall, and hide it. We open the door and ask her to find it. Once found , repeat . Uses their other senses and easy to do for a long period.

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

Some great ideas here. I have tendonitis at the moment so have to rest, which means that the hound isn't getting his morning run through the woods. He loves the empty coke bottle chase, the hide the treats game and the run upstairs and steal things game (we're not so keen on this). He is mostly laying at my feet staring at me with reproachful eyes, attempting to convey through telepathy that I'm a bastard. DH will be handed the lead as soon as he walks through the door.