How to tire out a dog that can't be walked?

[MidnightDinosaur]

Well, I'm hoping to get out later with him when dp is home about 7.30pm but DDog hates the rain so might not even want to go out (winter here)

Anyway, my 6yr old ds is really poorly, lying on the sofa with a blanket not moving, we'd usually take dog out for a big run around 10am but I can't take ds out while he's so ill.

Any ideas to tire out a Labrador? He's had 15 minute game of "fetch i earlier, a 15 minute sit/down/release training session and is now working his way through a raw beef marrow bone but it's only 10am. Still got the whole day in front of us.

[Rainicorn]

Hide various foods in the garden so he has to search for them?

[honeyroar]

Just do regular ball fetching sessions throughout the day. Works with our labs on the rare days my dad looks after them when we're both at work.

[Cheerfulmarybrown]

A great book is No walks? No worries! - no good for today but it is full of games etc to help dogs that can't be walked for whatever reason.

[MidnightDinosaur]

Will look at that book for the future mary thanks

It's 9pm and he's snoring, did a lot of heel work practice today, fetch (his new favourite game, he hasn't been interested in toys really since he came to us) did a lot of "on" & "off" (the sofa) which I think wore him out, he stole a mini pie from out of the fridge but he can be forgiven for that I reckon.

All in all not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

[TheFullMinty]

Our dog often has trouble with his leg which prevents long walks but we've found taking him to the lake for a swim to be a great alternative, esp when we are too tired to schlep round the woods! It certainly tires him out in a short time, btw he hates rain too but doesn't seem to mind still water.

[MidnightDinosaur]

Minty I would love to take him to the beach or estuary (still water) for a swim as its 5 minutes away, there's a place I could have parked where dog could have swam while I left ds in the car with a blanket and iPad and been next to them both but DDog is scared of any water that isn't in his bowl.

We're working on it, he likes being on the beach so we're just trying to encourage him nearer to the water gently, I think once it's summer it might be easier as I can get in with him plus it'll be warmer.

He's got a medicated shampoo and I'm trying to work out how to wash him with it, he even runs away from the hose pipe.

People at the beach laugh "A Labrador that is scared of water?"

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Our old Lab was scared of water until he was about 2 years old, hated the rain, hated puddles, hated the beach, hated the river. One day, while out walking he got playing with another dog he knew well who went in and lo and behold our boy followed, from that point on he never looked back (although he still detested baths, the shower and his nemesis, the hosepipe)