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In reply to the discussion: Indoor boredom-busters for dogs? [View all]

TorchTheWitch

(11,065 posts)
11. since you don't have an indoor staircase
Sun Jan 5, 2014, 04:55 PM
Jan 2014

I'd find a relatively steep hill nearby or flight of steps and run them up and down outside despite the weather. If they're exercising hard they won't be bothered by the cold for a few minutes, and a steep hill or staircase run pretty much poops them out after only a few minutes as long as you keep them going.

What size dogs are these? If they're fairly small you can just play fetch with them and keep them running up and down a hallway or the longest stretch of the biggest room. You could probably even do that with a larger sized dog as long as you get a good rhythm going and can keep them continually running. Takes a lot longer to poop them out without an uphill grade though.

Other than that, if you have some extra money you might want to look into buying a good used treadmill for them to use. Man, it's a shame you don't live near me. The fitness center next door is always throwing out perfectly usable equipment and replacing them with new stuff instead of just fixing something minor like a tear in the seat of a stationary bike or little things like that. Every couple of months or so some good piece of equipment gets pitched next to one of their trash dumpsters out back to be thrown away. Just recently they threw away a nice sofa they must have had in a lounge area but before anyone could snag it it got rained and snowed on. A month or two before that they threw away a perfectly good rowing machine that one of my neighbor's snagged and has it in his basement to use. He's still beside himself with glee for that great find, and all it needed was a couple of squirts of oil here and there. Several of the neighbors are waiting for the next stair stepper to get pitched out... there's going to be a mad race to see who nabs that one. LOL!

Indoor boredom-busters for dogs? [View all] intheflow Jan 2014 OP
My son's dog uses shoes. Preferably expensive work boots. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #1
We just got her to stop eating those. intheflow Jan 2014 #6
I have cats, but know to beware of bored dogs, as they start overthinking everything. Voice for Peace Jan 2014 #2
Heh, heh. intheflow Jan 2014 #4
if you have stairs at home, I recommend getting the dogs to run up and down as many times as possibl Voice for Peace Jan 2014 #7
Single level, 820 square feet. intheflow Jan 2014 #8
how about.. assuming they are agile.. play up and down on the chair game Voice for Peace Jan 2014 #9
They do that on the couch all day already! intheflow Jan 2014 #10
since you don't have an indoor staircase TorchTheWitch Jan 2014 #11
We live in a tiny town on the plains. intheflow Jan 2014 #12
Your games are both good ones, occupying their minds while letting them burn energy ... Scuba Jan 2014 #3
I'm trying to avoid going out on my one day off this week intheflow Jan 2014 #5
Marcy doesn't seem to be bothered by wet and cold. hobbit709 Jan 2014 #13
We also have a dog door, intheflow Jan 2014 #15
Have you tried clicker training? wildeyed Jan 2014 #14
I tried clicker training with my older dog when he was an only pup. intheflow Jan 2014 #16
My 13 yr. terrier mix likes the laser. I didn't even think she might be interested japple Jan 2014 #17
That's a good idea. intheflow Jan 2014 #18
well, when i had dogs one of the things we could do was cuddle on bad days orleans Jan 2014 #19
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