Can't really exercise my puppy for 3 weeks

[ng1987]

Hi all
My 9-month old puppy is very active ( he is mongrel , seems to be a mix of staffy and mastiff ) , has usually 3 walks a day and runs around loads. He has developed a limp for the past 1 week so took him to the vet who has given me a 3 week course of anti inflamatories and asked me to barely exercise him ( he said short on lead walks ). This way he is not really burning any energy so suggestions on how to keep him happy and calm would be really helpful

 

[Kay Stead]

Lots of tasty chews! Pigs ears are great, but there's something called 'paddiwhack' that we got from a pet supply shop that is even tougher and longer-lasting. Kongs stuffed with a mixture of mushy and crunchy things are useful. YOu could consider feeding his meals from a puzzle toy so they last longer and get his brain working.

Good luck!

 

[Biker John]

I would suggest try training, train him to do anything you want or can think of, (obviously not agility). a dog using its brain gets tired, and by the way it's quite tiring for you as well. Only use gentle, positive training methods though.

 

[gypsysmum]

Good advice above. Trick training is also as good as obedience training. Take a look at Kiko Pup on YouTube. Lots of short sessions are better than one session.

If your dog has any habits that you do not like you could try training him not to do them. One mantra to use is "ignore the naughty behaviour, train an incompatible behaviour and reward the new behaviour"

Do, if your dog jumps up, for instance, ignore him every time he does it. It will get worse at first because he will try harder to get some attention, even if it is only to get told off. This is called the "extinction burst". The dog is about to give up the behaviour but tries harder to get attention, for a short while, before finally giving up on it. Once he has all four feet on the ground for five seconds (at first) reward the good behaviour. When you think he has "got it" so he is planting his feet and looking for reward, make him wait a little longer for the reward. This is to prevent him thinking that jumping up and then planting his feet, or sitting, will get him the reward, He needs to have forgotten that he jumped up, and that takes about five or ten seconds.

This can work for any behaviour like stealing (leave some dummy things like old tea towels etc around). Ignore him until he stops and then reward him after about five or ten seconds.

Keep an eye out for any time he is being "good", even if it is just lying quietly, and reward him with attention and rewards.

Good luck, and hope the leg heals soon.

 

[Raven oaktree]

Owee I feel your pain ..i have a young gsd x !!

Ok I don't if you are aware but there is actually a formulae for walking large breed pups up to the age of 12months to help protect growing joints ..and its only 5-10mins per month of life till 12 months old . Obviously pups will be pups and will play lots in the house and garden but actual walks should not be long walks. The way we keep our occupied is training . Short 15 -20 min sessions 2-3 times a day . Mental exercise wears them out ..trust me ! ..there are lots of games you can play too ..find it is my girls favourite.. So I put her in the kitchen and I hide her raggy somewhere in the house or garden ..let her out and tell her to find it ! She loves this game ..another is a game with cups ..3 plastic cups ..one treat ..mix the cups up and get him to paw the cup its under ..interactive dog puzzles are another great thing ..you tube have loads of ideas . If you type in crate games ..you obviously don't have to do them in a crate.. But this is perfect opportunity to step up training or trick training.. Keeping his mind active will wear him out I promise . X good luck with him