Ideas wanted.

[Biker John]

He all, first my Whippet is 11 and is fit and healthy. But unfortunately I have a problem with my ankle, most days I am able to take her out for her walks but every now and again it is very painful. On those days I could take her for short walks or use a mobility scooter to take her for a longer one. But when I do use one she simply refuses to leave my side, (except to poo or wee), so she does not do any running or wandering around sniffing. Today she even walked though a puddle rather than move away to go round it, (and Folly does not normally get her paws wet if she can help it.) So can anyone come up with any way she can get a 'good' walk on the odd days I cant walk her?

 

[JudyN]

Is she interested in chasing balls (e.g. from a ball chucker) at all? What of you parked up next to an interesting verge, bush, etc., and threw a handful of kibble for her to search for? Or what if you took your scooter veeeery slooooowly down a lane with interesting verges - would she have a bit of a sniff close to you?

I wonder if she actually 'needs' a 'proper' walk or run or whether you could focus on a new type of quality time together outside, pootling along side by side.

 

[JoanneF]

I’ll scratch my head but meantime, it’s good to see you back!

 

[Biker John]

Thanks JoanneF, and JudyN no she has never been interested in balls and I have tried stopping and sitting there for a time but all she does is stick next to me. I get the impression she just has it in her mind she needs to 'look after' me. Fortunately so far I do not need the Scooter very often but it's the way of these things that they tend to get worse with time.

 

[Flobo]

I would think the same as Judy, that a 'good' walk for Folly maybe is just being out with you in the fresh air. Especially when our dogs get a bit older, even if fit, they sometimes are quite happy just being, not doing...

 

[JudyN]

Also, if you do become more limited and need to use the scooter more, this may become more 'normal' you for her so she won't feel the need to 'look after' you so much. Obviously I hope you retain what mobility you have for a long time though.

 

[Hemlock]

BJ, do you have a garden? If so I can suggest some easy inexpensive ways to give her outside entertainment on your less mobile days.

 

[Cheryl Dudley]

He all, first my Whippet is 11 and is fit and healthy. But unfortunately I have a problem with my ankle, most days I am able to take her out for her walks but every now and again it is very painful. On those days I could take her for short walks or use a mobility scooter to take her for a longer one. But when I do use one she simply refuses to leave my side, (except to poo or wee), so she does not do any running or wandering around sniffing. Today she even walked though a puddle rather than move away to go round it, (and Folly does not normally get her paws wet if she can help it.) So can anyone come up with any way she can get a 'good' walk on the odd days I cant walk her?

He all, first my Whippet is 11 and is fit and healthy. But unfortunately I have a problem with my ankle, most days I am able to take her out for her walks but every now and again it is very painful. On those days I could take her for short walks or use a mobility scooter to take her for a longer one. But when I do use one she simply refuses to leave my side, (except to poo or wee), so she does not do any running or wandering around sniffing. Today she even walked though a puddle rather than move away to go round it, (and Folly does not normally get her paws wet if she can help it.) So can anyone come up with any way she can get a 'good' walk on the odd days I cant walk her?

Hi, I totally understand your dilemma, I had an Achilles's injury a while ago and could not walk except on crutches and felt.exactly.the same way about exercises for my dogs,and having 6 it's an impossible.task on crutches! My prayers were answered in the form.of local sports courts and dog exercise fields. All I had to do was get to them and sit down and the dogs could run and play to their hearts content and I didn't have to feel.guilty about not being able to walk them. We have an enclosed basketball court in the next street to us which is brilliant..and we can let the pups run free, play and scrap a bit on a daily basis if need be. And we goggled secured dog fields in our area and found these are popping up all over the place now and for a small.fee which vary you get the field to yourself and let them go crazy! The nice thing is they get to have fun and some freedom and you know they had some exercise when you aren't able. Hope you this is of some help, take care x

 

[Ken Thomas]

have you thought of swimming if there is somewhere to take her.

 

[Biker John]

Ken, my girl is like a lot of Whippets and thinks she should go through life without getting a paw wet. She either jumps over or 'tip toes' round any puddles, I think she would have a heart attack if she actually went in to water. By the way when I am using the scooter she does actually walk through any puddles just so she can stay close to me. As for the other suggestions I do take her to suitable places I have tried just stopping and sitting still or getting off it and walking around a short distance, she just stays as close to me as she can no sign of her even thinking of leaving me let alone actually runaround.

 

[RGC]

I appreciate that she has it firmly in her mind to stick close to dad and, if that’s her raison d’être, why the concern? Would she be happy to meet and play with other pointy faces. I’ve found, as have others, that sighthounds seem to recognise their own and make a beeline for them. If that doesn’t work you’ll have to accept that you’re No.1 in her world and in spite of anything else she’d rather be with her Dad. She’s 11, not a flirty flibberty gibbet. I wish you both well.

 

[Pascalina]

He all, first my Whippet is 11 and is fit and healthy. But unfortunately I have a problem with my ankle, most days I am able to take her out for her walks but every now and again it is very painful. On those days I could take her for short walks or use a mobility scooter to take her for a longer one. But when I do use one she simply refuses to leave my side, (except to poo or wee), so she does not do any running or wandering around sniffing. Today she even walked though a puddle rather than move away to go round it, (and Folly does not normally get her paws wet if she can help it.) So can anyone come up with any way she can get a 'good' walk on the odd days I cant walk her?

 

[Pascalina]

If we have horrendous weather and my dog puts his breaks on about going out in the rain. we hide treats round the whole ground floor, several rounds also we safe boxes and put boxes in boxes with treats. Also fill a kong with frozen yummy stuff. I believe using the brain can be as tiring as physical exersize once in a while

 

[Pascalina]

If we have horrendous weather and my dog puts his breaks on about going out in the rain. we hide treats round the whole ground floor, several rounds also we safe boxes and put boxes in boxes with treats. Also fill a kong with frozen yummy stuff. I believe using the brain can be as tiring as physical exersize once in a while

 

[Pascalina]

My friend purchased a snuffle mat. lots of little felt flaps with a treat hidden in. Pascalina

 

[Ken Thomas]

your lucky blowing a gale tipping down with rain freezing cold and my dog still want's to go out

 

[Pascalina]

Yep, there is an upside

 

[RGC]

your lucky blowing a gale tipping down with rain freezing cold and my dog still want's to go out

You have my sympathies, Ken Thomas. No way will a sighthound venture out in wet weather. As said before - they’re not like dogs. A cross ‘twixt a dog and a cat but leaning more towards feline. Suits me in my dotage.

 

[JudyN]

No way will a sighthound venture out in wet weather.

Unless they have a few rufty-tufty deerhound genes - and maybe a dash of terrier. Though Jasper is a lot less keen to go out in the rain than he used to be.

 

[Ken Thomas]

mine also called jasper will even go out in snow.