Keeping Dogs entertained in fall/winter evenings! Suggestions?

[Liberalynn]

Marnie's really high energy! We have a fenced in play area but now with it getting dark darker earlier not to mention colder, I've started pondering ways to keep her from getting too bored inside without resorting to just food stuffed treats.

Any ideas?

I tried buying one of those doggie puzzles that uses tennis balls as a reward. She loves tennis balls. She was supposed to figure out how to retrieve the ball out of one of three hidden compartments in this volcano looking type toy. It took her five minutes to figure out if she took the toy in her mouth and tipped it over the ball would fall out the top and she didn't have to bother with the compartments.

I did finally get her to do it the right way but that took her seconds and after that she showed more interest in chewing the puzzle than playing with it.

I am afraid this is going to be a very long fall and winter. LOL

[femmocrat]

1. We throw a ball up and down a long hallway.

I also got some balls on a long piece of elastic at the dollar store. They love that! We call it "crazy ball" because it drives them crazy.

[Liberalynn]

2. That's cute. I will have to check out the dollar store for some more toys.

[rurallib]

5. we used to get at the top and bottom of our stairs

and throw the ball back and forth. Boy was the dog tired after that.

[TorchTheWitch]

18. I do that with just me chucking a toy down the stairs

Dog retrieves, runs the toy up the stairs to me to chuck again, rinse/repeat. Wears them out pretty darn quick and I get to just stand there doing not much of anything (my favorite kind of game - haha!). I try not to do this at night anymore where I live now since to the neighbors I share a wall with he sounds like a thundering herd of wildebeests. Running steps poops them right out after only a few minutes.

Dogs do make the most relentless personal trainers though. No pity they have at all. They can make you run halfway to China without even pausing for a souvenir and still make you wrestle when you finally get home.

[TeamPooka]

15. I do the ball down the long hallway too with my dog. Keeps her busy for hours

[Kali]

3. wear them out during the day and you won't have to worry about it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018665831

those two dogs do several miles with the son in the morning and the third dog goes on a similar hike with the husband. then in the evening I take them out in the truck and run them for another 3 to 5 or more miles (guess who is the fattest in the family LOL)

a young dog can trot for 10 miles easy so you can imagine how much real energy a healthy dog has. to bad they don't make hamster wheels for dogs (and then that they would even use them)

[Liberalynn]

4. Know what you mean about the energy level.

Marnie just wants to go go go. The only time she will sleep is when you put her in the crate. I've never seen her take a nap outside of it. She will lay down on occasion but if I go to sit down too, she jumps right back up grabs a toy and comes back over to play.

[mythology]

6. Buy the human some winter apparel and go outside with the dog

You can still go for hikes, or throw a ball for the dog as long as you bundle up. We used to do that living in Colorado where we would have snow on the ground from roughly September to April due to the elevation.

[TorchTheWitch]

7. ^^^THIS^^^

Add to that if it gets way too cold for the human to stay outside for a length of time, run the dog up and down the stairs. I love this one since I don't have to do anything but stand at the top of the steps and just keep lobbing the toy to the bottom for him to retrieve. And I can do it in the dead of winter in just my underpants. Though most dogs can run forever on flat ground I've never known any dog of any size or energy level to last long at all running a flight up steps continually up and down. They poop out pretty fast.

[Liberalynn]

11. I have stocked up on winter gear and do plan

to still walk and play outside with her during the day except when there are warnings. My concern is more with losing the natural light so early and the night cold. We have some outdoor lighting but it's not the best and I can't really afford to have better installed right now so soon after paying for the fence.

The stairs are a good suggestion too.

[LoveMyCali]

8. I suppose

a puppy is out of the question?

[Liberalynn]

12. I would love it

but my sister who helps me with the vet and food bills for Marnie says no. LOL

[hobbit709]

9. Marcy keeps herself entertained.

She goes in and out through the dog door whenever she wants. She has a collection of squeaky balls that she will take and toss and then chase after. She runs up and down the fence line barking and playing with the neighbors dogs.
And she still has enough energy at the park to wear out half the dogs she plays with there.

[Liberalynn]

13. She sounds very active

Marnie isn't good yet at keeping herself entertained. She plays with her toys for a few minutes then she gets antsy and starts begging for attention or snooping for something to steal. Lol.

[shenmue]

10. Arf

[Liberalynn]

14. ;)

[Jenoch]

16. Get a laser pointer.

Your dog will chase that red dot all over the place.

[Liberalynn]

17. Great idea!

Thanks! I think she would enjoy that!