best way to WORK a dog

[IRescue452]

Dab_20- lare breeds get neutered at about a year because it harms bone development if they are neutered sooner.

Autumn and I play catch with a ball up and down the stairs. If you are in a safe area you can play hide and seek, which takes up more of the dog's energy than yours.

[dab_20]

Ohh, sorry about that. I've never had a large breed dog before, and thought it was the same for all dogs.

[tz1]

Ye, I've just heard around that for large/giant sized breeds it is better to wait a little over a year. he's around 80+ pounds now.. pretty big! I just hope he doesn't get hip dysplasia.

[RobiLee]

Well, you probably aren't going to like my answer...lol.

I have found that the best way to tire my dogs out is the good old fashioned way...take them for a walk. It works every time!

So I say bundle yourself up, snap that leash on Zero and have yourself a nice little walk!

[finn's mom]

Well, I know with Finn, I'd have to walk him for four hours to wear him out. And, maybe one day I'll be in good enough shape to make it that far. But, for Finn, I always tire before he does. Unless it's swimming. I can kayak and he swims beside me. That has been the only way that I can wear him out without help from others. He played ball one day at the dog park for a good five hours, I had so much help, though, from other people, throwing the ball. I plan to get one of those bike attachments for sure. I'd do the car thing too if I wasn't afraid something bad would happen. I'd walk him myself for a bit, but, that would certainly help after an hour or so. Good luck!

[cali]

lol I have border collies so in my case the best way to tire em out is to work their BRAIN. for example I will put them in a stay behind an object on the deck then go and hide a toy in a play that easy to see but tricky to get to, then I tell em to "find it" because they are running around the yard jumping and climbing they are working their muscles, but at the same time that have to stay behind the object till I give the go ahead, find the object, and figer out how to GET the object, then they must bring it to my hand, and I play fetch with then for 2-3 throws and we do it again. working the mind and body together tires a dog out MUCH faster then only working one or the other.

[finn's mom]

lol I have border collies so in my case the best way to tire em out is to work their BRAIN.

That's so true. Those food cubes used to wear my roommate's husky out in fifteen minutes, because he'd have to really use his head. Making finn search for stuff is another trick I've used...

[cyber-sibes]

I found that playing fetch is a good way to give Star exercise without wearing myself out, too. Plus they both love to run at the dogpark. I walk around & around while they race back and forth - great exercise for all of us.

[BC_MoM]

Well, you probably aren't going to like my answer...lol.

I have found that the best way to tire my dogs out is the good old fashioned way...take them for a walk. It works every time!

So I say bundle yourself up, snap that leash on Zero and have yourself a nice little walk!

Here here! Since the snow started coming, Mick and I have continued doing our 3 walks a day, and only miss Monday's BUT that's because I have Drivers Ed so we only get 2 walks in. The rest of the time we're either playing/training in the backyard, or playing inside or.... my favourite... SLEEPING.

[KYS]

Maybe Vets tend to differ on when is the best age to neuter a large breed dog?
I remember a long time ago a small debate among breeders
on an Akita forum about when to neuter because of orthopedic problems in large breeds.
Back than my vet did not want to neuter Rocky till he was 6-7 months of age.
(felt he had enough testosterone by than for proper development.)
I ended up neutering him at 5.5 months because he had
an attitude problem. I was concerned about orthopedic problems.
My vet told me not to worry because studies showed
(with not over-feeding) the worse scenario, he might end up
a tad taller.
I believe newer case studies even say you can neuter earlier.
(not telling you to when to neuter or to change your mind.)

Now for your question.

I know it is cold outside, but you are just going to have to freeze.
Start jogging and you will warm up.
THey have that bicycle attachment called the Springer.
I used that with my female, but did not feel comfortable
using it with my male.

[tz1]

KYS, what do you mean by attitude problem? I'm sure you know how stubborn most Akitas are. Around my house we fondly call Zero the Jiggy....cause he is a gigolo for treats! He will do nearly anything if he knows you have food, but blatantly disoby if you have nothing LOL

BTw. the springer looks very cool. Just wondering, why didn't you feel so comfortable using it with your male Rocky?

[wolfsoul]

The best exercise for Visa is taking her to the beach and letting her chase the waves. She will go for hours on end just chasing them and playing fetch in the water. Unfortunatly it is too cold for her to go swimming now, so I take her to the field across the road and throw her Chuck-it Flying Squirrel. I also take her to play with her niece, Jaguar. Jag is actually over at my house as we speak and they are busy playing in the backyard. We also do agility. We're actually looking in to weight pull. I have a guy coming over this week to fit a harness on Visa.

[CathyBogart]

My old neighbor had a field lab who she would whack tennis balls with a tennis racquet for. The balls went a LONG way, and it tired the pup out faster than anything else we found.

Another friend of mine has a dog that likes to pull. She got him a weight-pulling harness and hooks him up to heavy stuff to pull. He LOVES LOVES LOVES it and it sure does wear him out.

[lv4dogs]

You've got some great ideas there. Working their brain will tire them out. Even a 10 minute obedience session will ear them out a little.

Along with all the other suggestions (except the one with the dog running next to a car thats just too dangerous) I'd suggest doing the NILIF (nothing in life is free, are you familiar with it?) and an extra walk or two a day.

I have a long hallway and sometimes when it is really bad outside or even just when I am sitting watching tv (after out nightly walk but Kaige still has energy to burn) I sit on the couch & throw his tennis ball down the hallway. He'll play fetch forever. lol