Skip to content

Ways to Tire Out High Energy Dog?

Behavioral Issues
  • @ownedbyspencer:

    The vet will send us home with pain pills, but I'm hoping they'll prescribe some tranquilizers as a backup, in case she gets rowdy before it starts to heal. .

    Nobody wants their pet to suffer, but pain is nature's way of telling us to take it easy. I think overdoing the pain pills can cause problems. I don't overdo the Bute with a lame horse, because in absence of the pain "warning" they are far more likely to cause themselves further injury. You don't want a pain free dog ripping out her stitches! (it happens).

    Keeping her quiet will be challenging, no question. Possibly a little chemical help to tone her down might be a good idea, and with luck the vet will concur. It might be wise to try a calming medication now, as a trial, to see how she reacts. (not always predictable!)

  • You've hit on my internal dilemma– I want her to feel the pain so she won't hurt herself... but I don't want her to hurt. :(

    As a rule, I avoid meds whenever possible. But Ava is more active than other dogs I've known. I have stocked up on calming aids/treats and am looking into safe, natural calming/healing treatments. I know chamomile is one. Anybody have experience with any others?

    BTW, the calming treats seem to take the edge off. Or maybe she's just growing up and tiring out a little. Either way, I'll take it!

  • @ownedbyspencer:

    Wow, 13 days sounds like such a long time! Ava also has an umbilical hernia, which will make her incision larger. I'm really worried about keeping her quiet. The vet will send us home with pain pills, but I'm hoping they'll prescribe some tranquilizers as a backup, in case she gets rowdy before it starts to heal. I would like to wait until she's a little older, but everyone feels it's best to do it before the first heat, so I guess the time is now.

    I never kept mine quiet for more then 1 day…. As said, the feeling of pain will naturally slow them down. I used pain meds the first night and then none.... when Mickii was spayed (and she had a huge herina) the incision was really not any bigger... she came home and was "sort of quiet" the first night from the effects of the anesthesia... next day she was up and around as normal.... she did try and jump on the bed, squeeked... and waited a few days to try that again.... they feel the pain, they don't do that... I fully agree that sometimes the pain meds do more harm then good....

  • I agree with the advice and that's what I'll try– pain meds the first day, then see how she does. Hopefully, she will self-monitor to avoid hurting herself.

    How about stairs? Better to carry her up? And that e-collar? I can't see her putting up with that at all. (Spencer wouldn't, either, but his neuter didn't seem to bother him much at all.)

  • @ownedbyspencer:

    I agree with the advice and that's what I'll try– pain meds the first day, then see how she does. Hopefully, she will self-monitor to avoid hurting herself.

    How about stairs? Better to carry her up? And that e-collar? I can't see her putting up with that at all. (Spencer wouldn't, either, but his neuter didn't seem to bother him much at all.)

    I never worried about stairs, mine did just fine with them and we have three different sets of stairs… And I never had to use the e-collar either. I would use Tea Tree oil around the incision if it seems that they were interested in licking.

  • Excellent idea about the tea tree oil– thank you! I had forgotten about that. Ava is taste-sensitive-- Bitter Apple was a lifesaver-- so that should stop the licking.

    I made the appointment, so there's no turning back. I hate it, but it has to be done... and the sooner it's behind us, the better.

  • Oakley came home tied up with gauze string to keep his collar on…the contraption they came up with made him look like a mummy..he was incessant about his stitches so I bought an inflatable collar and that he couldn't get off or lick his undercarriage..I have photos- he looked might embarassed to be seen that way ;)

  • LOL, when we just had Kobey neutered, Carly kept taking off his inflatable collar for him!

  • Lmao…that's exactly why I'm hesitant to add a second!! I can handle two basenjis but not two Oakley's...I need to be SURE the second wont be influenced by Oakleys naughty naughty ways!!

  • Do agree with them being able to feel some pain as I found that Kaiser knew what was painful to do and he adjusted his movements to get on the sofa etc, the hardest part I found was getting him in the car and out not easy with a bad back and a 13kg basenji(he is big boy, biggest in his litter), he was fine with our stairs at home. Did find out that he is a gentle boy as I did hurt him lifting him out of the car when we got home after his neuter and expected a nip but he just looked at me soooo sad and then I had to try again and he let me, though he did nip the Vet. As usual I worried more than I should of and everything turned out way better than I thought so here is hoping the same for you and Ava.

    Jolanda and Kaiser

  • I have a feeling you'll get a call for Ava as soon as she wakes up! ;-)

  • @Chealsie508:

    Lmao…that's exactly why I'm hesitant to add a second!! I can handle two basenjis but not two Oakley's...I need to be SURE the second wont be influenced by Oakleys naughty naughty ways!!

    LOL– what if you added a second and ended up with an Oakley and an Ava?!

  • Thank you, stash; I hope it goes easy, too. Surely Miss Ava can behave for a week. Surely.

    But you're right, agilebasenji, they'll probably have a post-it with my mobile # stuck to their phone, and I'll receive a call as soon as she rouses. She won't be a happy girl– and when Ava's not happy, nobody around her is happy.

  • I would have to be admitted to a facility Pamela, it would be my worst nightmare…lol. I love Oakley more than anything but I don't think I could do it again..he has been the most difficult puppy/dog I've ever had! ..and as many leaps as he's made, he will always be difficult in his own ways. I bet Ava will be the same, they certainly won't ever be easy going pups. Bless us for loving the crazy ones!!

  • I hear you, Chealsie! I'm still not sure I'll survive Ava's adolescence. I'm pretty good at managing stress, but there have been times– many times-- that she has almost sent me over the edge. I had wanted to get another B puppy in a year or two... but no more.

Suggested Topics

  • Aggressive towards other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    3k Views
    J
    Sparkle Barkle came into heat in April. Logan went nuts! I was traveling so my wife was saddled with the mayhem. Mayhem doesn't begin to describe the situation. Sparkle should be coming in again within days, I hope, and unfortunately, he won't get any love this time either. He's gonna be a massive handful for at least a MONTH. I'm not traveling this time, so it's all on me. Cross your fingers for Tri females. I want three!
  • My dog bit me.

    Behavioral Issues
    7
    0 Votes
    7 Posts
    7k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    :::Note: I’m not a professional trainer, I have a degree in psychology and im a teacher; a dog is like a 2-4 year old. Every dog is different though, maybe I’ve just gotten lucky, but what I’ve been doing has been working for me; maybe it will for you.::: LOL, not luck... good common sense. We do basic training to get solid responses in controlled environments, which gives a good base for expanding it to other situations. Like eeeefarm, I don't thing animal aggressive dogs need to socialize with strange dogs. I keep them separated. For the unexpected, working at home on basic commands (Leave It!, "look at me" to focus on you and understand the other dog is off limits, solid 100 percent down-stay) can help you avoid your dog getting revved enough to bite. That means you have to stay on top of things, change directions if necessary, and be firm and loud in asking others to not approach with their dog. Training is wonderful bonding, and it exercises their brains. http://www.clickerlessons.com/index.htm
  • Problems with other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    djaan, how about removing your spam link… then people might think your posts are serious.
  • The pooch is tiring us out…

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    5k Views
    TuckerVAT
    I had to put screws through my gate to keep Tuck from pushing it out of the door frame it was in. The gate is designed with rubber 'feet' (that push agains the door frame) but the door makes up part of the framing across the top (it doesn't have a permanant crossbar because it's a walk-through gate). If you tighten it too much, it binds the door and gets all out of whack. When tightened as much as it allows, Tucker could eventually ram it enough times to knock a corner loose. So, yeah, I screwed the damn thing to the wall… :) It's a 36" high gate, which he can jump pretty easily, but he's not a jumper, so it works for me.
  • How do we integrate a new dog

    Behavioral Issues
    5
    0 Votes
    5 Posts
    2k Views
    L
    Thank you so much for the advice! We have never kenneled our dogs before,,,,,,,,,I think that is why we are so hesitant to do that but like you said,,,,,it could be very very stressful taking our two then adding a third at the inlaws where the only animals they have around are a few feral cats that hang around the shed in the back yard. ARRRGGGGGGG!!!!!! Who knew you could stress and worry so much about furbabies!!!!!!!! I swear they ARE just like children!!!!
  • Guest Dog - HELP!

    Behavioral Issues
    23
    0 Votes
    23 Posts
    10k Views
    J
    Thanks everyone. I am so very appreciative of your advice. Housesitting is a great idea, but not an option for me as I have 5 teenagers and a husband to "watch". I tried Apolo in his home for the day and when I picked him up at night (I just couldn't leave him there by himself overnight) he went bonkers from being alone all day. I took him to a kennel out in the country as the accomodations at his vet would have meant that he had to be crated all the time which IMO is especially not an option for a big dog!! I worry about Apolo stressing out and have called the kennel to see how he is doing. I will visit as well. I'm really not certain that the kennel would let me know if he was stressing. I don't really know as this is the first time I had to use one. I think I will start another thread on what to look for in a kennel. Once again, learning on the fly!!! I am doing my best and asking as many questions as I can. I also think I may start a thread on how Bs react to Bordatella (I always say, Bortadella, isn't that sausage :D) since I know someday I will have to take Joey to a kennel. I am also going to look at kennels now so that I can choose the best one. So far I have been fortunate and the breeder has been able to board Joey. I think it's like going to Disney World for him!!! He isn't all wigged out to see me when I pick him up!