Cold weather exercise

Basenji Talk

  • This may be here elsewhere, & sorry I haven't searched. Just wondering what some others are doing for exercise when the temp is soo cold? My Bs hardly want to go outside for bathroom routine, & this past week temps have been -30C & colder. What I use is the treadmill. Usually 15-20 minutes a day for both, averaging between 3 & 5 mph. I had no trouble getting either of them on, & it seems to be working out ok.

    G


  • -30C YIKES!!!! My guys don't like going out in this weather either… they will run out to potty and then come right back in. A treadmill is a great idea!


  • Coldest it's been here this winter has been around -18F (-27C). For some reason my B does not mind the cold at all. He is excited to go outside. The only time I notice his dislike for the cold is when I run him at night. I don't usually run him in those cold temps but won't be opposed to a quick run when its above 0 degrees. His pads are usually what bother him after awhile.

    Indoors I usually throw some toys around and let him do his B-500. Seems to get enough exercise to nap all day later on.


  • You just had to ask. lol I make mine work! :)

    Seriously though I am definitely interested in getting a treadmill someday. I don't have anywhere to put it right now, but every now and then I scour the classifieds to see if anything cheap comes available.

    For those of you who hike/bike in the cold, does something like mushers secret on the pads help keep their feet comfortable? I've got booties but they don't seem comfortable or structurally accomodating to do distance work.


  • @kiroja:

    You just had to ask. lol I make mine work! :)

    OMG, that is just too funny. I didn't realize they had to do that in the winter. :eek:


  • Love your Bs. And of course I had to google your site. Good job. Keep up the good work.

    G


  • @kiroja:

    You just had to ask. lol I make mine work! :)

    Too funny…. :D:D


  • Great idea if ever my car battery fails !!!


  • @kiroja:

    For those of you who hike/bike in the cold, does something like mushers secret on the pads help keep their feet comfortable? I've got booties but they don't seem comfortable or structurally accomodating to do distance work.

    Regarding the Musher's Secret…I use it on both Ruby and Brando. For Ruby it does seem to help, for Brando, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Ruby can handle the cold feet better, but Brando just sort of starts walking stiff legged so I end up carrying him.

    And with the cold in general, Ruby has more fur than Brando and is how shall I say this...a lot more hyper :) (she's a busy girl)...so she expends more energy and doesn't mind the cold. Even though Brando is all muscle, his coat is much thinner and he really minds the cold...even if he runs around at break neck speed. He doesn't like a coat, so when it is super cold, we don't spend much time outside.

    The b-500s seem to be doing the trick in the house and briefly outside, because the kids haven't been behaving any worse during the recent cold spell. All they want to do is lie in front of the fire. In fact when I bring them in from outside, they run right to the woodstove...and if a fire isn't going, they look right at me as if to say "come on mom...get with the program and make a fire". :rolleyes:


  • Oh Kiroja - what a slave driver you are (:)).
    With my previous beasties we used to go for walks (coats and booties when cold and it frequently goes below 0F here in MN) but my current one really hates going outside. So if I can't get him to go for a walk, I work on havng him chase a stuffed squirrel or we work on obedience. It's better than nothing.


  • We are finally thawing out at -16C, two days ago we were at -49C with the wind. Blaze never liked going outside in cold weather, even at 15, he limits his pee breaks to three times a day, no matter how many times I try to push him out. So exercise is not an issue. With treadmills, be careful of their paws. Apparently the tread can actually burn the pads if you don't put some sort of wax on them


  • Lycia just chases the cat =)


  • @gneigum:

    Love your Bs. And of course I had to google your site. Good job. Keep up the good work.

    G

    Thanks G! We definitely like to do a lot of stuff. Never a dull moment! But the cabin fever is setting in already. lol

    Renault, thanks for the info about Musher's Secret. I think I'm going to pick some up next time I see it and give it a try. I don't like to go out in the cold much, but I do want to start making more of an effort to keep them in shape year round for all the stuff I want to do with them. And I don't like the insecurity of the foot in a bootie, I worry that they will develop an altered gait with a lot of work. Not that I'll probably do that much anyways. lol Mostly we just stay inside and do lots of little obedience/attention type drills. When we're not being lazy.


  • This is how we do it when it's cold and, for most of the time, dark outside.

    Get up early…and go skiing

    Then go home, kill something..

    cheers
    cato :)
    attachment_p_60219_0_1.jpg
    attachment_p_60219_1_2.jpg
    attachment_p_60219_2_3.jpg
    attachment_p_60219_3_4.jpg


  • Kelli…I think you're right about the altered gait...I worried about that as well just because of how both my b's walk with just a coat or sweater on, so I've never tried booties. Obviously they are uncomfortable with clothing, so consequently I stopped trying to get them to wear them for that very reason...I was afraid they would learn to walk differently.

    I even went so far as to have $150 custom sweater knit (with hand painted yarn) for Ruby that was made specifically to all her measurements. Looks cute & fits her to a "t", but she won't walk in it. Good thing I didn't opt for the cashmere. :rolleyes: I'm thinking I'll donate it to Pam & Sheila...maybe it can go home with one of Ruby's grand kids. It would look stunning on a black & white b because it is so colourful.

    Oh, and I will say, that the kids LOVE it when I put Musher's Secret on their paws...they act like they are getting a spa treatment.:D Brando even lets out contented sighs while I'm rubbing it in. :D

    Anyway, I know my b's and I KNOW that the boots would be torn to shreds in about 2 seconds...given how they've tried to get the coat/sweater when they are on.

Suggested Topics

  • Basenji Cold Shoulder

    Basenji Talk
    18
    6 Votes
    18 Posts
    2k Views
    sanjibasenjiS
    I know that frustration! Training with high value treats helps. Sanji loves salmon.
  • Rainy/Cold/Snowy Geo Region

    Basenji Talk
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    1k Views
    No one has replied
  • Winter time play/exercise

    Basenji Talk
    15
    0 Votes
    15 Posts
    9k Views
    rnastoR
    I would suggest the Ruff Wear Climate Changer plus the Ruff Wear Quinzee maybe some boots if you can swing it. XS on both of the jackets.
  • Winter Boarding….brrrrrrr!!!! It's cold!!

    Basenji Talk
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    6k Views
    snorky998S
    All great suggestions. Also, for peace of mind, ask which emergency vet they use and check out that facility as well. We also include an unwashed T-shirt (one from each of us)that we have slept in for a few days so our smells are concentrated. Ask if someone plays with the dogs when they're turned out to run, and ask if there is a washer and dryer on sight in case of an accident so the bedding gets washed. All my above suggestions have come from experience and grant me some peace when I have to leave my dogs. That said, I'm still a BIG baby when I have to leave the "kids".:o
  • Awesone Exercise

    Basenji Talk
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    S
    Execercise is good for all of us..laugh, me saying this, typing in front of the computer instead of walking… Ok, I will walk tomorrow, with the b's!
  • Winter exercise???

    Basenji Talk
    19
    0 Votes
    19 Posts
    6k Views
    nala121498N
    If the wax doesn't work, try muttluks…my B wears them. It's funny at first for her, but she adjusts and takes her usual walks with them. Keep us posted on how the wax works...very interesting!