Maybe pulling a little sled, delivering groceries or something.
He’s driving us nuts. It’s too cold for him to be outside except to potty – he just bounds and romps and twirls in circles and pounces – so much energy!
There just isn’t enough running room in the house. Wonder how he’d adapt to a treadmill.
The heck with reindeer games – we need Boomer games.
Whack him upside the head and tell him to knock it off,Stoopid dawg.
“Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx
Let him run on a Sit and Spin.
Are there any gerbal balls big enough for him.
Start teaching him tricks. Harness that energy! And let him out…he doesn’t think it’s as cold as you do, especially if he’s busy chasing a ball.
Great tips – especially the Sit 'n Spin. He kinda does that now when he tries to run on the kitchen vinyl.
Stoidela – do you think? Boomer’s short-haired, kind of a mini-Lab/Rottie whatever (we don’t know) – I worry about him getting overheated and then catching a cold.
He took off for a run one day last summer – outside to potty, off the leash – chased a rabbit Lord knows where. Stayed gone about half an hour.
It was so hot that day – he just collapsed as soon as he got back to the yard. We hosed him down to cool him off, but we’re lucky we didn’t lose him.
The responsibility involved in having a pet! It’s almost as awesome as having children. Gotta think about every little thing … grumble grumble smile grumble smile.
Hey, from my much-loved Lab/Shep mix:
try one of those big, honking fabric “booda bone” things. The best is when when we do the tug/toss/tug somemore thing. But she’ll also pounce on it and chew away, flip it, chase it, pounce, “fierce woofers of the Serengetti” wrestling matches…
And then hey, romp some. Be a kid. Grab the toy and run. Crouch down and growl. Crack up laughing. Threaten dire things and watch and tail and ears come up. Try “chewable” frisbees outside. Wait until the pup is asleep, then creeeeep up and pounce! then rormp around. It’ll do you as much good as it does Da Woofer.
Off to stroke some silky ears,
Veb
Well, I wouldn’t leave him out there to sleep or anything, but he can totally handle it for playing in the daytime. If he’s active and involved, he’ll be fine. Dogs have very high temperatures naturally, and the fur really does work.
So take him out to play. He’ll let you know if he’s not digging it. (He will…most dogs love snow and they enjoy cold weather. My sister has a Bull Mastiff, very short haired but dense muscles. She LOVES cold weather, it’s her favorite. As you already experienced, you are more likely to overheat a dog in summer than freeze them in winter. ) Again, don’t leave him out there, but definitely take him out to play.
You can tell when a dog is cold, they shivver. Put on your coat, go out with him for a while. put your hand on his side from time to time to see if it is quivvering. Stay out with him and see, though, so you can let him in if he really is cold. Some short hair dogs really do get cold in the winter. Smaller ones more so than bigger, I think. If he’s cooperative, you could buy him a coat.
Your dog may stay warmer outside if he is moving around, so maybe going out with him and throwing a toy around would burn off that extra energy.
Oh, one more thing: I don’t know how cold it is there, but your biggest worry will be his feet. Keep checking them to make sure they aren’t getting too cold,
When it’s too damn cold, or I’m feeling too damn lazy to play with my dog I take a flashlight and shine the light around on the floor. If your dog is anything like mine, he’ll chase the light all over the place. It’s hysterical, and it’s good excersize for them.
Thanks for the great ideas – we don’t have this problem all the time – but the temps have been hovering from 0 to 20 lately and since I’m a wuss about the cold, I figure he must be too.
We’ll keep the outdoor time short til it gets back to the 30’s and 40’s. And I’ll look for the tug-toy – I think I’ve seen those at Shopper’s. I’ve always figured pet toys were kind of a rip-off, but maybe this one’s different.
I think it also depends on the dog’s age. When I was 10 and dog was like 3 we played out on the coldest winter days having snow fights, wrestling around. 10 years later you couldn’t get me or the dog outside if you pushed us.
My brother’s dog does the chasing the light thing. One problem when your done though. He will sit and stare at indicator lights on electronics for the next three hours.
Hey Lissa:
That flashlight idea is great! I’ve done that with every dog I have. They love it! We must have been sharing a synapse, or something, because that is exactly what I was going to suggest!
Sorry for the gushing, y’all. It’s a holiday thang. 
You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.
I know a Chinese restaurant that would LOVE to have your dog work there. For 1 day . During the lunch rush. Have him bring his own soy sauce.
(Cat Lover)
“Show me a sane man, and I will cure him for you.”----Jung
I must warn you, however, that when playing with your dog and a flashlight, never point the flashlight at the wall. My dog slammed into the wall full-tilt-boogie, and knocked herself out. I felt terrible.
I’d be happy to hire your dog. I need a dog to put my useless, ignorant, unbelievably lame excuse for a cat in his place.
I successfully trained my husband. I’m not doing too badly with my kids. But my cat has been telling me where I can stick it for well over a year now. He knows he’s nearly been kitty-kebobs, but still he cops an attitude with me. Geez. He needs a good beating, and I think a dog just might be perfect for the job.