Fall and overactivity

[Sandy]

Toby has been crazy busy the last couple of days. Not settling down in the evenings, looking for trouble during the day, just being really, really busy. It's almost like he's a little puppy again - minus the nipping and chewing. :) Could it be the cooler weather? He's 13 months old. We're going through a lot of bones here.....

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My two doodles are just the same. Tigger (16 months) is into everything again and even Roo(two years) who has settled down nicely chewed up a leash this morning. Last night it was the barbeque cover. I live in So CA and it is definitely not much cooler yet. They just seem to have bursts of these behaviors occasionally. It is still too hot to walk them while the sun is up, so I guess it means even more pool time. Thank heavens we have one!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We met a dood walking the other day...a 3 year old and the mom told me it took him until now to be "settled down" most of the time. I think it is normal! I know you are giving him lots of exercise, right?
We do doggy daycare 1 - 2x per week and it tires Peri out for the entire day and following day. :)

[Sandy]

Oh yes - long walks twice a day - fenced yard to play catch in, and an occasional visit to the dog park, which I'm doing this afternoon.

[Karen & Lucy]

Lucy is 3 1/2 now and I do believe these doodles go through stages. She has calmed down alot now BUT there are times when she is just like a little puppy again. Doesn't last long. She always did get the "zoomies" in the evening.

[Sandy]

Zoomies I can handle. It's the "hey, look at me or I'll paw you", "hey, play with me or I'll make your night miserable", the demanding attention.....oh dear. He has plenty of toys, bones, the occasional filled Kong, walks, etc. He's just being a pushy teenager.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Boy - I think you hit the nail on the head. That's Tigger too - a pushy full of himself teenager. And then Roo not being much older has to get in on it. Fortunately, tonight after a long game of swim fetch, they are as calm as 10 year olds - almost.

[Stella]

He will get there!! I remeber with Hartley that there were days when I honestly thought I could not walk another step, I was so sick of going out for walks to try and tire him out. At his worst we were up to three one hour walks a day, or four walks with one of them being before bed time to try and make him sleep!! If Dave was home, he would take him for a run, I could walk him until his feet fell off and it wasn't enough - he needed to run and get the tickle out of his feet (I have known horses the same, just needed to run!!)

Luckily, for all his crazinessin public, Chase is pretty relaxed in the house (apart from barking at.... everything) - he knows when it is time to settle down and is quite happy to mellow out and go to sleep. It is usually Hartley that is bugging him to play!! Of course, he is nine months old now so I could be about to start eating my words!!

[Sandy]

I can't run with Toby - he jumps up and down on me. We're hanging in there. We had a big family gathering at my Mom's tonight, and brought him. He spent some time tethered to me in the house as he would not settle down, but he behaved after a while. I guess, having had a much older dog (14 1/2 years) before Toby, it was and still is a big shock - the amount of energy he has, and the amount of attention he needs.

[Stella]

Toby is a lot bigger than your previous dog too, right?? I am physically incapable of running, that is why Dave had to do it, and he had the same problem initially with the jumping up and down. I did buy an attachment for my bike so that in theory you can safely cycle with your dog running next to you, but I haven't tried it yet!!