High Activity Level

[Maureen & Shyla]

My puppy is seven months old and has a killer energy level.  She sleeps great at night--10 hours--but hits the ground running the minute she wakes up.  Our routine was a three-five mile walk, a few hours to hang out, then into the crate for a two-hour nap.  By noon, she was ready for another three mile walk.  Even with that, she was wide awake and looking for trouble until her late afternoon nap.  Another two hours and she was restless until it was time to crate her for the night.  When my husband had surgery, I put her in doggy day camp.  She came home and was one tired puppy so now she goes to camp Monday-Friday.  She must have gotten used to the six-hour romp because even with a 3-mile walk and doggy playtime, she has trouble settling down from 7 pm until 10.  It's exhausting.  Is this normal?

Help!  

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

yes... I have 2 dogs who are like that... and they're 6 years old... doggy day camp works great if you can afford it - if not, look at the bright side: you'll be in great shape for the next 12+ years!! I recommend swimming and playing ball in a ball field somewhere and long offleash hikes... every day :)

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

If she likes to retrieve a ball you should look for one of those long plastic things that throws a tennis ball really far.  Of course you need a good dog park or field that she can run in safely.  The best investment I've made for my dogs health and happiness was to install an invisible fence.  The three dogs spend so much time outside, playing and rolling and tussling with each other that I wonder how I kept my sanity before the fence.  I had a 1,000 square fence play yard but that did not give them the room to really get running. Doggy day care sounds great.  I really thing they need to Run sometimes.  Even a long walk doesnt give them that chance to stretch those legs.  Good luck and I admire all that walking you are doing.  It must be keeping you in shape.  Lynne

[Lynn D.]

Chuckit!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Luckily, my doodles are low energy.  I could never keep up with them otherwise.  I will send you some zzzzzzz's from Ned and Clancy.....

[Maureen & Shyla]

LOL!  Thanks for my first laugh of the day.

[L.M.]

Totally normal.  She is just "at that age."  My doods (one is 7 months and one is almost 2 years old) still have the crazy hour in the evening....just like yours at about 7:00.  It will pass....just keep trying to tire them out.  We find that playing tug (with the rope tug toys) take lots of energy out of them.  My pups are not huge fans of fetch and tug works well when we can't take them for walks/runs.  If you are up for it, a jog/run also works better at tiring them out than walking.  It doesn't have to be a lot...I hate running....but it seems to work wonders for tiring the pups out.  If you can, also try to walk trails (hills, inclines, etc) instead of just flat routes on the street....again, it tires them out faster.  

Like others have said, you will be in great shape, along with your doods.  lol I lost a good 7 pounds the first year we got our big guy.  

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper used to be like that.  We figured out that the walks just werent doing it for her, unless they were off leash, so now we play fetch in the yard. 20 mins and shes tired!

[9pavxfihcp80]

Our youngest doodle is full of energy and tires out both of our other doods and is still ready for more. We bought a "Walky Leash" and it works great-- for all of them! We have them wear "boots" to avoid any unexpected hazards (glass, etc.) but as soon as they go out to the bike, they completely forget about the boots!

[L.M.]

Look at his little bootie sneakers!! Love it!!

[Phoebe's Mom]

Love the doodle 'booties!'

[Dori & Rua]

My trainer has recommended the Walky Leash.  The only problem is I would have to pedal the bike!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

HA HA !!