Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Neuter recovery & exercise
Our 6-month-year-old Sam was neutered on Tuesday.
He bounced back quickly and is so ready to return to normal life. The poor guy has another seven days of no running, playdates, dog park, etc. per vet's orders. How do people do this? He's going NUTS. Sam is used to three hours of hard exercise each day. We're taking him on three 20-30 minute leisurely walks each day (which some websites say is too much) but that is not enough for him. By 6 PM, he's barking at the back door (something he's never done) to go out and play. He's also starting to bark at the front door as people walk by (also never done before). We finally gave in tonight and had him run around the first floor to burn off some energy. We have chew toys, puzzle games, Kongs, training/trick exercises, etc. but that does not equate to the physical stimulation he's used to and needs. I suppose there is nothing we can do but just ride it out?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
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Can he catch a ball? If so, you can play catch indoors with soft stuffed balls, at close range, where he is not running but basically just backing up a few feet, catching the ball and walking it back to you. If he can't catch, maybe now is the time to try teaching him, lol?
I also used to roll a big rope ball down a hallway for JD to chase. Small house, small hallway, big dog, so really not any real "running", but a fun way for him to pass the time.
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Permalink Reply by Josh Adams on
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We played an hour of ball catching tonight lol. We even taught him the name of the ball. The rope idea is a good one. We will try that out! All he wants is to see his friends and run in the yard. Poor guy. We weren't prepared for this heartache lol.
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Permalink Reply by Stella on
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Teach him to use his nose. Mental stimulation can be as tiring as physical stimulation. Put him in a stay, or have someone else hold him, and let him watch you hide treats around a room. Then tell him to go and find them. If he is struggling you can point them out to start with. Repeat until he understands the game. Then start hiding them in a room while he is out of sight and can't see, release him to go find them. If he is too excited, you can do it on leash to slow him down a little. Searching with their nose is actually very tiring!! Or, see if there are nosework / scent detection classes in your area - they basically learn to be search dogs by learning to search for essential oils rather than drugs or bombs!!
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Hi all - these suggestions did help a bit. He still has a lot of energy at the end of the day. He gets his sutures removed on Friday then we're taking him IMMEDIATELY to his friend's house for a well-deserved playdate.
It's been a very challenging time for all of us.
This week, Sam starting barking and growling at every noise he hears outside. He's never done this before. I'm not sure if it's related to his "boredom" during his recovery - or if this is normal behavior at 6 months? In any case, it's getting worse every day. We're teaching him "quiet" (he already knows "speak") but that doesn't prevent him from barking in the first place. Would love tips from anyone who's experienced this before.
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Is he on Tramadol for pain? That can make them kind of weird.
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No, he's on Rimadyl. He finished the treatment this morning. I'm reading online that side affects can include changes in behavior including aggression?
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I haven't had a dog on Rimadyl for many years. I know it can cause fairly severe GI side effects but I don't know about aggression. It's an NSAID, I don't know why a short course would cause behavioral changes.
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It makes me wonder though because the behavior came out of no where. Even though he's not outside playing, he's getting a lot of walks so I'm second guessing my "boredom" explanation. We'll see if there's improvement over the next couple days once the medication leaves his system.
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I hope so. He's been through a major hormonal change and his body is still adjusting, so that might play a role too.
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Not much improvement today. He's become jumpier to random sounds. I dropped a pillow today and he freaked - a pillow! Not like him. I sent a note to our vet to inquire about the Rimadyl just in case there's some connection.
He's also developed a habit of weaving through and rubbing against our legs like a cat - in the morning, when we come home from an errand, or when he wants to play. I assume this is harmless and he's just showing affection and not related to the barking? It's so interesting how much he's changed over a course of a week!
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Our vet just got back to us. She said his behavior is not normal and shouldn't be a side effect to the Rimadyl. She's not sure why the behavior suddenly developed. She suggests we continue with positive reinforcement and encouraging normal behavior (which we always do).
I'm going to wait and see how he does this weekend once he goes back to his normal exercise and social schedule. But if it doesn't improve, I am going to seek help from a trainer. The response from our vet worries us.
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I really do think he will be much better once he's back to his normal exercise and activity schedule. Routine is so important to a dog's well-being.
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