What do you do when YOU are sick?

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

The past two days I have been sick and unable to get Rooney out for his usual daily walk.  My kids or husband can take him for a walk when they get home, but it still makes for a long day of very little activity for the poor little guy.  On top of that, the rain has returned (What? Rain in Seattle? Shocking!) and so it isn't even as easy as taking him in the backyard for a change of scenery and low key playtime.

Honestly, he is being so good about it.  I'm very lucky he has a rather mellow, go with the flow nature but I can tell he's getting stir crazy.  I feel terrible because I love our walks and would totally just suck it up if I could but I'm really not able to right now.

So, suggestions on how to entertain a young pup when he's stuck inside most of the day?  I feel well enough that I'm happy to play with him indoors but our short range games of "fetch" aren't really doing much to burn his energy.  Ideas? 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I am going through this right now, my back has decided I need a break and I'm in a lot of pain so lots of pain killers and not driving at all.  I am managing a tentative walk a couple of times a day.  Riley is being an absolute star, he is simply lying around like me and playing with his toys.  When his Dad arrives home he seems to have a big burst of energy but around me he is as quiet as a lamb.  BTW it is also raining non stop here too!  ( I remember the first time I went to Vancouver. I travelled 16 hours and arrived to exactly the same weather I had left at home!)

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

Oooo, Nicky, I'm sorry.  Any kind of physical pain is NO fun and I have heard back pain is particularly challenging. So glad Riley seems to understand that Mom needs to rest right now.  

So, I assume your sister is in Vancouver B.C.? (Not little tiny Vancouver, Washington). Vancouver B.C. is a neat city.  I have a friend who moved to Ireland several years ago for her husband's job but I have never been to visit. I've heard such great things but I do hear the weather can be a bit wet like ours! We actually had a gorgeous weekend here but the weekdays have been filled with rain.  

I'm feeling a lot better today and think that I will be able to get Rooney out for a wet walk at some point today.

Riley is very handsome, by the way!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Yes, Vancouver BC lol which has weather a lot like Ireland and Seattle !!!  I have just been out for our first walk in three days, even though it is pretty horrible here at the moment.  Glad to hear that you are feeling a bit better today, hopefully you will get out too.  I have a rain Jacket for Riley that at least keeps him dry so between all our rain gear I never let the rain stop me going walking if so I would be in for nine months of the year : )))

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

How cute that Riley has a rain jacket!  I just let poor Rooney get soaked, which he never seems to mind. :) I think we are going to have one of those days where there will be pockets of time with no rain so I'll be looking for one of those.  Seattle frequently has days where the rain comes and goes, especially during the Spring.  It's funny how everyone comes flooding out anytime the clouds clear and there is a break in the rain.  The sidewalks will be full of kids, dogs, walkers/joggers... it's actually very festive! 

I recently learned that within the Seattle city limits there are more furry children per family than there are human children! We are one dog crazy city!

[Monica and Ginger]

Hello Lori,

My husband and I have faced the same situation this last 10 days!  We have both been down with the flu and Ginger our 8-month old Doodle is also going stir-crazy.

So, I have been sitting in a chair in our back-yard wrapped in a blanket with a cup of tea and tossing a ball for her to fetch.  I also have played fetch indoors, actually breaking one of my own rules in the process (my sons said - Mom: no ball playing indoors!!!)... LOL

She also has been very good about it, although like Rooney, I can see the 'stir crazy' building up! 

I find that playing indoor 'mind-games' with her is also good.  Our trainer says that 20 minutes of exercising their intelligence is worth about 2 hours of running in the park!  Not sure the numbers are right, but I find it certainly helps if I can challenge her with hide & seek or obedience training or some other way she uses her brain vs. her braun.  When we are not sick, we go to agility training every week, and even just an hour of that tires her out really well. 

My 2 cents worth!  Hope you feel better soon!

Monica