Exercise and the Older Doodle Owner

[F, Calla & Luca]

Part of the reason I got a second doodle was to give Luca more exercise than I can. The two doodles do keep each other fit, I hope. This was especially good lately since  I my knee has been acting up. Any though on exercising doodles as we age?

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I have to admit that Harlow has not has as much exercise as she was getting when F. Brogan was with us. Our 9 yr. old beagles try hard, but their short legs and age are no match for our long legged, 16 month old girl. I try to take the pack to the dog park a couple days a week so Harlow can play Fox and Hound with the bigger dogs.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I promised myself that if I have got another dog I would be walking miles a day! Well - not so much. I don't walk them at all sad to admit. I am a couch potato, always have been and looks like I always will be.

The girls chase each other around the yard, or if Samantha is being a playdate dud, Charli just runs the yard like she is on a track. Samantha moves her tush when a ball is in the picture.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I always worry about whether or not my guys are getting enough exercise....just about that time though, the two of them start with the zoomies, and I feel much better. We do take our guys on one good walk and several shorter walks every day, but I really think they get their best exercise when they're playing together. Our condo is now working on little "dog park" which will be fenced. I can't wait until it's finished so they can just run freely and chase their tennis balls, versus being on a leash or the long "run".

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

Exactly why we have a second doodle. We couldn't exercise Maple enough and her 9:00 PM second wind was very disruptive to our bedtime routine since we get up at 5:00 AM to commute to work in the city. Now they chase and wrestle and can match the energy that we have to offer them. Problem solved.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack's main (okay, only) form of exercise is chasing the tennis ball. Lately, we've been going to a big off-street soccer field which is not used during the weekdays, and where he has room to run. It is only fenced on two sides, but it's removed from any streets or traffic, and Jack is not a flight risk anyway. I keep a 20 ft. lead attached to his collar just in case. As long as my throwing arm holds out, it's a good solution to his exercise needs.
Adie, I walk Jack twice a day, every day, and it really isn't exercise for him when he's on-leash. When I'm walking at the fastest pace I can walk, he has to hold himself back. There are wonderful shaded walking trails in the forest preserve dog parks north of me, and I intend to get him up there more often now that the weather is nice. It's 30-40 minutes each way, though, and costs $10 a visit, so it's not the kind of thing we can do on a daily basis. But it's a great way to walk with your dog...Jack can go at his own pace, he runs up ahead and then always circles back to make sure I'm still following him! The wildflowers and berries growing along the trails are a nice bonus, too...for looking, not for picking!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do envy you for the forest preserve dog parks. If only the Chicago winters weren't so cold : )

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Nothing tires out a dog faster than another dog. Our two mini doodles love to run and chase each other. I have a Chuck It to throw the ball farther. Jersey is obsessed with her ball. Jasmine will steal it to get Jersey to chase her. I take the girls to dog parks and the dog beach where they swim, chase balls and other dogs. We meet Adrianne and her doodles there and have a wonderful time. The dogs are exhausted afterwards.

[Kathy Spyker]

I try to take Lilly to one of the parks a couple times a week, just to get a long walk in. We have a chuck-it and she loves running to get the ball. We also have a huge yard and she can be off leash all the time but she just sits by the door if I'm not out with her. I keep trying to get DH to agree on getting another doodle but he still won't budge ;(

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, two helps with this. Luca sometimes won't go out without me but I can trick him into it at times and then Calla will get him busy chasing or fighting. It really does help especially when you can't walk too much which I've had lately. Thank goodness for cortisone shots!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our yard is small so the dogs can't really run a lot so they don't give each other that much exercise. Luckily they are not high energy - except for the Springer. I think if I only had one dog, I would walk more. I can't take four dogs for a walk and just walking around the block 4 times doesn't do much. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good for you!!!

[Coach Veazey, Roberta, and Coach]

I have the same problem. Coach is full of energy that I don't have. I think having a second doodle would be the answer so they could play together. I am begging my husband for one but he thinks one is enough!