Indoor Substitute for Water Play

[Azure & Muppet]

If your dog likes water, this is another idea for a possible indoor activity during winter when it is too cold to play in water outside. My dog loves water, during the summer when it is hot outside, we can go to lakes, rivers, or fill up the kiddie pool in the back yard to let him play and cool off. But in the winter, it is too cold to get wet and all the water freezes outside. So an alternative that has worked good for us is to use the bath tub inside. I plug the drain, turn the faucet on low (be sure to check the temperature for safety), and let it slowly fill up. I toss a couple of Muppet's toys into the tub and he has a blast playing. Since he likes to go in and out of the tub, it can get pretty wet, so I lay some towels or rugs on the floor and keep the bathroom door closed so he can't run all around the house getting everything wet (but it's only water and it dries). He uses a lot of energy and is tired after. And it has a bonus - he gets clean at the same time!

What do you think? Give it a try and share how it goes with the group.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Great idea! Guinness now seems to like his bath (he didn't when he was a younger puppy), so I think this could be fun for him. I never thought of putting his toys in and just letting him play. I'll make sure I do this on bathroom cleaning day only though. Thanks for the idea.

[Azure & Muppet]

Let the group know how it goes when you try it. At first, I got in the tub with Muppet to play, but I don't need to do that anymore. I think I had to show him that the bath tub could be a place for fun and enjoyment, not just getting scrubbed, which was his only unpleasant association with that place. We made a new positive association, and now he loves the bath tub.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What the heck???? You guys must have mini-doodles because my 70 lb TALL Standard Gracie Doodle is as big as a bath tub!!! If she were to lay down she would completely fill the tub and any water in it would probably displace up and over the edge on the floor!!!!

[Azure & Muppet]

Yep! You're right, I do have a mini-doodle - he only weighs 30 lbs. That's a big size difference from your Gracie, so I guess it won't work as well for you guys :-)