9 months old and the honeymoon is over! need help keeping doodle occupied!

[Ellen]

We love our Penny and she has been the best little puppy. However, we are starting to have issues keeping her occupied, and there are several shoe insoles and one entire shoe that have taken the hit. She gets walked, has tons of toys, gets the ball or frisbee thrown for her multiple times a day. She has a canine big sister who she plays with some. But her desire for our attention is limitless - lots of staring at the shelf where the balls are kept, putting her head into our laps and nudging for attention, etc. She is learning to respond to "go lie down" but it's still a challenge. 3/4 of our family have been home a lot this summer and she is going to suffer in August when people head back to work and college. We are considering daycare a few days a week but her sister has arthritis and that will be hard for her - and the older dog is quite attached. Any other suggestions for stimulation for this little one? We had graduated her from the crate since she is usually so good, but we had a streak of hot days and she got into the shoes - she is terribly contrite about it, but we know it is just a sign that she needs something different. Taking all suggestions! 

[Denise Mabie]

How long are her walks? I’ve noticed that I need to walk my girl for at least an hour in the morning. Otherwise she’s constantly bringing us her toys to throw or ringing the bell to be taken outside.  

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

I can understand.  My daughter's pup is 5 months old.  The puppy is staying with me for a while because my daughter is moving into another place.   Koda is so full  of energy.  I am worn out.  My dog is almost 8 years old and I am not used to the energy and activity.  Koda is a big baby and I am used to toy dogs.  I can't understand  how my daughter does it each day with work and other things.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Walks are not enough for a lot of doodles including Riley.  She needs a couple hard play sessions with 15+ mins running a day plus a few walks.  Off leash playing with other dogs is best but not possible during the week so lots of fetch in the back yard or in the house.  

Things like frozen kongs with a bit of kibble and water keep her occupied for a little while but no more than an hour or so.  If I'm home but I can't play with her and she has a case of the crazies I will often bring out her treat ball and she chases that around a while.  It definitely isnt enough though it just postpones the need to exercise her for a little bit.

If Riley is not exercised properly she spends 100% of her time trying to destroy everything she can get to.  She is a medium/high energy dog and needs mental and physical stimulation.  We are pretty sure she will never have the run of the house while we are away because she likes to shred things and eat them.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I feel your pain!  Last summer in Monrovia, CA we had a "heat event": meaning it was well over 100 for 6 weeks and then down to a balmy 90+ for another 6.  Set all kinds of records, including the strength of my patience.  Murphy was 8-10 months during this time period.  Tigger was 12 years and was just hot, not into Murphy's antics much.  Walking  was pretty much out of the question for most of the time.  We did walk after dark in our dog friendly downtown area and found a dog mixed level obedience class in the evening under lights on a hosed down patio.

Here are some things that worked for me; 

1) Mandatory two hour rest in crate or in bedroom with me.

2)Teaching tricks - great videos on you-tube for all kinds of dog tricks  fun for both of us, she learned spin, kiss, jump over low bar (used broom between two upside down buckets), go up and down ramp ( used car ramp in the house) speak (excellent) quiet (less excellent), fetch ( the bring back part she finally got fairly well, but not really a dedicated retriever like some doodles) and a very rudimentary dance routine.  Mental exercise is much more tiring a dog than physical.  I did trick training at random intervals all day. By fall earned her tricks 1. 

3) Renewed her basic obedience on every walk and in the house. By fall she earned her CGC title

4) Bought the "AKC RallyCards" on line and learned enough to get our Rally One. I believe their are videos for this also.

5)Met up with another dog owner in the class with the same problems and a pool- yeah!  nothing like swiming to take the starch out of a dog ( or kid)

6) relied heavily on ANtlerz, stuffed frozen Kongs - at least one a week of each.

I care less about the titles, but I don't like to fail, so much more imvested in maintaining all short sessions of learning.  Gearing up for this summer, may try scent training and learn more tricks.  Must admit I am not looking forward to it that much, easier to be peppy in less than 90 degrees!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

We are possibly getting a pool next Summer... it will be nice!  Riley has been in grandma's pool and it definitely wears her out but she isn't too sure she likes it yet.  I imagine she will like our new pool more (assuming we go through with it) because it will have stairs instead of a ladder.

It's been 90-105 degrees with the humidex for most of July, it's been tough.  Only exercise outdoors in the early morning for Riley, rest of the day is too hot.

I agree training sessions help too, a mental workout is sometimes just as good as a physical one for calming them down.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think that a day a week of Daycare would be great for her, and I think it's good that they learn to be apart at times...your older dog may actually enjoy the break.  Also, I truly believe that training is key at this age....and it truly does tire them out.  I'd try to build a few 15 minute training sessions a day into your schedule.  You can train lots of things....including to be calm and relax in their "place".  Be sure she has plenty of things that she CAN chew and whenever you see her take something that you don't want her to have, substitute it with one of her chews.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I want to start sending Riley to daycare a few days a week when I'm back at work in January but I worry about how she will react to lots of dogs being around.  We take her to the dog park and she will play with some dogs but she's often nervous and other dogs tend to "herd" her a lot (maybe they think she is a sheep or they just sense her submissive nature and take advantage).

I guess if she is too nervous they would just separate her and crate her or something which would kind of defeat the purpose of the daycare...  Really she would do better with the little dogs (she is very respectful of them and doesn't play rough) but there's no way they'd let her, she's too big lol.

I suppose the only way to know would be to try it on a day when I'm  home and could come get her if she's not handling it well.