What are your best tips for keeping your dog entertained in the heat?

Posted by Effective-Project-49@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 29 comments

I’ve got a German shepherd a little over 1 year old and he’s full of energy. I get him out for a good walk early and a good walk late when temperatures are more comfortable for him. I also try and take him for a swim at my friends fishing lake. During the day I’ve been keeping him calm and laid down in the shade with plenty of water.

After a couple days of laying around in the shade I can see he’s getting a bit bored and frustrated.

I gave him a whole frozen deer neck but he licked it for a couple minutes then tried to bury it.

Anything ideas to keep his mind active without overheating? Or something that keeps him cool while stimulating his mind?

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Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit

Mine digs and entertains herself. Her digging patch is in dense shade under some trees. It’s really quite cool in her burrows. Having said that she’s given it a rest for the moment and is lying by me in dappled shade and wondering whether she can be bothered to investigate the geese who are having a bath.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

Please don't let your dog harass wild birds.

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Flashy-Grass6646@reddit

Wtf has this got to do with the op?

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

wondering whether she can be bothered to investigate the geese who are having a bath.

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Flashy-Grass6646@reddit

That's just nature

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

And we train our animals to overcome their nature.

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Flashy-Grass6646@reddit

We try. Like all animals they don't think, they react.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

Doesn't sound like op was trying to prevent it to me 🤷‍♂️

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Dependent_One6034@reddit

Sounds like there was nothing to prevent.

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

When I replied to this person, they had made no mention of fences, and let's not pretend that there's not dog owners out there who'd have no issue with their dog disturbing geese.

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Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit

The dog and the geese have lived here all the dog’s life. We have had no dog /geese incidents. There are two fences (not counting the electric fence to keep foxes out) between the dog and the geese. She would like to know what all the splashing is, she can’t get to them.

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Flashy-Grass6646@reddit

Ok dear

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Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit

Or we put barriers in their way. Two fences in this case.

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Illustrious-Air-7777@reddit

There are two fences and fifty feet between me and the dog and my geese!

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AllThatIHaveDone@reddit

That context changes it a bit from what you originally wrote, I think you'll agree! :)

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fluffy_samoyed@reddit

When my dog was young, he loved us sliding an ice cube across the kitchen floor or chewing on freezable teething toys that we kept from that stage. Otherwise, he loves a paddling pool or chasing after a garden hose, but I know not all dogs love water. We try to walk him in the very early morning and again after sunset when the pavement is cooler. You can also do small activities that don't require a lot of physical energy like work on trick training or get a snuffle mat.

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Illustrious-Bus-8862@reddit

30 degree heat and both dogs were with me on a fencing job. Fortunately there is a river nearby and both love to swim so multiple dips have been taken.

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RoleMysterious8756@reddit

I’ve just trained my 3 year old Labrador to submerge her face in a washing up basin to retrieve slices of carrot. Now she’s just dunking her face for the joy of it.

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BerryOk966@reddit

Paddling pool or a garden sprinkler.

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HotSector8167@reddit

Golden entertainment for you too

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BerryOk966@reddit

You're right, im currently sitting on a deck chair with my feet in my paddling pool. Im old and kids are all grown up but I still get myself a new paddling pool every couple of years

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HotSector8167@reddit

Honestly this makes me so happy! Maybe I'll treat myself to a paddling pool and enjoy the summer!

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BerryOk966@reddit

£7 in Tesco

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T_raltixx@reddit

I made this because he love carrots. He loved it.

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Lumpy_Ad104@reddit

Juggling or maybe a Punch and Judy show.

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Remote-Field4624@reddit

For next time of if you have the garden room and something large enough water and floaty stuff and balls, a cheap paddling inflatable pool and some plastic balls and stuff you can mess around every so often or he will get in and out himself if your of with it which is hard because coming in out the house is wet but my friends GSD loves it water isnt uber deep if digs scared but can fill enough that can lie right in.

Something about floaty stuff in water for that breed and breeds who people have them will know they will be chasing floaty stuff around and takes ages get a grasp, oh my mate threw tennis ball in but dogs love tennis but the floaty balls keep moving and and is something to catch etc and then they be sleeping for hours worn out.

Your a good owner thinking of this but just heat like this dogs need to deal with it like we do so if isnt possible do that dont feel to bad just have too get through it.

its very humid our heat when it gets up here but with you saying your dog went for a swim if you have room even not space for play filling a big box for doggie sit in outside they love it but again, you need be around for a bit and dry em off. Telling you next time cheap inflatable pool and stuff. Can play and keep cool.

*this was off me seeing one other GSD and I am not an expert. but it worked.

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