[Thor]

So we got Sibyl a few weeks ago, and she has settled in nicely. However, this dog has WAY too much energy. We can not wear her out. I need some suggestions on ways to exert her.

Currently, my wife wakes up at 4:30 AM and runs her 3-miles. Dog does not even get tired. She then is home for about an hour and half until I get home from the gym and then I walk her with Zeus in the morning for about 30-45 min. She is VERY excited to go . . . again. At lunch time, our neighbor comes over and lets the dogs play/romp in the yard for about 30 min. After work, I let them out to romp/play for an hour or so, and then I walk them a good 45 min. I also do a lot of command training since I know they need mental stimulation along with the exercise -- and they love it!

Sadly, she will not play "fetch" which is a bummer and could be a good outlet. She will chase the ball/kong, but then will not return it.

We also take the dogs to the dog park twice a week for a couple of hours. Zeus will wrestle/play with other dogs, but Sibyl just wants to run with the other dogs, if there are any that will run with her.

It has also been a 100 degrees here in Dallas, for the past few months, so longer walks/runs are probably pushing it and why we do it so early and late.

I was thinking about getting a treadmill and starting to use a backpack on her when we walk.

Sibyl is 18 months.

 

[SexyBlueChapps]

Just to mention, pitbulls and pitbull types should NOT be going to dog parks. Please do some research on this.

One of my 2 is VERY high energy, she's absolutely crazy. I try and take her swimming as often as I can and this really helps with her energy levels but nothing works for her. If anything, she's tired for an hour then ready to go again. I just have to come to terms with her energy level, and try to run her as much as I can, but she is never going to be one of those dogs (like my pitty) that flops down after a 10 minute run and is wiped out for much of the day :lol:

 

[pitfreak_bb]

Holly

Hey you never know..in my expert opinion oth Holly and Sibyl are under 2 years. A dog does not fully mature until about 2-3 year mark so the energy you are both dealing with may just disappate in the next few months...but yeah you'll have to tough it out to see.

 

[Roxy]

What do you feed your dog?

 

[Thor]

I have done the research on the dog parks, and it is not a problem. Zeus is only 5-months, and has been extremly socialized and plays really well with other dogs. He is very gentle with the ankle biters and plays good with the bigger dogs. I also keep a very close on him.

Appreciate the reply on swimming. I never thought of that one.

As for feeding, both dogs eat Dick Van Patten's Ultra-Premium Dry Food. I also supplement them, and noticed it had Siberian Ginseng in it, so I have stopped that to see if it slows her down any.

Probably is just puppy syndrome. I just wish she would slow down to Zeus' level. Zeus is very energetic too, but at least he sleep at night. Sibyl does not.

The goal is to find some activites until then.

 

[SexyBlueChapps]

I think Holly and Sybil should go at it for awhile...haha, can you imagine?? Then we might finally see tired!!

 

[Thor]

That would be good! I think I need to get a Greyhound for her to play with. Oh yea, and a bigger back yard!

 

[PitBullRoyalty]

If the dog is a pit, it's perfect normal.
They are just a high energy breed.
You're doing great by running her, just be careful of the heat right now.
I would keep close eye on your dog, even if she's dog friendly RIGHT NOW she's not quite two years yet.
The treadmill is a great idea, an indoor one would make perfect sense in this weather.
Be careful not to weigh the packs too much, if you decide on a bookbag.
The best thing to carry would be bottles of ice water, so you can give her some along the way.
Remember she will be using more energy to carry the weight but that's danerous in hot weather.
I'm looking into those cooling vests, they have one's that go in the fridge and one's with gel.

 

[Thor]

Sibyl is a Boxer, Zeus is an American Bulldog. I know Boxer's are high-energy too, so I am looking into agility classes for her or something similar -- plus recommendations here.

The heat is a killer. I will probably get the book bag soon and fill it with water. I saw these "cooling" headband looking things at Petsmart that go around their neck that looked interesting. I thought dogs cooled through their paws and stomach side though?

Treadmill was in the plans for the winter months, but that may get bumped up. Perfect time of the year to get one at a garage sale, hardly used, from some chubby that failed their New Year's resolution! :lol:

 

[PitBullRoyalty]

Oh, I somehow got my signals crossed and thought you got a third dog. LOL.
I like the dog treadmills because I find they can run better on it.
The human kind seems like it would slow them down unless it were mechanical, I don't know.

Did anyone have any luck with a dog on a human treadmill?

 

[Thor]

Woa! I never knew there was a difference. I need to look into that. I knew someone that ran their dog on a human treadmill (dog loved it!), so I just assumed.

I better look more into that.

 

[Jenn]

Look into building a flirt pole, or a spring pole. Ben loves his, and it wears him out.

 

[Thor]

GREAT idea! I wanted to build one, but was waiting until Zeus got all of his adult teeth. Sibyl can jump higher than Zeus, so no problem!

I have seen a few different styles, how did you build yours?

 

[OrsonDogge]

I have same problem with Orson, he is ready to go all the time.
He is also a "puppy" at almost 13 months. I use a dog backpack for him and
it does wear him out faster than a normal walk, but he's ready to play
20 minutes later.

Also have a springpole that he LOVES!
Just got a heavy duty spring from home depot and some carabeaners (sp?)
hooks to go between rope toy and the spring and i hung it under my deck on a crossbeam
with rope.

Good luck, i feel your pain! :wink:

 

[Chico.Heidi]

Also have a springpole that he LOVES!
Just got a heavy duty spring from home depot and some carabeaners (sp?)
hooks to go between rope toy and the spring and i hung it under my deck on a crossbeam
with rope.

Hey can you post a pic? I have a garage door spring that I want to use but I don't know what a carabeaner hook looks like. I tied a rope toy and dangled it from the spring and Chico came up like a shark attack and just ripped the toy away. I guess I underestimated his strength! :lol:

My dogs are really low energy but I got backpacks for them and they seem to help. Chico is pretty timid so by giving him a "job", I noticed that his confidence has improved. The backpack just help to wear Heidi out faster. I got the one that you fill up with water and I just put it in the fridge so it is cold when we go for our walks.

 

[Thor]

On another message board, someone gave me this reply about making one and this picture:

or a proper rig go pick up a small winch (any automotive store will have em) big enough for a 1/4 " rope.
i do not like using a tug or any padded toy, to easy to get hung up on, but that is just me. i have a 12"x8" piece of leather about a 1/4 inch thick that i use. no way the dog can get hung up in it and it makes those puppies grip! if they don't they just slide off. start young dogs with the front feet just on the ground and when they are comfortable with that start raisin them up, but not b4 they have all their adult teeth. as far as i know k9 toolbox still makes the leather tabs. he is the one that i got mine from and i think he still has em on his site
www.k9toolbox.com

 

[PitBullRoyalty]

Here's a link to Diane Jessup's site:
http://www.workingpitbull.com/springpole.htm

 

[OrsonDogge]

carabeaners are those clips that mountain climbers have,
people also use them as key rings some. Come in all sizes, just
get a big enough one that in doesnt pop off, cause my spring doesnt close
all the way at the end, just an open loop.
Then link another carabeaner to that clip and
put the knotted end of rope through it. The knot should hold the
rope secure.

 

[Chico.Heidi]

Great, thanks for all the info guys! I'm going to make one that is pretty low for Chico because of his hip dysplasia. I guess it won't really be much of a springpole but I think he'll have fun. I think Heidi would go ballistic for one of those flirt poles like the one on that site! Both of my dogs are insane for moving objects!

 

[Roxy]

Roxy's got a tyre hanging from a tree and an old leather football, which pulls n tugs for hours. But I found a big difference in her hyper lvl when I changed her food, her previous food had way to much protien.