Ok, I love snow as much as the next girl, but come on! This winter MUST end soon, lest I lose my mind!
Last year was different: there were back-to-back blizzards. Everyone enjoyed a solid week off work, we were all house-bound just long enough to really enjoy “roughing it.”
But this winter’s been nothing but cold. Not just cold, but F R E E Z I N G! And not very much snow. Just enough to make a mess of things and wreak havoc with the roads.
My classes and Orientations have been cancelled more than they’ve been on schedule. My dogs all have sore paws from the ice and crusty snow. We’re all just miserable.
I’ve gotten creative to help ease the dogs’ boredom (and to help restore my sanity). I’ve got three Labradors and a Hound/Dane cross. They want to do SOMETHING. Anything. Let’s just do, do, do it, they say!
Yesterday I wrapped rawhides up in newspaper, then put them into cardboard boxes. The dogs had to shred the boxes and the newspaper to get to the goodie. Yeah, it makes a little bit of a mess, but clean up is easy. And it keeps the dogs busy for quite a while, allowing me to get some work done.
Today we worked on Nose Work. The dogs each took their turns searching for food in cardboard boxes I scattered all over the kitchen. As they developed their scenting ability, I made the hides more difficult. The dogs seemed to enjoy the change of pace.
And I’m now enjoying a couple hours of computer time, minus the shenanigans that four bored dogs can create if not exercised properly!
What things do you do to keep your dogs out of your hair and mentally/physically exercised?