Hyperactivity or just plain nuts? At wits end!

[cprcheetah]

The ONLY time there is a problem with Shellie is if something of high value like Bones or food is involved. She was guarding something and Ziva really doesn't have boundaries, so was trying to take it away from Shellie.....which is something I am working on with her. She played in Doggie Daycare with lots of other dogs for 2 year 5 days a week without any incidences.

[DeekenDog]

Doggie Daycare would be great but don't forget the mental stimulation. It doesn't have to be agility. Something like Rally or tracking or nosework would be totally doable with bad hips. I think mental stimulation, in addition to less crate time, is going to be your key with Shellie.

[xchairity_casex]

if i were you i would deff start looking for a pool!!!!
dogs with joint problems can get alot of excersize swimming as its not hard on the joints and is quite exhuasting to do! it also helps strengthen.

my sister wanted a toy poodle sooo badly she didnt care where it came from and got one from a BYB who at the young age of 4 months or so her knees poped out o place and continued to do so constantly it was awful becuase this dog is a very athletic HYPER dog she eneds to get up and go shes incredably high energy but any amoutn of running would send her screaming for the couch well we live about a mile or two from lake superior so that summer i had her down at that lake EVERY DAY i would keep her lead and harness on her walk her out and while supporting her chest and tummy would hold her while she paddled once she became less nervous i would allow her to swim for herself while i held the lead and walked in circles makeing her swim in circles.
she has never been on any supplements or speciel food and her knees have NOT dislocated in almost 7 months and the last time it happend she was running across a slippery wood floor and her back end slipped out from under her. and trust me this little dog can walk and run off lead for 4-6 hours EASILY if i let her go home and STILL be full of energy but take her swimming for 2 hours and shes pooped.

[MollyWoppy]

Yeah, couldn't agree more about the swimming. My dog swims everyday in summer, just because of the heat and its such a great way to, well, tire her out. Lola the pug puppy who had a hip replacement at 7 months? Daily swimming worked what I would call miracles on her joints, muscles and energy levels after being kept quiet for 7 weeks. Stink the 14yo pug with lower spine problems, swims everyday in a lifejacket. I know I sound like a broken record, but you can really tell Stink and Lola are sore when they don't go swimming for a couple of days.

[leilaquinn]

Shelly sounds A LOT like Luigi. in all honesty he probably would have been better off in a more active home with room to run (we have no yard and live in the city) That said, I view tiring him out as a full time job, and between my husband and i he actually gets more execise than a lot of dogs with yards do. We are at my mom's house frequently and even with acres to run he is nuts every minute he's awake, he is just super excited and ALWAYS in play mode like a puppy. He is left out of the crate and baby gated in three rooms during the day, with numerous play breaks and walks (we live and work in different parts of the same building) He USUALLY gets 2, hour long walks a day, and another 15-20 minute one first thing in the morning when we are all feeling sleepy. We play fetch up and down a staircase inside every night, and do about 45 minutes of obedience practice right after work. On the weekends we go on long hikes either on a long line, or in one really really secluded area with a river on one side of the trail and a canal on the other (he is afraid to swim) he runs off leash. He also just goes most places with us, we all like to go for rides, and he loves tractor supply, petsmart, etc. He loves other medium to big dogs, but is very rude and pushy with them and often pisses other dogs off, I think a daycare setting would just be too much for him. i've worked at 2 of them, one awsome and one terrible, but I just don't think even good ones are ideal for every dog.

My dog is a pain in the a#*, but I just figure he will essencially be a 75 lb puppy until he is 5 or so, I remind myself daily that it can't last forever, and that I have a tendancy to be lazy which is no longer an option.

I broke my foot recently, and the other side still has 2 torn ankle ligaments healing. i am useless, my husband has been an angel and has tried to cover all his long walks, and sometimes I take half a percocet and suffer through a hike.
But, naturally, he is getting less exercise than when we were both going full speed (my jeans fit a lot better too, unfortunately) , but we just do the best we can. We are never bored!

[cprcheetah]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions....gonna have to find someone with a pool so I can take her swimming LOL! I know one of the daycares in this area has a pool but I wouldn't take her there if my life depended on it (heard lots of bad things about that place). I have been increasing her exercise a bit and so far it's not helping all that much.

A Golden Retriever was NEVER on my list of breeds I wanted to own, but I was browsing one of the local classified places and she was on there for rescue as she needed OCD surgery on her shoulder (or so they thought) at about 5 & 1/2 months old....well I am a HUGE sucker for a 'special needs' animal so I went and got her.....FREE, came with tons of stuff. I love her to death, but sometimes I wonder if she wouldn't be better in a more active home. But I am willing to do what it takes to hopefully help her through whatever is going on here.

[cprcheetah]

Just a little Update: Shellie is getting 2-3 hours of walks per day as well as backyard and indoor playtime for 30-45 minutes or so. She misses Ziva a lot will stand outside at the door when I let her out, waiting for little Ziva to come out. She is still hyper and super energetic. Have been working on 'focus' training and clicker with her and so far I'm not seeing much of a difference in her behavior, I know it will take time, but I just hope this helps.