Exercise

[bridget246]

I hurt my legs again last night doing a little too much with the dog. I waited about a week and half with doing very little in the way of walks so I couldn't wait to get better and push myself again. Apparently I wasn't ready so I'm right back where I started with two pulled hamstrings, ankles are messed up, lower back is slowly getting better and my left ankle isn't so hot either.

This all happened a few weeks ago. I took a long break from doing any real exercise. I'd still run for about a mile with the dog but nothing real serious. One of my old friends was getting back into the serious training and I decided I wanted to get fit again too. I took it somewhat easy the first week and brought Bridget into the workout. She loved being involved with me. For X-Mas I was giving a fitness game. I couldn't wait to try it but Bridget wanted me to do part my workout with her still. So I worked out with Bridget, then played the game, then Bridget still had a little more energy so we worked out together again. I realize there was a little more in the game I didn't see yet so I did that too... A little later on I was working on getting my flexibility back thinking it would relieve my tension from working too much. Normally I'd have a spotter but I forgot that was required. I jumped up on 2 chairs and brought myself into a split. One of the chairs moved, I couldn't regain my balance so I hit the ground. Messing up my lower back, my pelvis, my hamstrings and ankles. I had quite a few injuries during my life but never so many at the same time.

Needless to say Bridget isn't happy about the whole situation as I can now barely walk. Doctor says I have about 3 or 4 weeks before getting rechecked and I was very lucky that it wasn't worse. I've been doing my hardest to try to think of things for Bridget to do. Below is the few things I came up with.

Laser pen: She loves chasing it all around the house. I'm worried that she might like it too much so I wish I could limit the use of it.

Fetch: She doesn't really like fetch. I always have to give her a praise, or treat for bringing me the ball. Even with the treat she is still not overall excited about retrieving a ball. I don't know why she doesn't like fetch.

Eating raw removed most of her toys from the equation. I don't have a backyard, not that she would play in a backyard if given the chance.... My mom has a fenced in backyard. Bridget explored it for a second and then laid down by the door waiting for me to come play with her. If I sit outside then she will sit beside me and still not touch anything.

Dog parks are out. That itself would be an entire different thread.

[MollyWoppy]

Have you thought of a treadmill? Excellent for dogs if you can't exercise for any reason.
Sorry to hear you've gone and messed yourself up so badly, it sucks not being able to do what you want. Hopefully you'll heal quickly!

[whiteleo]

I feel your pain...I have a rescue who is dog aggressive and has to be exercised only with his sister off leash which is hard to find areas that are "only us" or I have to leash walk every day...They won't play fetch, either one of them but they both also like the laser..I don't see anything wrong with using the laser for exercise while your lame...Good Luck!

[bridget246]

Have you thought of a treadmill? Excellent for dogs if you can't exercise for any reason.
Sorry to hear you've gone and messed yourself up so badly, it sucks not being able to do what you want. Hopefully you'll heal quickly!

Watched a few youtube videos of this. Bridget will be going on my mom's treadmill. This is going to be a very interesting experience. Watched a few youtube videos teaching how to introduce it.

I feel your pain...I have a rescue who is dog aggressive and has to be exercised only with his sister off leash which is hard to find areas that are "only us" or I have to leash walk every day...They won't play fetch, either one of them but they both also like the laser..I don't see anything wrong with using the laser for exercise while your lame...Good Luck!

I thought too much laser would cause a dog to get obsessed with the laser pen. I didn't want her to always be looking for it. She does seem to understand that the red light guy comes out of the pen.

[MollyWoppy]

With the treadmill, take it very, very slowly. Don't rush it, she'll get there in her own time, but the most important thing is to make everything about it a very positive experience, heaps and heaps of treats!

[whiteleo]

If you aren't doing it hr. upon hr. and not ALL the time..It's great mental and physical stimulation and your only using it while your healing, right?

[magicre]

since i am structurally and muscularly impaired, when the weather is bad or i'm having one of those days, both of my dogs are on the treadmill.

it is a most worthy investment, especially since winters here have gotten colder and it rains..

intro to a treadmill can be tricky. malia is fine with it, even with her all suffering whiny squeak when it's time....and bubba runs and hides and has to be coaxed..

i didn't care for most of the videos, but it does matter about size of the dog and patience of the owner.

for me, it was treats, walk the treadmill with the dog and then sit in front of the treadmill with treats as the dog walked and then putting both dogs on the treadmill and sitting in front so they would look at me and not walk off......

now it's pretty easy and they walk almost every day. drains their energy and would probably help out with bridget.....and some of her behaviours to get her running or walking fast.

[Maxy24]

Do you have any room for a flirt pole? Nothing gets Tucker moving like his flirt pole.

[Mondo]

I'm worried more about you than your dog. Two pulled hamstrings? Ouch. Were you doing plyometrics or something?

Gentle yoga when you can. Start slow. Which you already know. Sorry.

Every ime my wife starts working out again I remind her about DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Start slow -- it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[PeanutsMommy]

spring poles work well too. it is tug of war that you are not apart of.