> New Bouvier puppy, 13 weeks, wants to sleep all day and it's hot here (Florida). So when we are tired at the end of the day, puppy has too much energy, which leads to her looking for mischief.
>
> Tried brain games, finding treats, walks despite endless rain, training, playing.
> We have even taken her on evening fun outings to mentally tire her. No help! I'm exhausted.
>
> Any ideas? I know Jim has lots of training experience.
> Thanks,
> Carol
Nothing will tire a 13-week puppy out that won't also exhaust you or injure you from overwork.
The best way to exercise and tire puppies is another puppy. As breeders, we will sometimes let a local purchaser have a "loaner" -- usually a littermate -- to play with for a while.
Or we will keep the puppy with us for a while, to grow and play with its littermates during the weekdays, while the owner takes it for the weekend.
If you bought it from a local breeder, you might ask about one of those alternatives.
If not, perhaps a friend with a dog close in size, and not too much older.
Given that you're in steamy Florida, if you have an enclosed area for them to play in, get a horse watering trough (about $50, lasts a lifetime), and put 4" of water in it. The pups can play -- or even lie down -- in the water and cool off. We used to use those kiddie wading pools, but puppies will chew them up, and 1 trough is only 2-3 times the cost of a kiddie pool.
They'll chase each other around, then plop in the water, cool off, take a nap, and start all over again.
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Jim Saklad mailto:jimdoc@icloud.com
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