Fun & Games!

Hello!

“A tired dog is a happy dog.” Lauren Nour, Jet's trainer at Canine Assistants.

Truer words were never spoken. When humans get good exercise, they sleep better, are more productive and nicer people to be around. Dogs the same, plus as we spoke about yesterday...hey they invented how to play! Frax had a blast helping me with the 'traditional' doggie games yesterday, now we can talk about more 'non-traditional' doggie games. There are as many games to play with your dog as there are dogs! Many times the playful canine will think them up himself and an instant family memory is born.

An example of a made up game is one devised by my Mother's dachshund, Ellie Mae Ritter. Ellie would wait till Mom was preparing to come out of the kitchen, then open the folding doors to the laundry room with her long snout! She 'hid' herself in the closet, closing the folding doors behind her. When Mom walked by the doors, Ellie Mae would 'fake poor me whimper' and Mom would fling the doors open, exclaiming “There's the puppy! What happened to you!” Ellie Mae would be ecstatic and would leap into Mom's outstretched arms! Wiggling and giggling soon turned into the more traditional “Lick Your Person's Face Off' game!

So, as you can see, any (and many dogs) will make up their own games with their person. However, both can collaborate to come up with fun games as well...

Imitation is a fun game. Frax has a particular way he likes to lick his face after a treat or meal. Always the same. One lick to the right, the left and in the middle over the nose. Imagine his surprise when I mimicked him! He stared intently, and repeated the action. I repeated it quicker. He was leaning in now, totally mesmerized...did it again, then I did...and added a big smile! The game ends with the traditional “Licking Your Face Off”game, and both of us laughing!

The next game is one humans thought they made up, but Frax assures me the canine contingent did. It starts when Frax slaps his substantial paw down on the bed in front of me. I quickly take my hand and place it over his paw. He quickly takes the other paw and slaps it down on my hand...I take my other hand and lay it on his paw....we both intently stare at one another. I slide my hand out of the stack, quickly putting it on the top! Frax's eyebrows shoot up to the ceiling...he removes his bottom paw and slaps it firmly on top of my hand...and so on! The game winds up with both a dog grin on his face, a smile on mine...we hug and I give him a belly rub!

It's a good example of how you can play with your dog most anywhere and however you are feeling. It's impossible to feel glum if you've had a good laugh in the day! There are many good inside games with soft toys (that haven't been eviscerated by Frax!) thrown and retrieved. If you throw low, the medium Kong toys are safe too. You can stuff a Kong with peanut butter and watch your dog have a great time trying to get the last morsel out while chasing it around the house. Rolled hide chews are good for throwing and chewing. They must of course be monitored closely, so that your pup doesn't

decide to make a meal of it. We only let Frax nudge down on a tiny portion of the bone, then 'exchange' it for a MBDB (Milk Bone Dog Biscuit) treat, then up the bone up for another playtime.

Well, that's a good start for a ton of playtime. One of the many reasons on my list for needing a service dog is to make myself move. Playtime is one example, however one has to get up and feed, water, walk and take care a dog. Brushing his coat is therapy for weak hands, as is throwing a ball. Walking with him in harness keeps my legs from atrophying, especially since one has foot drop and needs a brace. Exercise and range of motion need not always be a formal rote thing. Movement with your dog is physical therapy, and makes you use muscles. This is so important. Of course Frax has known this all along!

Before

After

You may notice in my earlier pictures with Frax that I am 'ahm' a bit 'fluffy'...and not quite so, but with Jet as well. Both of my dogs have helped me continue to move...and well, 100lbs gone is 100lb gone. It's not entirely movement, but of course a diet change as well. So if occasionally I look twice my size in an older picture, it's not an illusion. I've struggled like everyone with moderate weight problems all my life. It became even more important as I lost mobility, obviously.

Our odd weather continues, and it's a fairly cool night which is so strange this late into May around here. Good sleeping weather. Even the owls have closed shop early tonight, so with that have a nice nap everyone and Frax and I will see you...

Later!

LV, FX & JT

#gooddog #tireddog #dogtired #playfuldog #moredoggames