Tips to ease dogs boredom?

hayley11

My mums Cavalier (who is staying with me for the next few months) has just had an op on her knee (luxating patella). They vet have said she needs complete rest, she's allowed up and about when going outside to use the toilet only, for now. She's got a cone thing on too as she's got stitches.

She only came home Monday evening and she's already going mad with boredom being stuck in her crate all day long (and probably thinking she's done something wrong when she hasn't poor thing!)

I take the cone off her and sit outside the crate with her on and off all day and I'm always talking to her etc. but she's forever crying, hitting the crate or headbutting it with the cone. I think she tires herself out after a while because she'll fall asleep for about 20 minutes then start again.

Do you have any tips that may ease her boredom? She can't really lie down with a bone or anything because that daft cone is in the way and she isn't having the stitches out for a week.

We need to keep her away from my dog as he might accidently hurt her so she can't even just lie around the living room floor

Thanks in advance.

DollyDabbler

How about a radio, on low, at the side of her crate, she might feel she had company then.

rising_from_the_ashes

Difficult one - you feel so cruel and wish you could explain (my kitten had to be "crated" for 6 weeks after injuring her knee when she was about 4 months old - happened again when she was just under a year and a total nightmare)!

Do you have an OH? Could he maybe take your dog out for a walk for 1/2 an hour of so a couple of times a day and you could maybe let your mum's dog out into the living room and give her some cuddles etc then?

You could try reading/talking to her when you're in the room as the sound of voices will help and a radio is a good idea for when no-one can be near her.

Good luck

elliesmemory1

If you are around to watch her you can take the buster collar off and give her a bone or a stuffed kong. you can buy a dap diffuser that gives out calming sent. a radio is a good idea.

RuthnJasper

My dog, Jasper, is particularly fond of Radio 2 or Classic FM. Sounds daft; is true!

As another poster has said, if the poorly dog is supervised then she shouldn't need to keep her collar on all the time. I'm sure she is also able to tell the other dog to "get knotted!" if she feels sore or threatened. Jasper has, several times during his life (he's nearly 13), had to wear the lampshade-collar and he is a notorious "picker" or "fiddler" - like most lads of ANY species...:o He was able to learn fairly quickly that fussing with his stitches meant immediate reapplication of the collar - and the more he was a good boy, the more 'collar-less' time he was allowed.

You don't mention the age of the Cavalier - the younger she is, the quicker the stitches will begin to heal.

Failing any possibility of the above, are you able to position her crate near a window or glass door (French window)? At least she can then watch the world go by. When Jasper and I lived with my parents, there was an active rookery in the trees across the road. Jasper used to quite enjoy watching the squabbles and antics of its residents!

I also like the idea of reading to the dog - I also do this some time, especially when Jasper is a bit under the weather - he finds it very comforting.

Good luck with your little canine lady. I hope she makes a quick and speedy recovery - she sounds like she is in VERY good hands. xx

ali-t

Is the cone necessary? My dog had a patella op and we didn't bother with the collar as she didn't mess with the stitches. My dog had a soft bed with duvet and people came in and spoke to her so she didn't need to move. she spent weeks like lady of the manor!

Mike..Huntshaven

The radio or television would help, but check the schedule to avoid any farm/ animal programmes which could have barking etc.

tankgirl1

Hi

I would take your dog out of the room where poorly pooch is, and let her out the crate for snuggles, kong time etc, general doggyness, for at least 2 hrs a day if possible - obviously fully supervised.
If you can manage that for more than 2hrs - well the more the better!

Has she been crate trained before the op? I am no expert in crate training, but many people on here are, and applying the correct techniques for that will help her no end!

I'd advise keeping the cone on while she is not supervised - last thing you want is for pooch to dig thru her stitches & introduce infection - especially not bone infection!

Radio and/or Tv helps some pooches to settle, and no harm in trying!

Good luck!

killywillykaz

You have my sympathy - I have a 2yr old springer lad with a bad injury to his front paw, and he has been restricted for the past 3 weeks - not an easy job I tell you!
I have tried to keep him busy with frozen stuffed Kongs, and he has been loads more comfortable with one of these
http://www.canineconcepts.co.uk/cgi-bin/ccp51/cp-app.cgi?cur=&usr=51F3474749&rnd=7356832&rrc=N&affl=&cip=84.51.245.140&act=&aff=&pet=dogs

They are so much better than the lampshade type things, like having an in-built pillow - and at least he can see where he's going!

pinetree

Hi recently i was chatting to a couple whose terrier was recovering from a hip op, they had a light harness on him attached to the back of a pram so he could be wheeled out and about without walking, a pram with sides might suit if you have access or know anyone that has one hope this helps:)