Entertaining GSD inside when it's too hot outside... - Page 1

I'm looking for ideas on how to entertain a 2yo GSD inside when it's too hot to play outside.  She watches me all day, just waiting for when she thinks I'm heading outside, then she's up and ready to go play.  Unfortunately, it's too hot here to have her running around outside during the daytime.  The dogs get a 3mi walk in the early am and then some playtime outside before it warms up.  At the end of the day, we go outside for more running around/fetch and then another walk when it's cooled off some.

I can see that the GSD doesn't want to just laze around inside like our Lab (5yo), however, it seems that playing tug with me is nowhere near as fun as with the other dog.  I've tried the toys with treats inside for her to nose around and she's not interested.  I can't have her playing fetch in the house, (even though she tries) because she's like a bull in a china shop.  As I'm going back and forth taking care of stuff, she just follows me from room to room hoping that I'll be heading outside soon.  Sometimes, she just looks so pitiful and bored, but she perks up at even the prospect of the checking the mail.  So, any ideas on how I can entertain or keep her busy inside?  Thanks!

    I give them activities to train with indoors that also stimulates their minds. I teach picking up things, find things, retrieve things, open cabinets, pull and drag commands, how to turn on light, open doors.... we even play heel and focus games and stop in motion games like red light green light.

  Aleit bringing me water, we had to work on bringing it not by the drinking part lol

 


Aleit picking up trash from a b day party.

 

Aleit opening oven for me while I was on crutches.



   Aleit helping carry groceries.




   Aleit retrieving something from a lowe cabinet for me while I was still on crutches.



Indoor ball sometimes lol





   Obedience can be worked indoors like this puppy < my Maddy> learning focus and heeling.

Depending on where you are located, it's not too hot for them outdoors. Look at the dogs downrange. If my dogs are kenneled outdoors, at 90 degrees an industrial (small) fan is turned on. But they work, train, run, play, chase each other in this weather. Last couple of days @ 94 degrees.

The way I was taught; GSDs can handle high heats, they can handle high humidity. They can not handle a high still heat. Just yesterday I was doing some side work and the dogs were with me. Two were kenneled in the back of my truck, (has a cap) The thermometers were reading 98 degrees but I had the fan blowing on them. They were cool, no tongues hanging, and very comfortable.

Now, common sense; if you're running them, or training hard then shorter timeframes. Plenty of water, shade if you have it and even hose them down periodically.  

I find doing some basic obedience, ie a down stay, sit stay is great for keeping them doing as they are told and training them whilst getting on and doing other things, also my dogs love a game of 'search' it only took me three goes of encouraging them to 'find it' and they got the game, my GSD is smart though, she lets the JRT do all the work then collects the prize herself! Also if its real hot have you tried putting peanut butter in a kong and freezing it? great way to cool them off. Thankfully when it's too hot for my two they are more likely to sleep most of the day away even though are both pretty high energy dogs.