Keeping Newfs busy on HOT summer days

[hemingway]

Today is, appropriately, the hottest day we've had so far...heat index nearing 100-105 degrees. It's BRUTAL!! Hemi loves his outdoor time but even in the shade it's not safe. I picked up a few bully sticks, a new tug toy, and two new inserts for his treat ball (you know- the disc shaped treat you insert into either end of a rubber ball?) Hopefully, aside from playtime with me, these things will stimulate him.

With the summer making quite an entrance here, I thought it'd be fun to share tricks and tips for keeping Newfies cool, entertained and happy on days when it's just too hot to be outside. Please share if you have some!

 

[ajcooksey]

A fresh bone will keep ours busy for about an hour and an intense obedience training session thats mentally stimulating usually gets ours to calm down. But mine also have each other and they take out a lot of their energy on each other. Know anyone near you that you could have an indoor playdate with?

 

[Jeannie]

Mine don't need entertaining. Just give them an A/C vent and they snooze away all day!!

 

[lmfoltyn]

Jeannie...really? Wow, I want YOUR newf! LOL...seriously, Jake took about an hour nap today inside and then was just ready to go Play, Play, Play. Of course Barkley (lab) is so ready to accomodate...We are really cool today but temps are up again tomorrow. I am really frustrated as to what to do to make them ALL just chill!

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Mila tends to sleep a lot more in the summer (and it's, as you know, been downright sub-Saharan in the midwest), but it's been so hot, we can't do ANYTHING after 8 AM or before 7 PM. It's been that hot. Ugh. She's got Ro to play with inside, but outside of that, playing tug/fetch inside and spraying her with the hose and what-not...not much to do but wait it out! I wish I had some advice for Hemi, who is without a doubt, more high energy than Mila!

 

[anya]

Mine are happy to just wrap themselves around the toilet, over the AC vent and sleep. They don't need to be entertained, either.

 

[Brandie&Maggie]

Sorry, no advice here! Maggie just wants to nap in the a/c in front of her fan (Yes both!). We play tug or do some training for about 15 minutes but thats it! I had to practically drag her outside when I got home from work today for her potty break.

 

[takemebacktotulsa]

Have any newspapers lying around? This is what I came home to at lunch today. Willis did a fantastic job of entertaining himself this morning ;-)

 

[Annetteb]

Hot days (here in Washington State that is 75ish) Kona's favorite activity is hanging out on the cool shower floor.... and that is all... :icon_cool:

 

[hemingway]

Have any newspapers lying around? This is what I came home to at lunch today. Willis did a fantastic job of entertaining himself this morning ;-)

oh my! come to think of it....we have plenty of spare newspapers!

 

[cmorgan.1505]

Mine don't need entertaining. Just give them an A/C vent and they snooze away all day!!

This is Thor to a T. I've got a lazy Newf.

 

[hemingway]

truth be told....he is pretty mellow, as I realized today when I was home with him. maybe it's ME who needs the mental stimulation!!

 

[ElvisTheNewf]

Mine don't need entertaining. Just give them an A/C vent and they snooze away all day!!

Ditto. It's all we can do to get Elvis outside to pee when it's above 90 degrees. He may get a little antsy in the evening, but we play indoor fetch or refresh "sit" and "down". After about 10 doggie pushups he's ready to relax again.

A frozen peanut butter stuffed kong also works wonders.

 

[CMDRTED]

have any newspapers lying around? This is what i came home to at lunch today. Willis did a fantastic job of entertaining himself this morning ;-)

r o t f l o l !

 

[Bucephalus]

This is a great idea for a thread - I need some more tips myself! Bo has been a bum lately, with occasional jolts of energy. The energy bursts are pretty extreme...We take him swimming a couple days a week and work on water training (casually). It's been 90-100 degrees here for the last week, with a break today, then another week and a half of near-100 forecasted. Yuck.

One tip we picked up, maybe on here, was to fill ice cubes with treats. We put one or two reward treats (beef liver, salmon treats, etc.) in an ice cube container with water. Bo will do ANYTHING for these, so we use them to cool him down and reward for some light training activity. You can put more treats, maybe carrots and beans, etc. into an even larger block of ice and let Hemi go at it on the back deck, maybe? We haven't tried this yet, but I'm fairly certain it would be a hit

Sprinklers and kiddie pool you and Hemi already know about, but we've been doing A LOT of that kind of business lately, too. Newspapers looks fun - will have to add that to our repertoire!

 

[Strshine7]

Harley loves the AC and the nice cool Tile floor in the family room

 

[pecanpiepatti]

ditto on the ice cubes - and they can be just water!

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

Oh yes! I did just read about the ice cubes, and even freezing bits of hot dogs in a bucket! Would love to try this sometime!

 

[Bucephalus]

ditto on the ice cubes - and they can be just water!

Since we started putting treats in the ice cubes, Bo turns up his nose at the ones that are just water. He gives us his "sad eyes" look, as if he's saying "Is this ALL I get?" Pretty soon he'll have us trained to freeze an entire roast chicken in ice... :lol:

 

[hemingway]

Hemi leaves plain ice cubes to melt on the floor. I think he would fall in love with them all over again if their were little bits of hot dog in each one! what a super idea!!!! must try.