Patch Blog: The Puppy Chronicles--Keepin' Mac Happy

Mac went to the vet this week and had more x-rays taken. The doctor says he’s healing nicely. He’ll have to go back for more x-rays in three weeks to track the progression of his bones healing.

He’s begun to run after our dog, Togi, to play. Togi is tall and muscular, like an athlete. Mac is more stout and very low to the ground. It’s very cute to see him prance after Togi. Sometimes he runs under Togi’s legs and looks like a boat going under a bridge. I find this adorable.

However he’s not suppose to do this just yet because one small movement to the plates in his leg could set back his recovery drastically. Restricting his movement is hard because he simply wants to be a dog and run, play, chase after balls and chew on sticks.

His mouth is still healing so chewing is also out of the question right now.

Since he needs around the clock monitoring, my husband, Brian, has been taking Mac to work.  He’s become the office mascot.

The other day a small toy football Brian had on his desk was knocked to the ground. Before Brian could pick it up,  Mac, like lighting, darted from his bed and grabbed the ball.

Taking it out of his mouth is tricky because we can’t pull it due to the fact that his teeth and snout are broken. Mac, pranced around proudly with this tiny football until Brian slowly managed to get the ball back.

This is not the only football Mac has fallen in love with. Togi has a medium sized purple football. Togi, an avid ball chaser, LOVES to have us throw this around the backyard.  What I love about this ball is that it also has openings for treats that give dogs an enjoyable way to pass time when an owner isn’t home to throw the ball.

Seeing Mac long to play with toys made me realize how important playtime is for young pups like him.  When Togi turned 2-years-old he began going through our recycling.  We would come home to various arrangements of  paper and plastic products. The plastic bags would be torn to shreds. I came home one night to a random paper milk carton upright in the middle of the living room floor while an orange juice container was on it’s side and yet another was chewed to pieces.  He even began “cleaning” the griddle on the stove and pulling items off the dry rack. Nothing could be left out.

It didn’t matter how long we were gone. It was as if he was saying “I’m bored.” Or “here’s what you get for leaving me”. He had been completely fine up until his second birthday. I called the vet and they did say that dogs could have “terrible twos” just like children.

I started reading up on this and ways to help him get through the two’s without becoming more destructive. 

Doggie Daycare is one option.  Wagville in Cypress Park is a really popular and fun way for a dog to spend an afternoon. I use them if I  know we’re going to be out all day. They are an amazing group of caring individuals who really want your dog to have a great day of play with their fellow canines. There are pools to wade in, games of fetch are played, and chew toys galore. 

Another great option that we’ve used is a dog walker. We love The Pet Concierge, a local dog walking company.  Melissa Roth, the founder, is a friendly and extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy person. In addition to dog walking, The Pet Concierge offers many options including pet sitting and pet taxi.

If daycare and dog walking is not in your daily budget--it can become very expensive--I found other options just surfing the internet.

A dog binky was one suggestion. It’s a Kong filled with anything your dog may like. Togi enjoys peanut butter and bananas stuffed in his. 

The Busy Buddy football is another option I use.  I fill it with treats and he has to spend time figuring out how to get the treats out. It keeps his mind occupied and away from thinking about the recycling container.

Currently I’m  reading the book “Inside of a Dog,”  and I’m learning all kinds of insightful things about dogs that I really hadn’t thought of before. One of them is how to counteract dog boredom. 

The author suggests setting up a “treasure hunt” for our furry friends. This involves placing hidden treats around the house.

I began doing this for Togi and he loves it.  I place carrots, Trader-Joe's Charlee Bear Training Treats and some Trader-Joe's Peanut Butter and Natural Assorted Flavors treats around the house.  I tell Togi to sit, stay and leave it until I say “Okay” which is his signal to start the hunt.

I leave the house as his search begins and he stays away from decorating it with recycling. It’s a win win situation.

I’ve started hiding some treats in lower spots for Mac to start playing along so that when he hits the “terrible twos” he’ll already be familiar with the treasure hunt.  I look forward to the day Mac is healed and can run, chase after footballs, and chew toys like Togi does, but right now, that day feels like it’s a long way away. Until then he’ll have to deal with simple hugs, kisses, scratches and cuddles.

To donate to Mac’s recovery click here: http://helpmacwalk.chipin.com/help-mac-walk