There’s a saying among dog people: “A tired dog is a good dog.” Same thing goes for puppies, it's just harder to tire them out!
Puppies power nap. I really wish I could do this. The puppy has an attack of puppy crazies, runs around like a lunatic, playing, chasing his tail, chewing everything in sight, running some more. Then, the puppy collapses and, within seconds, is deeply asleep. So deeply that you cannot wake him, even for food, and if you try to move him, your 15-pound puppy is as immobile as a 50-pound block of cement. Oh, good, you think, I can go do the laundry. You’re not gone 10 minutes, but when you come back, the puppy is not only awake but has left you a puddle on the floor and is well into chewing your tennis shoe. And the puppy has as much energy as before the play session.
How can you wear the puppy out, protect your shoes and furniture and challenge that puppy’s developing brain, all at once? In a word: Kongs. Read below the jump for the details.
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2010.