I work at home so I get to be with Gunther and Belle all day - but even so, I'm worried about their boredom/engagement level, because despite my efforts to provide some activities - they are napping most of the time.
I would LOVE IT if you all would tell me both what your bassets are like during the day and also what you do to entertain them.
I take them on two-three walks per day, give them food games like Kongs and crazy balls, have lessons on whatever they are working on at the time, play fetch with stuffed toys, go to the dog part once a week (it's 45-minutes away), go to Petsmart or other errands most weeks. Pet them, clean their ears, brush them, give them stuff to chew on and boxes to tear apart.
They do play together outside and in the house a little - but most of the time they are sleeping and they don't follow me all over the place like my lab and golden used to do. They are very alive when playing and very alive on the walks.
Basically, I'm concerned I'm not challenging them enough and they are sleeping too much
Please let me know how much your bassets nap and what your day looks like.
My Bassets basically have the same schedule as yours. I am home all day with them too. We walk one mile in the morning, they rest, eat, rest. Then they do go crazy playing for about 2 hours. Stickers follows me more just because she is more energetic than Rusty. I take them to PetSmart and other doggie places when it's not too hot here. They rest off and on throughout the day. I am always cleaning or cooking so that keeps them awake out of curiosity. Then we walk another mile after dinner and then they crash, play more than bedtime.
Now, that they have visitors they are playing nonstop and out cold much earlier. I wouldn't worry unless they are not wanting to walk and or gaining weight. I'm curious to hear what responses you get.
I'm not home with mine and they are confined to the kitchen. I would love to install a doggy cam to see what goes on. I imagine Lily pesters Gibbs. On the weekends or when we are on vacation I do get to see what they do all day. It's a whole lot of nothing! Nap, nap, nap some more, with a romp in there (usually started by Lily).
I'm not home with mine and they are confined to the kitchen. I would love to install a doggy cam to see what goes on. I imagine Lily pesters Gibbs. On the weekends or when we are on vacation I do get to see what they do all day. It's a whole lot of nothing! Nap, nap, nap some more, with a romp in there (usually started by Lily).
same here. I have only one basset, but he still sleeps alot during the day. Even if I try to entertain him. He plays when he wants to, or when I don't. Sometimes I lay on the couch with a ball in my hand and he'll be entertained for good while just trying to get it from me.
He likes hide and seek and "hunting for food" I'll hide treats around the house in the morining and he finds them here and there all day long.
Moe's day starts sometime between 6:30 and 9:00 - wake up, go out to pee and poo, do perimeter patrol, come back in, eat morning cookies, watch me make my husband's lunch for work (I slip Moe some ham on the sly), bark at school buses at 6:55, 7:40, and 8:10, then back on the couch for his morning nap.
At 2:30 my son arrives home from school and Moe goes out to pee and for a lounge on the porch or in the driveway if the sun is shining. Otherwise, it's back on the couch for his afternoon nap.
When I get home from work there is much celebration - jumping, dancing about, tail-wagging, and kisses. He goes out to pee. Then there is afternoon cookies (perhaps the real reason for celebration? :blink: ). This is followed by dinner which is in turn followed by after-dinner cookies. Then it's lap-time on the couch. One last attempt to convince me that bed-time cookies are necessary (they aren't) and he curls up on the couch for the night. There is no moving or waking him after he settles in.
If someone is home, like on weekends or holidays, Moe will be a smidge more lively. Between naps, he follows me about as I do my yardwork or housework and he'll bark at anyone who has reason to pass our house (walkers, joggers, baby-walkers, dog-walkers, trucks, slow cars, and mysterious things only HE can see or hear <_< ). And he will put a monumental effort into trying to convince me that cookies are necessary to his continued existence...
I'd say he sleeps eighteen to twenty hours a day.
(edited to add that Moe is Ruby's age... nine years old.)
Ruby is at the stage in her life that because of arthritis, she doesn't run as much as she used to. Actually we try to keep her from running most of the time. She gets her exercise following me everywhere I go...(I have a big house) and her weight is steady. Between 50-52 pounds. She's very excited when some of her friends come to visit; human friends and family (all the time).
I've always been home with her so we have a scheduled routine. When I'm gone during the day tho, she'll be in the guest room on that carpet with her head sticking out of the doorway waiting for us. Or lately since she got a new big bed for her birthday, she won't even be waiting for us. She'll be on her big bed. tee hee
Now that it's cooler out, she's happy to be outside on the patio surveying her yard and watching birds and whatever else is out there; like right now. Of course I havent' started cooking yet tonight so when that happens, she'll be right by my side. Hoping something good falls on her head.
I really think you need to keep in mind the age of the dog, because the activity level varies greatly with age (I believe).
Spencer is 11 years old. I leave for work every day about 8 am. I take him to my Mom's next door. She rarely goes out, so Spencer is rarely alone! She reports that he lays in front of the door & watches all the neighborhood kids get on the school buses. At about the same time, a neighbor with a Lab jogs around the neighborhood for 1/2 hour. He watches & barks at them. Then, it's sleep, sleep, sleep. I get home most days between 4:30 & 5. I spend some time playing with him & then we take about a 1/2 hour walk. We then eat dinner & then for Spencer, it's to bed. He'll get up once more to potty, but that's it for the night. I'd estimate he sleeps 15-20 hrs per day. He is in great shape for his age, and still can play hard, but the play sessions are short & then he must sleep! The weather also affects his activity level. We recently went from highs in the 90s to highs in the 60s, in one day. He loves the cooler weather & has been a bit more active. But, as soon as he adjusts to it, he'll go back to his sleeping most of the day. When Spencer was younger, he was incredibly active & kept me busy just keeping up with him. I had to wear him out daily, or he would get into trouble. I really enjoyed Sadie's senior years & am also enjoying Spencer's. I can still have fun playing with him, but it's also very comforting to just sit near & pet a sleeping Basset!
I'm usually home during the day, and my boys mostly sleep. They have doggie doors, so they can come and go as they please, or they can try to get my attention when I'm around, or not around, them. But they don't. They sleep. It's strategic--this way, they can be outside barking long into the night. Luckily I live out in the country and it's not a problem. Stomps is about 12 and Lightning is 9, so one would expect they'd be a little less active than a puppy. Oddly, Stomps is much more active than Lightning, even though he's older and has arthritis. But I've read that dogs typically sleep something like 18 hours a day.
Maya is 14 months old now and has always slept lots!
She's left for a few hours Monday to Friday and probably sleeps most of it. Occasionally if very bored she will find something to destroy!! Last week was a phone book, a few weeks before she got into our cd collection
She sleeps lots at the weekends when we are home, so I think it's what she does all week too.
She does enjoy her walks and if we put a jacket on she wakes instantly :lol: and of course she has her mad 15 minute run around the house every evening.
:rolleyes Tummy Boy is like 85% of above posters.The weather has been such crazy extremes. ( not a lot of walks lately) I was hoping to get a playmate. Thought Tummy would be more active and have each other. I asked my vet about this. She said no way. She says Tummy is too tight with me that it wouldn't work out . shoot.
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