Injury to work around

The other day I went out for a run/walk with my dog. It was to be our long journey of the week. Every 5-6 days we go quite far as a way of relaxing and freeing ourselves of added energy and stress. We were about 30 minutes in and I was running a little when I strayed from the pavement and misjudged the depth of the grass. I toppled onto the ground twisting my ankle and landing on the thumb which holds my leash securely. I immediately thought "can we continue?" I knew the answer was no and then I thought about what I would do to get my dog to receive exercise that week. It would have to be mental with me out of commission he will get amped up too much to handle. I am glad I at least have a fenced yard so he may go potty without my walking him.
What do we do for our dogs when we can't exercise them? There are some options for us. There is no replacement to our one on one bonding fun time such as walking and playing. what is the next best thing? We can bring someone in to walk our dog for us when we can't or bring her to a doggie daycare to spend the day with others.We can also call a friend with a dog and have a play date or even a car ride can help them. We can try to explain to them we are hurt and can't do what we would like but, there is no controlling the injuries we suffer from time to time or being sick with the flu we just have to get through it.
We can try to help our pets adjust for such things. We can play games in the house. "find it" is my favorite and doesn't take too much. drop several treats around and then release the dog from his "place" and tell him to "find it" using the nose is a great challenge,switch where you hide things,what he is looking for and even place under things like under couch pillows or a toy. We also do "doggie dance party" this is hard with and injury but as long as you move the healthy body parts he won't care, this incorporates several tricks to music, some to use are: heel,back,front,spin,down,tunnel(or thru the legs), down (you step over dog), paw, or whatever else you want to throw in. Your dog will love the combo of mental tricks and music. Try to do lots of down or sit stays and praise like crazy, have your dog follow you wherver you do move (bathroom,kitchen,laundry etc) this keeps them working and by using the mental tricks as much as possible you keep them relaxed and even tired. You can also try simple things to relax your dog, you can groom if you are able or as best you are and you can give a simple massage or rub/scratch, even brush her teeth because anything you do to mentally stimulate the better. Don't just put your dog in his crate because you are sick, you will have a perky pup later when you are still sick.
I find it best if you have a yard and can sit out in it at the garden furniture or hammock and rest out there while your dog takes in the day, maybe hide some treats out there and let her explore for them. If you can bring out a new toy, I buy toys in multiples if I know my dog likes them and I stash them in a bag in my front closet. This way I can bring out a new toy when I feel the time is right.
Today I was lucky enough to wake up with a better feeling in my injuries and since nothing is broken I will be improving daily. I was glad too because we had a show today and an appointment to have his eyes checked. We hopped (or hobbled) to the car and icepack in hand I iced at the show, got his eyes checked and were home for his nap (in the dark ) because of his eyes being dilated. We even had a good score on our rally run. I hope I feel better still tommorrow but, if not, I have plenty of mental challenges for him to tire him out. I am a little disappointed I will miss out on my gym ruitine this week while I recover as it is nice to have my own time.
I remember back when he got his own injury last summer and i had to limit his exercise. I hear these stories of people who have dogs with torn ligaments they must put on exercise restriction and I realize at least I know because it is my body, what my own limits are. When you have a dog their brain goes into neutral and they don't let on they have pain and you have to learn to read them like a book. I am just feeling lucky I got hurt, not him. Of course, in the future I will watch a little more closely when the pavement turns to grass on my running path and hope you do the same.

time away from home

This past week I was able to take my first vacation in about... well 3 years. I have gone on plenty of weekends in state and to shows but, always was able to bring my fur kid along. This time was the first time since he came to me at 10 weeks old that we slept apart and for 3 nights, and 4 nights at that.
It got me to thinking I should have done it much sooner. It was hard to leave when he was a pup because of potty training and other training. Who would watch him etc. etc. Well plus him being so cute and growing inches while I was at work. It was hard to make myself miss any of that. That was afterall why I got a purebred puppy, so I could watch and see all the growth and development. Well the time had come and I felt like a limb had been lost or something. I tried to prepare him.
I took him to daycare at the boarding facility a few times. He is shy so he needed to warm up to them so he would eat. I brought his nighttime bed and a toy and a bone for him to have while he was there. The first day of daycare he stood shaking, gave one girl kisses and visited with the neighbor dog occassionally. The days passed and he adjusted to liking the place and its people. Then the first night without me at home he howled for me when my sister put him to bed. She caved and let him sleep on the top of the stairs "waiting for me" then my Dad took him to be boarded the next morning and he did fine. He adjusted fine, a little stress from sleeping in a weird place but, he did great.
Me on the otherhand. I could not enjoy my vacation because I wanted to be on a hike with him or thought how much he would like the pool at the hotel. I was cold at night without the dog butt near my feet (keeping them warm)
I have done so much research on how things should work, what you are supposed to do and how to act appropriately with this or that; I never realized it affects me too. I remember when I lost my last dog, the dog that was really mine. I was completely devastated. How I had loved that dog instantly and my new dog, he had to grow on me. Sure I thought he was cute but, I didn't really understand him and click instantly. I realize now after 2 years that I have that. Of course I knew I loved him before and all but, this vacation made it click in my brain "what if I lost him" I guess it is a question we never want to ask or face, we hope it holds off for a long time if not forever. I push the question away because the answer I know. It would be like the last dog, I would suffer and sob and then get stronger, the only thing that is ever the same in each relationship I am ever to have and different for each of us to feel as we do.
I came back to my door and after a few minutes of rubbing the stress off his head and torso, we were us again. He is not really my kid, he is not my husband, he is not a person but, he is my friend and he is a great dog. I never expect him to make up the gaps in my life but, he adds so much to it.
I guess my point is sometimes we know what we are supposed to do and while we do it we know we will survive even when it is a challenge. When we face those obstacles we realize something else unexpected. It isn't about collars or how to get him to want to respond to my wants or even what food to feed, there is a zen moment of an answer to a question we weren't even asking. It brings us closer to ourselves and eachother. That is what made my vacation worth it. Knowing I can do no wrong when I do my best and knowing I always have my dogs love to bring me through tough times (all my dogs' love past and present) It is nice to know.

I think I will bring him with me on the next few trips though.