O.K. so I drugged my dog
 

No, I really did not. I gave her a tiny bit of Children's Benadryl for her to calm down.

I hurt my back and I can't bend down to pick up her ball 50 million times, which is why I gave her the Benadryl.

My question is: Has anyone else been in this situation? I live alone, so I am the only one that walks her (has KILLED my back), but I will not let that get in the way of taking care of her, i.e. her daily walk and the bending down. BUT I really needed to stop the bending tonight, hence the Benadryl.

Anyway, I feel guilty, so any suggestions, comments, will be appreciated.

Can you kick the ball instead or use a claw to pick it up?

Forget drugging your pup. Benadryl is not a solution. Use training. She needs to know that you can't always play fetch.

There are more alternatives. Get a bucket of little balls to put at a comfortable level for you when your back hurts. You can use a broom and dust pan on a pole to pick them up so that you don't need to bend over. Or get an automatic ball launcher: GoDogGo Automatic Ball Launcher & Tennis Ball Thrower for Dogs - GoDogGo Fetch Machine Official Web Site

Could you just sit down on the floor and throw the ball. Dolly loves for me to sit on the floor and throw her ball for her she like for me at the same level she is. Lots of time if I am reading she will bark at me and she wants me to sit on the floor and read and she will just lay next to me. Spoiled little girl

I've had many bad back injuries and thankfully found a different way to handle it. Just couldn't drug my dog to help my pain level. I just lie on the couch or bed and hand-play with them there, scratch their backs, tummy, and talk to them but never drugs. If you do it once, what happens the next time you are in bad pain? I'd teach my dog to learn how to control its impulses and calm itself, be quiet, so it's not expecting constant ball-throwing every evening and then you won't need to drug it when you aren't able to play. Lots of evenings we aren't up to playing a lot with them for various reasons and the dog needs to be able to cope with that.

:thumbup:

I always sit on the floor to play fetch with my guys. They like that.

Max would happily play all day long, but he understands when I say that I need to work -- or just do my own thing. The key is that we have a daily schedule of activities. Both of the dogs relax knowing that at certain times of the day, they are going to have their walk, their games, or a car ride. When I surprise them with something extra, then they are extra happy.

Side effects of Benadryl can be tough, especially the nausea. It always seems to nauseate Tibbe - usually throws it up - and then after a brief sleep, the rebound is tough. He's amped for hours.

Well considering you gave your dog Benadryl for a reason other than what its intentional usage permits. Yeah, I would consider that drugging your pet.!

Just bc you don't want to play games.??
That's quite selfish to your pets needs.
Meaning health.

I have a bad back injury and was actually trying to recover from it when I got Gracie. Can't your dog jump up on the furniture and give you her ball? I don't know what I would have done if Gracie couldn't play fetch when I was really bad off. It kept her exercised when I was unable to take her out.

When I was finally able to walk somewhat I took her on walks even though I would have rather have stayed home. It forced me to do the things that I would not have done otherwise.

You have a young energetic dog and she needs you. Drugging her is not right. You can find ways of dealing with this without using drugs. Our pets are a responsibility that we willingly take on for better or worse.

I honestly don't think that's ok and in a lot of cases it makes dogs more hyper like mine.

Your intentions were good, but I don't ever give drugs unless approved by the vet.

Others gave you some really good ideas, hoping you'll go that route instead.

You can find some calming agents for your pup at the pet store. I used Richard Organic Pet Calm for Draco when he broke his paw because he showed literally not difference and had so much energy but was limited on the type of activity he should be doing. But it's not something you should use everyday.

Mentioned above, you might want to train for when it's time to play. And I totally agree about playing in different positions. I don't have a back problem, but my body is usually sore about 4 days out of the week from ballet and work. I literally play fetch from laying down with Draco haha. I bounce his balls off lower parts of furniture and if he doesn't bring back then that's the end of fetch lol.
Also maybe getting a dogwalker could be really helpful. Getting someone to take your pup for a long walk or a jog will definitely tire them out. I'm not sure how it s where you are, but loads of people have dog walkers to take their dogs on hikes, runs, dog parks and such because they're too tired too busy and want their dog to burn some of that energy off then come home and cuddle. =]

I have a type of paraplegia called Cauda Equina Syndome , where I suffer severe pain both nerve and deep tissue. I also have no feeling or bodily functions from below my ribcage to my knees, also with foot drop. When I can't play real hard I will switch out to his other set of toys and let him play in his large xpen while get the pain under control. I also have a friend that will walk him when I can't, one of my neighbors. Is there anyone you know that can come give your pup a walk for you, or babysit him for awhile, while you rest? My injury was caused by surgery for a tumor on my spinal cord that went very wrong, so I've had to adapt my life around it. Maybe even find a local dog walking service? Sometimes there are volunteer services that do this for those that need help. I don't think I would ever give Gizmo any kind of medication unless it was rx'd by a dr.

Benadryl does nothing for Magnus or Zoey... (It's what the vet said I can give before vaccines)

How about getting a reaching grabber aid? If you're in that much pain, can't you get her to nap with you instead of playing anything? When I'm THAT tired, I just nap on the couch. Magnus/Zoey seem to understand and nap with me. I don't know how you hurt your back but I hope it gets better soon.

Try cat toys! You know the ones with a stick and a long string, sometime's with a toy at the end... Get a couple of those! I can wear both our dogs out just by sitting down and having them run around chasing it. Have them jump over your legs back & forth a bunch of times. It takes minimal effort on your part and will keep your dog entertained without having to drug her.

I also really agree with training. It's ok to not play with her every time she asks. I've also heard wonderful things about the calming aids. Gosh, there's just a million other things you can do besides drug the poor thing! I hope you feel better, but sheesh!

I always sit down too. What we usually do is go in the backyard, I take my camping chair outside and have myself a seat.. He will usually play ball for 30 mins then he is on to something else.

It's too bad you don't feel better, because it sounds like you have the makings of a fly ball champ! Maybe you can get a mini Chuckit? The mini version holds smaller balls for smaller dogs. It grabs the ball without having to bend down.

I was laid up for a few years with a hip injury and one of my dogs at the time thought I stayed home from work solely to entertain him. I put his fetch obsession to good use and trained him to retrieve small objects like the phone, remotes, keys, socks/slippers, etc. The key was he did not get a reward until he placed the object in my hand. Same for the toys. If he didn't put in my hand, no game. He figured it out quickly. He also learned to entertain himself by tossing his ball down a flight of stairs and retrieving it. He'd do that for hours.

My upstairs neighbor gives her a dog a kong stuffed with cheese or peanut butter and I can hear him playing with it all day. He drops it off the bed and chases it. There are lots of interactive toys that keep dogs busy and stimulate their minds. All of my dogs love buster cubes. You put some of the dog's daily kibble ration in and they use their paws, nose, and brain to get it out.

I have debilitating back pain and lupus. With the pain and fatigue, I can't always give my dog a proper walk, so I bring him to the dog park where he can run off his extra energy while I conserve mine. He's a complete couch potato the rest of the day after that.

That is a great idea!! I actually have one of those claw things and I can use THAT to pick up the ball and the other squeaky toy. I didn't even think of using it. Thanks!!

Ahh excuse me, but my VET suggested using the Benadryl when I HAD to keep her calm because she had her toe nail pulled out. Also, the breeder who I always check with before I give my dog ANYTHING that I am unsure of, suggested the Benadryl as well. And BOTH my vet and the breeder suggested giving her Benadryl for seasonal allergies, which I don't do because I don't agree with giving her something like that on a regular basis.

And for your information, I take better care of my dog than a lot of people take care of their kids. I am almost crippled with my back and hip right now, so I am UNABLE to "play games" as you put it. I normally walk her an hour a day and play with her at least another hour a day. I just could not do either thing yesterday and because of that she was off the wall hyper.

I can't do that right now, so I am asking for suggestions from people here who have had Yorkies for years.

What are you limited to? I have bad back problems as well, so I know how hard it can be when they want to play and you want to lay on your heating pad and rest...

Does she bring the ball back to you?

:thumbup::thumbup: Great idea.

O.K., I need to clarify something here. First off, the Benadryl WAS recommended by my vet and by her breeder for seasonal allergies (which I won't do because I don't agree with giving her anything like that on a regular basis) and for a short term solution to keep her calm when she had to have her nail pulled out 2 months ago. I hated having to give it to her, but it was the only way to keep her from hurting herself more.

Secondly, as I responded to a poster here, I take care of my dog better than a lot of people take care of their human kids. She is my baby and there isn't anything I wouldn't do to keep her healthy and happy. Part of that is her exercise and playing with her. I am making myself worse by continuing to walk her and bend down, so I have to find another solution, hence my posting here as I have always gotten good information.

Normally, I walk her at least an hour a day, broken down into 2 or 3 walks. I play with her in the a.m. with one of her balls while I get ready for work. She then comes into work with me and I take her home for lunch (I live a mile from my work, so I am very lucky and everyone in work loves her so they don't mind her being here). We go for one of our walks and I go back to work. When I get home, I feed her and we go for another walk (it is more difficult now because it is dark when I get home, and I don't like walking around in the dark where I live). We then play with here REALLY squeaky ball for another 1/2 hour or so, and then I tell her she is done playing, it is my turn to relax. She is fine, goes on the couch and waits for me to take a shower, etc. She will then just go on the bed and go to sleep and I eat my supper and watch some t.v.

That is basically our routine and it works fine EXCEPT now that my back and hip are out. I having been pushing myself through this pain, still walking her and playing, but it is just making my back worse so I have to find another way to get her exercised and me some rest. Last night was SO bad and she was SO hyper, I gave her the Benadryl, and a really small amount. It isn't something I do on a regular basis. I also have GNC calming tablets that I give her sometimes when she is bouncing off the walls. Again, I don't use them all the time.

As far as getting a dog walker, there isn't anyone that I know who can walk her because everyone works. I would not trust anyone I didn't know, i.e. someone I paid to walk her. I live in a city and there are too many very large dogs around. I have to be very vigilant myself when we walk and I would not trust someone to keep her safe. People leave their dogs out during the day in their yards and those dogs charge the fences at my dog when we walk by. I also have to pick her up repeatedly because of the pit bulls, rottweilers and other HUGE dogs that people own around where I live. I take owning this dog very seriously and it is my responsibility to keep her safe. So, no depending on others to walk her is not an option, unfortunately.

As far as dog parks go, again she is too small and the other dogs are too huge. I take her once a week to my friend's house in the suburbs to run around in her fenced in yard. I can only do that on the weekend.

Anyway, thank you all for your suggestions and I am going to try them tonight.

RIght now, I can't even freakin walk very good. It is my whole left side. Have been going to my chiro, but it isn't helping. I might have to resort to a cortisone shot in my hip. This happened to me once before like this and I got the shot and it helped immediately. I don't want to do it, but I might have to. I have a terrible spine and my chiro keeps me going. Also have fibromyalgia, again my chiro keeps me going. Not this time though, it is kind of scaring me.

She brings the ball back to me, kind of flings it at me, but it lands on the floor. Sometimes she just races around the house with it and ends up on the couch with it. We also play tug of war with her other squeaky toy and then I will grab the ball and fling it so she has to run after it. I have a long enough hallway that she gets some exercise. She really loves to play and I love playing with her.

I don't have any suggestions others than the great ones that have been added just wanted to send you prayers for healing.

Aw man, I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you are dealing with a lot of pain. I’ve had the cortisone injections and they didn’t work for me.. I also just had my nerves burned and that didn’t work either.. anyways- hopefully it will let up soon. Do you have pain meds to take? It really sucks being in pain, on top of it having a sweet little Yorkie look in your eyes and bring their ball to you and not understand. Thankfully for me Peanut understands, he will pretty much feeds off what I’m doing. When he wants to run he will bring me his ball, and I will lay on the couch and throw it down the hall! ( we have a long hallway too) Works perfect.. it’s amazing how much energy those little bodies can hold!!

Well that’s great she brings the ball back to you, since she does that you can probably work with her and teach her to drop the ball in your hands. Get a little bag of treats, when she brings the ball back tell her to “drop it” and stick your hand out with your palm open, try to keep your hand under the ball so when she does drop it the ball goes in the palm of your hand.. It sounds like she will be more than capable of learning that trick, then it will help you not have to bend over to get the ball from her.. plus it will teach her the “drop it” command, which is always a good trick to have!

I am so sorry you are in so much pain, believe me I understand as my pain levels go through the roof every day. Do you see a pain management doctor? That is the dr I was at yesterday. If it weren't for my pain meds, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed each day. There are a lot stigmas attached to taking pain meds, but if you need them, I would take the. I just know my life would be miserable without them. Sending good thoughts your way that your pain gets better.

Hey don't beat yourself up. There are plenty of moms of human kids who have resorted to the same thing when their kids would not sleep. Some people just get high and mighty on here sometimes but just try and ignore those who may not be very good at tempering their words.
I think most dogs will adapt to situations as they change. It may take a while but eventually your pup will realize you cant be her playmate all the time. Your doing the best you can and sounds to me like your baby has a loving home that most dogs would love to have..
Go RED SOX
Go PATRIOTS! it was quite a sunday for us Bostonians!

The rescue of Gizmo for me came right when it needed to, my dr had recommended my getting a service, companion dog to help me with my injuries, and he has helped me a lot in pushing me out of my comfort zone. I'm actually going to find out what training Is required to have him certified, so he can go everywhere with me. I am permanently handicapped due to my spinal cord injury, and Gizmo has helped me immensely since I rescued him. My mental state has been more upbeat, as well as I have been doing much more physically.

It pushes me past my comfort zone and pain levels, and Gizmo also has been learning just by sensing I think, when I need a break, and he seems to know how to play with himself and occupy himself when needed. Don't get me wrong, he's always in my sight, and he's never bored, I just switch out the toys often and play as much as I can.

Gizmo actually can occupy himself into the zoomies quite well playing on his own,once I give him a new batch of toys he hasn't seen in a while, and totally tires himself out. Have you tried making different batches of toys, and then when your not feeling so great and need to lay down on the couch, you can take out a new batch of toys switching them out, so it will make your pup excited? I have found by keeping 3 separate batches, once the old ones rotate through, it's like they are new all over again creating very high excitement to play with them. Heck when he first gets a batch rotated, for a god hour or two, he doesn't even want to share with me, as he gets reacquainted with them :-) I have about 8 to 9 toys in each of the batches. Home goods has some awesome toys at a fraction of the cost compared to pet stored, also while rotating them, it gives me a chance to throw the old batch through the washer and get them all nice and clean again for the next rotation :-) he is also a fetchaholic lol :-) hope this might be something that will help :-)

Beanie doesn't like any other kinds of toys except for the squeaky balls and her other hot dog type squeaky. She is such a strange little doggie sometimes!

I am so sorry to hear about your own injuries and I am glad that your dog is so good with and for you!!

THank you!!!

Yes, Sunday was great, last night not so much. Stupid Sox!!