I'm Sure Everyone Can Relate!

[Raven]

I only kept carpeting so Thor could ram-rod up and down the hall when he couldn't run outside b/c of ice, mud, high humidity, etc., and at night when it's too dark. Couple weeks ago, we did another leg of the remodel and all carpeting is gone. No more hallway to let him blow off bits of steam. No worries because....

Weather's been GREAT! Perfect fall weather. Dry and cool. I'm out running him throughout the day till his tongue drags and he can't breathe. Awesome. Until....

He cut his pad. He was good for a few days of laying low, but he stored up a lot of energy and today he's ready to kick some ass, and his foot seems healed enough, but....

It's raining so freakin' hard out I can barely see across the road and the backyard (a swamp) is pure mud.

We're both kind of bored with all his indoor mental exercises, so today I have to turn the brain on to figure out new stuff. And I'm . I'm pretty sure the only things he doesn't do is make coffee, the bed, play games on the computer and do the dishes.

It might be a very long fall and winter.

[Mobil]

It rained almost all day yesterday here, too. And they positively adore mud. I've given up on mopping.

[karenz]

I know the feeling. That explains my dirty dog post. I just sucked it up and we played in the swamp. Xander was getting bored of indoor games too.

[johninny]

re carpet comment, for the same reasons for TraceDog i installed cork plank flooring [ not thin tiles that are glued ] throughout my house so that it would forgive falls AND he could get grip. it was perfect on both counts. soft feel to walk on for me, too, but cleaned/maintained like a hardwood floor. if i get the chance, i want to do cork again for the current family. highly recommend the stuff [especially the whitish corks for looks].

every time it rains here the dogs go a bit nuts inside. no cork here. Tracer and Xander could really use cork as they really chase each other like mad, but i hesitate to think how it would affect their tugs-of-war - and how their tugs would affect it!

edit: cork also has anti-microbial activity and resists mold better than anything than stone or metal but has no grout to get mold. and the smell is glorious and very calming.

[HeatherH]

Yep I can relate

First we are always renovating. Old house are charming til you see the update bill and dryway dust gets into everything.

I hate carpeting but its a bit of sound proofing and warmer for Dutch.

I'm now starting to think of indoor games. In, out, up, around, down and through is my next order of business.

Heather

[Dutchringgirl]

do you have a basement? I have wood floors but I have bath runners everywhere for Sadie so she dosnt slip. When they are pumped and cant go outside, Ill take them in the basement to play

[Raven]

The cork sounds wonderful! Too late....

No basement. I'm on a slab foundation because the house was built in a swamp. YEE-HAW!

The contractor came up with a great way to gerry-rig the hallway so we could secure a runner that Thor couldn't budge--and we'd have been able to replace it once he'd torn through it...but man...it would not have looked good.

How the heck do bath mats keep Sadie from slipping??? She and the rug must go VROOOOOM!

Glad I posted, because all the comments made me think of something I hadn't thought of before. I'm thinking about those industrial-thick rubber mats...a loooong one....They must make those these days with home decor in mind. (I can't sacrifice looks anymore--I've waited far too many years for this last remodel.)

[Dutchringgirl]

The bath mats work great !!! They have a rubbery bottom. I have them all over the place ! They are easy to throw in the wash too so my house dosnt smell too much like doggie. Most runners have sucky rubber bottoms or non at all.

[Mobil]

I'm thinking about those industrial-thick rubber mats...a loooong one....They must make those these days with home decor in mind. (I can't sacrifice looks anymore--I've waited far too many years for this last remodel.)

I bet you could special order one from a commercial mat company.

[johninny]

i still have sales folders from commercial and industrial rubber mat and floor companies if anyone needs info.

and yes, the cork planks [ 12''x36''x 5/8''thick ] are incredible: so beautiful, always warm to the touch, sound absorbing, shock absorbing, anti'microbial, etc, etc, etc. and not expensive. install over existing hardwood, tile, or linoleum - click together, no glue, no tacks or nails, no grout - just secure at edges under baseboard

[LyonsFamily]

I have a 20ft industrial mat in my garage/training room to practice recall and jumps on. We have epoxy floors and the thing is great. I got mine 2nd hand from an auto auction for free. You may check craigslist.

[Owned-By-Hendrix]

I like the long mat idea for the winter! We tried carpet runners which failed epically. H doesn't do too bad on the tile we have but keeping the (white-ish) carpet clean is a real chore.

[Raven]

Thanks, all!

Definitely going the industrial-thick rubber mats--hopefully with carpeting. May have to do two or three since the length of those I've seen online are short when I want a two-foot width.

My poor boy's pad took a turn--not badly, just a hard spot to heal well quickly--when he got overly exuberant when Dad came home and he mistakenly thought his dad was going to take him for ride. (You could see blood on the floor go from specks to spots, and then pooled when I put him in a down. Still applying coconut oil and keeping him in the down-low, the latter of which makes him even more about mental stim. )

Again...thank you everyone!

[Stacy_R]

I don't know how long & wide your hallway is, but you can check into stall mats as well.