Toys and puzzles that are interactive
Interactive toys are another simple approach to keep your dog mentally busy. There is usually a large selection of doggie puzzles and interactive toys to choose from in pet stores.
Manage Your Dog In a Cone
Our vet prescribed a sedative for Gimli to help keep him calm. During his neuter we needed to limit him from jumping and running. You can’t tell a 4-month old puppy he can’t run and jump. The sedative was a huge help. Our vet told us to adjust the dosage a bit based on Gimli’s mood and energy levels. The sedative make him calmer and more into walking rather than bounding everywhere. He was also snugglier.
The car wasn’t only handy for getting Gimli’s cone on, but it provided entertainment for him too. He enjoys riding in the car. His movement is restricted by his seat belt. It was a way for him to get out of the house without exerting a lot of energy. We took him on errands and traded off who stayed in the car with him.
Doing nose work takes thought and energy without a lot of movement from your dog. When your dog is on restricted movement, you spend a lot of time trying to tire him out without having him run around.
There are tons of ideas out there, but we mainly did two games. For the first you hold both your fists out (one of which has a treat) and ask your dog to find it. Open your palm when he chooses a hand. The other we did was a three cup monte with plastic cups covering a treat. The internet has TONS of nose games if your dog finds them fun.
Similar to nose games, training taxes your dog more mentally than it does physically. Working for treats by sitting, laying down, etc gives your pup something to do besides mope around. Plus they get treats out of it. We inadvertently trained in a nose boop to the thigh when Gimli was learning to sit. He boops us on the leg right before he sits. I ended up with more than one bruise on my legs from that stupid cone.
One of Gimli’s favorite games, cone or not, is to play chase. At the dog park he will bait other dogs to chase him, and does the same at home by prancing past me carrying a toy. Gimli doesn’t bound through the house when we play chase, rather he walks at whatever speed I chase him. Chase was good to get some exercise on rainy days that would get his sutures wet outside. If your dog is on restricted movement, or will not do this relatively calmly, chase may not be for you.
Sprinkle a few treats around the house for your dog to find. Give them extra time with their rawhide. Gimli couldn’t use his front paws, because of his cone, to hold anything small, like his yak cheese. But he could stand and gnaw on his rawhide. Find some extra special treats to spoil your dog with. Gimli couldn’t go to the dog park while in his cone, and was pretty restricted on walks so additional treats helped keep him happy.
More treats may not be the healthiest habit to keep up with for the long run, but they can help to keep your dog happy for a few weeks. Once your dog is cone free you can ease back into exercise to get them back in shape. We didn’t have any issues with Gimli putting on weight during his cone time though. Must be that young metabolism.
Gimli struggled to navigate between our couch and coffee table with his extra volume from the cone. We scooted furniture around to help him. He could go up the 3 stairs to get into our front window, but struggled to go down in his cone. We moved his stairs, preventing him from using them at all. Gimli didn’t fit well in his crate with his extra bulky cone, so we set an ex pen up for him instead. It might be difficult to tell ahead of time what you’ll need to adjust for your pup. Keeping an extra eye on their navigation helps.
Of course giving your dog more love and affection goes without saying. His world is disrupted and he doesn’t understand what’s going on. As his main source of comfort, giving him extra snuggles, ear scruffs, and attention can help reassure him that he will be ok. This is also can be a bonding time for you and your pup.
You’ll get through cone time and it will be ok!
Raised in Northern Virginia, Dr. Sam Gilbert received both his BSE and VMD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gilbert completed a one-year small animal internship and additional surgical training before relocating to New Jersey for roles in the medical device and animal health industries. Dr. Gilbert currently serves as the Zoetis Petcare HQ Medical Lead for pet owner directed initiatives in dermatology and cross-portfolio therapeutic areas. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and cat.
Dog Cone Care Tips
Whether your dog is injured, in post-surgery recovery, or has an ailment, they need to be kept from licking or chewing for their own good. Your dog having to wear a cone is a womp-womp moment for them, but you can take steps to make it more bearable.
Here are some things you can do to make your dog calmer and more comfortable (and yourself, too!) while cone-wearing is necessary.