I guess because of her youth (still < 2 years old) it is usually hard to wear Abby out for more than an afternoon. After a really long hour+ walk (like today at her fave beach where she ran and played with many other dogs and chased seagull shadows like the crazy thing that she is) she usually just rests/sleeps the remainder of the day. By the evening she's ready to hop around the living room, chewing on her bones or bringing her (formerly) stuffed toys over to us to toss around. By the next morning, she's almost always ready and raring to go again.

We did wear her out really badly one time and it scared the heck out of me! It was when we were almost done with her Carboplatin treatments. At that same time, we suddenly had a rash of super warm weather. On top of that, we were having some very LOUD destruction/construction work done on the house, and I had kept her out of the house all day long for 3 days straight because the noise level really stressed her out. On the fourth day of construction noise, we headed out in the a.m. for our usual walk. We weren't even a 1/4 of the way thru our usual route when she flopped down in the middle of the street! (No sidewalks in that stretch…) I had to pretty much literally drag her out of the way of an oncoming car. It took us forever to make it home, with her stopping 3 or 4 more times to rest. Scared the heck out of me! I thought at first that she was taking a turn for the worse. Being stupid, it took me a while to realize that I'd worn her out, dragging her around running errands w/ me for 3 days straight (in the heat) trying to keep her out of the construction zone.

After that we kept her quiet for about 4 days, with just very short walks until she was back to her old self. I knew she was back to her spunky ways when we went for a pretty good walk one night after my husband got home from work, and even after that she came home and ran wind sprints out in our backyard — trying to get her stamina back up I guess.

And as for preventing boredom, we are pretty lucky in that regard. She usually is content to just chew on her toys (usually…), or she likes to just hang out in our backyard, keeping an eye on the dogs across the canyon. If she turns into a terrorist and tries to start gnawing on us, then we know she needs another walk!

I'd like to know how to get a pooped out tripawd! 

Dante rarely peters out for more than an hour or so – he's impossible to fully tire out yet, so we're lucky in that regard. However, we do still limit his exercise to what we think is enough, because I don't think he knows his limits still. We also tend to rest him pretty good for a day after, if we've been particulary busy with him the day before.  Our other two help keep him from getting bored, too. 

I am so glad to see this post – I logged on today specifically to ask a similar question (Jerry to decide whether it goes here or should get a new thread)

– re pooped Tripawd - we do a lot of massage of the rear leg, and Ajax now "asks" for it (by barking non-stop until I do it).  I really like the heated towel plus fan suggestion from cometdog, I'm going to try that. 

– re how to tell if your Tripawd has overdone it:  this is our first Tripawd summer in NYC (read:  HOT and URBAN).  Ajax had his surgery last summer and is turning 9 this summer.  We had a freezing cold winter and I didn't notice much if any change in his energy level.  All checkups are good.  But I am definitely noticing him slowing down, and am terribly neurotic about trying to determine if it is just heat (as a black Lab, he has always hated the head), vs. energy due to being a Tripawd and having to work harder to go the same distance; vs. age (becoming 9 years old) vs. is he not feeling well.  Any tips would be appreciated.

– re Tripawd "pads" — So, we have noticed that since becoming a Tripawd, Ajax exhibits a decided preference for grass vs. cement.  Makes sense, we think, as it is softer on his pads — I think of it like running on concrete vs. running on a track or dirt path.  However, we still need to get through the urban jungle which requires cement.  He's been licking his front legs and there is NO sign of cancer (he had a soft tissue tumer, not osteosarcoma) and based on Xray the vet thinks it is maybe a little bit of arthritis, not rheumatoid but just from overuse. 

So, being a former dancer with trashed feet myself, I'm thinking what he needs is sneakers or some kind of protection for his pads.  I'm interested to see if anyone has explored this.  I know about the RuffWear etc that is used in snow – let me just say that he had an easier time getting up for the first time on 3 legs than he does going 2 steps in those shoes.  He stubbornly hates them so I have never used them, however, does anyone think they would help with the impact and if so, any recommendations on the best kind?

And, fyi, we are doing GREAT otherwise.  Just looking for some places to get in the water ASAP

FWIW, I too, notice Maggie has less stamina in the heat.  She has always been like that but now being a Tripawd it affects her more & probably age creeping up on her to at 11 1/2 yrs old.

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

So far (6 weeks post-op), Rumbles is okay with one walk a day. We've learned to do that one walk in the evening, just before dinner and then off to bed.

I tried morning or mid-day walks, but he's pretty pooped out after and he just spends the rest of the day on his pillow. But I found if we walk at the end of the day, he'll be up more during the day (I say more because he is 10 years old and his pillow is very cosy and alluring). I figure he's getting more total daily activity this way. As he progresses, I'm going to try to get him on a two-walks per day schedule.

This was after a morning walk…see what I mean?