If you have a young, active dog–maybe, for example, a 1.5 year-old pit bull mix–you’ll appreciate how difficult it is to tire out your dog.  Loving Husband and I were completely convinced that this was, in fact, impossible.

Today, however, I finally discovered a sure-fire way to tire out the puppy.  I don’t know how long it will last, but I’m going to sit back with a cold beverage and enjoy it while it does.

Step 1: Walk puppy the long way around–six blocks or so–to neighborhood schoolyard during the hottest part of the day (approximately 82°F with a lovely breeze).

Step 2: Encourage puppy to run around deserted, completely fenced-in (thank you, god) schoolyard looking for nonexistent birds for as long as possible. Enjoy the osprey family flying and calling to each other overhead. Wonder if persistent, very low-flying osprey is eyeing puppy as possible evening meal.

Step 3: Practice coming when called over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

Step 4: Leash up puppy and walk her an extra eight blocks. Enjoy feeling of loose leash dangling from hand and sound of puppy panting as she tries to keep up. Tell puppy, “You lag, you drag.”

Step 5: Arrive home with tired puppy. Wonder how long it will last as you sit on shady patio drinking cold beer.