Are you a Damsel in Distress?

So, this rainy spring weather brings back memories of long ago, when I was a kid and used to build forts in the neighborhood with my brother and JJ. One such fort was a tree house fort with a retractable rope ladder and a dumb waiter to haul up our sodas and snacks. We had carpet and a roof. We always had to top the last one you know.

This brings up a great activity to do with your dog. When was the last time you built a couch cushion fort? A LONG time right? Well, what better activity to do inside when it's rainy out then build a couch cushion fort? Here is why this is so great. You will more than likely be crawling around on the floor (if you are doing it right) and your dogs love it when you get down to their level. They should be interested in what you are doing. Once your fort is constructed, I found my dogs will play one of two roles - either they will play the attacker, and try to knock down your walls, or they will seek safety inside with you, against the invisible evil hordes trying to reach you inside. You could probably even build some additional forts around the house and see if they take to their own fort, and can serve as your outposts, or the enemy may use this fort to stage their attack.

Don't forget the important essentials when building your Couch Cushion Fort. Rations (snacks) will help your team get through those long siege periods, but make sure they are secured or the attackers will attempt to steal your supplies out from under your nose. I recommend treats that aren't iced, like our trainer chips, as the small serving size means they can have more than one and not over indulge.

My dogs thought this was big fun. It was giving them some attention, and weren't sure what exactly I was doing at first, but once I crawled inside they instantly knew what to do. Sam was my ally while Hannah staged her attack and then would pounce. They switched roles a couple of times, but had a blast. I think Sam really just wanted to get to the blanket.  

If you would like to check out the quintessential guide to constructing the perfect couch cushion fort, go here.