View Full Version : Dog Enrichment - Toys or Other Ideas?
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 8:11pm
Our dog seems bored a lot. We have a nice backyard but he isn't the explorer type. He really only goes outside if one of us is outside, too.
We take him for walks a few times a day but he seems heartbroken when we leave the house without him. He pesters for more walks all day long. We take him to the dog park a few times a week and he likes that. He gets petted and cuddled a lot between us and the kids so as dogs go he isn't starved for attention.
He is actually pretty smart. He does this Lassie routine when I'm working in the office. He pokes me with his nose and then leads me to what he wants - the door to the backyard, his leash, his lookout window opened, his Kong filled, his food bowl, or whatever. Last night he wanted more Chinese takeout one of kids was giving him. He came and got me and led me to my son who was eating the Chinese food.
For the next couple of weeks I am the only one home full time so he is getting less attention than normal. He really likes his Kong. I stuff it with treats and he has a blast getting it out. I was looking at Amazon for more treat hiding toys like that. There are a lot and I don't know what to choose.
Any suggestions on the toys with treats or other ways to give him some more activity enrichment?
Yossarian
10-17-13, 8:12pm
What kind of dog?
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 8:21pm
A rescue mutt.
Today he was been on one walk and had his king filled for a treat session. He came and poked me for attention when I was writing the previous post. I took him outside to the back yard but he scratched at the door to go in and went to the front door to let me know he wanted another walk.
Is he getting enough exercise? Do you have an off-leash dog park or fenced schoolyard where he can run himself ragged?
I know they say that French Bulldogs don't need exercise, but I know ours has to have at least one good hard session of play, fetch, hiking, something, or else he's just a royal pain to deal with. The same as yours: He's smart enough to tell you what he wants. Over and over and over. Having a bright dog can be hell LOL
For hard exercise in our enclosed yard, we made one of these, and we can wear him out chasing it: http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2012/04/24/flirt-pole/
Get at least a two-hour nap out of it that way...can you think of any other ways to get his yayas out?
All kinds of enrichment toys in our house too. We put kibble in a Kong Wobbler, use the round things you can put treats in, bully sticks, elk antler.....
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 8:46pm
Is he getting enough exercise? Do you have an off-leash dog park or fenced schoolyard where he can run himself ragged?
I know they say that French Bulldogs don't need exercise, but I know ours has to have at least one good hard session of play, fetch, hiking, something, or else he's just a royal pain to deal with. The same as yours: He's smart enough to tell you what he wants. Over and over and over. Having a bright dog can be hell LOL
For hard exercise in our enclosed yard, we made one of these, and we can wear him out chasing it: http://notesfromadogwalker.com/2012/04/24/flirt-pole/
Get at least a two-hour nap out of it that way...can you think of any other ways to get his yayas out?
All kinds of enrichment toys in our house too. We put kibble in a Kong Wobbler, use the round things you can put treats in, bully sticks, elk antler.....
We do walk him at least two miles a day but maybe he needs more. We got him as a rescue. He seems to have been abused and it didn't seem like he had ever seen a dog toy before. He has a big box of toys now but doesn't really have much interest in them except for the Kong when it has treats inside.
He doesn't really get fetch or tug of war. He just takes stuff, leaves and then loses interest. He doesn't like most chew sticks or toys. He ignores the squirrels in the backyard. The squirrels just walk around him when he is outside and he doesn't even care.
All the other dogs we have ever had would be quite happy if you just went in the backyard and played or hung out or they could chase squirrels but not this dog. We call him adventure dog because he just wants to go places.
frugal-one
10-17-13, 8:51pm
Your dog sounds alot like ours. He does get walked about 5 miles a day, however. It does wear him out. He does seem bored too. One thing that he likes is to get the empty peanut butter jar and lick it clean. Also, dog toy where you can put peanut butter in all kinds of spaces and then freeze it. It takes him a long time to get it clean. Real bones used to be big but he is more fussy now. Interested to hear what others do too.
Tussiemussies
10-17-13, 8:54pm
He sounds so very smart! We used to save boxes from our food items, like cereal boxes and then put the treat in there. Also while in the house or out in the yard I would throw treats so that they would have to watch me to find them, or sniff them out. That was very popular. We also put treats in multiple paper lunch bags twist it up, throw it, and they have to chew it apart to get the treat...there is some mess with these but we feel it's worth it!
Give him a job to do. Train him to do something you both like, and do it with him. They are pack animals, they don't want "cuddling" so much as a known place in the scheme of things, and something to do.
One of my dogs is a huge black and tan coon hound. Expecting him to amuse himself would result in a destroyed house and yard. I have to work with him doing *something* several times a day, so he feels essential :-)
Take him to an agility class if possible. If not possible, set up an agility course in the backyard for him and work with him on it a few times a day. Google agility for dogs - lots of info there. You can change up the agility course so as not to get bored, and dogs get worn out running it a few times a day. Make it fun for him! :)
I used to do agility with my dog many years ago. We had a blast! We even competed and she won awards several times. She's long gone now, and I couldn't physically do it now with my MS, but those are wonderful memories.... She was one awesome dog! RIP, Lady.
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 10:16pm
Those are lots of great ideas so far. Thanks everyone. Keep the ideas coming!
He poked me yet again for a walk when I was writing the third post, so I listened to an audio book on my iPod and took him out on a trail in the open space until dark. We chatted with all sorts of neighbors along the way, some who had dogs for sniff and greets so I think that made his day. I want to lose weight anyway so I guess I need to increase the walking time and tire him out more as step one.
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 10:19pm
Give him a job to do. Train him to do something you both like, and do it with him.
Other than going for walks and the dog park, I'm am not sure there is a lot we both like. What would you suggest for jobs?
Tussiemussies
10-17-13, 10:20pm
Those are lots of great ideas so far. Thanks everyone. Keep the ideas coming!
He poked me yet again for a walk when I was writing the third post, so I listened to an audio book on my iPod and took him out on a trail in the open space until dark. We chatted with all sorts of neighbors along the way, some who had dogs for sniff and greets so I think that made his day. I want to lose weight anyway so I guess I need to increase the walking time and tire him out more as step one.
You are so blessed to have such an intelligent dog!
Yossarian
10-17-13, 10:26pm
A rescue mutt.
Can you tell the mix? The reason I ask is to bae's point dogs like jobs and you shouldn't underestimate the power of genetics. What is good for my Brittany doesn't work for my parents' Rottweiler and vice versa. I think you are more likely to have success if you play to the dog's natural disposition and abilities.
On a side note I think it is one of the underestimated losses of modern development that most people are so far removed from the effective partnerships that can exist with certain animals, whether it is dogs or horses or whatever. I love working with animals that love working. For me it's bird dogs, but I also appreciate well trained herding dogs. There is nothing happier than a dog put to the use for which it was bred and often a beautiful sight and partnership to watch, and something very satisfying in being part of that primal partnership.
Our boxer's favorite thing is a balloon tied on a string hung from a branch of the tree. He loves to bat it and chase it and volleyball it. keeps him busy for hours.
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 11:19pm
Can you tell the mix? The reason I ask is to bae's point dogs like jobs and you shouldn't underestimate the power of genetics. What is good for my Brittany doesn't work for my parents' Rottweiler and vice versa. I think you are more likely to have success if you play to the dog's natural disposition and abilities.
On a side note I think it is one of the underestimated losses of modern development that most people are so far removed from the effective partnerships that can exist with certain animals, whether it is dogs or horses or whatever. I love working with animals that love working. For me it's bird dogs, but I also appreciate well trained herding dogs. There is nothing happier than a dog put to the use for which it was bred and often a beautiful sight and partnership to watch, and something very satisfying in being part of that primal partnership.
He looks like he might be some kind of terrier. I really don't know what breed he is. He doesn't seem to be any kind of hunting dog the way he peacefully coexists with the backyard squirrels. They keep about a 6 foot distance but other than that they cavort around on the lawn around him. They obviously don't see him as any kind of threat.
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 11:23pm
Our boxer's favorite thing is a balloon tied on a string hung from a branch of the tree. He loves to bat it and chase it and volleyball it. keeps him busy for hours.
Our other dogs always loved balloons. But this dog came with a lot of phobias. Loud noises or any kind of pop really scare him. If a car backfires or he hears any loud noise like that on a walk he wants to head right home.
try2bfrugal
10-17-13, 11:32pm
You are so blessed to have such an intelligent dog!
He is a sweetheart. He has his own little nose poke sign language. It is cute but it make him hard to ignore.
Tonight after the walk I did the box suggestions. I hid lunch meat first in just cardboard toilet paper rolls folded at the ends. After he got that out I moved it up a notch to food inside a TP roll, inside an old tissue box. He had a great time with that.
Then I went to do dishes and he came and did the nose poke thing again to follow him. This time he wanted me to cuddle next to him on the couch. I guess he does operate at about a 2 - 3 year old human level, and at that age our kids had preschool and play groups to keep them busy. I am the only one home tonight so it is hard giving him the attention he wants and still be able get my housework done.
Miss Cellane
10-18-13, 6:25am
This isn't necessarily a frugal option, but have you considered doggie day care? Not every day, but one or two days a week. He'd get a large pack of dogs to run and play with all day long. You'd get a happy but tired out dog at the end of the day. My friend takes her very energetic lab/rottie mix to doggie day care twice a week. She says that he'd still semi-tired out the next day, so it is very worth it for her.
But do consider some sort of "job" for him. Even if it is just you training him to do silly dog tricks. Or training him to catch a Frisbee.
A dog trainer once told me that the dogs who get into the most trouble at home are usually the intelligent ones. They get bored, and if their humans don't offer them anything to do, they will find/make up something to do.
Or you could try getting him a cat to play with.
try2bfrugal
10-18-13, 11:44am
This isn't necessarily a frugal option, but have you considered doggie day care? Not every day, but one or two days a week. He'd get a large pack of dogs to run and play with all day long. You'd get a happy but tired out dog at the end of the day. My friend takes her very energetic lab/rottie mix to doggie day care twice a week. She says that he'd still semi-tired out the next day, so it is very worth it for her.
But do consider some sort of "job" for him. Even if it is just you training him to do silly dog tricks. Or training him to catch a Frisbee.
A dog trainer once told me that the dogs who get into the most trouble at home are usually the intelligent ones. They get bored, and if their humans don't offer them anything to do, they will find/make up something to do.
Or you could try getting him a cat to play with.
He would love doggie day care, but since we are both home, on a budget, and live near a couple of nice dog parks I guess we should just do that more. He does really run around there. We have a couple of family members with cat allergies so that isn't an option, and I am trying to avoid getting another dog.
He is very sweet and gentle and rarely gets into trouble even when he is bored. He really is a good dog.
After the feedback here I am going to take him for longer walks and try to do the dog park more often. Last night after I hid his treats in boxes, for some reason he got interested in his other toys. He took several of his squeaky toys out of his box and was playing with them for quite some time.
We have a pet store near by dogs are allowed into so I am going to take him there today and see if there are some chew sticks or bones he might show an interest in and maybe get another hide a treat toy like the Kong.
Thanks to all for the great suggestions. I appreciate them and I think my dog is having more fun already.
Tussiemussies
10-18-13, 7:52pm
Forgot to mention that there is this toy --a cube with a hole in it. You put dry dog food in it and they have to roll it around to get pieces out. My one really smart dog loved this!
try2bfrugal
10-18-13, 8:50pm
Forgot to mention that there is this toy --a cube with a hole in it. You put dry dog food in it and they have to roll it around to get pieces out. My one really smart dog loved this!
I plan to go to the pet store later and look for something like that. Thanks.
Today I made all sorts of puzzles for him with treats inside the Kong inside boxes and paper bags. He had a great time and hasn't been poking me as much except to have his Kong refilled. It is funny how hard the paper grocery bag has been for him. Maybe he isn't as smart as I thought! He has it figured out now to put the bag on its side and push it against something hard so he can crunch the bag and remove the Kong. I have to step up the complexity of the food puzzles as he figures each one out. But he is having a blast.
Tussiemussies
10-18-13, 9:29pm
That is great frugal, glad he is having fun while you can get to do some other things....tonight we threw treats around the living room for our girl to get. She is deaf now so she uses her nose to find where to locate it. She was having a blast. I hated to stop, but too much for her isn't good!
Keep us posted! Chris
Walks on a leash won't do it for most dogs; he needs a big area, like in a forest, where interesting things happen and he can follow his nose. More than a dog park unless he really loves that. He may be getting rewarded for poking you, but he does need alternatives. Some dogs just aren't into toys. But they are very smart and if we put ourselves in their place, if we couldn't read or do tasks, we'd be lost. I think he needs some absorbing training. Getting him Good Citizen training (see Google or ask a local trainer) and then training as a therapy dog gives a dog a way to focus. Our dogs we've done this with have loved it. I do think he needs another dog--someone to attach to, interact with who's on his wavelength. A community of his own kind. Our four dogs are not that much into toys except one, and only when he needs our attention or something to do, and then it's fetch. Agility classes are a good idea--they require you and him working together. Sounds like he's understimulated and very needy of interesting interaction. It may be a mismatch between your family and him--he may need a family where a job is built into the family's life, or recreation such as long hikes are there. He needs to be needed, too. Rehomng might be the kindest solution on both sides.
try2bfrugal
10-20-13, 12:53pm
Rehomng might be the kindest solution on both sides.
I wouldn't give my bored dog away any more than I would have given our kids away when they were bored. I would just look for suggestions on how to keep either one entertained better.
If you type bored kids into Google, there are 72 million search results, and I hope none of the suggestions are to give them away!
Many dogs are yard dogs or are home alone all day while their owners work. Millions of other shelter dogs get put down each year because there are no homes for them at all. Ours was one of these. There aren't more enriching environments for him to go to. There aren't any homes for him to go to at all. He came close to being euthanized because no one else had adopted him.
I think as dogs go our dog has it pretty good. I just want to make his life as enriching as possible.
Many dogs are yard dogs or are home alone all day while their owners work.
Which is a terribly cruel circumstance for an intelligent pack animal.
iris lilies
10-20-13, 3:02pm
yay for you OP in working to find new things to keep doggie entertained.
So true about the smart dogs, which is why I go for a breed not known for their brains. They are easy.
try2bfrugal
10-20-13, 3:08pm
Update: So I have been doing things like giving my dog treats in a Kong, inside two paper bags, inside of a box. He loves it! I am having a hard time coming up with ways that he can't figure out in a few minutes.
He goes potty in the backyard now more readily so I'll reward him with a puzzle treat. He doesn't bug me for walks much any more.
They only thing is he is a little dog so I can't give him treats all day long, so I started giving him his regular food this way. I even gave him some dried duck treats he wouldn't eat before, but once he had to work for them as a reward he ate them quite readily.
Yesterday the library had a book sale. I bought a grocery bag of books for $5, mostly simple living related books. I have been able to read the books in peace and just have to fill the treat puzzles up now and then. While I read my new to me books my dog has a blast. We still go for walks and I take him in the car when I can, but now he is entertained while I read or do housework.
I used to see the keepers do things like this for the elephants and other animals at the local zoo. I don't know why I didn't apply it to our dog before now. I will look into other activities like agility courses and maybe even therapy dog work for him for longer term solutions, but for now he seems quite entertained.
Thanks for all the great suggestions!
Aqua Blue
10-24-13, 11:31am
I give my dog frozen peas, small carrot sticks, apple, etc for treats. I have also used green beans and bananas for treats, but this dog doesn't like them. They are less calories than dog treats. I also put things like a thin layer of peanut butter and finely chopped carrot in his kong, again for less calories.
try2bfrugal
10-24-13, 12:15pm
I give my dog frozen peas, small carrot sticks, apple, etc for treats. I have also used green beans and bananas for treats, but this dog doesn't like them. They are less calories than dog treats. I also put things like a thin layer of peanut butter and finely chopped carrot in his kong, again for less calories.
Our dog only likes meat and cheese, and cheese makes him throw up. He came from the shelter that way. He won't eat chips, peanut butter, plain veggies or even eggs. He will eat some other stuff if is mixed with meat, like soup with meat.
I am going to have to find some way to have meat flavored veggies in his Kong so I can give him the food puzzle frequently without him gaining too much weight. Maybe if I soak peas or carrots in chicken broth he would eat that.
I ordered a few more hide a treat toys from Amazon and he has been having fun with those. He usually saves his pee for his morning walk to mark the neighborhood, but today he actually woke me up to be let out to pee in the backyard. I think he was excited to have one of his treat toys filled again, so this has been a win win for both of us.
He sounds tailor-made to be an agility dog, try2bfrugal. Exactly the right motivation and focus. We have had SO much fun doing agility, and it wears them right out. You may (as I did) have to wake him up to go outside in the morning.... And I really do agree with bae that many dogs need a job to be happy. Mine have been wildlife deterrents, agility dogs, tracking dogs (even small dogs can do it!), CGC, nursing-home visitors, etc. They are super-healthy mentally, which makes life so much easier :)
Good for you and congrats on your creativity!!
Miss Cellane
10-24-13, 6:13pm
My brother has a very active Lab and a child with physical disabilities. Although the dog is not a service dog, they have been channeling some of his energy into helping my nephew. The dog can now pick things up from the floor that Nephew has dropped and return them to him on command, open some interior doors, pull Nephew when he is in the manual wheelchair, and fetch the TV remote (Nephew taught him that last one).
So, even if you don't need your dog to any of these things, it might be a good training exercise for him if you worked on one or two simple commands around the house.
(My nephew has to have oxygen and pulse monitors when he sleeps. The dog has started sleeping in his bed, and he alerts to a change in Nephew's breathing before the machines do. These dogs are *smart*!)
fidgiegirl
10-24-13, 9:23pm
I should make my Gussy a treat toy. He is going to drive me bonkers this winter!!
To add one more idea to the thought of a job: we read Cesar's Way and he recommended a doggy backpack to help the dog feel as though the walk has a purpose. We got one for Corky and used it a long time, especially in colder weather when he could go longer on walks, and he liked it, but then he got to be an old man and now just the walk is enough. :) So there's another idea! Thanks for a helpful thread.
fidgiegirl
10-24-13, 10:08pm
I gave the boys each treats inside something. At first I tried a toilet paper roll with treats in it and then placed that in a paper lunch sack but that was too perplexing, I guess. The little one showed no interest and the big boy just wanted to guard it. Then I took out the toilet paper roll and gave that to little guy and gave big boy some treats in just the sack, and those they got to. So maybe another evening we'll try the double layer again. Funny bunnies.
try2bfrugal
10-25-13, 2:41am
My dog was sick one day this week after a big day of finding the treats. I don't know if he just had too much to eat or he ate some of the paper bags and cardboard boxes. So for now I am sticking to just putting the food in the Kong and the other toys from Amazon. I will add back in the bags and boxes later on because he likes them but I will have to keep a close eye on him until I know he isn't eating them.
I also bought a Kong stuff a ball, a round ball with openings for treats and something called an IQ treat ball. The IQ treat ball is hard plastic and we have wood floors so I am not sure about using that in the house. The problem with outside is he misses some of the food and then finds it days later when it isn't safe to eat. Some I am not sure about the IQ ball but he loves the other two. He likes the King stuff a ball better than the regular Kong because the ball rolls.
Does anyone else give their dog bones to chew on? He used to like the green bones but lost interest in those. He gets sick from the chew sticks. I bought a nylabone but he ignores that. The bones at the store had warnings about splinters, so I don't know how safe that would be. When I was growing up we just gave our dogs bones from the meat we ate for dinner to chew on and they never seemed to have any issues.
fidgiegirl
10-25-13, 8:01am
Our boys have liked rawhides. If you go to Costco you can get a big bag for $10. Now I think my older guy's teeth bother him because he doesn't show a lot of interest, but the little guy chews on them once in a while and guards them the rest of the time. Ay ay ay.
try2bfrugal
10-25-13, 1:08pm
Our boys have liked rawhides. If you go to Costco you can get a big bag for $10. Now I think my older guy's teeth bother him because he doesn't show a lot of interest, but the little guy chews on them once in a while and guards them the rest of the time. Ay ay ay.
Our dog likes rawhides, but he gets an upset stomach from them. He either can't or won't eat much besides plain meat, no sauces or spices, and dry dog food.
Maybe I'll take him to the pet store later and see what he shows any interest in for chew toys. The local pet store has very high prices but they do allow returns on anything your dog won't eat or play with. I ended up ordering the treat toys from Amazon because the prices were about half the pet store prices. But with chew toys maybe he needs to pick that out since he doesn't seem to like what I buy.
Tussiemussies
10-25-13, 2:09pm
Most raw hides are bleached so there is a problem with them. If you can find some that are unbleached, it would be much better.
Frugal sorry to hear that your dog got sick. Hope he can enjoy his game again!
try2bfrugal
10-25-13, 4:07pm
Most raw hides are bleached so there is a problem with them. If you can find some that are unbleached, it would be much better.
Frugal sorry to hear that your dog got sick. Hope he can enjoy his game again!
Thanks, he is back to normal now and enjoying his new treat toys.
Added -
I tried the IQ ball on an area rug and it was a big hit. It has kept him busy for an hour or so. He can see the chicken pieces inside an acrylic treat ball, but he has to roll it around for the chicken to fall out.
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