Doggy Enrichment?
9We adopted a new friend a few weeks ago. His name is Wiley (like the coyote, because he’s smart as hell, but his execution isn’t great), and he’s a sweet, fun, good to cuddle or go hiking with, generally good doggo.
However, he gets bored easily. We have some enrichment toys and things, but I figure you all would have some advice for keeping this puzzle-loving boy occupied.
Tax:
(The red is a skin irritation that’s been slowly getting better with extra care and some medicated baths.)
We’re not new to dogs - you’ve all probably seen pics of my Husky/GSD mixes over the years.
He’s not destructive unless he’s told he’s allowed to destroy it. No behavioral issues that need attention. I’m just looking for new toy/tool ideas to help keep his brain busy.
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He is adorable. Congrats on finding each other.
So two things Charlie liked that also burned significant energy (so much energy, that boi)
https://a.co/d/hAsq9dI. This thing. You can hide treats or kibble inside and they have to play w/it for it to dispense. When he was a pup I would put his kibble in to draw out meal time. He had food insecurities that caused him to gulp down food in seconds. But it also kept him occupied for a long while.
Giant yoga balls. He would push them around the yard all day if I let him and would try to jump on them (he succeeded often) They are relatively inexpensive and I could usually find them “used like new” on that other web site
You could try a snuffle mat. It’s fabric and you sprinkle the kibble in it and the dog has to search it all out.
Dog puzzle toys. They make different ones at different skill levels. So if one gets too easy just get a higher level.
Treat dispensing toys are great. We’ve got quite a few. Some make noise, some don’t. Also some only will work with small treats. So having a few is good.
Woof makes a ball thing. I got a generic version online. I make her treats by mixing kibble with water until it’s soft. Then use a hand blender and add other things (yoghurt, peanut butter, banana, etc) put it in the mold and freeze. Then pop one in the ball and she is busy for 20-30 minutes.
I also have a super chewer subscription to bark box. So she gets new toys monthly. Although I still buy her the occasional plush since she loves defluffing them and murdering the squeaker.
For outside toys the jolly ball and jolly egg are great. They are hard plastic, so she can’t pick them up with her mouth so she pounces on them.
Yeah she might be a little spoiled.
@remo28 Spoiling them is in the owners manual, right?
I got an Aldi covered cat bed (spider), and basically use it like a giant treat ball. I’ll hide a treat ball inside, or stuff it full of fluff toys she’s killed the squeakers on. I think it works for her because she’s very much a terrier: she wants to dig through stuff until she finds a squeaky thing to kill.