Have You Used Dog Games?

[Guest eaglflyt]

Have any of you used any of the *dog games* in the training and enjoying time with your grey? I had been mulling this over for several months and decided to go ahead and order the *Dog Tornado* to work with Ady Bea and all our other pups. It should arrive in about an hour by UPS.

 

Have you used any of the Nina Ottosson games with your pups? Please share you experiences.

 

Here's a video of the game:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlY0WkY9CU

 

I'll let everyone know how it works out at our house with Ady Bea, Jake (Aussie) and our dachsies.

[Houndless]

It looks like a neat idea but I can already see one potential problem. It looks like several times with the bigger dog he had to hold the toy down so he didn't turn it over. I can just see Tank flipping that thing right from the beginning.

[Guest Jubilee251]

Wow, I can just see Molly giving it a nudge or two, and then staring at me when she can't produce a treat. She is extremely food-motivated, but ADHD - her solution to any of these games is "MOM GET IT FOR ME."

[3greytjoys]

I have used heaver weight, large, flat, wooden puzzles with my hounds. The treat motivated hounds love it! They seem to enjoy the busy brain work, and it's a fun game for them. I'm all for anything that encourages mind work and bonding with hounds. (I can see how supervision is important for larger dogs with the Dog Tornado. If left alone, a hound might try to chew and swallow the separate plastic bone part.)

[Guest eaglflyt]

It has arrived and it's made of really heavy and high quality plastic, however, a powerful chewer could do some good damage if they tried. Yes, all play with the Tornado will be supervised (actually, they were designed as owner and dog bonding games and canine brain workouts ... meant to be a cooperative activity).

 

So far, Ady Bea and Jake love it. Our really elderly Aussie took right to it! Ady Bea caught on quickly and keeps looking at it wanting me to play some more. I haven't used the little white bones yet ... they will be for when we've got the idea of finding the treats in all the levels down well, then I'll add in the bones.

 

I plan on working with the dachshunds tonight and seeing how they take to it. Since every dog we have is HIGHLY food motivated, I think they'll love it, too. I'm just wondering why I didn't order this last fall before we spent so much time inside due to ice & snow ...

Edited March 10, 2010 by eaglflyt

[silverfish]

(I can see how supervision is important for larger dogs with the Dog Tornado. If left alone, a hound might try to chew and swallow the separate plastic bone part.)

 

I thought that, too - but since it's supervised, it would be OK unless you have a dog who snatches things and runs off with them.

 

Looks fun! I'm doing clicker training with Sid, and teaching him random stuff like touching a box with his nose. Every so often he'll go to the kitchen dresser and look up to where I keep the clicker and then at me, asking for a game!

 

These dog games can be wonderful training and bonding tools!

[jetcitywoman]

Yes, I love Nina Ottoson's games but I wish they were easier to come by in the States. I got Capri the Dog Brick game and she LOVES it. I had to start by teaching her how to slide the covers to find the treats, and start without using the white bone pieces. What I like about the puzzles are they are intended to have at least two levels of challenge - you can remove the advanced pieces and save them for later. When I set the Dog Brick on the floor for Capri, she would get lazy/frazzled and start clawing at it, so I fixed that by sitting in a chair and holding the game in my lap at just under her chin height. She always begs to play it again and again.

 

(This game gave me the idea to present her with little puzzles all over the house when she's bored. I sometimes just put the little bone pieces on the floor with a treat under it and make her chase the bone around the room until she can flip it over. The plastic "bones" are designed in such a way that it's very hard to simply pick them up, they're sloped and slide right out from between her teeth. I've also put treats under an upside-down laundry basket and let her try to figure out how to get them.)

 

This Christmas she got the Dog Dizzy ball, which is a hollow ball, weighted on one end so that it doesn't roll evenly, and has one small hole in it. You have to use this one with only small dry treats because it's impossible to clean the inside. I can put kibble in there, or mini-marshmallows. She will roll it all over the house, hoovering up the kibble as they fall out. She loves this one too.

 

The next one I want to get her is the Dog Casino game, but I can't find the plastic version. I prefer plastic so that I can occasionally sanitize it in the dishwasher. I'm keeping my eyes open for that one.

[Batmom]

Oooooooooooooh, I'm going to have to look these up! Zema would probably love this stuff. Joseph ... well, Joseph is the one who figured the easiest way to get the treats out of the treat ball would be to eat the ball. *sigh*

[Guest kydie]

Yes, we have 2 of her games, and the bird dogs, love them, the grey waits until they move it to the right spot then he helps himself to the treat inside big fun here

Edited March 11, 2010 by kydie

[Guest eaglflyt]

Thanks to everyone for your input. We've had a great first 24 hrs. with the doggy tornado! I am thankful that it's heavy duty plastic and safe in the dishwasher ... it gets quite *wet* when the dogs are playing.

 

The best price and selection I have found for ordering the Nina Ottosson games in the states is from Clean Run. Their stock of Ottosson games can be found HERE. They do have the Casino game! There's also a couple of new games in the What's New section HERE.

 

Please share what games you have and how you rank/rate them for greyhound use.

 

Shelly in OK

Edited March 11, 2010 by eaglflyt

[Guest Sunset123]

Yes, I love Nina Ottoson's games but I wish they were easier to come by in the States. I got Capri the Dog Brick game and she LOVES it. I had to start by teaching her how to slide the covers to find the treats, and start without using the white bone pieces. What I like about the puzzles are they are intended to have at least two levels of challenge - you can remove the advanced pieces and save them for later. When I set the Dog Brick on the floor for Capri, she would get lazy/frazzled and start clawing at it, so I fixed that by sitting in a chair and holding the game in my lap at just under her chin height. She always begs to play it again and again.

 

(This game gave me the idea to present her with little puzzles all over the house when she's bored. I sometimes just put the little bone pieces on the floor with a treat under it and make her chase the bone around the room until she can flip it over. The plastic "bones" are designed in such a way that it's very hard to simply pick them up, they're sloped and slide right out from between her teeth. I've also put treats under an upside-down laundry basket and let her try to figure out how to get them.)

 

This Christmas she got the Dog Dizzy ball, which is a hollow ball, weighted on one end so that it doesn't roll evenly, and has one small hole in it. You have to use this one with only small dry treats because it's impossible to clean the inside. I can put kibble in there, or mini-marshmallows. She will roll it all over the house, hoovering up the kibble as they fall out. She loves this one too.

 

The next one I want to get her is the Dog Casino game, but I can't find the plastic version. I prefer plastic so that I can occasionally sanitize it in the dishwasher. I'm keeping my eyes open for that one.

 

There are a bunch on Amazon, including the plastic casino: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Ottosson-Dog-Casino-Plastic/dp/B002WDU4M2/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268353575&sr=8-23

 

Here are Magic, Tornado, Spinny, and Brick:

http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Ottossons-Interactive-Magic-Puzzle/dp/B001KZ4U6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268353542&sr=8-1

[Guest eaglflyt]

I just wanted to share how much Ady Bea and all our pups love this game. I save some of her kibble from her regular feedings and use it to fill the compartments then she works to get all the kibble. It takes her some time, she doesn't get frustrated, and she really enjoys it. She doesn't tump it over and generally uses only her nose and mouth to manipulate the game. I'm really glad I made this purchase. I'll probably add another game eventually. And, this is a hit with the Jake (our very senior Aussie) and all our precious dachsies, too!

[Batmom]

Hmmm ... wonder what grammy would think if I got her one of those for Mother's Day. She is the one who does Zema's "cookie game" during our supervised play / obedience time. Hmmm ....

[Guest eaglflyt]

Hmmm ... wonder what grammy would think if I got her one of those for Mother's Day. She is the one who does Zema's "cookie game" during our supervised play / obedience time. Hmmm ....

 

I'd bet they would both love it! I think I have as much fun with this as our dogs do!

[Batmom]

I ordered one.

 

Zema is going to go ape.

 

Grammy says she will be pestering to play all day and whining at whatever door we hide the toy behind. Which is probably true. But a girl who is 11.5 deserves a good time, so .........

 

[Guest eaglflyt]

I think all your gang will love it ... you, too! : )

 

Please post pics. when it arrives and your pups are playing.

[jetcitywoman]

 

There are a bunch on Amazon, including the plastic casino: http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Ottosson-Dog-Casino-Plastic/dp/B002WDU4M2/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268353575&sr=8-23

 

Here are Magic, Tornado, Spinny, and Brick:

http://www.amazon.com/Nina-Ottossons-Interactive-Magic-Puzzle/dp/B001KZ4U6O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268353542&sr=8-1

 

Thank you so much! I checked about a month ago and they only had the wood version. I'll buy this now.

 

When you browse the games, note that they are marked with a difficulty level. Depending on your dog, you might want to start with a simple game, like the Dizzy Ball or Dog Brick, and then work your way up. Some of them are VERY challenging!

[Guest greytcritters]

MY HOUNDS LOVE THEM!!!!!

We have the brick and the tornado

that and the LEO treat toys

Edited March 15, 2010 by greytcritters

[Guest Fini]

I just ordered the Tornado in plastic. Hopefully Mojo will get the hang of it.

[Guest bigbrindlebunny]

Let us know how it goes!

 

I have a feeling Pete would push one or two things around to get the treats, then just pick the whole thing up and retire to his crate to rip it to shreds in peace. He seems to have infinite patience, except when it comes to food. So I'm not sure how well this would work with a GH.

[Batmom]

Tornado should be arriving here tomorrow. Can't wait to get the kids started with it!

[Guest eaglflyt]

Ady Bea loves this game! It is such high quality plastic that any dog would really have to work to do damage to it. And, she's so excited about finding the food that she doesn't chew on it at all. Also, she has yet to tump it over.

 

I just got an email today that Dogwise now carries the Nina Ottosson games! Here's the LINK.

 

Tornado should be arriving here tomorrow. Can't wait to get the kids started with it!

 

I'm so excited for you! Pictures would be GREAT!!! Ady Bea and I can barely wait to hear your update!

[jetcitywoman]

Update please!

 

Here's one from Capri: I got her the Dog Casino for her birthday in April. The Casino is one of the highest challenge puzzles, but as with them all, you break the challenge down into small steps that the dog can master easily. The Casino has drawers all around the sides, and pegs in the top that lock the drawers closed. So in order to solve the whole puzzle, the dog has to pull out a bone peg and then open the drawer, and work his way around the whole puzzle until he gets all the treats. I started easy by putting the bone pegs aside for a few weeks and just working with the drawers. Then we played with the bone pegs and not the drawers. Now we do both, but she still has to be prompted because she still doesn't understand the locking cause-and-effect thing. It's very fun for both of us, though. When she gets really enthusiastic, she'll start pulling out all the bone pegs even when they don't have treats under them. I try to put them back in and she pulls them out again. We can go for a few minutes like that, even longer if I manage to get a treat under every third or so bone peg!

[Batmom]

Joseph is LOVING the Tornado -- he insists on doing that first during organized playtime even though he probably gets more treats faster for "obedience." I haven't used the bone covers, just the base. He still isn't as good at it as Zema was, but she was hyperobservant and used to playing treat games. Joseph does manage to empty it out without trying to eat the game itself and without help. I tried to get a video of him the other day and failed; will try again in future.

 

Haven't tried the Tornado with Gidget. She is playing a different cookie game (cookies under cups) with her grammy and I'll probably leave things that way. Then we don't have to worry about rivalry, etc.

[jetcitywoman]

Great! I've done the cookie under a cup game too. I've also put treats under an upside-down laundry basket which feels almost like tormenting Capri. She does get it after only a minute or two. But being able to see the treat and not get to it makes her crazy.