Rickiesmom Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 A friend who is not on this board has two hounds, one of whom is going through chemo for a form of cutaneous sarcoma. She is on a 3 month (just extended to 6 months) on-and-off protocol and is restricted in terms of exercise and exposure due to her suppressed immune system. This little girl is 7 years old, and bored. Her owner got her a Tornado toy but she's mastered it so the challenge is gone. Owner is looking for ideas to mentally tire her pup out without being too demanding physically. Your thoughts and ideas would be most appreciated - specific solutions, references to good books or videos on the subject, anything at all. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 Not sure what a tornado toy is but I have a Tricky Treat Ball for Summit. It's a ball with a hole in it and he has to role it to get the food out. It's not too physically demanding as long as a hound can walk around with it's nose to the ground. I've also seen feeders that are designed to be mentally stimulating. They have different compartments. The dog eats the food out of one and then has to slide the lid to get to the food in the other half of the compartment. Then move on to the next compartment, and so on. I've also been looking for "Tug a Jug" with no success. It's basically a bottle (the "jug") with a rope attached. The dog has to pick it up and throw it around to get kibble out of it. Not sure if these are stimulating enough. Quote Kristie and the Apex Agility Greyhounds: Kili (ATChC AgMCh Lakilanni Where Eagles Fly RN IP MSCDC MTRDC ExS Bronze ExJ Bronze ) and Kenna (Lakilanni Kiss The Sky RN MADC MJDC AGDC AGEx AGExJ). Waiting at the Bridge: Retired racer Summit (Bbf Dropout) May 5, 2005-Jan 30, 2019 Like us on Facebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAWLD Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 I concur with the dog treat ball. So far that the hound can walk around and is food motivated. Ryder LOVES his ball. He tends to get really fixated on it also, so after about 10 minutes we sometimes need to take it away, and he ends up scouring the floor for missed kibble for about 10 minutes afterwards. She can also stuff a Kong full of peanut butter and treats, and freeze it. Give it to the dog to lick. It should keep her busy for a while trying to get the frozen middle goodness out of it. Depending on how much the dog can move, mental stimulation via human contact should be good for her. Getting the hound to sit for treats, or if she's laying down to shake a paw on command. Quote Proudly owned by:10 year old "Ryder" CR Redman Gotcha May 201012.5 year old Angel "Kasey" Goodbye Kasey Gotcha July 2005-Aug 1, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocsDoctor Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 How about the canine version of 'Hunt The Lady' (i.e. the 3-card game. This is actually Doc's 'party trick' but also suitable for a convalescent hound as it can be done while she is lying down, though not flat out. Owner takes small smelly treat (we use cubes of cheese/bits of meaty chew strips) and hides it under one of three small containers (e.g. mug, ramekin, patty tin) turned upside down. Then shuffle the containers round - dog soon learns how to sniff out and pick the right one. Cue congratulations and of course a treat as well! Quote Clare with Tiger (Snapper Gar, b. 18/05/2015), and remembering Ken (Boomtown Ken, 01/05/2011-21/02/2020) and Doc (Barefoot Doctor, 20/08/2001-15/04/2015)."It is also to be noted of every species, that the handsomest of each move best ... and beasts of the most elegant form, always excel in speed; of this, the horse and greyhound are beautiful examples."----Wiliam Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty, 1753. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissy Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 How about the canine version of 'Hunt The Lady' (i.e. the 3-card game. This is actually Doc's 'party trick' but also suitable for a convalescent hound as it can be done while she is lying down, though not flat out. Owner takes small smelly treat (we use cubes of cheese/bits of meaty chew strips) and hides it under one of three small containers (e.g. mug, ramekin, patty tin) turned upside down. Then shuffle the containers round - dog soon learns how to sniff out and pick the right one. Cue congratulations and of course a treat as well! I like this. I think I'm going to teach Summit this one as a party trick since I'm out of useful things to teach him for the time being. Also, if a hound can move around, a variation on the game can be to hide treats around a room and then invite the dog in to hunt for them... starting easy and making it harder and harder. Does she need stimulation ideas for the dog while people are home or while they are out? Because I agree that training tricks is good stimulation, but if they're at work and the dog is bored that obviously doesn't work. Quote Kristie and the Apex Agility Greyhounds: Kili (ATChC AgMCh Lakilanni Where Eagles Fly RN IP MSCDC MTRDC ExS Bronze ExJ Bronze ) and Kenna (Lakilanni Kiss The Sky RN MADC MJDC AGDC AGEx AGExJ). Waiting at the Bridge: Retired racer Summit (Bbf Dropout) May 5, 2005-Jan 30, 2019 Like us on Facebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zaylea Posted April 5, 2011 Share Posted April 5, 2011 (edited) Kong makes this wobble toy that is shaped like a super giant kong. It's not made of rubber but some kind of tough plastic. It has a heavy bottom and a hollow top that you screw off and add a cup of kibble. It has a small hole in the side that kibble can fall out of if they wobble it the right way. My boy Batou loves this toy. Edited April 5, 2011 by zaylea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickiesmom Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share Posted April 5, 2011 Does she need stimulation ideas for the dog while people are home or while they are out? Because I agree that training tricks is good stimulation, but if they're at work and the dog is bored that obviously doesn't work. Good question - I checked and she said mainly for when she's there. There are two hounds sharing the house and while they have a great relationship, she doesn't want to take any chances. Lots of great suggestions - she's going to try "Find the Lady" tonight - please keep them coming! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batmom Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Not exactly a game, but something that kept my angel Zema busy for quite awhile was cleaning all the biscuit crumbs out of my blue-jeans pockets (when they were about to go in the laundry, not while I was wearing them). Best to be there so dog doesn't just chew a hole through from the outside , but it can be quite challenging to get the snout all the way down to the bottom of the pocket and slurp up all the crumbs. In your friend's case, she'd have to manufacture crumbs, but still -- cheap, easy, and very absorbing for a dog who enjoys a challenge. Best wishes for your friend's pupper. Quote Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in IllinoisWe miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Time4ANap Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Kong makes this wobble toy that is shaped like a super giant kong. It's not made of rubber but some kind of tough plastic. It has a heavy bottom and a hollow top that you screw off and add a cup of kibble. It has a small hole in the side that kibble can fall out of if they wobble it the right way. My boy Batou loves this toy. I will second the Wobbler. Rocket is addicted to his. We reserve some of his breakfast kibble and give it to him in the wobbler in the early afternoon. One of us usually finds the empty wobbler at our feet if we haven;t thought about giving it to him yet on any given day. The only drawback is that it could be too heavy if the pup is weak, but they could still bat it around with a paw and it will dispense. We also play a game that we call "Paws" which is nothing more than a bunch of "high fives" in a row. I am currently alternating that with "Shake" and he is learning the difference in the two. Quote Camp Broodie. The current home of Mark Kay Mark Jack and Gracie Kiowa Safe Joan. Always missing my boy Rocket Hi Noon Rocket, Allie Phoenix Dynamite, Kate Miss Kate, Starz Under Da Starz, Petunia MW Neptunia, Diva Astar Dashindiva, and LaVida I've Got Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurenbiz Posted April 6, 2011 Share Posted April 6, 2011 Bernie has a Busy Buddy Twist N Treat, and he loves it: http://www.kvsupply.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf_id=81709&gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=93AB49AFFF854747AE563DE4DADDE040 With the hound's exercise restricted, I think this would be great. For Bernie, he usually plays with this when he is laying on his bed! Quote Lauren the Human, along with Justin the Human, Kay the Cat and Bernie the Greyhound! (Registered Barney Koppe, 10/30/2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetcitywoman Posted April 8, 2011 Share Posted April 8, 2011 Coming back to the Tornado game, I recommend the other Ottosson games. A couple of them are QUITE complex (for a dog) and they all have ways you can increase the difficulty. I think the most advanced one is the Casino. The dog will ultimately learn how to pull pegs to unlock drawers and how to open the drawers to get his treats. She will have to start simple and advance a step at a time, of course. And it also means she has to play with the dog, she can't just fill it and leave him alone with it. But it will certainly give him mental stimulation! The Dog Brick game is similar but easier. I have both and really like them. Or rather, Capri really likes them. Quote Sharon, Loki, Freyja, Capri (bridge angel and most beloved heart dog), Ajax (bridge angel) and Sweetie Pie (cat) Visit Hound-Safe.com by Something Special Pet Supplies for muzzles and other dog safety products Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest june Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) "Also, if a hound can move around, a variation on the game can be to hide treats around a room and then invite the dog in to hunt for them... starting easy and making it harder and harder." When I had only one hound I would do this to keep her occupied. I started hiding the bits of kibble in corners of the room and gradually became more creative. Kept her busy and happy for quite a while. june Edited April 9, 2011 by june Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Variation on the hunt for treats game -- other kinds of scent-oriented activities? Let her sniff a particular smelly substance. Then put that smelly substance on an object, hide it, and let her find the object. Or have her pick out the smelly object from similar ones without the smell. My Romie could pick out a molecule of beef scent from a mile away. I think it's a competitive obedience task, to pick out the doggy dumbbell with their human's hand scent on it from other dumbbells? Let her channel her inner scenthound! Sending best wishes for her recovery. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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