Best dog toys according to redditors

Aww. Glad they were so generous about it.

Here's some unsolicited chewing dog advice. Take it or leave it.

With a dog that loves to chew, here's a few recommendations and a blog that is really great for hyper / anxious / chewy dogs. Goes without saying if you're already doing these things then keep on keeping on.

1. change all meals to puzzle toys like the tug jug and the wobbler. Make them work and think for their food
   
   https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Dispensing-Medium-Large/dp/B000KV7ZGQ
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ALMW0M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493834636&sr=8-1&keywords=kong+wobbler
   
   
2. more exercise and consider adding a backpack like the outward hound or ruff wear. Use filled Nalgene bottles for weight for an excellent doggy workout.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B2KAACK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493834678&sr=1-3&keywords=ruffwear
   
   
   
3. More training. A trained dog is a confident happy dog. Do a new trick a month. Join a class. Etc.
   
   All this is a recipe for a less chewy dog. If they're tired both mentally and physically and are confident, unwanted behaviors like chewing and barking generally decrease.
   
   Here's the blog - 3lostdogs (dot) com

This is my advice from training lots of dogs and volunteering many years at the humane society (I am not a professional) - "don't work harder, work smarter." You are trying way too hard and you are burning yourself out. That does not bode well for you or your dog.

He is hyperactive and needs to get his energy out, but that said, no dog needs 4-5 hours of activity a day. That is just crazy. Instead of running or walking (save your knees, you need them!) with him, train him to do urban mushing. Since you says he pulls a lot, it would be dangerous for you to get a regular bike so I would recommend getting a cart.

Next, buy him a weighted pack. Throw this on him (and feel free to put your water bottles and snacks in there) while you are walking or for a couple of hours a day and it will slow him down and tire him out. It also makes him feel like he has a job to do. Since you think he may be a blue lacey, you really need to give him a job to do since he is a working dog. That also explains why he doesn't like doing tricks but likes finding stuff for you.

A couple of activities that are great for a working dog are agility and nose work. Sign up for your local agility and nose work class and the people there will give you great tips on how to tire your dog out without burning yourself out since they are actually experienced with training with working dogs. These kinds of jobs also train him to listen to your commands in a home setting.

Your dog is not a extremely dominant or submissive, he is what working dog trainers call a "soft" dog. This means they are very sensitive to loud, verbal yelling or negative energy. It is hard to see them react when you overcorrect but this also means that they are very trainable since they want to please you. Use a calm and low voice when you correct your dog.

For working from home, you have to learn to ignore him. I know it is heartbreaking to hear his whining but the truth of it is, if you give a dog an inch, they will take a mile. He knows how to push your buttons and he will so you have to harden yourself up not give in. Instead, get him a bunch of interactive toys
like this 1, [2] (https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Mad-Scientist-Dogs-Level/dp/B003TOKTEG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1469997634&sr=8-11&keywords=interactive+dog+toys), [3.] (https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Gambling-Tower-Level-1/dp/B002XCTUIQ/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1469997634&sr=8-38&keywords=interactive+dog+toys) Fill them with his favorite treats and let him learn to amuse himself.

Lastly, this is probably the most important advice I have - get a gentle leader. It jerks their head to the side if they pull, so they stop pulling. It works amazingly for dogs who like to pull on their leash and do not respond to training. It seriously is a godsend for many of the dogs I walked in the shelter and could not control. It will save you many a more broken bones.

Feel free to message me if you need more help. I love helping people who love their dogs enough to not give up on them.

>When she does, I put her in her Den (Crate) but only if she tried to bite me. I know the den shouldn't be used for punishment, but I feel there has to be a way to show her biting is not tolerated.

Right now all you are punishing is the dog coming inside... which is going to create problems when you actually need your dog to come inside because now they won't want to. Yes, dogs learn by consequence, but the consequences MUST come immediately after the behavior you're trying to encourage/discourage.

Is your dog actually attacking/biting you? From your post it just sounds like your dog has developed a poor, perhaps over exuberant, way of initiating attention/play from you. How do they ask for play time in the house?

I would try to be proactive and initiate play with the dog before they have an opportunity start up with the behavior you want to stop. Maybe something with some distance between you and the dog to break the habit of lunging towards you or your hands. I would suggest a flirt pole. I would also suggest working on some obedience right before you take the leash off (ie ask for a sit or a down, remove the leash, and then bring out the flirt pole and release the dog to play).

The thing that causes this behavior is that he is a working breed dog who is extremely energetic. You basically described almost every lab I have ever trained. His owners need to give him a lot more mental and physical stimulation.

Since he is a lab, a chuck it ball thrower would be a great way to play fetch. A flirt pole is another really great toy for tiring dogs out.

For mental stimulation, mealtimes are a perfect opportunity. Have them get either a Bob-A-Lot or a Kong Wobbler for daily feeding and get rid of his food bowl. I recommend the Bob-A-Lot because you can make it easier or harder. This gives him ~10 extra minutes of brain work every day and you don't have to do anything extra.

Then basic obedience and chew/puzzle toys (kong marathon ball, nobbly nubbly, squirrel dude) will also help.

So he's six months old and acting EXACTLY like a puppy with a lot of energy. You need to DO things with him and TRAIN him in bite inhibition. Dogs use their mouths to communicate and that includes play. More than likely he's not being aggressive but trying to play with your hands/arms/feet.

Since he's still a baby you can't do heavy exercise due to them still having to grow but you can still do things with him. You can make a flirt pole (an example: http://www.amazon.com/Squishy-Face-Studio-Exercise-Squeaker/dp/B00HFFXEWE )and play with him outside. You want to ENCOURAGE him to interact with you positively outside. A tired dog is a happy dog.

I was expecting to see one of these in the link there

http://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59

no bending over to pick up and throw it much further.

If you have a pet, that's a moose made by Kong. A very good stuffed animal. Very durable and my Great Dane doesn't want to instantly rip the stuffing out of it.
sauce

Dog puzzle feeders.
My dog gets his dinner from toys everyday. I rotate between OurPets IQ Puzzle Ball, Kong Wobbler, Magic Mushroom, and Tug a Jug, since those are the slowest dispensing as well as easiest to fill. I also have a load of other ones but found them to be too easy for him (One minute to empty Buster Cube on "hardest" difficulty vs average 20 minutes from the toys I mentioned). I used them everyday for about 5 to 6 years and never had to replace them.( Then again, my dog is not much of a chewer of hard plastic.) My dog LOVES getting his food from toys to the point of actually almost refusing to eat while giving me a very sad disappointed face when I just put it in his bowl. He has fun and they tire him out (he is panting after every meal). Win for me.

Why not work in the yard on a long line instead of going on walks? Gets her outside and moving, but keeps her close to home, too. You can work up on distance when she is doing better. As long as you are active with your dog, it doesn't necessarily have to come in the form of a "walk".

Some alternatives:

• Training - ALWAYS good. Tires out the brain, builds skills and focus, can help with anxiety and stress, can be really fun for everyone. Tricks + basic skills are a good place to start. You can work up to more fun/physical things once you have a good foundation. Clicker Training is a really fun way and effective way to work with your dog. Training makes up a good hunk of our daily exercise/activities. The mental stimulation is what is really important for many anxious dogs.
  
  
• Flirt Pole - Tons of fun. You can play on a long line in the yard. Great way to work on impulse control and focus.
  
  
• Urban Agility / Backyard Agility - use common objects for obstacles (benches, stairs, poles, rocks, etc). You can build up different skills to help your dog learn how to maneuver these obstacles on cue. You can do things like cue to jump up on rocks/benches, walk across platforms (like retaining walls), weave between poles, etc. Good way to build focus and exercise the mind and body. You can make some homemade equipment, too (there are lots of different guides online).
  
  
• Fetch - you can play on a long line in the yard. If it is raining, you can also play on stairs in your house to burn some extra energy faster.
  
  
• Catch - you can play indoors or in the yard on a long line. Practice tossing objects up for your dog to catch. Play on softer surfaces - avoid concrete or hard floors to give your pup more cushion and be careful about encouraging your dog to jump TOO high. You can also incorporate stunts the more advanced you get or even look into flyball style games/training.
  
  
• Puzzles - IQ Ball, Kongs, Buster Cubes, Kong Wobbler, etc. Replace a meal in a bowl with a meal in a puzzle toy or two and occupy your pup!
  
  
• Scentwork - hid stinky treats or special scented objects for your dog to find. Here is some basic game ideas to help you get started. There are classes and tons of materials available on scent training.
  
  Not all of these are indoor/outdoor, but depending on the size of your space many of them can easily be done inside, too! It is really important that you don't let her apprehension about being outside keep her indoors. Counter Conditioning can be a big help in helping her become more confident outdoors - just work at her pace, but work consistently. Even if you stay close to home for the next several months and keep outdoor activities short, but more frequent throughout the day, it can do a lot to help her get over her anxieties.
  
  Depending on her level of stress, you could even try feeding her outside, or making sure the meals she enjoys outside have a little extra something in them that helps her realize how rewarding it can be to be outdoors.

I love that he has the face and head of a dog way bigger than he is. Good boy!
My pup knows yellow duck and it makes me so excited when I tell him to get it and he does. I should work on some others.

BTW: Yellow ducks have survived three of my aussies. One for each of them. The only toy none of them have ever destroyed. I replace them because they just get gross after a couple years. They aren't tough toys. I don't have any idea why they last. But none of my pups have ever town theirs up. Each of them coveted theirs.

I had a chunky foster who would scarf her food then cry for more. For hours.

I started feeding her out of this $8 tricky treat ball from Amazon & it worked so well. She enjoyed the play aspect (and it kept her moving!), and it slowed her down so much that she'd frequently feel full and come back to chill with me when there was still a little food left.

Like a Chuck It! ball launcher?

get one of these, some tennis balls, and get ready to never stop til they drop...

I am super jealous of dog owners who can chuck-it a ball, and their dog sprints after it and brings it back...rinse and repeat. Curse them!

It looks like you just got your puppy four or five days ago, and crate training isn't going to happen that fast. I would take a deep breath and see if you can remove yourself from the situation for a bit if you can, you being stressed and puppy being stressed is not conducive to getting pup to like her crate.

It sounds like you're doing everything right, doing it in steps, making the crate a place of fun and treats. The puppy is still very new to you and her environment, and has lost her family.

My big suggestion for you is to keep on plowing through, making sure you have time to come home from lunch to check on pup, and know you are doing almost everything right. This will pass.

In the meantime a lot of people have vouched for the Snuggle Pup which warms up and emulates a puppy that may make your dog feel less alone. I did not use it, but ended up putting in a sturdy heating pad (since my corgi was not a fierce chewer) into the crate, and it seemed to keep him calm.

I've been there. Everything you don't want chewed needs to be kept it out of his reach. Hide EVERYTHING. The teething and chewing does eventually get better, but in the meantime, crates and puppy-proof rooms are VERY important. Baby gates and wire playpens are good for blocking off hazards in common areas. Keep a close eye on him for now, check his stool for potential problems (blood, irregular, or lack of elimination = drop what you're doing and go to the vet). If you see a string, don't pull it.

I know you didn't ask for advice, but here are some things that really helped with my dog:

• Kong brand toys - practically invincible, and they give the dog something to do. Just make sure you get the appropriate size. That goes for all toys.
  
  
• Hard plastic toys are hard on the teeth, but you also want to avoid soft plastic that can be broken off and ingested. Find some with rubbery plastic like the kong toys.
  
  
• Rope toys are good for supervised chewing. Replace as necessary (ingested strings are bad).
  
  
• My dog really likes to chew on antlers. The sound he makes when chewing them makes me cringe, but he loves them and they are relatively safe (supervision is still important- edit: see the important notes about them below). Avoid rawhides (they can easily cause blockages). Bully sticks are safer if you can get past the smell and knowing what they're made of (I don't find they last long, though. Antlers work better for us and last for months)
  
  
• Tennis balls should only be used for fetch, never chew toys. They wear down the teeth.. When we were in a puppy class, I saw young dogs that already had permanent damage from them.
  
  
• Treat balls are wonderful. I put my dogs whole meal into one (if you cut off the top of a water bottle, it can be used like a funnel to get food into it). It not only slows down his eating for better digestion, but it gives him something to do so he doesn't get himself into trouble. The one I linked is the one I use.

I have a border collie, and I second this. One of the best things we ever did was get a Tricky Treat ball, which we feed her in every day. We don't even have a food bowl for her anymore, because she eats all of her meals out of this. We fill it twice a day and she does an amazing job self-pacing her eating, and it immediately calmed her down. She feels like she's working for her food, and she likes being independent, and she likes to feel useful. Every now and then if other dogs are over, we feed her normally, and she does not like it. She loves going for bike rides, but I've found that teaching a new trick does just as well at tiring her out, which is great in bad weather. She's like a person: she needs to feel like her life has purpose in a way that I haven't experienced with other, non-border collie dogs. Another easy thing to do in bad weather: play fetch up and down the stairs. Start with regular fetch, then start adding tricks to it. Make her sit and wait A LOT. My dog is two, and she's calmer than she was a year ago, in part because we moved a year ago to a house with stairs and windows that she can watch things from, and in part because we switched her to a grain-free kibble which solved her digestive issues, so be aware of that as an issue for lots of border collies!

Oh Lordy I have a ton...I'll try to categorize them...

Best for Puppies
These are all easy toys that dispense a lot of kibble with very little movement. Perfect for baby puppies or really low-confidence dogs. These can also be upgraded in difficulty later by stuffing them with wet food and freezing, or stuffing with a large, hard to extract treat (like a slice of lunchmeat).

• PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat...total pain in the ass to fill if you put more than half a cup of food in it, but it's a great "intro to puzzle toys" for a dog that has never had to work for food before. Also very easy to clean.
  
• Soda Pup Coffee Cup...representative of a whole genre of "rubber toys with large holes" that make great easy kibble toys or challenging stuff and freeze toys. Some other toys in this genre are the Kong and the West Paw Toppl. I like the Soda Pup ones best because they have higher capacity and a flat bottom.
  
• Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Snoop...pretty easy by itself with kibble, can be made more challenging by stuffing a Mazee ball in the large hole.
  
• Plastic Milk Jug...or a water bottle, raid your recycling bin. You'll have to supervise to make sure your puppy doesn't shred and eat the jug, but it's a relatively easy and fun (and free) enrichment item. Another puzzle toy you may find in your recycling bin is a cardboard box filled with paper balls. Sprinkle some treats in the box, fill with the balls, and let your dog forage around in your DIY ball pit.
  
  Easy Rollers
  These basically just dispense kibble by rolling. Not particularly complex, but good for the dog that prefers to solve puzzles by brute force.
  
  
• IQ Treat Ball...this toy takes the longest to empty out of all my toys, but it is way too freaking small and loud as hell on my hardwood at 6am. Really easy to fill and clean though, as it comes completely apart.
  
• Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball...a lot quieter but it empties faster and isn't as easy to fill (or clean).
  
• Kruuse Buster Cube...this one is also ungodly loud, but it takes a good while to empty despite the fairly consistent payoff per roll. It's a cube (but they also make a spherical one) and the insides have a few baffles to keep kibble from just falling out.
  
  Wobblers
  These require a more finessed rolling motion to empty, so they're the next step up from just batting a toy around.
  
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble...more of a wobbler/roller hybrid. Surprisingly time-consuming for how huge the holes are, and it gets an A+ for filling and cleaning. Unfortunately my GSD knows how to unscrew it, so it's not much of a challenge for him.
  
• Starmark Bob-A-Lot...lots of ways to adjust the difficulty on this one, which is nice. I had a foster chew the yellow piece off of mine, but it still works well.
  
• Kong Wobbler...pretty standard toy, I actually do not have one of these but I know a lot of people that like them. They're available at big box pet stores which is nice.
  
• Nina Ottosson Pyramid...very similar to the Kong Wobbler, but the hole is in a more difficult location. Good toy but the bottom could use more counterweighting for the wobble action.
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Magic Mushroom...really good wobble action, but for some reason it's common for dogs to try and chuck this one down the stairs and break it. I've heard of a few dogs doing this, including my GSD. I have no idea what about this toy screams "fling me down the stairs!"
  
  Complex Action Toys
  These need movement in more than one direction (or very specific movement) to get kibble out of, which makes them pretty challenging.
  
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-a-Jug...this toy is hard to learn but easy to master. Once your dog figures out the mechanism it doesn't last long. Also that rope gets SUPER GROSS.
  
• Nina Ottosson Board Games...I don't personally have any of these because my dogs cannot be trusted with small parts, but I've heard people say good things about them.
  
• Trixie Mad Scientist...this toy is cool because the dog has to learn to spin the tubes slowly or centripetal acceleration holds the food in. Good exercise in impulse control. I had a DIY one for awhile but my dogs decided to brute force this toy.
  
  Soothing, Low Energy Toys
  Along with the stuff n' freeze toys, these are good for dogs on crate rest or who need some extra help relaxing before bed.
  
  
• Snuffle Mat...great toy for activating a dog's foraging instincts and calming their minds. This is a good DIY project, or you can get extra lazy and chuck a bunch of food into the grass for nature's puzzle toy.
  
• HyperPet Lickimat...my cats eat their wet food from the orange kind ("buddy"), and my dogs use the green kind ("soother") with some PB or cheese as a distraction during grooming. You can spread a thin layer of something tasty on them and freeze for a long-lasting treat that promotes the calming behavior of licking.
  
  
  My dogs (and cats!) eat all their food out of puzzles so I am constantly on the lookout for new challenges! I'd be happy to provide more details on any of the toys I have, or buy and review any toys people have been wondering about :)
  EDIT: btw this Jackson Galaxy Asteroid is my favorite cat puzzle toy. They really need to make one for dogs because it is kinda quirky with its bounciness and super quiet.

https://www.amazon.com/Duckworth-Large-Dog-Assorted-color/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523192356&sr=8-3&keywords=stuffed%2Bduck%2Bdog%2Btoy&th=1

This was my Yorkie’s “lover” for his whole life lol.

My terrier mix puppy rips every single plush to shreds within minutes or hours of getting it except this stuffed duck which has lasted two and a half weeks so far and is still fully intact. I don't know if it's the texture of it or what. Clearly by the reviews, some dogs are still destroying it, but I've been super impressed with what it has survived so far and it's her go to toy and gets roughed up a lot. I've also heard good things about the softer toys from the Bark Box Destroyers Club.

I have designated morning toys for mine so I don't disturb my downstairs neighbor. Syd gets the quiet ones in the morning and the louder ones at night. I like to feed her breakfast in the omega ball or the tug-a-jug (only to be used on the carpet--how quiet this is might depend on the dog). The Orbee tuff is good too, but doesn't fit her whole meal. My dog will also chew through a rawhide in no time, nylabones can be a good alternative.

Out of curiosity, how is he playing with the kong that makes noise? Throwing it on the ground? That's what mine does, she'll grab it and toss it in the air so that it comes down with a thud.

https://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Seek-Treat-Shuffle-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC

You put a treat in each hole and your pet tries to slide the things over and get it out.

Lots of big dog stuff here! Here's some nice things for the little guys (~25 lbs and under). Many of these items are good for big dogs, too; will note them with a * sign and list them first in each section.

Treats

• Himalayan Dog Cheese Chew*: Long-lasting hard cheese chews; can be microwaved to make "cheesy popcorn" for your dog when it gets small enough to pose a swallowing hazard. Comes in a variety of sizes.
  
  
• Brushless Toothpaste*: Our dog LOVES this stuff, and it keeps his breath smelling awesome. Also helps keep his teeth clean. May want to introduce these into the dog's diet slowly, as some are sensitive to the ingredients but acclimate over time. Comes in an even smaller size for the really tiny dogs, and bigger sizes for the big dogs :)
  
  
• Freeze-dried chicken*: Easy to break into small pieces and sprinkle over your dog's kibble or regular food.
  
  
• Stella & Chewy Meal Mixers*: Great to sprinkle over your dog's regular food for both nutrition and novel taste.
  
  
• Fruitables Minis: Small and low-calorie; great for clicker-training your dog. Comes in a wide variety of flavors.
  
  
• Crazy Dog Bacon Treats*: Also small and very-low calorie; another good clicker-training tool.
  
  Toys
  
  
• KONG Mini Squeaky Tennis Balls*: Great for dogs who like either balls, squeaky toys, or both! My dog had zero interest in balls before these, and they're still the only ones he'll play with. Come in lots of sizes; not good for strong dogs who like to chew up their balls.
  
  
• Dog Tornado*: Easy introductory puzzle toy that's not too big for little dogs. Good for kibble, wet food, and treats. May be too big for dogs under 7 lbs.
  
  
• Dog Tower: Another great introductory puzzle toy suitable for small dogs. Good for kibble and small treats. Not sure how this'll hold up to big dogs, although I think it'd be fine with the gentler ones.
  
  
• JW Treat Pod: Kind of like the Kong, but better suited for gentler, 'licking'-type dogs. Easier to clean out as well, IMO; the small Kongs are so hard to get completely clean even with a brush.
  
  
• Outward Hound Flirt Pole: Fun and easy exercise, the Outward Hound version is more lightweight and suited for small dogs.
  
  Harnesses, Collars, & Safety
  
  
• Pet Stairs*: Large collection of pet stairs. Some on this page are suitable for large dogs as well.
  
  
• Hurtta Active Dog Harness*: High-quality dog harness for dogs that love to run around the outdoors in all kinds of weather and elements. Comes in a variety of sizes; for dogs 7+ lbs.
  
  
• Ruffwear Swamp Cooler*: Comes in XXS, XS, and S. Great for keeping your dog cool in the summer if you don't live in a humid area.
  
  
• Hurtta Pet Overall*: Great for rain and snow; comes in a variety of small sizes. Fit perfectly on our Pom mix and very high quality.
  
  
• Musher's Secret*: Protect your dog's paws in cold weather.
  
  
• Sleepypod Clickit*: Crash-tested car harness, comes in a variety of sizes.
  
  
• Sleepypod Mobile Carrier/Car Seat/Pet Bed: Crash-tested dog bed/car seat/carrier!
  
  
• Lil Pals Step-in Mesh Harness: For the seriously small dogs.
  
  
• Ollydog Marin Collar: Completely waterproof, rustproof, extremely durable, easy to put on...the perfect collar!
  
  Grooming
  
  
• The Stuff Detangler and Conditioner*: Keeps your dog's coat looking clean and glossy; easy to apply and doesn't have a strong odor.
  
  
• Lil Pals Grooming Kit: Miniature grooming tools for your miniature dog at a very affordable price.
  
  Edited to add more+formatting!

Multipet Duckworth (Assorted Colors) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-JrTCbAH7Q16S

It’s the most ridiculous phenomenon. I saw a thread of everyone talking about how great it was. Had to try it myself.

Edit original post

Wow aha. This sounds like my corgi puppy (female) a few weeks ago to a tee. She is now 15 weeks old.

​

I know you already know what I am going to say, but the little habits will fall away pretty quickly as he gets used to his new surroundings! At least it happened that way for me!

​

For the zero chill, I started forced nap times every 2 hours. She mellowed out pretty hard after that. They don't know how to self-regulate their sleep and a lot of the bratty behaviour is because they're overtired and overstimulated!

​

The eating of everything seems to be a common tread as well.. unfortunately that one hasn't gone away for me yet - I hold her leash REALLY tight (or even her collar) while I pick up her poo to make sure she doesn't eat it - gross. Apparently they grow out of this .. still waiting. Also, snails have become the new best thing to eat.. ugh.

​

As for the nipping, I found that yelling "OW!" really shrill and sharp, then storming away and closing the door behind me was super effective (and honestly kind of fun). My corgi is an attention fiend, so she learned pretty quick that nipping results in a loss of attention and play time.

​

Lastly, my corgi pup did the EXACT same thing with her kibble.. I tried soaking it in broth, even that got boring. So, I got her a treat dispensing toy and I load up her entire meal into it, she now LOVES her kibble. Corgis love a challenge, they're smart dogs. Maybe give that a try? It's a $10 investment on Amazon (https://www.amazon.ca/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Orange/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=omega%2Bpaw%2Bball&qid=1552483475&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1)

​

Best of luck! And don't hesitate to message me with any corgi puppy problems!

Does your dog like to play fetch? If so this was my saving grace.

Beware of imposter ducks !

Aww! What a little smarty pants.

If he eats too fast you should try a ball like this. He won't be able to break it open so he'll have to roll it around and can only eat the food as fast as it comes out (which is not very fast).

Puppy Update!

Sleep is much easier to come by now that her snuggle puppy came from Amazon. The thing has wildly exceeded my expectations. The puppy went from having crying/howling sessions 4-5 times per night to sleeping the entire night without making a peep with it.

why not a puzzle feeder?

there are a few types. I had a ball that would twist apart then you put the food in then twist it together. and there is a small hole for the food to come out. so the dog pushes it around the floor with their nose trying to get food out.

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_lmf_img_1

edit: ohh maybe not suitable for some dogs

as the lowest review

>within 30 minutes of playing with it our dog took it onto his bed & figured out how to unscrew the 2 halves of the egg


edit2: i will say there are some that do not twist apart. and i had trouble putting food in any that do not twist apart.

Don't go the shelter/rescue road just yet. You're definitely not meeting the physical needs of his breed, however, I think you can start working on some things to make him AND you happier. Some ideas:

• Dogs don't self exercise in the yard. Go out there and work with him. I know you have joint issues, so work on things that pushes HIM but not you. Teach fetch, or a formal retrieve. You can tie the retrieve to an activity such as go around, and add a place. Add as many commands as you want, but then, as an example, you would send your dog to (eventually) run out to the cone, go around, and then you might send them in a different direction to 'place', and then in the opposite direction to retrieve something. It'll wear them out mentally AND physically, but you don't have to do much work beyond the set up.
  
• Get some toy engagement. Fenzi Course on this available here.
  
• Introduce your dog to nosework.
  
• Train your dog's off-switch. Use matwork, and/or, capturing calm, and/or default settle, and/or the relaxation protocol.
  
• Make use of a flirt pole - tie it with obedience such as leave it, get it, drop it, sit/down, etc.
  
• Consider a doggy-treadmill.
  
• Drop the idea that walks need to be long. Try to walk him for an hour a day, even if that hour needs to be 6x10minute walks. :)
  
  Remember you will never, ever be able to beat a BC for exercise. :) Wear them out mentally and the physical part might be easier to manage.

Their intelligence is what leads to lots of their behavior issues. You gotta exercise that brain too.

Have a look at these toys. They have been great for our cattle dogs over the years. They tend to eat too fast so these tend to be food/game focused.

https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Dispensing-Medium-Large/dp/B000KV7ZGQ

https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Treat-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1480272473&sr=1-1&keywords=dog+food+puzzle

https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-Hide-Interactive-Puzzle/dp/B0043A71PU/ref=sr_1_15?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1480272473&sr=1-15&keywords=dog+food+puzzle

I love the above one but one of our dogs is too smart for it. She picks up the covers with her mouth and sets them aside. when she eats all she can reach she tends to turn it over to dump it out.

I'm super impressed with the bell to go out. We haven't been able to get ours to do that.

I love this! I kind of want a little meter that tells me where I am in life, but then again, maybe not...

My most epic "invention" was a cross between this, this, and this for people with menstrual cramps. (My friend also thought this was a genius idea. I invented it for her because she had bad cramps.) Basically, you would insert the ball thrower thing and cup it around your uterus and press a button. The umbrella would then extend to completely surround your uterus. You could then press a button and heat your uterus and ovaries from the inside. I don't know how you'd do this without severing something internal, but we swore up and down that we'd make millions.

See this duck here? https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000084E7Y/ref=psd_mlt_bc_B000084E7Y this duck has amazingly survived my dog since she was a puppy through her teething. He's her favorite toy and even though the constant squeaking makes me tear my hair out I'm glad she has at least one toy that she can chew and dig her teeth into and not have it fall apart. It's not even soft anymore and we've washed it dozens of times.

My advice? Crate train from the very start. It'll give your dog his own space and give you relief from those tiny teeth when you need it. :)

Puppies bite. A lot. Don't be disheartened by it.

Dogs like rewards. Check out positive rewards training like the kikopup channel listed in the sidebar. It'll save you a lot of frustration. I personally find this list of kikopup videos easier to navigate.

Dogs don't know how to walk on a leash until you give them direction. Don't expect him to walk next to you and not sniff everything in front of him. They don't know not to pull and sniff constantly. Teaching heel indoors before you ever need it outside is a lifesaver.

No pushing your dog's nose into an accidental pee. That teaches nothing and makes your dog think you're an unpredictable whacko.

Exercise, exercise, exercise! No forced leash running until he's fully grown, but until then, keep him from getting bored by getting him lots of play time. Training exercises require a lot of focus on his part, so that'll tucker him out too. Treat balls for feeding are super fun and herders seem to love them.

Be his best friend. The quality of his life depends entirely on you. No tying him to a tree out back and going on with life as if he doesn't exist.

Good luck with him. Add a pic to this thread once you get him so I can aww over him. :)

Hopping on here, I have a 5 mo Goldendoodle who did not do well with crate training at first. The woman we got him from suggested that many people had great success using Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Toy and it was an absolute game changer for us. Ollie has slept through the night (minus nights with belly aches), every night since. I would also recommend keeping the crate in your room with you, as others have suggested.

I also highly recommend Zak George’s videos on dog training, I read his book too, but the YouTube videos are extremely informational and worked really well for me when I needed help training Ollie.

For the puppy energy I took Ollie for lots of short walks, I live in Florida so the heat was a definite issue and I didn’t want to keep him out for too long, however, once he was walked he would nap for hours.

Apart from that, just give your puppy lots of love and patience and know it does get easier with time. I was pulling my hair out for the first month, almost two months with Ollie, but now, at month three, it’s like a switch has flipped. I can tell what he needs much more quickly than the first month and he’s much better about trying to communicate what he needs. Good luck OP!

Kong Balls last forever. I don't think they make any that squeak, though.

Firstly, get your dog neutered. There are places that will do this at discount rates (look for mobile spay/neuter clinics in your area) or local shelters/humane societies. Google it. There is no reason to not neuter your dog (unless you are a certified breeder and you intend to breed this dog).

This is something that my trainer told me that I found really helped - by the time you've seen a dog or person on your walk, your dog has likely been aware of them for some time, either through his superior sense of smell or hearing. This means that as soon as you see a person, you need to start looking at his body cues (See Here and Here) and then react appropriately by redirecting or distracting. My own GSD (female, spayed, 1.5 years old) is almost always in the 'alert' or 'unsure' stage when she sees another dog while we are walking.

As for the other stuff, it sounds like you need to go back to basics. Find a treat or a toy that he really likes and use that to train and only to train (meaning he will not get it unless you are walking/training). For my dog, training treats consist of boiled chicken, string cheese, or hot dogs (depending on what is at hand) but sometimes even this doesn't work. The only toy that she goes consistently bonkers for is a flirt pole. Start off by training a heel command indoors. When he heels consistently inside (without being lured by treats) you can move it outside. Stick to just in front of/behind your house at first, then move to longer walks as he gets more and more consistent with the behavior.

Other than that, consider getting a 30 foot leash (like others have said) and play play play right before going for a walk. Use play time to train cues such as 'drop it' and 'stay'. I also recommend looking up some trainers on youtube (Zak George, Kikopup, Victoria Stilwell). Its not the same as having a professional trainer, but it does help a lot.

Yeah it was those treat holes in the ends that were the toy's undoing. They gave my dog the right angle and leverage on the ends, and she ripped it apart in about 20 minutes.

This is the only thing she hasn't been able to get through.

Chuckit Ultraballs

http://www.amazon.com/ChuckIt-Medium-Ultra-2-5-Inch-2-Pack/dp/B000F4AVPA

They have xl 3.5 inches and xxl 4 inches for larger breeds.

Kong Solid Rubber Ball

http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Extreme-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B004VBC0SY

Bounces like a super ball.

Honestly, you exercise your dog while doing things as a family. I don't have a child, but some of my friends with a dog do and them spending quality time together usually consists of them going to the beach with a dog or going to the park with the dog, or going on hikes with the dog. They were active people to begin with (their daughter went on her first camping trip at 1 month old, the dad's a marathoner, the mom's a triathlete) so an active dog fit into their lifestyle. (They have a border collie - the most active of active dogs) Additionally, once your dog is 3 years old, they should calm down a bit, although labs are notorious for acting like puppies far into their adult years.

Generally, this is why people are actually advised away from labs - they're far more high energy than most people expect. They were bred to retrieve and hunt - to work the whole day with a hunter so they've got a lot of energy.

Does your dog have all their shots? Is there a dog park nearby? My dog will get wiped when she gets to play with all the other dogs. Have you taught your dog fetch? That's another great way to get out a lot of energy fast. Do you know what a flirt pole is? It's basically a giant cat toy for dogs (I got mine here). My dog is uber prey driven, so this is the perfect toy for her. You want to go easy on it as your puppy is still very young and their growth plates aren't fused yet, but it can still be very fun and tiring.

Does your daughter have a lot of fun with the dog? Maybe you can figure out some game that will not only tire out your puppy, but allow you to give your daughter your time as well.

Here's what I think you should try:

• get an exercise pen so you don't always have to worry about your puppy getting into stuff while you're working
  
• Take 5 minute breaks from work occasionally and work on some training with your dog - training is great mental stimulation and will also tire out your dog (also it's more effective when done in short bursts throughout the day)
  
• Don't give your dog any more food in a bowl. It always goes into some sort of puzzle toy (I have the starmark chew ball and the kong wobbler but there are tons) or is a reward for training
  
• Try to extend your walks a bit and make sure you don't always go to the same place. Sniffing new things is also mental stimulation and will also help tire out your dog
  
• Try to find more activities you can do as a family that will also wear out your dog
  
• Try a bitter spray like bitter apple for things she shouldn't chew on (my dog used to chew on the table, now she doesn't)
  
• Make sure you're giving your dog really good chews like bully sticks. They're pricey, but much less of a choking hazard than rawhide. I buy em in bulk off amazon.
  
• Try dog parks
  
• See if doggy day care, even for a day or two a week is feasible - it may really tire out your dog (most of them around here have a discounted rate for a half day, so that's an option as well)
  
• Try a flirt pole
  
• Try fetch
  
• Get thee to a dog training class! Once again, training will tire out your dog mentally so they're less likely to destroy stuff
  

Well yes and no - in my humble opinion.

You are doing great at taking your dog at 2 times a day - I do the same, once when I get up and once when I get home from work. We usually are out for no less than an hour each session. The big difference is that I usually have my dog fetch at least 1 of the sessions for the hour and he really get's a good run in.

One suggestion is maybe try to train your dog to play fetch? I know not every dog is going to have that "prey drive" and ability to do it as well as others, but if your's was like my dog - he just didn't know how to play "that game".

I got my dog from an adoption agency and I'm pretty sure he had terrible ill-prepared owners who ended up giving him away. When I took him to his first field and threw a ball for the first time - he just looked at me funny. I had to "teach and train" him what to do. Try this resource and maybe purchase one of these - they help out immensely.

Bottom line, it's probably not good to ONLY walk your dog. He needs to get a good run in at least once or twice a week (at the least and pending his size/breed). Teaching fetch is probably the easiest solution (and the quickest) and it requires little to no physical exertion in comparison to getting in shape to run with your dog.

https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59

Congrats! Asking questions like this is the first step to becoming a responsible GSD owner. I would keep up with the research as you two learn how to become good buddies; I've owned GSDs my whole life and I'm still picking up good tips from trainers and the like. I've got a detailed response below, but feel free to PM me if you want to talk further. I'm always happy to help, and I wish you and your girl the best!

To your questions:

• Yes, GSDs are totally German Shedding Dogs. But this is more manageable than you think! Make brushing fun by familiarizing her with a quick brush everyday, 10 minutes. Brushing a dog is twice as hard when they're squirmy. Get yourself a cheap self-cleaning slicker brush like this. As long as you make brushing a regular occurrence, you cut back a lot on and hassle.
  
  
• Depending on her age (how far into puppyhood), you might be facing some terrible 2's or 3's. Even older GSDs, if prone to separation anxiety or boredom, will bark and exhibit destructive behavior. The key is to boost confidence (look up separation anxiety training tips) and reduce boredom, which can often be helped with regular exercise, as you mentioned, and enrichment. If you're on a set schedule (e.g. Come home from work, quick brush, dinner for you both, then a walk), she'll be far less likely to drive herself and your neighbor nuts while waiting for you. Kong toys filled with frozen treats (peanut butter, kibble, cream cheese) are great for distracting her and keeping her occupied.
  
  
• Take a few minutes to dog-proof your house the first week you introduce her to everything. This means giving everything waist-high and below a second look; GSDs are clever and great jumpers, and will get into open cupboards more easily than you think. Does your backyard have a tall fence? GSDs have been known to clear 6 foot fences (mine did often).
  
  
• Here's some recommendations for a dog seatbelt. We have friends that use both Sleepypod and Ruffwear with good success. If you plan on bringing her along for car rides often, investing in a car seat cover is a great idea; keep hair and gunk off your car and makes the backseat a more enjoyable space for her. If you're into hiking, dog boots are absolutely the way to go.
  
  A few other things worth doing that will make both your lives easier:
  
  
• Start teaching dental hygiene now! My dog is 12-years-old and besides an old injury leading to hip dysplasia (a common GSD genetic condition), the only thing deteriorating is his teeth. Dogs that eat kibble and soft food are more likely to build-up in their teeth than dogs that eat raw (which is something you might want to research). I recommend grabbing an inexpensive doggy "finger-sleeve" toothbrush or just use a simple normal toothbrush and some special dog toothpaste and get your girl used to having her teeth brushed. She looks young, judging by her thin chest and big ears, so good habits will last her a lifetime! It'll save you a bunch of vet bills in the future.
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with which foods are not dog-friendly. For example, a lot of people know that chocolate and alcohol are bad, but are surprised that nuts and grapes are bad news. Veggies like broccoli, carrots, and pumpkin are great! We used to fill my dog's Kong with frozen pureed pumpkin in the summer as a treat; kept his coat nice and shiny.
  
  
• Raw bones are ok, cooked bones are not. Most people know not to feed dogs small chicken bones, but will often toss them a rib bone leftover from a BBQ. Cooked bones splinter easily and can hurt your dog. Swing by the butcher's next time you're grocery-shopping and ask them for a bag of marrow bones. They're fantastic for her teeth and your girl will love them! Stay away from cheap rawhide bones from Petsmart and the like; they gum up when chewed and are the opposite of healthy.
  
  
• I'm seeing a lot fewer tennis balls in dog parks these days, and for good reason, since research argues that they have some wear and tear on teeth. Chuck-It balls are rubber, bright orange, and hugely popular with big dogs because they're resistant to chew. They're meant to be used with a Chuck It Launcher which I've never seen a GSD not love before.
  
  
• Get her used to nail care ASAP and invest in a good pair of clippers or an electric dremel. Clippers are cheap, but scary to use for first-time dog owners because you're not experienced yet about where the nail's quick is. This can result in some accidental blood loss and, unfortunately, your dog deciding that you have committed a grievous injury never to be forgotten. A lot of people find using a dremel to grind nails down to a blunt edge to be less traumatic for dog and owner for this reason. Figure out which is best for you! A lot of dogs are sensitive to their feet being touched--handle her paws often (great excuse to each "shake"!) and use your fingers to gently touch between her toes. Great training for tick hunting and for nail grooming.
  
  
• Ask her politely to sit before each meal and before passing through doors and gates. Teach a "release" command (such as "OK!"). If she pulls on a leash, stop and ask her to sit; proceed when she obeys and looks up to you for your next cue. GSDs are super smart and love meeting owner expectations; let her know early which manners are standard and she will learn quickly. Her #1 priority is to be your best friend; be honest with her and she'll reward you ten times over. :)

Six weeks is really young. I'm assuming a rescue since any breeder would know to not separate a puppy from it's mom and littler mates at that age. 8 weeks minimum, 10 weeks better. There is still a lot of learning needed to be done there. Not sure how to over come that. As for the potty training 6 weeks is too young to expect much. Figure they can hold it for about an hour for each month of age. So, he's at an hour. You can start crate training. Use it for when he isn't supervised. Like when you're at work. Don't use it for punishment or as a place to put him while you watch TV, etc. Get him outside regularly. It's easier to potty train successfully when they never get used to peeing in the house to big with.

You might want to look into a heartbeat "toy" to keep in the create with him. My friend used this one. Someone else might have a better recommendation.

https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pet-Love-Snuggle-Behavioral/dp/B000C9YHFS

If he has a hard time with separation, you might want to get him a snuggle puppy (they make snuggle kitties, but the puppy is usually cheaper and kittens can't tell the difference...). It has a heart beat and it will make him feel like he has someone alive to snuggle with.

my bc/lab loves his flirt pole

We can go biking for hours, he'll take a nap, and be ready to go again. With his flirt pole, we can play for about 20 minutes and he's nice and chill after that.

I have 2 puppies right now. One is very much like tax, the other is very calm and relaxed.
He's probably bored and needs to get rid of energy. You could walk him around your house on a leash, that would get him better used to the leash and you being a leader, also gives him something to do and releases energy. Make sure he's paying attention to you while you do it.
Make sure he has plenty of toys and things to do. The best toy to keep my 2 occupied has been this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KV7ZGQ?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd

You can fill it with treats or food and they have to work at getting it out

Food dispensing toys will likely slow him down further, and also provide mental stimulation.


I use the tug-a-jug for meals and it works great for my dogs. Depending on kibble size only a few pieces come out at a time.

You can also feed meals by doing training exercises and using kibble as the reward. Again this also has the added benefit of keeping the dog mentally stimulated.

Regarding High quality good, there are so many options out there. I use Taste of the Wild brand, but in the past I've also fed my dogs Blue Buffalo(Stopped because it didn't agree with my dogs stomach) and Costco brand dog food( Kirkland wild domain salmon recipe) There are a lot of good quality foods out there, just avoid brands that use a lot of fillers like Beneful, Ol' Roy, and other dirt cheap foods.

You can feed him exclusively through food dispensing toys which will help occupy him and drain some energy. I'd pick up a couple different ones like this and rotate their use. See the recommendations below that, most of those toys are pretty good. The Bob A Lot is nice because you can put a decent amount of Kibble in before you have to refill. For hard puzzles, there's one called the Tug-A-Jug which lasts a long time. Freeze creamy stuff or wet food in Kongs to make them last a bit longer. If you can find a type of bone he really likes, keep a bunch in stock; chewing can be great for tiring him out.

And like other posters have suggested, practicing a little training every day will make a difference. Teach new tricks or mix in some basic obedience cues with a game of fetch or tug, using the toy as the reward.

Another non-squeaky, but my guy can kill a standard toy in (literal) seconds but can't hurt the black Kong toys. He'll definitely put dents in them, but he has yet to damage one to the extent that we would have had to take it away from him.

Try the following toys:

1. Elk antler
   
   
2. kong durable ball
   
   
3. kong durable tug toy
   
   
4. kong tough soft chew toy

lmao

However considering the "redneck meth head who owns a giant dog" detail, perhaps this could be helpful for OP...

https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Thrower-Assorted/dp/B00006IX59

My dog is obsessed with his Tricky Treat Ball. It is consistently difficult for him and he's constantly picking it up and running to different areas to try and get more food. I LOVE it.

I have also tried the tug-a-jug, but my dog doesn't care for it and it's REALLY loud on hard floors. REALLY LOUD.

You say she doesn't like toys. What about food? There are all sorts of puzzle toys now that dispense food, ranging from obvious ones like kongs to treat dispensing balls to more elaborate puzzles.

How about field trips? Getting out in public, seeing and smelling new things, will be mentally stimulating even if she can only walk slowly, even if she lays down to watch the action. For example, during nice weather, go grab coffee and set up a bed under the outdoor table for her to lay on. Even if she can't walk and run for an hour every day, she can still spend an hour outside with you sometimes.

Also, for the sake of walking on slippery floors, some people to use dog boots with rubber bottoms. They're generally sold for winter wear, but people use them for boating and older dogs to give traction. If your dog tolerates them, or if you're willing to spend some time counterconditioning to help your dog enjoy them, that could be an option sometimes.

To everyone that has a dog also in love with these ducks, I recommend the Hide a Squirrel

My dog was abused for many years before we got her. Years after that she still never played with any toy. My wife received the bumble bee version of this in the secret santa exchange, and we've since moved to squirrels. These two toys are her absolute favorite, and she is always ready to play when she hears them!

Find a good vet and positive reinforcement trainer or take classes still positive reinforcement. Makes sure to crate train. Be consistent with all training everyday. Give lots of mental mad physical stimulus during day. In morning before you leave house talk potty walk and play to use some energy up. Make training fun, exercise some before you start will help them pay attention to you. Which every way you go class or trainer you must still work with your dog daily between the sessions. Being consistent is the only way they will learn what is expected. Only working onece a week isn't going to help.

Understand dogs do not know what we expect of them and must be taught. Again be consistent use redirecting for bad behavior giving a positive experience.

Potty training again make it fun and make a solid routine. If caught in house simply sternly say "no out" and walk outside. I'd suggest bell training to ring every time you go out with out command also give dog a way to say I need out. When goes outside be excited with lots of love and treats. I'd buy a small carpet clean, use enxyme ceeaner with it, for messes they can happen when change causes stress.

They are perpetual toddlers who will always need us including entertainment. You've got this wihh everyone here to help when we can.

Also a week not hearing from a rescue is not ghosting you. They stay busy with many run by volunteers. Sometimes it takes a little bit for them to go over everything before making a choice and other people are also interested.
I am glad it worked out and you have you new family member.

A few toys ideas:

UOLIWO Dog Treat Dispensing Toy, Duck Dog Toy Squeak Dog Treat Puzzle Toy Durable Plush Chew Toys for Small Medium Large Dogs Training Playing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N2NLBQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Xl7LDbJTMP3F3

AWOOF Dog Puzzle Toys, Pet Snuffle Mat for Dogs, Interactive Feed Game for Boredom, Encourages Natural Foraging Skills for Cats Dogs Bowl Travel Use, Dog Treat Dispenser Indoor Outdoor Stress Relief https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N1JYYCW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ym7LDb7DCBKCJ

Our Pets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy (ASSORTED COLOR) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_in7LDb9AX6C5Q

Trixie Dog Activity Flip Board Strategy Game (9.05 inch) (Multicolored) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076MGW9RM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Fn7LDbBAQ1KAK

The Trixie has tons of different ones.

We have 5:

Slow Feeder

Kong Wobbler

Maze Treat Dispenser

IQ Treat Ball

Buster Food Cube

​

We use his kibble in these but will add treats cut up to pea-size or ham, chicken, etc also cut up along with the kibble.

Rambo eats both of his meals out of a puzzle toy.

​

We also have black Kongs that I put stuff in (kibble, rice, veggies, etc) , plug with some peanut butter or EZ cheese, pour some chicken broth into and then freeze

I've been using this instead of a bowl...

She binkies every time I go to put it down. Helps to keep her brain thinking too. Took her a few days to figure it out but she loves it now. It also slows down her eating so she doesn't just inhale the pellets.

Maybe a toy you put food in? Mine likes her food out all the time as well so she can pick at it, but if I put it in a toy she loves to knock it around and get little rewards. It's like a job, or a puzzle, it makes her feel accomplished and it's fun! I only mention it since she's making a lot of noise with one right now.

We have this and this and this and few ones with flippy little doors and whatnot that are good for holding a snack. It might be too stressful and frustrating for him at first, but if you stick with it and show him how it works he might take to it. Best wishes to your doggos!

Treat dispensing toys, puzzles, flirt pole (puppy can play with this some but no jumping or sharp turns), kongs, crate, training treats, blankets, enzymatic cleaner. And beanie babies for my dog that is obsessed with them :P

You can also get food/bully sticks/antlers on amazon but I usually order them from chewy.com

Edit:

Here are some of our favorite training treat brands.

Treat dispensing toy examples

I literally just made a post last night about puzzle toys! I'll go ahead and paste it here:

>I'm just going to start listing off puzzle toys that I like since I don't know which ones you'd used before.Kong toys are excellent ways to stimulate using food. You can also try food puzzles, such as the IQ Ball or Trixie Pet products. Snuff mats can also be helpful, if your dog likes to "forage" for food.
>
>Licking and chewing can also relieve stress. There's a lick mat that I recently found that my pups really love. You can put something like peanut butter or yogurt on it, freeze it, and my dogs go at it for 30 minutes. For chewing, you can look at variety of different things, such a bully sticks, chew toys, Himalayan dog chews, etc. My dogs like all of the above, but the longest lasting chews for them are Benebones.
>
>Search high and low for these types of toys and puzzles. You can often find discounted pet toys at Marshalls or Ross, if you have these types of stores near you. I know they can be kind of expensive, but a good brand will last forever, and for my dogs, they've been great investments!
>
>You can also make your own games, if you'd rather not purchase toys. Hide treats under plastic cups and tell [your dog] to "go find!" You can play hide-and-go-seek around the home. For a DIY toy, put treats in a muffin tin and cover each tin with a tennis ball for him to remove. If he is comfortable with these in the house, you can take these types of games outside, too.

As for helping your dog figure them out, I think you just kind of go with the flow. Show your dog, if he's having trouble, and be patient -- if he's not accustomed to figuring out puzzles, he's going to have to learn. Use the most scrumptious treats to engage and incentivize him.

I know there's research out there that suggests that dogs don't learn well by watching, but my puppy was having trouble with one of those Trixie pet puzzles, at which point I brought in my older dog to show him. He caught on right away.

My Boxer is a connoisseur of puzzle toys. In Minnesota, it gets way too cold for us to go on long walks to curb his energy, so I engage his brain when it becomes a frozen wasteland outside.

I feed Keenan out of a large Kong Wobbler -- he gets at least one meal a day out of this. It takes him about 30 minutes to work out all the kibbles.

IQ Treat Ball is great for pets that work out puzzles super quickly. This is a fairly difficult toy. Be warned, if you have hard floors, this is loudest thing ever. It's also the perfect size to get stuck under sofas with legs.

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball is easier to roll around and get kibble sized treats out of. It's also a pain to fill and clean. We don't use this one much.

Everlasting Fun Ball is also hard to fill and difficult to clean, but it's tough. When Keenan is on my last nerve, he gets something super delicious in this and it keeps him occupied until he gets frustrated with it.

Monster Mouth is really tough to get things out of for pups. I'll stuff full sized milk bones in this and leave just a tip hanging out so he can try to pull it out. It keeps him pretty busy, but he gets frustrated by this one quickly.

Buster Food Cube is brilliant in design--you can make it easier and harder to get food out of by twisting the opening. This was Keenan's first puzzle toy and when he figured it out, he got a lot of enjoyment "hiking" it through his back legs at a hard surface to make it bounce off and spray kibbles around. It's loud on hard floors. So loud my ex SO threw it away.

I also pick up random puzzle toys at the store when I see them. I can't find accurate representations on Amazon. Most of them are soft/silicone that you can bend to open and put treats in. Keenan likes his big football one because he knows the yummy, big treats go in that one.

I play the hiding game with my dog. I hide treats all over the house, and then I let him loose to find them. Keeps him busy for 15 minutes. Gives him a chance to sniff around and find things, and he gets to be a "hunter" for a little while. My family read about the game in a newspaper article a long time ago, and we've been playing the game with all the dogs in the family since then.

Also look for treat toys. This one (http://amzn.com/B003YHB8EI) from Amazon has been keeping my dog busy for the past couple years. He never grows tired of it.

Something interesting to get is a [bob-a-lot.](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JiVwxbF4BKWQC
) Or a flirt pole!

Both are fun, interactive toys that you don't see too often and I would love to get them at a dog birthday party.

http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP02290-Exercise-Training-Replacement/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419028105&sr=8-2&keywords=flirt+pole&pebp=1419028113252

Honestly, I would not risk it and switch to a flirt pole. Mine looks like a little squirrel and I imagine your dog would very much like that.

Hey man two weeks ago I was in the exact same situation you are. My GSD is a male and 14 weeks now. Since two weeks ago his mouth has gotten extremely softer. He still has an outburst here and there and I do lose my temper sometimes, but if its one thing this little guy has taught me, it's patience. I was at the end of my rope just like you guys and figured I would give it just a little more time and I have seen a huge difference in him in those two weeks. They don't call German Shepherd puppies land sharks for no reason. Now potty training is another thing....

Also, he does try to assert his dominance over me but thats become less frequent as well. He just wants to be a leader, you can tell. He used to hump me, got his first red rocket at 10 weeks, started marking at 12ish weeks (doesn't even lift his leg yet), so I can tell that if I'm not confident and assertive that he's just going to be a hassle to not only myself but others. You have to show him that those are your children and are more important that he is. One nice thing though is that he rarely barks and when he does I remove him from the situation.

Oh and I don't exercise him every day because of those damn hips, but I do play with him a lot. It helps that I currently stay at home all day but that's not going to last for too much longer so we'll see what happens afterwards.

Anyways, this turned out into a bit of a rant but if you want to talk just shoot me a PM or something.


Edit: Get her one of these! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042I5G2I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's like the best thing in the world to him. I'm also using it to teach him drop it so it works out. Only thing is he loves to chew on the chew toy and the rope so be careful with that or it'll come apart. Nothing some duck tape won't fix though, I hope.

I have a destructive chewer - she just enjoys dismantling things. So when I was at my sister's house and Pepper chewed on her dog's Kong toy for a half hour without leaving a single mark, I went out and bought two. Not all of them can stand up to her, but the Kong extreme toys like this one do.

My lab/pit Ella can't go to dog parks either as she's leash reactive (so like, actually getting her to the dog park is the issue) but she's young so she has craaaazy energy! We feed her both of her meals in either her kong wobbler or her "magic mushroom", we switch it up on her a lot so she doesn't get bored of the same puzzle feeder over and over. She's a pretty heavy chewer and hasn't been able to destroy either one!

We also freeze kongs for her pretty much every day, we'll put cottage cheese (her favorite) or broth with some cut up apples in it. Like I said earlier, she's a power chewer! So this keeps her mouth busy. She also gets beef trachea, nylabones, Himalayan chews and bully sticks. Chewing wears her out because she stays so focused.

The other thing we do is looooots of mental stimulation. We play hide and seek in the house, we'll hide her toys for her to find them, we do lots and lots of training, and we just try our hardest to make her use her brain! Our trainer once said 15 minutes of training is equal to 45 minutes of running in terms of exhaustion, so we've taken that and rolled with it lol.

ETA: here's a link to the magic mushroom on amazon! https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Mushroom-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B00520EJXW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506283184&sr=8-1&keywords=magic+mushroom+dog+toy

I have a 6 month old ACD mix, so we're in the same boat! They LOVE to learn new things and are very easy to train for the most part. The problem with ours is carrying those skills over to distracting environments, as he wants to pay attention to everything besides me.

Doing all you can to give him as much exercise and mental stimulation as possible will go a loooong way. If you don't, he'll probably become a terror.

If you're not making him work for his food, you're doing it wrong! Get a Buster Cube or a Tug-A-Jug or any similar food toys. It will make him think, and it might help you separate his food from the other dog's.

You need to always make him sit or down or some other command before he gets his food. I usually make mine sit, then I put the food down, and he won't go eat it until I release him. Once he can do that, it should be pretty easy to keep him from eating your other dog's food.

Do as much training with him as possible. Working his mind will wear him out pretty fast. Games like 101 Things to do with a Box really make him think. Teach a bunch of commands and give him pop quizzes by doing a bunch of them in random order for 5-10 minutes.

One cool thing I did was buy one of those big inflatable balls for kids you always see at Target or Wal-Mart in those big tall bins. He LOVES it! He herds it around the yard and wears himself out and I don't have to do anything except kick it around every once in a while. It's also really cool to see his herding instincts kick in without ever being taught how to do it.

You also need to embrace his velcro dog qualities. ACDs are great off-leash dogs because they always want to be by you. Find an empty softball field, an empty dog park, any large area with a fence, and get to work on it!

I'm not entirely sure why the cooing at toys would work. I feel like this is just anthropomorphizing the toy and your dog's "understanding" of the situation. If it is actually working for you, it's probably the fact that you are taking away the toy from her, letting her settle, and then returning it when her energy level/fixation are more in check. The "gentle" cue is definitely nice to teach, but it is probably working due to your addition/subtraction of reinforcer. That being said, "gentle" is a tough thing to teach some high energy dogs so props to you.

Also, the exercise thing is a great point. If you exhaust your pup with a good run or hour at the park they will be far less destructive in the house. Physical stimulation and mental stimulation need to go hand in hand, and one should not replace the other.

Just a point to bring up: if your (OP's) dog is chewing things like wires, socks, etc. he probably has a lot of opportunity to do so. How are you managing his environment - supervision levels, puppy-proofing, movement throughout the house, restriction when unsupervised (crating), etc? You need to minimize or eliminate as many possibilities for your dog to "mess up" as possible and set them up for success. For example, make sure he is in "puppy proofed" rooms with all foreign objects picked up off the floor and is provided with appropriate outlets for his energy (Kongs, stuffed bones, etc). A six month old puppy probably should not have free run of the house just yet, especially since he is most likely still teething and is still learning appropriate outlets for chewing. Slowly increase his freedom once he has learned these things. Start by keeping him in one or two rooms, gated off, and slowly increase his freedom once he learns more appropriate behaviors and has matured a bit more. Am I suggesting condemning your dog to a room for life? Absolutely not. You just have to manage his environment as much as possible and eliminate possibilities for him to fail.

It would also be worth investing in some brain toys to drain more energy, such as Wobble Kongs, Busy Buddy feeders, Buster Food Cubes, etc. In fact, feeding his meals exclusively out of these toys rather than a bowl would be a great opportunity to mentally stimulate him and drain more energy. Just make sure you supervise him as some of these toys could definitely be torn up if left unattended.

Just some food for thought. Hope you found this helpful! :)

Edit: Some products I've found helpful.

Brain toys for feeding:

• Kong Wobbler for meal times. Pretty durable and my guy can't figure out how to open it. Loves eating out of this thing, even if it was simple for him to figure out. My lab took weeks to get it though. Regardless, great brain-toy.
  
  
• Buster food cube for dispensing. Pretty difficult to figure out.
  
  
• Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble egg: My guys LOVE this, although the plastic just cracked on the inside after a few months. Can definitely be torn apart if left alone but super stimulating and engaging. Worth it!
  
  
• Tug a Jug for keeping them busy when you need to do something else. Durable bottle that gets scratched up. Ours is a few months in and still kicking.
  
  Chew toys:
  
  
• Kong XL for stuffing with RB, wet food, boiled chicken, etc. Strong than the regular red Kongs. Can also be frozen which increases the difficulty and time needed to get the food inside. have several I rotate out and they are basically the same shape as the day I bought them, which is impressive as my pup is a monster chewer.
  
  
• Filled thigh bones are pretty nice. They last as a while and can be rinsed and restuffed if the bone is still in good shape. Watch out, though - some brands are more prone to cracking and splintering while others last for ever. Trial and error basis. I can't remember the brand I use that works well but it's carried at my local Farmer Supply store (I find the bones and toys at these places to generally be better quality and also cheaper than chain pet stores).
  
  
• Meaty thigh bones are marrow filled and still have some "meat" on the exterior. They tend to last longer than the washed filled variety (above) and are "stinkier" and (I would imagine?) tastier. My guys prefer these to the plain bones since there are more goodies to get at. Downside is that they are a little stinkier at first and can possibly leave a mess, so make sure the dog is eating it on a towel.
  
  
• Bully sticks! Make sure they are real beef tendons though. Many companies make pressed rawhide varieties to resemble the real tendons but rawhide is, IMO, less safe for dogs. Last a while and smell like bacon but made my stomach a little queasy. Dogs go nuts for them though.
  
  
• Jolly Ball - not necessarily a chew toy but lasts a long time. Their teeth can penetrate the ball but the design is such that the ball doesn't pop. I had the variety with the rope that went through the center. The rope came off pretty quickly but the ball itself is still kicking. It is challenging to pick it up when playing fetch so he is less interested in tearing it to pieces than retrieving. It's poked through with holes but is the only ball that has lasted this long. Still going. Maybe worth checking out.

Most dog owners are also well acquainted with this principle

They don't have squeakers but I've had good success with rope toys. Not all dogs like rope toys, and some dogs shred them, if your dog shreds them then they shouldn't be allowed to play with them. For dogs that just chew the rope and try to untie the knots, I've had them last 5 or 6 months. An XL 3-knot like this could work (I usually get the large for a 40 - 60lb dog).

If you really like squeaky toys, you might try duckworth (the yellow one). There's nothing special about the materials or construction of this toy (meaning he'd delicate) of but for reasons I do not understand dogs that have destroyed all squeaky toys at my house have played with duckworth without damaging him. If you do try this, cut off that black thing on his head. He didn't have that when I bought him, but if he did I think it would be his undoing.

Overall though, I don't think dog toys are BIFL items. They're generally pretty inexpensive and given that your dog's jaws are strong, their teeth are fragile and you expect them to use their strong jaws and fragile teeth to chew on the toy, it's just not a recipe for a long lasting toy (or the toy lasts but the dog's teeth don't, which isn't a win overall).

This sounds a lot like boredom to me. Is it possible to get the dog out exercising more? Other things that may help are training classes to get him to think, or doggy daycare (nothing tires my guys out more than running with other dogs all day). Something that you can use indoors to help tire him out is a flirt pole. It will cost about $10 in supplies, and if you follow the "rules" that site lists then Pikachu is getting mental and physical stimulation, and you barely have to do anything.


Other than that, you might need to babygate off a section of the house - kitchen or bathroom, and get him used to being left in there. It's easier to keep one room spotless than it is to keep an entire house. Make sure to get a few puzzle toys this is a favourite of my dogs or a kong to freeze his lunch in to keep him occupied.

Good luck!

Both my dogs LOVE this toy Hide-A-Squirrel, its great because you can stuff it with a ton of toys and it keeps the dog occupied for a while trying to pull all the toys out. It's really popular on Amazon as well.

Another good classic option would be a Kong and treats to fill it like hard treats or soft treat.

Like others have said, crate train. Wrangler hated his crate the first time I put him in it, so go slowwww. Tips:

• Get a crate that's only big enough to let him stand up and turn around. Chewy sells a crate that has a divider so you can increase his space as he grows.
  
• Feed them near/in the crate. Play near the crate. When he sleeps, place him in the crate with the door open. Teach him that the crate isn't scary.
  
• Go SLOW. Start with closing the door for two seconds, then five seconds, ten seconds, etc. Do not open the crate if he whines or barks. Only open it up once he settles down. This may take a while.
  
• When introducing them to the crate, come back and leave the room to let them know that you're not abandoning them. Talk to them, but don't speak in a calming voice because it might teach them they have something to be afraid of. Speak in a regular tone.
  
• Don't use puppy pads! This will teach them to go inside the crate/house and is apparently a hard behavior to break. Yes, it is different than them going on a blanket because their scent entices them to go. You're better off just tossing a blanket in the wash.
  
• A puppy can generally hold their bladder/bowls for as many months old that they are plus one extra hour. So eight weeks, three hours. This is a general rule, and not always true, especially when they are in the crate. My 9 week old pup will go 7 hours in his crate before he whines to go outside. So do be prepared to wake up in the middle of the night to go potty. I would get an alarm app on your phone that goes off at a time (within a range you specify) where you are not in the middle of a sleep cycle so you aren't so groggy when you wake up.
  
• Put something with your scent in the crate that he won't rip to total shreds. I'd suggest a sweatshirt with drawstrings removed.
  
• I wrapped a small ticking clock up in a blanket to mimic a heartbeat to comfort my MAS. We then upgraded to a Snuggle Puppy
  
  I read a good crate training guide online, but I can't find it. When I do I will post it!

[These] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IX59/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zKmcAbB6ZHD24) are really great imo. Let's you throw farther.. Used to wear my Aussie out in no time.

this is one of those where different cultures having different definitions for the same word would cause a funny situation:

You - chuck = place; as in 'place it in and go'

US - chuck = throw, potentially quite hard, with little regard for accuracy; 'throw, potentially quite hard, with little regard for accuracy at the drive slot and go'

haha. clearly nobody is actually going to read it that way, but would be humorous.

bonus: Chuckit

Hi! We adopted a four/five-year-old frenchie a few months ago and have had great success getting her yeast infections, fur, and overall health under control. She was in literally the same situation before she was rescued.

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Our vet prescribed us ketoconazole wipes, which you can get on amazon (for less than the vet price! and it's the same thing!). These have done wonders for her face, paws, and bottom end. If he has yeast on his feet, he probably has it in his tail crease as well. At first, we were going through a pack of these every 3 weeks. Yikes. You can find them here: https://www.amazon.com/Mal-Wipes-Support-Healthy-Dechra/dp/B01IO9563E/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia?hvadid=178372316526&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9002006&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10651630771226582108&hvtargid=aud-647006051489%3Akwd-33682989493&keywords=mal-a+ket+wipes&pd_rd_i=B01IO9563E&pd_rd_r=17b03f45-b65a-4d10-915a-5f2d282f3f38&pd_rd_w=LhGqy&pd_rd_wg=7jM7d&pf_rd_p=23754a30-606a-4e0a-ba42-b43d14507217&pf_rd_r=NP7E26CJCVV82H56D8V6&qid=1554385994&s=gateway

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She came to us on a grain free diet but the vet put her on a grain-included diet for her heart murmur. We give her Honest Kitchen food and it's been working incredibly well. If you want to remain grain-free, they have an option for that. I linked her favorite flavor. Her tear stains have been clearing up, coat is all shiny, and yeast is more manageable since switching from kibble to this. Also, they have a great intro offer on prime. https://www.thehonestkitchen.com/dog-food/meals/dehydrated-grain-free/dehydrated-grain-free-chicken-dog-food

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Our Phoebe is big for a frenchie (30-35 lbs) and loves walks. She and I do 3-4 miles a day. She also loves to go for hikes and once a week will do a short run. People will tell you that these are "lethargic apartment dogs" but it completely depends on the particular dog. As yours gets healthier, his energy level will increase a lot.

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Also, Phoebe loves clothes. She did not have clothes before us. She will pick out a shirt to wear if I give her options. Her favorites are the Hanna Anderson dog pajamas (here: https://www.hannaandersson.com/discontinued-product/50902-AH1.html?dwvar_50902-AH1_color=AH1&cgid=). I think it's because the fabric is super soft. She also wears sweaters when it's cold, and will pick out which one she wants to wear. She has learned how to help get herself dressed.

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Frenchies should wear harnesses, not collars, because of their lack of defined neck and general lack of skill at breathing. If you're looking to spend money, the canada pooch ones are double adjustable and comfortable. Before she got that one as a special present, she had this one that my parents' beagle used to wear. She loved it, but the elastic was getting old! link here: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-EasySport-Harness-Adjustable-Reflective/dp/B00HY6TFKE/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=dog+harness+with+handle&qid=1554386488&s=gateway&sr=8-7

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Phoebe loves her toys and is a big chewer. Strong mouth. The toys that have held up best to her are these strange platypus ducks https://www.amazon.com/Multipet-Large-Dog-Toy-Yellow/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=duck+dog+toy&qid=1554386781&s=gateway&sr=8-3 and her trash panda, which she picked out at home depot https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loonies-Raccoon-54021/307751080.

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I have lots of opinions and recommendations so feel free to ask me questions! I love to talk about Phoebe. You can also follow her on instagram at @phoebephilothefrenchie.

Here's my list:

Kong - you can stuff it with peanut butter or canned dog food (and even freeze it!) to give to your pup. Super helpful for crate training and just for keeping the pup busy for a couple minutes.

Kibble ball like this one - keeps the pup from scarfing down it's whole meal in 20 seconds. Also - you can enjoy your coffee in the morning without worrying what the pup is getting up to.

Training treats (eg Zuke's) are great for clicker training - they're small so your pup doesn't get too many calories from training sessions

Harness and long lead (30 feet or so) - really handy for tiring the pup out. You can walk through a park/field or whatever, and the pup can zoom around and get some of their puppy fuss out.

Nature's Miracle for accidents - it's an enzymatic cleaner and works really well for getting the smell out of the carpet (and keeping them from viewing that spot as a bathroom next time!)

For the toys - it's really helpful to split them into 2-3 groups, and rotate which group is out every week or so. Otherwise they can get bored of all their toys

*This article is my go-to for crate training. It has lots of ideas for games to build up a positive association with the crate, and helps you work up to leaving the pup alone.

If she’s having issues sleeping at night, we got our pup this heartbeat dog toy. I thought it was a total gimmick, but holy hell it is awesome. Totally worth the $40


https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=asc_df_B000C9YHFS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076665015&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5067980424931547813&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008335&hvtargid=pla-352722601139&psc=1

Invest in one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5KRrybP8ATAGN

I've been there. My pup screamed like she was being murdered all night and I couldn't sleep. 99% sure the neighbors would have called the cops on me, honestly.

Your puppy is scared. Puppies cry like that to alert the rest of their family that they're lost. He has NO idea where he is and he has been separated from his littermates and mother and all he's ever known. So it'll be like this for a couple of nights.

If you get your puppy from a breeder (or even a rescue where he/she was part of a litter), ask them to provide you a blanket or towel that the other puppies have slept with - when it's time for the puppy to come to your house, he/she will miss his littermates more than anything else. We combined that with a Snuggle Puppy and it helped him overnight a lot (remember - it's a HUGE change to go from spending every moment in a squirmy, warm, heartbeat-y pile of pups to sleeping alone in a crate).

Puppy blues are real. Know and prepare.

Read Before and After Getting Your Puppy and Perfect Puppy in 7 Days - 90% of the advice I could give that saved us came from those books. They're wonderful.

As others said, the biting is insane. Have realistic expectations. Potty training takes a long time. Growing out of biting takes a long time. Sleeping through the night takes a long time.

Parvo risks vary from area to area, so ask your vet whether you should take your pup out in public - and if they say don't go in public, understand that they mean your pup shouldn't walk where unvaccinated dogs have possibly been (for instance, we didn't go on the trail near our house or on our front sidewalk because our house is directly on the route to the trail). But you CAN and SHOULD do playdates with vaccinated dogs, have lots of puppy parties at your house and friend's houses, meet TONS of people of all genders/races/ages/etc., take him/her to dog-friendly places like Lowes (I used the cart when I was nervous about him getting parvo from the floor - it's more about socialization than exercise!), etc.

That's pretty neat. I had a food dispenser for my last dog (who was a pukey guy). When the food got released, it did make a lot of noise. How smart is Henry? He'd have to work for food to get it out. The dog I have now is smart, so we put some food in there and he has to work to get it out. http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Premier-Buddy-Tug-A-Jug-Medium/dp/B000KV7ZGQ.

Also, some of the rescues I've helped with recommend freezing treats in a Kong.

Also, you might want to bring it up next time Henry has a check up. Our last dog required daily antacids. The acid was making him throw up.

We've just abandoned any stuffed toys for Joe, because what is enjoyable for him is methodically ripping them apart. The first thing he goes for is the tag, because he knows that comes off easily, and after that he goes for the seams :)

Anyway, best toys for him are ones that we play with together: this flirt pole is great and I'm surprised how sturdy it is; we have a rope tug toy (it used to be a snake but the head was stuffed and so it got ripped apart within 24 hours!); and we have a Hol-ee roller ball which he enjoys chewing occasionally and chasing even more rarely! The holes are a little big to put regular treats in, but once I put the end of his rawhide chew in there and he had a LOT of fun with it, and another time I stuffed it with socks and an old dishcloth for him to pull out the holes because I thought it would replace stuffed toys a bit more safely. Then he tried to eat my sock, so I haven't done it since :P But it's fine if you're going to supervise!

We also have a rawhide chew for him and an antler. He really likes the antler; I think next time I would get the antlers that are split down the middle so that it's even more attractive to him.

I wouldn't recommend fishing line. It can get caught up in the dog or you and would be more painful than something thicker. Well, if you are as clumsy as my dog and I are, it can. My dog uses her paws and the cord on mine caught on her carpal pad. It gave her a little burn :(

She also once knocked my feet out from under me while chasing, which shocked us both but luckily we were both ok. I am really careful now to not have her cross behind me!

I have this one. I like it. The toys that came with it didn't last very long, but I just use other toys that I already had.

Yes! I second this. I just got a different version of this toy today and we all LOVE it! We live in an apartment and I'm not comfortable taking my puppy out on walks since she still needs to finish her puppy shots. The toy in the model we got squeaks and rattles! Plus it comes with a second replacement toy to attach when the other gets worn out.

outward hound tail teaser

they're really great. Scout KILLS antlers, I won't even buy them anymore, they're not worth the cost to chew time ratio. And she turns up her nose at the wood chew toys.... Also if you haven't tried kong wobblers, and/or mushroom dog toys, I would recommend them!

Get him a https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M

Also had luck with sour apple spray.

edit, adding: really the biggest thing that worked for us was providing ample and attractive alternatives.

we do go through a lot of soft toys. my dogs like to "seek the squeak". but I have found if I get large sized soft toys like those made by Go Dog, Tuffies, that my dog cannot easy close their jaws around, they last longer. Also balls from planet dog do well.

Then I get the petstages antler and stick. I don't like the really hard nylabones and stay away from antlers or anything really hard because my one corgi cracked some teeth and had 3 removed.

I also just tried the https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M?th=1 for my dog

They seem to like it.

Haha I know all about rubber toys and the millions pieces you'll have to pick up afterwards. I remember seeing an online list of the best toys for Pits and bought some.

Currently, I have the Benebone Wishbone both Bacon and peanut Butter flavor. I bought this for her about 3 months ago and theyre only halfway destroyed. Definitely worth it.

I also have this Nylabone toy and just like the Benebone, it has lasted the past few months as well. This one is wearing down more, but 3 months is fine with me.

Finally, these Goughnuts toys are great. I bought both the Stick and the Donut, even though my Pit likes the stick more.

And I have a large amount of tennis balls because you can never have enough lol. Hope this list helps!

A flirt pole is like a giant cat toy for dogs.

They make puzzle toys for dogs that force them to work out how to get the food- have you tried those? I've had to pick one up for a cat to put treats in, because if I do not stimulate him intellectually, he'll pull apart the cabinets.
these or these.

Hi!

My chi’s LOVE food puzzle games. We got our teacup an IQ ball on amazon and she rolls that thing around - it gets her some activity, feeds her, and she uses her brain. My bigger chi likes this one

Maybe that will help?

how old is she?

leashes/collars:

our puppy was cleared to go home at 7.5 weeks and 9 pounds. we went to target and got a boots and barkley size XS collar. it was $4. we only spent $4 because within a month she was in a M collar. she's going to need a large collar in the next few months.

we had a lighter leash from our other dog (cocker spaniel) that we used until we switched collars, then we got a heavier duty 6' nylon leash off of amazon. 6' is a good length for training because you can do come and stay with 6'.

it's really tempting to spend a lot on cute collars and leashes when you get them, but they grow so quickly that it really is kind of a waste of money...

toys:

a puppy kong would be good (believe this is the baby blue one). she'll be learning to mouth. we also got some softer plush toys for her, smaller, because she can't get her mouth around the bigger ones. samus REALLY liked small flat toys and there isn't stuffing for them to rip out of with their razor sharp puppy teeth. the stuffing can make them sick if they ingest it. also, some of the flat ones have a crinkly paper sound and not a squeaker, which can also be better.

https://www.jefferspet.com/products/flat-farm-toys

goldens are REALLY smart so you have to keep them busy. there are a lot of 'puzzle toys' out there but samus always figured them out within 10 minutes. even as a 2-3 month old puppy the ones that say 6 months + were way too easy (she is just turning 4.5 months).

my husband found this toy on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Treat-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG

it is our LIFE SAVER. it is the ONLY toy that keeps samus interested for HOURS. it has to roll on carpet though, so if you dont have carpet it might not be a good choice. we tried other ball/puzzle toys and she would figure them out. we put a handful of her food or some treats and her food in the ball and she is so busy. the kicker with this toy is that the inner platform has an adjustable hole to make it more difficult for the food to fall out of, and then it falls into the ball and has to fall out of the second (outer) hole. so, out of everything we have ever purchased, this was the best $8 we have spent.

bowls:

we used a small 2 cup pyrex like dish for the first couple of months and now she is in a Kong slow feed bowl from PetSmart.

https://www.petsmart.com/dog/supplies-and-training/bowls-and-feeders/food-and-water-bowls/kong-slow-feed-puzzle-dog-bowl-5231739.html?gclid=CJTgksmI9dECFY62wAodQoEK5A&lsft=utm_source%3Agoogle%2Cutm_term%3A5231739%2Cutm_medium%3APLA%2Cutm_content%3AGSC%20-%20PLA%20-%20Hardgoods%20%7C%20Dog%20-%20Supplies%20

food:

we do natural balance limited ingredient lamb and brown rice puppy food. puppy food is important because they're growing. our vet told us large breed isn't necessary because large breed is more for your dane sized puppies. whatever you feed her, make sure you are starting with an 80% breeder provided food/20% your food, next day do 70/30, 60/40, etc...slow moving or it will upset their bellies and you'll be sad because they can't hold their liquid poops in since they are puppies. ask the breeder for a weeks worth of food for the transition.

misc:

• clickers to do clicker training.
  
• soft treats for when you start name recognition
  
  if you have a petco near you, ask them for the puppy coupon book. it'll come with a lot of 50% off coupons for treats that you can use with price matching and manufacturer coupons.
  
  I took these 50% one bag of 12oz tricky trainer treats, looked on their website, got a price match (it's usually a ton cheaper on their website) and then got the 50% off of that price match.
  
  I ended up with 3 bags of treats for about $4
  

Yup it has an adjustable opening. It comes in different sizes too. The blue one pictured there is for smaller dogs (I use it for my 22 pound JRT) you can get 2/3 cup of food in it.

Slow feeder ball

Every dog is different! This is just a rough list, but hopefully some of these things will entertain your puppy:

• A good tug toy. Either a rope or something long and durable (we use braided sheepskin) that your puppy can get ahold of without putting your hands at risk for chomps.
  
  
• A couple tennis balls and a chucker. 99% of dogs love tennis balls.
  
  
• A soft stuffing-free plush toy for them to carry around and cuddle. Stuffing-free so you don't have to worry about them swallowing anything. Bonus if it has a squeaker.
  
  
• A couple puzzle toys. I personally like Starmark's puzzle toys, in particular the Pickle Pocket and the [Bob-a-lot] (https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=pd_sim_199_6?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GGKBW1XCD9KTGNVHJRHB).
  
  
• A chew. They sell puppy-safe plastic chews that are probably best for dogs under 5-6 months. Once he is old enough you could try him on bully sticks or twizzies.
  
  
• Bonus toy that provides a different texture/movement/challenge for your dog. Maybe one of those really tough toys made out of firehose material, or a wood burl, or ?? Some dogs just like empty water bottles.
  
  

My dog loves this puzzle toy. But really any puzzle toy with a treat associated will do. They love having a task to break up the boredom.

puzzle toy

the shelter i volunteer at gives kongs to all the dogs. i've never seen them tear one up. maybe i'll see an indentation on the kong, but i've never seen one break a piece off. seriously, hundreds of dogs, never an incident like you're describing. saint bernards, pit bulls, german shepherds, no kong incidents.

peanut butter alternatives: you can fill the kong with food mixed with peanut butter. sometimes i'll put rice and chicken in the food processor until it's a thick paste and fill the kong with that. or, you can make some "honest kitchen" wet dog food, put it in the kong, leave it in the fridge, and give it to her when you leave.

kong alternatives: i like busy buddies. I started with this one and moved up to this one (removed the rope) for my dog. This is where she gets all her food now. You can fill it with normal food if you're worried about the dog's weight. These are a little harder, so if the dog doesn't seem interested when you introduce them, you can fill them with really high value treats like hot dog pieces until she gets the hang of it.

you can give her the toys when you leave and take them away when you get home. Some people don't like to take the toy away when the dog is using it -- because it can lead to food guarding -- but that may be no big deal if you're only working on separation anxiety.

it sounds like the dog needs a lot of enrichment. in addition to toys, i would also check out clicker training. it's a good way to exercise the dog's mind and anyone can do it.

also, don't give them rawhide. bully stick instead.

more walks may help. take her down to the park and meet men. i don't have a fenced yard, either, so i got a 30ft leash so my dog can run around. i also run with the dog every now and then.

there's no magic bullet, but there are a lot of small things you can do. all this sounds like a big pain in the ass, but it's probably easier than cleaning up a bunch of trash when you get home.

also check out /r/dogtraining. there are people with actual qualifications there.

and if you decide to get professional help, check their qualifications. CeXXr MXXXn is like the Scientology of dog training. A lot of "trainers" and "behaviorists" will claim to be a "member" of a dog training association. That just means they go to conferences and pay dues. There are lots of CXXar MXXXns in disguise, like BXXk BXXXXXs. You want a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist or a Certified Pet Dog Trainer or a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant.

EDIT: Formatting

My border collie pup really enjoys this. I make him work for his dinner and breakfast. It has helped loads in turning down his destructive behaviors.

I think Kongs are a good start.

I think with young puppies though, depending on their food drive and motivations, they may or may not take to puzzle toys early, so don't feel badly if it's too much for them.

We actually didn't start our dog on puzzle feeders for any "intelligence" benefit - she had super high food drive and kept eating quickly without chewing, vomiting out her meal, then eating her vomit, so we bought a slow feeder bowl which was perfect for her at 4 months old. We fed her out of frozen-solid Kongs in the morning starting when she was 5 months old to help curb her separation anxiety, and then eventually bought a Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble. Even on the easiest settings, she struggled quite a bit as a puppy so we cut down the stoppers to make the flow easier. When she got better at the game, we re-bought the toy and made it substantially more difficult.

My younger dog, a Samoyed, actually doesn't eat out of toys. He has a lesser food drive and while he'll occasionally eat out of a toy, he prefers to just eat his food and work for better snacks (i.e. training for high value treats), so figuring out what your future dog's preferences are is definitely going to be something you'll have to do as your dog grows up. This dog did not eat out of Kongs until he was about 6 months old, either. He's just as smart, just not as insanely food driven as my first dog!

I would try a food puzzle instead if the slow bowls were too easy. IMO, I would be worried about bloat too. Inhaling their food to the point they choke doesn't sound healthy. Others can comment, but my pup's eating behaviours haven't changed when he got older. He was a picky puppy and he's still picky. We leave his food out all day and he never eats it all.

Have you tried these? Heavy bottom wobbler, Round dispenser.

Those slowly dispense food, the holes are only so big so he'll have to slow down no matter what.

I feel your pain. I just had my pup spayed in late December. Your pup sounds like she might be more energetic than mine but my lab definitely wasn't happy about being kept inside that long.

People here told me puzzle balls too but I'll try to be a little more specific. Out of all the puzzle balls I found this one to be the best one http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1393869755&sr=1-9&keywords=dog+puzzle

I fed her her meals out of that when she was housebound. It typically takes her maybe 30+ minutes to get most of the kibbles out. Sometimes longer. Between 3 meals you will probably keep her entertained maybe 2 hours with no work on your part (other than having to listen to the ball roll around).

Another game my dog likes to play is hide and seek. I'll tell her to sit and stay in a room and then call out "come!" from another room and have her find me. Hope that helps.

• Lupine collars and leashes - they have a great guarantee of free replacement if the dog chews up the collar or leash. Perfect for puppies. You can find them in most specialty pet shops.
  
  
• Kibble Nibble - this is an interactive toy that I recommend feeding your puppy and grown up dog from. It keeps them busy and they have to work for their food.
  
  
• Nylabones - start with the puppy ones and when your pup starts getting adult teeth move on to the regular versions. Rotate teething toys so your pup always has something interesting to chew on.
  
  
• Sterilized Bones
  
  When you buy Kongs make sure you get the large or x-large size. Don't fall into the marketing scheme where you buy as they grow. Large Kongs are great because you can stuff all sorts of things in it to keep them busy.
  
  Kong Recipes
  
  If you have an Amazon Prime account I'd order a lot from them. Free shipping saves you a lot. If you don't have Amazon Prime then you should look at ordering from a bulk pet supply place like Pet Edge. You have to order $60 worth of stuff to avoid the surcharge but you can get some good deals depending on how expensive shipping is. I try to split an order with a friend to keep costs down.

Try getting him some toys that will keep him occupied while you're gone as well as crate training! He is bored, has separation anxiety, or both and would benefit greatly from crate training and toys to keep him occupied. We feed solely out of "puzzle treat dispensers", the Starmark Bob a lot being Lucy's favorite, and give her a bully stick to chew on as well. Most people seem to use filled frozen kongs since it will hold the attention of the dog longer. Another thing that would help would be to exercise more before you leave.

Address the problem of destructive behavior now before it gets worse and it will solve a lot of heartache for you and your pup!

I am thinking of getting one too! Found them on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4)

One of my favorite things to buy myself some time is what we affectionally call Bob (or the bob-a-lot by StarMark). I had my eye on one of these when I first brought my puppy home and didn't buy it for awhile but when I did it revolutionized my life. This keeps my pup busy and entertained forever. We will give her some food in the bowl for meal times but we put aside a lot of the daily food to be fed out through this. Our pup is incredibly food motivated but sometimes is super selective about what she'll chew.

First of all, thanks for saving those babies! I've never actually raised a piglet, but I know there's an underage pig Facebook page and they're very helpful. I do think piglets can start eating very milked down pellets pretty young, but, again, they would be your best resource.

When your pigs start getting older--please find a vet and get them fixed. I cannot tell overemphasize how important this step is, so I'll just leave it there. When they're old enough to get fixed, GET THEM FIXED!!

I would also recommend harness training them early on, since my 4 year old thinks his harness is the devil and won't go near one for all the cheerios in the world. Ditto car riding. Give them lots of praise (and, more importantly, treats) so they want to wear their harnesses/go places.

As far as toys go, our pig is super lazy, but he loves this for indoors and he has one of these for the yard. Either of those can keep him occupied for an hour at a time, though you might need to check in on them from time to time to make sure their ball hasn't gotten stuck or they haven't knocked anything else. (I once got out of the shower to find my entire living room rearranged because of the path the ball had taken...)

Good luck! Your pigs are lucky to have you!

As long as you tire her out every day you will not be disappointed! Welcome to the club.

It took me a few months of pushing myself to get more comfortable trusting our adult adopted ACD (adopted in Feb this year) but after I realized he's not going to take off sprinting when he's off his leash, the bond really solidified.

They are very smart and have a lot of personality. I've only been able to find one toy that mine wont destroy within a half an hour.

Above all other advice make sure you get pet insurance (I think we have healthy paws). Within a couple of months we had to have a few teeth extracted from ours before we enrolled. $700. They are hearty pure breeds, but they're still pure breeds and have genetic issues sometimes, or they just play hard and tear their ACLs often (my vet recommended fetch with a ball rather than a frisbee).

I also highly recommend agility training. My ACD loves it and can do a full hour before getting brain drain. I've been tempted to try taking him to a dog friendly sheep ranch but I don't want to unlock his heeling instincts, I'm fortunate to have an ACD that is more of a retriever than a nipper.

My less intelligent dog gets this [Starmark toy] (http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4). I like it better than the Kong wobbler, it's much quieter.

The top end has been gnawed on a lot because I am not great about picking it up, but the toy is still more than functional, if a bit raggedy. He's not the brightest, but he's crafty and loves to dismantle things. You can adjust the difficulty if you like, which is nice.

The smarter one gets the [Kong satellite] (http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Satellite-Treat-Dispenser-Dogs/dp/B00BJZ5DMU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1420219968&sr=1-1&keywords=kong+satellite).

It took him 3 months to destroy this one, but I bought a spare because I know him. It's a really difficult toy to solve. The hard plastic was worrisome at first, because his default solution for a new puzzle is to carry something to the top of the stairs and fling it down. He grabs the little satellites and flings this thing all over the house.

I tend to feed them in the morning with these and pick them up when they have gotten all of their food. Most of the hard plastic toys will be destroyed pretty quickly without supervision.

For a longer lasting puzzle toy to pacify them when we can't go out, I like softer toys. [This] (http://www.amazon.com/Cycle-Dog-Consumer-Recycled-Material/dp/B00FIWCJNQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1420220254&sr=1-1) one was a bit difficult but I accidentally got the big one, and they can't get their mouths around it to crush treats small enough to get out. We got [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Buddy-Squeak-Treat-Booya-Large/dp/B00MPE5FJU/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420220442&sr=8-2-fkmr2) in a bark box and they love it. I don't love it as much because of the squeak, but squeak > stir crazy dogs.

And when all else fails, a 2 L soda bottle with a small hole cut in it is awesome. It's too big to get a good grip on, especially if you cut 2 of them in half and duct tape the bottom halves together, so it lasts a long time. And if they tear it up, it's no big deal.

Here is a tip you need to know. If you bake fairly often and need buttermilk but don't have any, you can make your own. Pour 1 Tbsp of white vinegar in a measuring cup, and fill the rest of the cup with milk. (Up to the 1 cup line of course) Allow it to sit on the counter for roughly 5 minutes and voila!

Obviously Kong was where we started. We moved to the kibble balls, the balls that dispense kibble if rolled a certain way. We recently went away from kibble and moved to raw so we’ve been putting a few small training treats in the kibble ball. The one we have is cylinder shaped, rather than ball shaped
That turned dinner time into a job.

We’ve since started buying random puzzles on Amazon. Here’s a few we like. You do have to monitor them to make sure they don’t brute force their way through the puzzle.

https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Products-Flip-Board-Level/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1540311818&sr=8-4&keywords=Dog+puzzles

https://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Interactive-Specially-Designed-Training/dp/B0038WP1YC

Yeah, increase his exercise, and start incorporating more mentally stimulating activities. Ditch a food bowl and start feeding him out of puzzle toys or through training. Get a flirt pole and also add some impulse control training into that (teach a drop it, get it, etc. and use it while playing with the flirt pole).

I know the feeling about walk lengths. I live in WA and we have been having basically flood weather this whole fall/winter and its hard to want to do the full walk with my dogs when it is monsooning every morning. I actually still need to get a rain jacket for one of the dogs because he has a soft coat and doesn't repel water like it should. But doing some morning training sessions will help out a lot.

Also have I told you about the amazing flirt pole?? It is my shibas favorite toy. It exhausts her and is a lifesaver in crappy weather.

You can easily make one, but I'm lazy. SquishyFace makes a really good one.

A puppy's first fear period is 8-11 weeks. Welcome to your dog's second fear period. It could pass quickly or it could last until he's a year or 14 months.

The first thing to remember is not to push him. You are correct for not dragging or carrying him. It's important that he learn coping strategies. For the next week or so while you teach him the basics of coping with fear, is there a "safe" area you can exercise him without pushing him past threshold? Do you have a yard you could use to exercise him with a flirt pole?

What you need to do is teach him how to be brave. The two best things you can do are to (a) teach him to touch stationary objects with his nose, and (b) teach him the engage-disengage game.

(A) At home, teach him how to touch objects with his nose on command. Here is a little bit about teaching a nose-palm touch, which is very useful. I extended this skill further and taught my perpetually worried pup to walk up to objects I point to and touch them with his nose. I taught him using basically the same technique as you'd use to teach a hand target behavior.

Start with non-scary objects, and move your way up to things that might be a little scarier inside (a newly opened umbrella gets a lot of dogs).

Then start practicing this in your yard, first with safe objects and then with scarier things. Then move to a walk 100' past your house on either side. Pick random objects to ask him to touch his nose to, and lavish food and praise when he touches them.

(B) Teach him the engage-disengage game. It's a "game" that will teach him to look to you for guidance when he is frightened. When he looks to you, stand confidently and offer him praise and food.

You should see pretty fast progress once he starts figuring out the game. Just make sure not to push him too hard - if he's struggling, always remember to make what you're doing easier and/or less scary.

I bought this exact flirt pole for my dog recently and I highly recommend it. It's sturdy enough for my 60 pound mutt so I'm sure it'd be fine for you.

Engage them outdoors. Even check out a Flirt Pole!

They require more stimulation.

Sometimes you can also productively offer them an outlet to that energy that digging burns. For us, we take our dog to the beach where he can go dig into the sand until his heart desires. That's stopped him from digging out the backyard.

> she won't take treats outside or when she is scared so I don't know how to make it work?

If she won't take treats, it means she's already too afraid for counter conditioning. If you open the door so she can just see outside, but remain inside, does she react this way? Maybe you could start there first.

Also, if you're struggling with exercise you might have better luck with a flirt pole. If you can take her somewhere secluded and just keep her on a harness and longline, you could play that for ~15-30 minutes. Even high energy dogs tend to get worn down pretty fast because of the fast paced chasing and turning.

Also, you say she's pretty smart. How often is she getting training sessions every day? Do you give her puzzle toys? Mental stimulation can really reduce a dog's energy.

• Labs are notoriously fast eaters, so maybe a puzzle toy? Here are some good ones: 1, 2, 3. You can also never have enough Kongs, and they're sold at big box pet stores.
  
• A cool fetch toy might be fun too, like a Chuckit or a Ball-on-a-Rope. You can find Chuckit products at the big box pet stores. I like the ball-on-a-rope for training...I can throw it, tug with it, dangle it like a flirt pole, and it fits in my pocket. This Frisbee is good for training too because I can fold it up and put it in my pocket. Plus it glows in the dark and floats!

Tollers are great. I have a Toller and a Newf, and while the Newf is far more loving and an all around better "people dog", I love my Toller for all her quirks.

Like /u/Phog91 said, Long trails and wide open fields combined with a Chuckit is the best thing you can do. The Newf strolls along with me while the Toller loses her mind running around, fetching.

Hi - I have a Belgian Shepherd myself (Sheepdog variety, aka Groenendael). She is five now and much calmer than she was as a puppy, but as a pup, we were in the dog park twice a day (morning and night) for about 30-60 minutes each time, usually playing fetch (or she was herding other dogs).


You have a few options here other than just giving the dog up, but they will require you to commit time and some money to this.


First, wake up early and go to the dog park. I have something called the chuck it that I used all the time when my Belgian was a puppy. This toy let me avoid picking up disgusting tennis balls by hand while also throwing the toy way further than I typically could. Your dad working 9-5 is like my work schedule - I would wake up at like 6:30, take her to the park, come home around 7:15 and then feed her and get ready for work. She was used to be kenneled from about 8-12 when I would come home over lunch to let her out (I lived 5 minutes from my office). It wasn't much of a break, but it split up the day a bit for her. I would go back to work and leave her with a frozen kong toy that would mentally keep her occupied while I was gone. When I came home, I let her out, changed clothes, and off to the park again.


Also, have you considered doggy daycare or a dog walker? Days I knew would be long in the office, I couldn't get home, or had an event in the evening - she would go to daycare. It was about $25 a day but she basically was running and playing with other dogs for 9 hours. Great socialization and she was exhausted. Dog walker prices vary by area - I would check with some local rescue groups and see who they recommend (they should know the reputable walkers in the area).


Finally, the pup needs training. Either go to PetCo or PetSmart to get started with basic obedience and then graduate to other classes. My little girl was in advance obedience at 6 months old - she was on track for agility training when she was full grown (recommended as to not hurt her growing joints) but we moved and an agility facility was unfortunately nowhere near by. However, that said, I still kept up her training and daily dog park trips.


If you aren't willing to dedicate the time and energy to the breed, you're going to have a hell of a time. They're great dogs but you have to put the time in to working them out, physically and mentally. If you can't, see if the breeder will take the pup back (most will if they're good) and if not, contact the Belgian Shepherd rescue group - they probably have a foster system of some sort setup. Other local rescues may be able to help as well, just make sure they are foster based or have a private facility - don't just give the dog to animal control or the town shelter.

No problem!

Tiring out dogs can be a real pain. Thankfully I have 2 that play well together... One that has a never ending drive to retrieve, and one that loves to be chased. I throw the ball for the one that wants to be chased, and they run in big circles around me for 30 minutes non-stop, then we go inside and they pass out on the cold tile floor in the bathroom! It's fantastic. Haha.

The best advice I can give you is to use high value rewards. One of mine loves fetch just for the sake of fetch. The other wants a food reward. We had to initially get him interested by "trading" a ball for a small slice of hot dog. Once he understood that, we'd toss the ball 2-3 ft away, and he'd bring it back for more hot dog. Then we slowly moved to 10 ft, 20 ft, then full tosses. Once he gets the hang of it, you can phase the hot dog out (1 piece every other retrieve, then every third, then every fifth) until he's really just playing fetch because they like it.

My other big point of advice would be to get a Chuck It Launcher and a pack of Ultra Balls. The launcher makes it way easier to throw for a long time, as you don't have to bend over to pick the balls up, your hands don't get nasty, and the balls go farther. And the ultra balls are great because they are a near-indestructible rubber rather than the tennis ball that comes with the launcher (and they float!).

If you have an Alexa enabled device with voice ordering enabled you can get $1.75 off a squeaky toy.

Deal info:

http://i.imgur.com/zc9sVMH.png

Source:

https://www.amazon.com/b?node=16924218011

Product page:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y

It looks like Duckworth?

My girl absolutely loves her treat ball. Keeps her busy for hours as she chases it. She loves to try and stick her big snoot in the hole to get the treats out (she never can get them out that way, but that doesn't stop her from trying lol). I'd say it's probably a really good toy for a dog not too interested in toys because you get the added bonus of treats and it keeps their mind busy. Here is the link to where I bought mine.

I got a feeder ball and it was cheap and has held up amazingly. My dog LOVES it and I'm ordering more.

Amazon link $10

Just a light cotton sheet or tablecloth will do for covering. If you can find it in a dark color, that would be great, but just not being able to see around her will help.

Sitting before you open the door is totally fine. Creating a routine is a great way to get her to love the crate, the more treats involved the better!
This is the treat ball I use which works great as long as your dog isn't much of a destroyer. Holds a fair amount of food. If you're not sure about the food bowl just putting in a large object or smaller upside down bowl inside the food dish can help in the meanwhile.

Outside as a family is great, I was just thinking of those time when you're worried about her peeing but would like to give her some time outside her crate unsupervised. I'm not too familiar with heat+breathing issues so you might consult your vet just to see what they recommend based on your climate and your pup.

I'm glad I could help! I just totally know how it is to feel frustrated with your dog. I'm glad she's peeing indoors less! May also just be her getting used to her new home :)

Best of luck!

Edit! Oh I forgot about the ear cleaning. Cheese whiz! Or similar consistency stuff, peanut butter works too but isn't as convenient. Smear a long thin line of it on the floor (or other easily wipeable surface). Like, a foot of it. You can even space it out a bit. While she's busy licking, you can mess with her ears. Picked this trick up from my vet and it works awesomely.

My dog (also big, about 110lbs) also sometimes eats REALLY fast... I know about bloat (I used to have greyhounds and according to my vet at the time the breed is particularly susceptible to it) so I'm pretty careful about feeding him. No exercise immediately before or after feeding. I very unthinkingly took my dog for a run once immediately after feeding him a big raw meal, and the poor guy threw up everything he'd eaten halfway through the run and was just miserable all the way home. (He'd also managed to drink some pretty foul ditchwater before I dragged him away, and something in the raw meal might've disagreed with him... I'm back to high-quality kibble because raw feeding was just way too involved for me.) That put the fear of the baby Jesus into me and I've been REALLY careful about his feeding ever since.

One thing I like to do when my dog is REALLY excited about dinner and I can tell he's about to wolf it down is put his food in a treat ball. I'm not really a fan of the traditional buster cube but I got one of these Omega balls and it's worked out great. Might not so much if your dog is a chewer; mine isn't, so he hasn't destroyed any of these, but just in case I do make sure he only has the ball when I'm there to supervise him. The last thing I need is surgery to remove pieces of a treat ball from his gut. :D But my dog LOVES that thing. It ensures that he only gets his kibble a few pieces at a time, and he has a grand old time pushing the thing around with his nose, then spends hours back-tracking and sniffing all over the room to make sure he didn't miss any bits of kibble. It's totally awesome.

I have this treat ball as well as a similar one that is weighted at the bottom. They're good because my dog has to interact with them to get the treats, and it's completely random, so she can't figure out the puzzle and do it the same way every time. I have a Kong and similar toys that can be filled with food as well. I like to freeze peanut butter or pumpkin in them so they take a little more work. I'll usually rotate out the toys through the week so they don't get bored.

My dog has good luck with this treat ball:

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M

However, when she used this one, she got similarly frustrated, and would even angrily pounce at it.

http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Everlasting-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B003YHB8DO/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1427208454&sr=1-2&keywords=treat+dispensing+chew+ball

The second ball had these little rubber pegs that stopped the treats from easily falling out, so I cut one of the pegs off, and now her kibble falls out more easily. She likes it more and doesn't get mad at it. =)

I showed my dog how they fell out, pointing to the hole and then holding it upside down. I did that enough that now I see Luna trying to hold hers different angles with her head so the hole points down. She's a smart pup!

We used this:

https://www.amazon.ca/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Orange/dp/B0002DK26M?th=1&psc=1&source=googleshopping&locale=en-CA&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_z3sgvu8cr_e

Really helps slow her down... Although now every orange ball she nudges with her nose hoping kibble will fall out.

My dog loves the pickle pocket, she spent over an hour working on it just last night, and went back to it this morning. I've also heard some dogs like this Hide-A-Squirrel Toy, so that's an option that doesn't involve treats/food.

Does he have a Kong already? Puzzle treat toys like that are almost always a hit - I have a Kong and a branch toy like this you can put kibble in. I also think the Hide-A-Squirrel game is adorable. Those, a rope bone for tug, a flirt pole, a frisbee, and a grunting pig comprise Tess's favorite toys.

https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-Squirrel-Interactive-Puzzle/dp/B0002I0O60

My dog loves this thing. Got it from a family member after we adopted my dog and figured he would just destroy it. It looks like a cat toy. Boy were we wrong. Used it as a training tool to teach him "give" (or "drop it"), as he would fetch each squirrel and bring it to us. They're apparently scented and that's why dogs love them so much.

We have a toy log with holes in it and little squirrels with squeakers you put in and the pug has to try and pull them out.

Amazon Link

Along with what everyone else has said, I would recommend this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_s_awd_d_YawFxb1PW070M

It's a stuffed animal that has a fake heart inside which vibrates like a heart beat. My puppy loved this! It gave her a little "friend" to snuggle with in her crate. It even comes with a hand warmer you can shove inside too, to simulate a warm puppy to snuggle with. That and treats, a toy, anything to make it a happy place! Try to feed meals in the crate too. Start with the door open, as the pup goes inside further and is more comfortable you can shut the door and let him out when he's finished eating.

8 weeks is very young, so being separated completely from the litter can be very trying for a pup. They make plushes that have a "heartbeat" (simulated w/ a battery-operated pack) that may ease that kind of anxiety: https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pet-Love-Snuggle-Behavioral/dp/B000C9YHFS

I personally have not used it and I think YMMV, but it may be worth checking out.

I agree with that- and it may sound a little 'over the top' but they make [[https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS\]](https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS](https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS)">stuffed) stuffed animals (dogs) that have a 'heart beat'. When I worked at a shelter, we used these when puppies were brought in alone or had to be separated. Could be a good idea to purchase one and set up for the puppy when you need to leave (showering, going to work, etc.).

I would also add a shirt that smells like you to the crate, and a heartbeat dog toy like this one http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pet-Love-Snuggle-Behavioral/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1449847346&sr=1-1&keywords=heartbeat+dog+toy

He is used to sleeping in a warm pile of other puppies, and misses it.

That might be the problem. You're with her all day every day and then leaving her completely alone at night time. It sounds like you aren't able to set her up in your room with you, it might be worth trying heart beat stuffies (Puppy Snuggle Behaviour Aid) or to make a similar set up yourself using a ticking wall clock and setting a blanket and stuffy over so it simulates the steady heart beat.

I would suggest that you definitely keep up the crate training. Are you putting treats in his crate when he goes in? Sometimes it's best to associate the crate with these types of positive reinforcements so he is more inclined to think the crate is a great place. If he has separation anxiety, I heard this heartbeat toy works quite well for young puppies.

My other suggestion is, the meantime, while you are crate training him, why don't you get one of these playpens if you have to leave him in the kitchen. That way he is at least away from the walls and in an enclosed space. If he starts to chew the playpen, you could spray it with this bitter spray which really helped my dog when he was teething.

Good luck!!

This literally saved us our first week. Now our puppy doesn't need the heartbeat but still LOVES to snuggle up to it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C9YHFS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a papillon mix and they are so much fun to train! I do agility with my pup, and you are going to love it. :)

You could do nosework at home, or teach different "practical" tricks (put your toys away into a basket, fetch a newspaper, close the door etc.).

We also play the "101 things to do with a box" game with clicker training. This one is particularly fun because the dog gets to offer random behaviors, and you never know what your pup might be capable of. With this game, we've inadvertently taught our dog "paw at that" and "get in the box".

Edit: I wanted to mention that one of the few drawbacks with having a smart, "gotta have a job to do" dog means that you need to be mindful of keeping them from getting bored. We feed our dog all of his meals using various food toys/puzzles and that will usually keep him occupied for a while.

It seems you've tried most toys.

Have you tried something like a tug-a-jug or other toys designed to keep a dog interested?

Poodle crosses are generally smart, almost too smart for their own good. They can get bored easily and need to be mentally engaged and stimulated.

To this end, you might also think about a toy you stuff food into, such as this or this. It will slow the feeding down, and also keep your dog entertained throughout the day.

I've got a high energy lab mix too, and as many people have said here, walking just doesn't cut it. Several people have recommended fetch, which has been a huge help. Additionally, this thing has been a lifesaver. Basically, anything that gets him running hard and will help you drain his excess energy quickly.

I don't think I've been "formally" introduced to you lovely people even though I've seen some of your contests going on here before ;)

For gift one: Either [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Neff-Womens-Cupcake-Beanie-Velvet/dp/B005HSWZNK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=39B8AKCSDRT5J&coliid=I1UFRCZ07903KE&psc=1) or [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Ticket-Stub-Diary-Eric-Epstein/dp/1452114226/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1NPR8WP3XYH58&coliid=IXBG9Y68EXA72) both I've been wanting for a long time because I saw that hat on a little girl at the school I used to work for and have been obsessed but can't find it anywhere, and I collect tickets from everything I go to... so having a way to organize them would be awesome!

For gift 2: Also decently under $20 is [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-Tail-Teaser-Dog-Refill/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2IR97ZBE8XCJR&coliid=I27I9XMHLTKH2U) which I would absolutely love because I just moved (again) and need to spend more time with my pups!

So c'mon...gimme something good! :b

(I don't know you, but I love you, you wonderful and beautiful people, you!)

Looks like you have a good list going, remember to update your pups microchip with your address and get him/her a tag with your details.

We got a 36 inch crate and it's plenty big for our boy (he's around 30 pounds).

Puppia harness is a great starter harness, it's soft and doesn't have a bunch of metal jingling pieces which our puppy HATED on his harness our breeder gave us.

Kibble, check out dog food advisor for reviews and ratings of foods content, we were using grain free salmon and sweet potato from chicken soup for the soul, it's decently priced and well rated I can't find it anywhere atm so we're switching him back to their normal kibble.

Salmon Oil is a lifesaver in the winter, our pup gets terribly dry skin and extremely itchy without it.

Start out with a puppy kong, they sell kong fillers that are cheese and peanut butter flavored, our puppy was pretty picky at first and only ate the cheese one, didn't like frozen kongs either.

I'd start with a Basic Collar here's a Dog Tag Silencer and a Break-away collar for outdoors or dog park. A dog was choked unconscious at our park so I typically just keep our guys ID tags on his harness and don't use a collar, but if you do I definitely recommend a break-away if you are primarily using a harness with it.

Items we found useful: Bed Liner, Crate Fence, Kong, Stainless Steel Bowls (highly reccomend US made do not buy any made in China for health reasons), Zippy Paws Hide and Seek toys, Potty/accident cleaner, Potty Bells, Anti-chew Bitter Apple spray, 50 ft Leash, Retractable Leash, Soft stop Leash extender, Car Seat Belt, Car Booster Seat, Gentle Shampoo, Comb, Travel Water Bottle, Flirt Pole, Special Treats, Chew Stick, Greenies

Sorry for the HUGE list lol, feel free to ask any questions!

Oh and if your dog likes Kongs, these are great:

http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Wubba-Large-Colors-Vary/dp/B000MD57ZI

And they do squeak. Annoyingly so. I mostly use it when playing fetch, because I can't stand the squeak indoors. No stuffing.

And flirt poles are also great for supervised play and getting puppy energy out... I can't recommend them enough. They do rattle as well as squeak. Not super "tough", but thought it deserved a mention.

http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-Tail-Teaser-Replacement-Squeaker/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1413941779&sr=1-2&keywords=flirt+pole

I’d be interested to see if he was actually being “aggressive” or if he was just playing. As stated earlier pits have extremely high pain tolerances. (But they do in fact feel pain). I have bruises and one pretty gnarly scar from playing with mine who is about 80 lbs. Mostly, it happens when we go out to play fetch. He gets over worked and extremely excited and starts to come at me instead of the toy.

My suggestion: shut it down quickly. Simply grab the collar and get him to sit down, and don’t let him move until he is calmed down. The more you push, hit and kick, the harder he is going to try to bring you down, because that is how pits play, by trying to pin each other. Hitting your dog is never the answer.

Get or make a flirt pole , as it creates a greater distance between you the dog and the toy, which will help keep his attention focused on the toy and not on you.

ACDs are quite the toy destroyers aren't they? Although my guy isn't quite as esteemed in the destruction field as an ACD, he is pretty bad. Here's what has survived him:

• Kong Sqrunch
  
• Ethical Skinneeez Big Bite Coyote Stuffingless Dog Toy (I really like this one because you can replace the water bottle inside. The only issue I have with it is that it can get kind of grimey)
  
• KONG Wobbler Treat Dispensing Dog Toy (good if he likes puzzles)
  
• KONG Extreme Dog Toy, Black
  
• Invincibles Snake Stuffingless Durable Tough Plush Dog Squeaky Toy with Squeakers by Outward Hound
  
• Jolly Pets Push-n-Play 14-Inch (might be really fun for him as it taps in to some herding dog's natural herding instinct)
  
• Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Chew Toy, Made in USA (I'd be careful with these and supervision only at first. If your dog's chewing style is too aggressive, he can end up bleeding. I wouldn't dismiss it until you try it though. My boy is pretty aggressive, but works for him.)
  
• West Paw Zogoflex Hurley Durable Dog Bone Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers, 100% Guaranteed Tough, It Floats!, Made in USA, for Strong Chewers (this one is awesome. Aside from some dirt, it looks exactly like the day I bought it to this day.
  
• goDog Dragons Flats Plush Dog Toy with Chew Guard Technology (My guy really likes plush toys and squeakers. He doesn't normally get them because he likes ripping them out and it's not the safest. This is the best one that I've found so far that will put up the biggest fight.)
  
• Goughnuts - Original Dog Chew Ring (a lot of people really like this, but unfortunately, Atlas doesn't seem to like the shape too much.)
  
• MultiPet Goblets Pig latex Dog toy Assorted Colors (lmfao my dog fucking loves this pig. The squeaker doesn't last, but the pig's outer shell does. He loves it a lot.)
  
• JW Pet Company Mini Hol-ee Roller Dog Toy, Colors Vary (They've also got an extreme edition here)
  
• MuttNation Fueled by Miranda Lambert Faux Suede Dog Toy (his face has come off, and his tail is frayed, but it is still chewable and he enjoys playing with it)
  
• KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy (Also a really great option if you want to treat him to a plush toy. It will last longer than most others. Mine ripped off the ear when he first got it, but the rest lasted quite a while.)
  
• Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel and Puzzle Plush Squeaking Toys for Dogs (He loved this toy so much. He loves puzzles, but he destroyed the log fairly quickly. Surprisingly, he has had one of the squirrels for over a year ... and it still squeaks. I lost the rest of them, but that one little squirrel is still going strong.)
  
• Mammoth TireBiter Chew Toy with Rope (don't get this unless you don't mind bits of tire coming off)
  
• OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy (great if your dog eats kibble and likes puzzles)
  
• Nylabone Dental Dino Power Chew DuraChew Dental Chew Toy (Like the benebone, watch him with this one at first. It's really hard and you don't want him to hurt himself. Eventually wears down, but takes a damn long time)
  
• We also do rope toys, antlers, bully sticks (special occasion- they last like 5 minutes), raw bones (we feed raw), Himalayan Yak Chews, and Flirt Pole.
  
  Reading my list, god damn my dog is spoiled. Keep in mind, these are just the toys that have made it. I'm not even counting the ones he's destroyed!
  
  Let me know if you have any questions!
  
  Lastly, I don't own a husky, but man do I respect the destruction a husky can wreck. I would recommend going to a husky group on facebook or a subreddit to see what toys they would recommend. If it's husky approved... it should last.
  
  
  

I also have a pit that destroys all toys, but has yet to put a dent in this.

https://www.amazon.com/Goughnuts-Guaranteed-Indestructible-Dog-Original/dp/B0042JJB82

Mine eats tennis balls in seconds. 3 throws and retrieves and it's dead. These don't last long either.

The only thing I have found that can withstand a Staffie chase session or 20 are these or the wobbly version that we fill with peanut butter here

edit Staffies are amazing, but they don't chew gently! I have a staffie cross Bull mastiff or maybe greyhound, sharpai or many other dogs (wonderful stray crossbreed!)

Hahah... We have this one and he hasn't been able to do any damage!

http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Extreme-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B004VBC0SY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453595140&sr=8-1&keywords=kong+ball

KONG Rubber Ball Extreme

The black medium/large ball: Amazon link for reference.

• Exercise or Problem requiring equipment: SMR (self myofascial release)
  
  
• Pros: Cheap! Super durable. Larger than a lacrosse ball (around the size of a softball, perhaps slightly smaller) and HARD, which means that you can use it on top of soft surfaces with a fair amount of give and still get plenty of pressure for those more stubborn muscles.
  
  
• Cons: HARD! Be careful if you have a low pain threshold. You may need to start with a softer ball, and move on to this one once an area loosens up to really get at those deeper, stubborn parts. Have to be more careful not to roll on things like bones/joints/nerves since the ball has very little give. Heavy enough that you'll notice if you throw it in your gym bag or backpack.
  
  
• Alternatives: Any hard, round object of a similar size?
  
  
• Purposes/Uses: I love using this to roll my traps, rhomboids, and all around my scaps because I'm super tight there and I need something hard. Also great for pec minor, glutes, TFL, and company. Anything that needs some real tough love. Can really be used almost anywhere if you're careful/mindful.
  
  
• Places to acquire equipment/materials: I got mine on Amazon.
  
  
• Cost: Around $6-8 (USD)

I have a rottie pit mix, and Kong has never done me wrong. I see a lot of people saying that their dogs are just not interested in their products. I find they have very durable Balls, and my pups personal favorite the bone. I think if people would maybe put peanut butter, or little treats inside the toy instead of just throwing it to them to play with on their own, the dog would show a little more interest.

They are extremely durable, and fairly priced for the strength. I strongly recommend.

Sure!

My partner built him something like this.

I also got him these two puzzles that I only give him when I'm home, just for safety reasons: this "level 2" one that he solved in 30 seconds and this "level 3" one that he hasn't quite gotten the opening drawer part down yet.

He also has this treat ball that he LOVES, but I don't recommend if you live in an apartment/condo with hard floors.

His favorite that he carries around and chucks down our stairs to open is this mushroom.

He also gets kongs with peanut butter in them.

Amazon gets a lot of my money. Lol.

OP, I'd consider getting some mental stimulation toys for your pup. My sister got this for our pup: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Dog-Activity-Flip-Board/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1458210608&sr=8-4&keywords=dog+puzzle+toy which he absolutely loved.

I put in some of his favourite treats in there and he took about 20 minutes to get through it. As soon as he finished, he literally just collapsed on the floor and fell asleep.

Try to focus on things that will make your dog think.

Kongs are the simplest and its really easy to "level up". Start by just putting in dry kibble, then wet kibble, then freeze the wet kibble and seal up the big hole with yogurt or peanut butter. Then you can layer it so its frozen wet kibble, cheese, kibble, yogurt, kibble, peanut butter etc. It'll start taking longer and longer to get everything out. My pup loves the Kong Wobbler too! Not only does it tire him out, but it spreads out his meal so he doesn't eat it as fast. Same with the IQ ball. The puzzle board was great for awhile but then got too easy for him. Snuffle mats are pretty easy to DIY too if you don't want to fork over the money to buy a real one.

It may just be a matter of finding toys that can keep him engaged. There are toys that are like catnip kickers or static little stuffies, but then there are also some that are battery-operated or plug in (lasers, concealed motion toys, magnetic toys).

My personal preference, especially if I'm not home to supervise are toys that can be active with just the cat's actions alone. This woven straw is one of my cat's favourites because it catches in her claws as she swats it, so as she moves, it follows her motion until it uncatches and flings off, so she'll go chase it.

I've got this cheap little wand that I use to play with her that moves fairly unpredictably and actually got my cat panting because she was so into it.

Another thing I do everyday is spend 15-20 minutes making her chase her meal. I feed wet food during the day and offer a limited amount of kibble at night, so what I do with the kibble is toss it up the stairs or around the house within her sight so she chases each piece to get fed. I do this until she gets so tired that she has to lie down 3 or 4 separate times, and then I let her rest.

After that, I fill some foraging toys with some more kibble so she has something to work for. If your cat is food motivated, this could work well for you too because it keeps them mentally and physically busy. I have a treat ball and a Wobbert (a little more challenging than a regular treat ball) but I find they're quick to solve and not very engaging. Most of the ones I get are dog toys:

• Mad Scientist
  
  
• Jigsaw Slider
  
  
• Flip board level 2
  
  
• Brain mover toy
  
  
• Lucky Slots
  
  
• Training level 3
  
  
• Training level 3
  
  Also, I hide kibble pieces all over her furniture and any cat-friendly furniture. In toys, in any nooks and crannies, in places I want her to explode. It's a good reason to get her feeling like she has a bit of a mission and poking around.

These!
Mental stimulation will tire them out too! Hide and seek is also fun

Another way is to "shape" your dog. It's a form of trick training that allows the dog to make decisions to get to the desired behavior.

Aww nothing worse than waking up to animal vomit! My puppy, now 2 years old, was such a chewer... chewed through many computer cords, bottom of our dresser, socks and underwear, corner of baseboards, rails under our bed. She did eventually grow out of it, we did exactly what you are planning to do scolded her as we saw it happening and tried keeping everything out of her reach. I also ordered a ton of chew toys until we figured out what she liked -- check out amazon, I found their prices way better than the pet store. My pup loves this one https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M/ . She sleeps in our bedroom at night, no crate, and we close the door so she isn't out getting into trouble. Seemed like if she had gotten plenty of play time before bed she slept through the night and didn't chew on our furniture :) Only time we have issues now, which is really rare, is if she is bored and doesn't have a bone to chew on. Good luck!!!!!

I’m not a dog expert by any means so maybe other people will have some better ideas, but the thing that stands out to me as someone with a dog who literally eats everything - tissues, toys, socks, paper, rocks, sticks, trash, you name it (it’s called Pica) - is you’re taking something that isn’t meant to be eaten (a rope toy, jeans, t-shirt material) and covering it in food, making it appealing to chew or eat. Idk if that will inadvertently train your dog that rope toy = chicken = food, but I will tell you from experience that it is a real pain keeping your dog exercised when he can’t have any toys because he eats them all and when you exercise outside, you’re constantly pulling sticks, pine cones, and trash out of his mouth. You might accidentally give your dog Pica by covering non-food items with food and encouraging her to chew on them.

Like I said, I’m no expert and I don’t know for sure if a chicken broth-soaked toy will actually train your dog to eat her toys, but it’s worth being careful because Pica is dangerous and expensive. =/

My dog loves chewing these flavored bones and they keep him busy for a while. I would recommend finding a flavored bone like that or something similar rather than soaking toys in broth, but that’s just based on my own terrifying experience with Monty almost dying. Make sure you throw away any chews once they’re small enough for your dog to choke on or swallow whole. They can also get stuck in the intestines and cause a blockage.

When I visit my mom, I feed the dog through this toy. I set up an exercise pen (so the ball doesn't get lost under furniture and the food stays contained), put the kibble in the ball, set the ball to the hardest setting, and then put the ball + dog in the pen together. The dog ends up pushing the ball around and around the pen. He eats and gets a mini work out. Even though I still have to walk him, it does burn a bit of energy. For my large dog at least, I end up refilling the ball about 4 times to feed him his meal. (He eats 3 small meals instead of 2 meals a day.) The point here is that the dog will be too tired to cause trouble. This is one idea for you.

You can also try using bitter spray on your belongings so that your dog doesn't try to bite things she shouldn't be biting.

However, my best idea for you is that you consider crate training the dog. It is safe for your home, but more importantly, it is safe for your dog so that she doesn't ingest anything potentially dangerous. It keeps her protected and in a safe place where you don't have to worry about her. You can give her a bigger crate if you're concerned she needs space. There are lots of resources out there that talk about it (r/puppy101 & r/Dogtraining) and while it may take time until your dog is fully crate trained, it 1) deals with the separation anxiety, 2) protects the furniture from being destroyed, 3) protects the dog from getting hurt while alone.

I got a 6 year old dog about 4 years ago. He spent the first 2+ years of his life in a cage alone, then a few years living with a family. He also didn't care for toys or playing with other dogs. He's started playing well with my puppy over the last few months, but before that he didn't play with anyone for more than maybe a 10 second game of chase in the yard.

For toys, I taught him "take it" to get him to pick up a toy. He'll humor me and take what I offer him, but very rarely does he actually play with a toy. He sometimes squeaks a toy a bit if he doesn't think I'm paying attention, but as soon as I notice he drops it and expects pets. He really only cares about bones and kongs.

His life isn't any less fun for him because he's not keen on toys. He's smart enough to know what toys are for, just not interested in spending his time squeaking something when he could be sleeping on the couch!

For yours, if he likes food and sometimes chases the ball, I'd probably try a puzzle toy that involves pushing the ball around to dispense treats. This particular one is big enough not to roll under my couch. He may get the idea to chase it if the treats are coming from the ball and not you. You can also throw out some kibbles into the yard and let him hunt them out.

Also, keep in mind that it could take weeks or even months for a new rescue to adjust to you and your home, especially if he's used to living on the streets or in a kennel at the shelter. I'm not sure how new he is to you, but you may find he comes out of his shell as time goes on and he sees you playing fetch with your other dogs.

Everyone so far has already recommended exercise, which I also recommend. Some people said mental exercise as well, which can wear her out and keep her busy. So, I'm throwing in food toys that make her work for her food (which I'm assuming you probably just pour kibble in a bowl) which can add some more exercise, both physical and mental. Kongs (which are actually not a personal favorite of mine) for when you leave are great. Freeze them and they are harder to get food from. I personally love IQ balls which are perfect spheres and make dogs more or less run around the house after the toy (my guys normally are panting after working to get all the food out). Here are some others since it is a good thing to switch it up and keep her thinking, not just use the same toy over and over (because that would be boring):

PetSafe Tug-A-Jug

PetSafe Egg thing

PetSafe Mushroom thing

Kong Satellite

Kong Wobbler

And in the event you are like "I'M POOR, I CANNOT AFFORD ALL OF THOSE." You can also get a 2 liter bottle and cut holes in it big enough for her to get food out of but not too easily. Also, the mushroom toy has pretty small holes so it isn't easy for bigger kibble (or dog treats), so you might forgo that one. Those are just the ones I own.

ALSO ALSO. PSA FOR EVERYONE. If you shop Amazon Smile (which is where those links take you) you can donate %.05 of all purchases to a charity of your choice. So you should definitely sign up, choose a charity and donate while you shop instead of just shopping. Nothing changes except you shop from Amazon Smile instead of Amazon.

Here's an example of a slow eat dog bowl that /u/ZorglubDK mentioned.

When they work the dog is forced to take much longer to eat their food instead of inhaling it all in big gulps. It also doubles as a sort of play time and brain game since the dog has to work to get the food.

Sometimes the dog is too smart for the bowl though. When that happens... I guess you could somehow secure the bowl to the floor.

The feeder balls mentioned work in much the same way. Put the food in the ball and the dog has to roll it around to get the food out.

Sometimes Badger gets part of his food for the day in a treat ball (this one). It's great for his kibble, though noisy on the non-carpeted floor, and he loses it under furniture all the time so he doesn't have it unattended.

It's pretty feasible for him to eat a good portion of his food this way because he's only 12 lbs. and he eats about 3/4 cup of kibble a day. Most of the time we feed him at least one meal in his bowl. It takes two kibble balls to be about equivalent to one meal.

Yeah, most of those would get destroyed in minutes in our house.

Firstly, as I'm sure you know, plan to take her on a decent walk first. It's not always possible, but it helps with the process. Then there's a little wind-down time when we get back to the house.

Anyway, as for toys, your real question, I suggest one of these two:

http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob---Lot-Interactive-Small/dp/B003YHB8EI/

http://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Inches-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG/

We get some tiny little treats to pop in there and it has good success. Noodle still tries to play with it at my feet, but at least it keeps him occupied. But, as Aussies are velcro pups, he only plays with it in the same room that we're in.

The other thing that could help (if what you want to get done is in the same general area) is to keep treats in your pocket and continuing to reward for staying on her bed. So as you're working, toss a treat back. Maybe every 30 seconds at first and then lengthen the time. Our "Go to your bed" command is pretty rock solid at this point...but the staying part is certainly something that can be continuously worked on.

Good luck! And seriously, that Weazeball will die a horrible death in minutes. Don't waste your money.

I had a fatty that looked just like this. May I recommend one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ARUKTG

It worked wonders to get his weight down and teach him not to hork his meals down super fast.

Edit: actually, this is the one I used https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018CE8LQ

Feed him with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ARUKTG/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_8?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Anyone have a dog you can borrow to come over and play with him while you work? Other dog friends are great for exhausting pups. Plus it's very good for socializing.

Just like with children, the excess of energy could be due to something more than lack of exercise. His little puppy brain might not be getting enough stimulation. He also may be wanting to chew/gnaw something. Give him the food ball, and a healthy dog bone chew.

Also, quick tip: make sure he has a dedicated space that is his own. A place like a den that is for happy feelings (give him treats in said place) and sleep; like a crate with a comfy bed. And NEVER feed your dog a meal and then overwork/ run him, it may cause BLOAT.

tl; dr : food ball, dog friend, dog chew.

I hear JRs need tons of exercise, but if you're taking him out in the backyard to play and walking him everyday, that should suffice. This sounds like more of a training issue to me. If there's a space where you can do agility training in your area, that might be a good way of exhausting some of that energy while working on following commands at the same time. If you have to leave him alone in the house, make sure he has ample toys or even a tv or radio. Something like this might be a good idea too.

Starmark Bob-a-lot is the best, completely adjustable.

With Busy Buddy, our favourites are the Kibble Nibble & Magic Mushroom.

He also loves his Buster Cube and IQ Ball (be careful it's smaller than you think).

I think I should note though that I don't care about the amount of noise that toys make on the floor. I've seen complain about some of these for that reason so if that's something you need to be aware of probably only the Bob a lot.

Please know that he's not trying to get into trouble. Dogs are observant, but -thankfully- incapable of premeditation. He's just bored and making his own fun. He doesn't know he's been bad. Dog's are much simpler than that. They experience moments. He just has a history of moments where you come home through the door and the garbage can is side ways, then you get angry or loud and he feels scared. So, in his pup brain, it's more like key in lock + garbage on floor = sinking feeling out of nowhere.

On to solutions!

I second an exercise pen or crate to keep his options limited. With the right preparation 8 hours of den-time can be pretty neutral for him. Even a locked room will focus in your puppy proofing efforts. Do treat it like a crate and work up to long absences though. However, the best thing you can do is come at it from the other side as well: lets wear this boy out. A comprehensive recipe for a perfect tired boy follows

• No more free food, not cause Good Boy doesn't deserve it, just because he'll actually be happier if it's hard to get. He'll feel accomplished and less bored. Options include: a puzzle matt or feeder ball for dry food, frozen Kongs for wet food (get black for a serious chewer, and get 2), hiding his food around the house (skip the kitchen and near trashcans), doing a command for each pinch of kibble, scattering the kibble in your grass if he'll go for it... whatever works for you and your wife to put some challenge into breakfast/dinner time.
  
• One mile of walking for each hour Good Boy is going to be alone. His breed needs a lot of stimulation and activity like you say, and this is the best way to get out that destructive wiggle juice pumping through his adolescent veins. "But that's 8 miles a day? Who has time for that?" you may say. Totally fair. Hopefully you do, but let's see if we can make things more time efficient anyway. We'll say 2 miles of running counts as 3 miles of walking, so a 5ish mile jog gets you there much faster. But that's still over an hour. So we'll add a doggy backpack with 5% of his body weight (don't go over 12% until he's full grown, add on slowly) to take off one more mile since it doubles as mental stimulation. Ok we're down to 4 miles, still a fair bit if you aren't much of jogger to start. 10 minutes of tug counts as 30 minutes of walking, so we'll call that 1 mile of jogging (Example rules for good tugging!). So, we're at a 10 minutes of tug followed by a 3 mile weighted jog, to be dived between you and your wife however makes the most sense. Call it 45 minutes. And as a bonus, you get to eat more human treats. Additional Options and Equipment: ball chucker, flirt pole, doggy playground items like ramps and tubes, a pulling rig ones he's old enough.
  
• Prevent separation anxiety. Home with no humans for 8 hours is tough for a social animal, but you can make it easier. Making sure he's wore out will go a long way, but the biggest thing is to make your departure a good thing. And only Good Boy gets to decide if that's true. If you throw him a steak each morning, but he doesn't touch it until you come home then you leaving isn't a good thing yet. So I would leave his breakfast for absolute last if he has already pooped and can hold it that long. Either way, grab some high value treats and/or toys (the stuff he goes completely ape for which may or may not be cheap) and toss them in the room/pen/kennel the second before each of you leave.
  
  So a sample perfect morning might go something like this: You wake up and take Good Boy out for a leak and some quality tug time. Maybe you're wife doesn't wan't to deal with most doggie-teen things, but it was her 2018 resolution to run more anyway. So you put on his back pack, tuck a .5 L water bottle into each side, and hand him off for his 5k. While she's gone you fill up yesterdays empty kong with canned food, and pop it in the freezer. Today's kong is frozen solid and ready to go. You grab giant ball to put in his play pen and a puzzle toy with those nasty fish puffs he loves. It's been a couple weeks so you put a puff of pheromone spray on his bed so that it smells like Good Mom. You make your coffee, scroll your reddit, eat your toast and generally get ready for the day. Good Boy is back, flopped on the floor and it's time to go. You do everything you need before you walk out the door, tie shoes, kiss wife, eveerything, and then your grab and jingle your keys. Good Boy comes running. "Caaarrot tiiime" you announce reaching in to the fridge. He paces until he sees you've got the goods then runs to his pen, where you make it rain baby carrot bits before booking it to your car before he can find them all. Wife will also throw a carrot party when she departs plus a stuffed toy and a rubber chewy. You come home to an upside down dog bed and the giant ball bit the dust and deflated, but the dog is happy and the house is fine.
  
  
  
  Now, this may seem totally unrealistic, because in a way it is. Shit gets busy, runs get cut short, tug toys get lost, and humans do human stuff. Don't think of this as the bare minimum for a good day. Just think of it as what would happen in a perfect world where you had the time and brain power to do everything possible for Good Boy before heading off for work. If you can integrate any of this stuff, even slowly it will help you guys get through this teen phase with your house in tact.
  
  
  
  
  
• 0. Miscellaneous!
     
  • • Pheromone spray should work well since he's a pup, thunder shirts, and supplements could be good too. I like the ThunderShirt brand since they make lots of anti-stress products and have a long term reputation to protect.
      
  • • Bitter Apple or No Chew spray for anything he's previously gotten his boredom out on (eg. baseboards).
      
  • • If you're handy you could always build you own doggie treadmill!
      
  • • Look for toys with a replacement garuntee like West Paw's Jive Balls or Hurley. My crazy chewer has been trying to shred his ball from them every for the last two months and it doesn't have a scratch.
      
  • • Consider learning a dog sport! Agility, Nose Work, and Flyball are fun competitions that emphasize teamwork. Your local AKC or affiliates will likely have intro classes.
      
  • • Don't under estimate fresh produce as a treat. Banana, carrots, and blueberries are a few fido-faves.
      
  • • Pride Bites squeaky toys aren't indestructible, but the foam inside them is digestible and non-toxic. So, they're on the safer side to chew unsupervised.
      
  • • Also hiring a walker a few times a week is a great idea and helps take the pressure off when you can't even get close to a perfect day.
      
  • • Take pictures of your darling Good Boy and post them to reddit, remind yourself how jealous the world is of your smart, beautiful, energetic dog.

it depends on the dog and their energy level, but in general (and I'm talking about excessive barking here) if the dog is mentally stimulated through enough training & taken for a 30 minute walk every day, and has some toys to play with, they should be fine.

one thing you can do if you have several toys for your dog is rotate them on a weekly basis. for them it's sort of like getting a new toy each week.

you can also put peanut butter in kongs and freeze those. I also have this ball that I use to feed my dog. it keeps him busy for maybe 20 minutes.

LOL sounds about right.

This one might keep them out of trouble for a teeny bit longer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKU0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_U7taBb1M3C5R8

There’s a middle layer that prevents all the treats from falling straight out the top hole at least!

I've been using this one with my chihuahua, and it works great!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YHB8EI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GQh2xbQ8KR4TT
You can choose the size of the opening, which is great for small kibble and my chi just has a blast pouncing on it and batting it around.

outward hound puzzle puzzle starmark puzzle 2

This is GREAT and keeps him busy for a bit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YHB8EI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are great for training:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TGIFUYI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I feed mine 1 cup x2 per day of this food. There are pretty clear directions on how much to feed based on weight / goal weight. Mine is on the bigger side but still in excellent shape at 50lbs.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089A66N8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bet he would chase a flirt pole.

Wood Treat Puzzles like the ones Zanie's, Ethical Pets, and Nina Ottosson make are all ones my pit likes. Since they're made of wood they'll last a while. Also the Premier Tug-a-Jug has kept him guessing for 2 weeks now.

The first two issues (going to the bathroom indoors and the aggression) call for a vet visit.

Excercise-wise, I'd start with two 15 minute walks/day and scale up from there to, maybe, three 20 minute walks, or 60 minutes of walking or outdoor play spread out over the day (20 in the morning, 40 at night, etc).

Puzzle toys are great too. I recently got this toy for my pup, he really loves it, it's solidly built and pretty inexpensive.

This is Cosmo's most favorite food toy on the planet. He likes the mushroom but it doesn't dispense food quickly enough so he'd rather use it as a toy than for a meal. I ended up removing the divider since he's a puppy and just learning. We use it for every meal now. He absolutely loves it. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BHXbJhUjGzG

Our lab puppy was very destructive in the beginning as well. No matter how tired we tried to make her, dogs are resilient she has never ending energy. So if we weren't able to tire her out, we had to keep her interested in something.

I found some dog treat puzzles on amazon, like this one. It did help but definitely not 100%....

https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Treat-Ball-Interactive-Dispensing/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1510695642&sr=8-5&keywords=dog+treat+puzzles

We also installed cameras, where we could talk through them to the dogs, so if I would see her start to get into something I could call her name. it distracted her for the most part, not all the time though...

You just have to keep thinking of ways to keep them engaged in something other than your stuff! Anything you could set up and control remotely in the puppy room would help

You should definitely try the videoing and catching him

We got our lil buddy a month ago, tried to immediately get him into crate training but failed pretty miserably when he spent the day howling his lungs out - much to our sublet neighbors' shagrin. We work 8 hours a day and there's no way we can pay for doggy daycare. He'd been a rescue from the Hurricane in Texas and we had no information about him at all. His foster mom claimed that he whined for about 10 minutes in his crate and then was fine, but this was either vastly different than our experience or was a lie.

Though we first thought it was separation anxiety, I began to suspect it was just isolation distress. We had just moved into our new place and so we had basically a spare room that wasn't yet furnished, and we decided to give him the whole room while we were away at work. We also taught him to look forward to his Kong and his IQ ball every morning. Within two weeks he was happy to get his treats in the morning, and as long as we kept our schedule the same he would quietly do his thing then go and sleep on this awesome bed that we bought for him, being quiet the whole time!

So onto crate training him, we've got his bed that he loves so much in his crate at night, and he sleeps there nicely. We started closing the door a week ago or so at night and he has no problem with that! He gets in there when we get it ready and lays down very well and stuff. So now in the day we've started locking him in his crate with his nice bed and, just like before, he is laying down and sleeping normally in it! I put his Kong in there with him before I leave and he's repeating the behavior that he'd learned this last month of playing for a while and sleeping. I'm also coming home about 5 hours later to take him for a walk in the afternoon and then re-crating him.

So, so far it's been about consistency, introducing new scary things to him slowly and in little bits, and getting his mind off of being alone right when we leave the house.

We alternate between the Kong Wobbler, the Buster Cube, and the IQ Ball every morning for breakfast. The wobbler is definitely the easiest, the cube is definitely the hardest, and the IQ ball is Sequoia's favorite (but she loves balls of any kind, so no real surprise there).

The total surprise winner was the Pickle! I was convinced it would be torn to shreds in minutes, but it has held up well! It doesn't last super long, but it is easy enough to just stick a little more peanut butter and some more kibble in when she is done.

I got two of these toys for my Pom and Papillon, and our Pap loves it. They have to roll the ball around to get the food into the clear top chamber, and then keep rolling it to get it to fall out. You can adjust the size of the hole in the middle layer to change the difficulty as they get more used to using it. There are other variations of similar toys, but that's the one I've tried and can review. The three inch one is more than big enough for a Pom.

We just throw a handful of kibble in there and it keeps our Papillon busy for an hour. Unfortunately my Pom is afraid of it (she doesn't like the noise, and the Papillon bangs his around into furniture and stuff), but I'd still recommend it unless your pup is as big of a scaredy cat as mine is.

She can solve the tug a jug?? I can't reliably get stuff out of that thing.


Have you tried a buster cube or one of these ball things ? They aren't super complex, but you can control how fast the food comes out by changing the size of the holes. It's more persistence oriented, but that might help them last longer.

If he's decently food motivated, there are toys where the dog has to work to get the food out. Some examples-

IQ Ball

Starmark Bob a Lot

Magic Mushroom

Nina Ottosson has a line of puzzle toys. (These are more on the expensive side though, but there's a range of difficulty)

These are just a few off the top of my head... If you do a search for puzzle toys, there should be other posts with more suggestions.

If you leave the rawhides out all the time, he might just be bored or just used to them, so they're no longer a treat. If he has access to them at any time, there's nothing really special about them anymore which maybe why he ignores them.

There are many different kinds of toys and puzzles that will keep him occupied when you aren't at home. Just choose something centered around your dog's motivation, whether it be treats, toys, or something else and don't forget to play with him yourself!

On a different note, I used to have a dog who started chewing when he was a puppy. I made it absolutely clear to him that I was VERY unhappy when he chewed through my headphone cord, then gave him a length of denim from the scrap box and said, "This is for you." Ever since then, he'll only chew things you give to him explicitly.

This one - https://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Interactive-Dispensing-ASSORTED/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=iq%2Bball&qid=1564528762&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

I have the blue 4 inch. I got it at Marshalls for $4

I use this puzzle ball filled with kibble for my 13-week old mini, crank it to it most difficult setting and toss it out on the lawn. First he has to roll it around to even get kibble pieces out of it, and then he has to find them in the grass. Takes him a solid half-hour for a handful of kibble :)

I'm sure you know this already, but it can't be said too often--consistency is KEY for dogs. You (and your family) have to be more stubborn than she is, every time. Whenever anyone gives in, she learns that her behavior is effective and acceptable.

Before bringing more food into the mix (as this may just excite her more), try to ignore her/push her away at every meal for at least 2 weeks and see if there's any improvement in her behavior at that point. Our new dog (picked him up mid-January, just turned 2) was all about it when we were eating, but he has already stopped bothering us at meal times (took about 1 week for the worst of the behavior to stop, 2 weeks for him to actually completely leave us alone). Best of luck!!

P.S.: My last thought would be maybe to give her something to entertain her while you are eating (something like this ). We haven't tried this, but if the barking/jumping is really unbearable, this might be a way to encourage her to ignore you while you eat.

My wiggle loves this and this
Also, frozen Kong’s are great.

I understand the worry. Something warm might help loosen the muscle. Ask the vet if there are any exercises you can do with him that can help with stiffness.

I like food balls for helping with joints. As he noses it around he is moving his head side to side, he it making atypical steps but without the energy of chasing a ball. Not to mention it helps prevent overeating.

I will warn you away from the ones you cannot take apart. They end up nasty with food stuck in them. Something like this is good: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Interactive-Dispensing-ASSORTED/dp/B003ARUKTG

Yes, I like the thick rubber ones with holes in them, which I stuff with treats and peanut butter. My dog will then paw and throw it around in order to get the treats out, and he'll be occupied for hours licking it. Kind of like this and this though we don't have those exact ones, but you get the idea.

My dog also loves this guy but you'd need extra small training treats for it so it can fall through the small hole. Also it's hard plastic and my floors are tile, so it makes a huge racket when he tosses it around.. no big deal when I'm out of the house though.

Good luck!

I have one of these and while my dog will occasionally try to chew/lick it when she gets frustrated, it's made of smooth hard plastic so she's not actually able to destroy it or get a good grip on it. I wouldn't use it if you have hardwood floors, though - I assume if it was dropped on a hard floor, it might eventually break.

Snuffle Matt with an IQ Ball is my genius invention I haven’t seen anywhere else.

https://www.amazon.com/Wooly-Snuffle-Mat-Encourages-Foraging/dp/B01N1FV55I/ref=asc_df_B01N1FV55I/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198071232162&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3592997858012089969&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031939&hvtargid=pla-349638453770&psc=1

You hide kibble under the felt and it triggers the dogs instincts for digging through grass. It takes our 14 week old about 20 minutes to sniff it all out and holds a 1/3 cup easily.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Treat-Interactive-Dispensing/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=asc_df_B003ARUKTG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198111066934&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10592075457433977437&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031939&hvtargid=pla-355229308255&psc=1

She pushes the IQ ball around to get kibble out and they fall in to the snuffle matt, forcing her to find them again.

Lots of kibble and easily a 30 minute effort that she naps after.

(1) we have used all of the above. Standard collar holds tags the best, our training class provided a choke collar and we find it easiest for walks, and when he was still very small (8 weeks came home, so for about our first month or so) had him in the harness before we started training.

(2) we have all 3 - the retractable is new and I haven't used it yet, but we got it for beach trips so he can roam, then we started with a nylon and got a leather one from the class. We now use the leather mostly... just because its nice on the human paws :)

(3) We started with a 36" crate, at basically full grown he's fitting in pretty tightly, but still fits. We also ended up adding an ex-pen. If I was buying the crate now, I'd go up a size or two so he'd have some more space. I also highly recommend the pen if you have room.

(4) We've gone through a lot of beds... he's chewed them to bits... so might as well start off simple and cheap. He put a hole in the nice one we got recently within an hour.

(5) When he first came home, his favorites were the rope toys and unstuffed animals with squeekeres. Don't get things with stuffing!! They will try to eat it, and that makes for a lot of supervision needed. Now that he's a little older, he also loves balls, particularly [with teeth]
(https://smile.amazon.com/Coevals-Club-Interactive-Non-Toxic-Cleaning/dp/B01LARUD6M/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1493386356&sr=8-17&keywords=treat+ball+for+dog)
& [brain activity] (https://smile.amazon.com/OurPets-Treat-Ball-Interactive-Dispensing/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493386356&sr=8-3&keywords=treat+ball+for+dog)

(6) Foods:

• Blue Buffalo Puppy Chow
  
• Local pet store organic puppy mix
  
• Pupperoni training treats
  
• Beggin' Bacon Strips
  
• Blue Buffalo PB Hearts crunch treats
  
• Blue Buffalo dental sticks
  
• [Bully Sticks] (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HBVSG74/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) - mostly for teething, but he does "eat" them
  (7) We did a local class. For socializing, we've made sure to introduce him to people from day one - and dogs since he was fully vaxxed unless we know the dog.
  
  (8) Biggest challenge - he has chewed up window sills, door frames, etc when home alone. We originally thought it was OK to leave him in an empty room with just his toys etc bc we had an empty bedroom. He ruined the listed items of the room. Hence, adding the ex-pen. Happiest moments - it's like when people talk about their partners and babies... its the little moments, like when they snuggle up which you don't expect because its rare for the breed, or when they accomplish something - like being house broken, or a command (sit, etc).
  
  (9) we're lucky... he loves both dogs and people. Archer is an attention whore, and the more praise and play the better. This can vary by individual dog, like individual human.
  
  (10) The only thing I wish I could change is how long my commute it, and how late I get in. My husband is able to spend more time with the puppy than me which is just my own jealousy. Also... we use a dog walker 1-2 times a day (we're moving down to 1 now that he holds his bladder/bowels longer). The mid-day visit is SO important, if you can't take lunch at home... you need to have him with someone - a dog walker, a pet daycare. He cannot be alone for that long.
  
  Also... know he's a smart breed. He's not like a lab or a collie who will live to please you. You live to serve him (or her! I have a boy, so I keep using him) which means that you have to learn about his idiosyncracies. Because he is smart, but easily bored... you will need to figure out what kind of attention and stimulation keeps your shibe baby happy. Is it mental stimulation and logic puzzles? They make more than the tops I shared... so start looking. Also, just play hide and seek. Does his hunter instinct kick in? Sometimes, when he's feeling extra frisky instead of feeding him in a bowl, I'll toss his kibble and treats into the toy, or literally around the room so he can "hunt" for dinner. Is he feeling neglected? Bored? he's going to cause trouble...so how can you make sure he knows you love him. Think of him like April Ludgate in Parks & Rec, or a cat. He wants to know he can have your attention when he wants it - but he will not just snuggle because you want to... or pay attention to you if it doesn't meet his interests or needs. You'll fall in love (hopefully) and won't care, but the shiba will rule the fam not vice versa so get ready for it.

Not sure if this is the same one that Scout got, but this one is great for my dog. He usually destroys most toys, but this one is hard plastic and it barely fits in his mouth, so he can't really chomp down on it. I think maybe he also does not want to destroy the toy that feeds him. ;)

The Kong Wobbler is also good if you need a treat/food dispenser that doesn't travel quite as much or as quickly. It's also harder to get stuck under the couch or tv stand, etc. My dog hasn't tried to destroy it - once he gets all the food out, it's dead to him.

When my dog is super antsy, I'll put half of his dinner in one of these. Then he spends the next half hour chasing it around the house to get his food out of it, and by the time he's done, he's tuckered out. I also make sure he has lots of toys and bones and hoofs to chew on so he has something to do so he's not bored.

I found the ones I used on amazon.

OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OE47AbH4PAY32

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ARUKTG/ :D

My dachshund, Doobie, is a little terror when it comes to toys. I've found two that hold up pretty well overall.

First, this is Doobie's absolute favorite toy but it never lasts longer than a few hours if I just leave it with him. So I'll only give it to him for play and take it away later to make it last longer. I only mention this one because he loves it so much. It does have stuffing in it, so beware of that. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EB9IV2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This toy is better because it has several squeakers, and it lasts a lot longer. It also has no stuffing to clean up. Though they will still destroy them. But I use this one to play catch (since you can throw it like a frisbee) and tug of war (Since it's easier for you and the dog to hold) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT8K7J6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the toy that I let him have all the time. It took him a year to destroy the first one. I don't know if it's because it's really that tough or because he's getting older. But I think it's worth a try. It's also really funny watching him carry this thing around the house since it's twice as long as he is. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RQNE7U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And the last, honorable mention: My dachshund LOVES this, and it's perfect if you are too busy and they really want to play or the weather is bad so they can't go out or get walked. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• I have this Crate and this seems like it would be a good size. Don't get it any bigger than you have to or the dog is more likely to pee/poop in one corner and sleep in the other.
  
  
• If she's smelly and seems scared of a bath, some pet wipes will hold you over until she seems more chill
  
  Toys:
  
  
• Get a Kong, fill with cooked sweet potato, peanut butter, plain yogurt with a little kibble mixed in, etc, then freeze till solid, and give to your dog for a treat that stimulates them mentally, keeps them busy, and helps with separation anxiety.
  
  
• Hide-a-Squirrel. An interactive toy- you stuff the log with squirrels and any other toys you have and let your dog have a blast tearing them out
  
  
• Treat dispensing toy you can use to actually feed your dog her meals if she eats too fast. I like this one because you can change the difficulty by making the hole openings smaller or larger
  
  
• Lastly if you have no idea what kind of toys she likes and are striking out (and have a little extra dough lying around and want to treat yo-self), you might want to try ordering BarkBox (you can almost always get a free month when signing up so google coupon codes before ordering). I did it for about a year and a half and was always blown away by the quality and the amazing way they curate each box to fit a theme. The toys were always adorable!
  
  I didn't know about the 2 Week Shutdown when I got my dog and while things turned out okay in the end, I definitely think it would have been VERY beneficial to do it. So best of luck and please update us with pics when she gets home!

We like this one because it has multiple levels for bones to fall through: Our Pets IQ Treat Ball Interactive... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKU0?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

And this one too: JW Hol-ee Roller Size:Small... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BWF0AR4?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

She loves her interactive little piggies and their hiding holes (the squirrels were all I could find on amazon): ZippyPaws - Woodland Friends Burrow, Interactive Squeaky Hide and Seek Plush Dog Toy - Chipmunks ‘n Log https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008PFB3HG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sE8LBb51HF9D1

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Smarter-Interactive-Inches/dp/B003ARUKU0
My irish setter uses the 5 inch one

why was your vet glad it wasn't a pure malinois?? they're amazingly smart, loyal, and generally great dogs. what an odd comment.

they're very smart dogs. you can take her to a reputable training school (probably not petsmart), and make sure they do POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT training. I'm new to the sub so i'm not sure what the general consensus is, but having a belgian breed dog as well, they do not respond well to the dominance stuff. they're eager to please, they just need to know how.

puzzle toys will be your best friend, too. my favorite has been this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Smarter-Interactive-Inches/dp/B003ARUKU0

2 years later, it's still in 1 piece... unlike anything else we bought in 2013... lol.

if you need any other specific advice, feel free to PM me.

Does your puzzle ball adjust to make it easier/harder to get the food out? We have an IQ ball. When we first used it, we fully opened it and made it really easy for our dog to get the kibble out. Now we close it way down, and it takes her ~15 minutes to get through it. Not terribly long but she has to work a little for her dinner at least.

I have to strongly advise against any Nina Ottosson-brand puzzle toys. Our dog, who isn't a heavy chewer, basically destroyed a Nina Ottosson toy the very first time we gave it to her (and they aren't cheap!!). We were so disappointed.

It is really heavy, I'm mostly worried about damage. The noise doesn't really bother me since it is less annoying than this ball.

My 10 lb dog loves the IQ ball and we've got the larger size (4"). We've also got a Wobbler that she enjoys, but I think I should have gotten the Bob-a-lot instead. I borrowed a Bob-a-lot from a friend, and it seemed like it was more challenging and I liked that the hole size is adjustable (I taped over most of the Wobbler's hole to make it smaller). The Busy Buddy Twist & Treat is pretty good too.

We have this for ours https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YHB8EI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GxLsDbFHADN2S

She loves it and gets pouty when her food is in a normal bowl instead

SO and I keep our pup in an open area and just keep tabs on him, which inevitably results in a lot of us saying "stop chewing on the chair, stop chewing on the plant." So I feel you there.

If we need time where we can't watch him constantly (folding laundry, for example) we'll put him in his enclosed space, usually with something to chew on. Sometimes he barks at us or lays on top of the couch and stares at us like, "uh, guys? You forgot to let me out..." It's definitely not his favorite but sometimes it's necessary. If we really need him to be occupied we give him a bully stick; we might as well not exist when he has one of those.

As for toys, my dog loves his frizbee, his Chuck-it! ball (we can't give him regular tennis balls because he eats the fuzz off, but the Chuck it balls are pretty sturdy), and rope toys, which he can only have if we're around. Currently we have a Flossy rope toy and the Kong Tugga Wubba. He also has a few rubber chewy bones, which have held up to his chewing so far. Amazon seems to have better prices for toys than anywhere else I've found. The Flossy rope toy is huge and it cost me like $3, I think?

Another thing that keeps him occupied is a wobbling food dispenser, which another poster suggested and I also highly recommend. It makes dinner time a little more interesting for him and lets you do your own thing for a bit. We have one of these. You can adjust how difficult it is by adjusting the two openings in the toy.

Do you rotate toys out? If I introduce a new toy I always put one away and don't bring it out again for a few weeks; he goes nuts for ones he hasn't had in awhile.

I put treats and even dry food in a puzzle toy for my yorkie, he loves it, it slows down how fast he eats and it keeps him occupied for a while. This is the one I have https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-Lot-Interactive-Small/dp/B003YHB8EI/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1521658287&sr=8-13&keywords=dog+treat+puzzle

He knocks it all over the kitchen getting his food out and it wears him out a bit which is great this time of year when it's too cold or snowy to walk every day.

I’d focus on all around confidence building at home - obedience group class is probably overwhelming for a shy dog, so set your expectations low for slow progress in a class environment.

First of all, I’d implement a Nothing in Life is Free regime at home for now. It sounds harsh but for a fearful dog, knowing what your expectations are can reduce her anxiety and earning affection/privileges successfully by doing what you want her to will help her build confidence and trust in you - which should translate to her looking to you for leadership in all situations.

Work on reinforcing/teaching basic commands at home with really high value treats, lots of short training sessions (90 seconds to 5 minutes each session multiple times a day if possible) and way more reps than you think necessary. Once she has a command down, you can work on transitioning it to the world outside your home.

Puzzle toys are also an effective way to help build confidence. With shy/fearful dogs, we typically feed all meals in puzzle toys - solving them helps boost their morale. The Starmark Bob-a-lot is my favorite for meals, but Kongs are a good option too and the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop Dog Toy is another great one.

Nina Ottosson makes great puzzle toys for treat puzzles (too small to feed full meals), with varying levels of difficulty. There are also tons of DIY puzzle toys on the internet. Anything that works her brain and requires her to think through to solve will help her become a more focused, confident dog.

Hopefully all of the above will translate into increased focus and confidence in class too, but if not, you might want to consider doing some in home training if you can (obviously with the caveat that in home training is expensive af, especially compared to group classes, so I totally understand if this isn’t an option). If group classes are your best option, don’t worry too much about her performance IN class, just focus on doing the homework and building up her responsiveness at home and then slowly transition to the outside world.

With regards to men, it’s probably not something you can completely “solve,” but if she’s food motivated and you have male friends she doesn’t know, ask them to come over and hand feed her. This is one of the most effective ways to build a bond. When men are around, have them give her high value treats and ignore her as best you can, so all good things come from men. But let her take it on her own terms and don’t push her either. Contractors can be scary - generally they’re wearing work boots, carrying big/loud/heavy objects, etc., so that may be a situation you just want to manage instead of trying to train her to be more comfortable - just keep her crated or confined to an area where your contractor won’t be, maybe put on a noise machine or the radio and give her a frozen Kong or bully stick to keep her calm when they’re around.

Not all of this will be helpful or apply to you and your dog, I’m sure, but these are some of the things I find the most successful with my fearful fosters! Best of luck to you and your pupper! You sound like a very dedicated owner 💕

Jumping in to recommend the Bob-A-Lot that I got my dog a few months ago. It seems to be a little more work for her than the Kong Wobbler since you can adjust the hole that the food comes out of. If I don't feed her out of that, I use this dog bowl. Another good way for me to wear her brain out is to take the meal with us on our walks and train a little as we go.

Just recently my friend got me this toy and she loves it. She'll pull all the toys out and play with them for a while, then wait while I stuff them back in again.

Good luck!! I really hope you get to keep your pupper!

We bought a puzzle feeding bowl and never looked back, they are cheap on amazon, under $10. If your dog is high energy (mine is) then it’s perfectly fine to feed all meals in devices that make your dog work for the food (this advice came from our trainer). It helps tire them out and they eat slower. It’s very common for us to feed our dog from this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001F0RRUA/ref=mp_s_a_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1524460063&sr=8-27&keywords=dog+treat+ball . I know the reviews are not amazing but the small one works great for our dog. I do not recommend the large, it comes unscrewed to easy. A lot of people like the kong wobbler but our dog doesn’t get it. Frozen Kong’s only work for us if it’s a mix of wet food and dry. We have this one too which works well but is a bit of a pain to fill an entire meal in. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YHB8EI/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1524460313&sr=8-15&keywords=dog+treat+dispenser

We use one of these for ball throwing. Can easily launch up to 60m.

https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59

This is a Chuckit!

You will not be unprotected on your initial climb in if you use a line launcher or something similar on one side to put a line over the cross of your roof to the other. You then tie the rope in to a fixed point on the other side (like a tree or car) using a sling.

I used a kong ball with a hole in it (https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Ball-Dog-Medium-Large/dp/B0002DHOJA) and tied a thin 100 lb test nylon rope to it then launched it across with a dog ball launcher (https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59). Once the small nylon rope was across the roof, I then tied it to a 100 foot 5/8" rope (https://www.amazon.com/Guardian-Fall-Protection-01360-VL58-100/dp/B004EEPTDG) and pulled it back across the roof so I could safely tie in.

It adds a few minutes to the time to get on the roof but it is worth it as you will have very low risk of falling because you will always be tied in.

I also use fall protection whenever I need to get up on a ladder on my 2nd story home. I have several different anchors that I can hang ropes from depending upon where I need to work.

You should also always be tied in moving anchor to anchor, something like this comes in really handy if you need to move across a larger roof: http://www.fallprotectionpros.com/guardian-big-boss-dual-leg-lanyard.html

This is a great video for finding rafters when you nail the fall protection in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIMEMffezwI

All in all you would need to buy:

• 3-4 permanent roof anchors
  
• Some kind of line launcher
  
• 100 foot rope and optionally sling unless you have a connection point on the other side
  
• Fall protection kit with 50 foot rope and harness
  
• Shingle remover to lift the shingles before you place the anchor under them.
  
• Roofing adhesive to seal the shingle back down when you are done.
  
  When I did this on my home I:
  
  
• Secured one end of the 100 foot rope on one side of the house.
  
• Line launched a lighter rope to the tied off 100 foot rope. I then tied the 100 foot rope to the light rope.
  
• Using the light rope I pulled the end of the 100 foot rope across the roof to the other side of the house.
  
• I connected into the 100 foot rope and used it to ascend to the roof peak
  
• I lifted the shingles and installed the first anchor in a rafter, finding the rafter using the hammer location method.
  
• I then attached into the newly placed anchor using the 50 foot rope so I could safely move on either side of the roof.
  
• I resealed the shingles using roofing cement.
  
  If your shingles are older this job will be tougher. Old shingles tend to tear instead of lifting.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Just wanted to add another suggestion for leaving good marks, as no-one seems to have mentioned it yet... a regular ol' wooden spoon tends to leave quite prominent, and long-lasting, circular welts. And for a slightly different variation, a Chuckit (ball launcher - http://www.amazon.ca/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59) works super well too ;) The long, springy handle makes it fun to wield.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00006IX59?cache=b70fcc0ef9df54f5daac849831c2c0e8&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1405882789&sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2 this is a great start for non-rainy days! I have an indomitable pitbull, this works wonders on tiring her out!

Came here to say west paw. My dog is a CHEWER.

We’ve been getting him the super chewer bark box for the last couple of months. Half of the toys don’t last 5 minutes (we like the treats). They sent us a benebone as a replacement and he liked it a lot. It’s about halfway gone after about two weeks. Nylabones get shredded. Soft toys are basically non-starters (though the duck toy is doing pretty well a few days in... feet are gone but no fluff out yet!)

The West Paw toys we got him MONTHS ago are still fully intact and he loves them.

I don't know why it works, but this big yellow duck toy has outlived any of his compatriots:

https://www.amazon.com/Duckworth-Large-Yellow-Duck-Dog/dp/B000084E7Y

I think it's something to do with the texture of the fur?

Also I have no idea why this works, but I watch my dog when she's chewing on toys and I can tell the difference between a chew that will rip the toy and one that won't. When I see her starting with a ripping motion I tell her "be gentle" and she listens. I have no idea why or how to train it, but at this point she understands she is supposed to be gentle with soft toys and only very rarely rips them. So...you could try that?

I got my shiba inu this duck and he has yet to put a hole in it. It is played with nearly every day and has lasted. Also got him some Kong Cozies that have lasted as well. Check the sizing on all toys to make sure you don't get any too small for a lab to swallow though.

My husband bought one for our lab puppy on amazon! Came here to say we had that duck for a little while, but my boston mix is VERY determined and adept at defluffing

Multipet Large Dog Toy 15" Yellow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BgsxCbQMNAEME

This big hedgie is one of my dogs favorites. They have smaller sizes too!!!

Not only is this.... duck/google/schmoo one of my doggos favorites, it has tons of reviews from people saying for some reason their dog really loves it.

My 2 cents, skip the raised dishes, and definitely skip the create.

Realistically you need at a minimum, a bed, food and water dishes, food, I strongly recommend sweet potato chews. It'll help with the stress induced diarrhea, a few toys and a Duckworth (see link below) I have yet to meet a dog that doesn't love them.

Multipet Duckworth https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_8T4QDb0BKC3DQ

Edit: obviously collar and leash, but those should be supplied by the rescue

Finn plays with most of his toys on a big area rug. He knows to pick it up and take it back to the rug when it rolls off. I taught him by picking up his toys and taking them back to the rug every time they fell off. He eventually got the picture.

Even so, our favorite toys are soft rubber ones. The Omega Paw Tricky Treat ball is great, and so is the Orbee Tuff Snoop. To make the Snoop harder, you can buy another ball to put inside it.

Recently they've also had tricky treat balls which are GREAT and QUIET!

Not exactly a toy, but sometimes for meals I hide little piles of kibble around and let her sniff them out. Behind table legs, inside an old shoe she plays with, inside a box. She loves it.

She also likes her kong.

She loved the omega paw tricky treat ball when she had it ( http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M ) but recently we left it outside and a lizard moved into it, so we need a new one. It's not hard, but it was definitely a favorite.

We made a toy (I'll try to post a picture later) that's a Gatorade bottle with a rod through it. We set it up so the rod is horizontal and she paws at the bottle, makes it spin on the rod, and gets fed.

Also, a toilet paper/paper towel roll with the ends taped up is super fun to shred.

She just got what's basically a generic pickle pocket and she hasn't quite figured it out yet, but if I put something nice and smelly in there it keeps her distracted for a while.

I have a papillion chihuahua mix who just turned 2. If it were up to him I would play fetch all day long. When I need him to keep busy independently, I have a couple things I try:

Bully sticks. Sometimes he's into it, sometimes not. Depends on the day. Some days he'll chew on a bully stick for over an hour.

Puzzle toys like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-41008-Flapper-Training/dp/B006ZTTSOE/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1463561315&sr=8-16&keywords=dog+puzzle

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NSVIRY/ref=twister_B009NMOZKM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1463561410&sr=8-25&keywords=dog+puzzle


I also rotate his toys, he loves digging through and discovering the "new" toys.

Other times I put him in his crate. This is usually when he's had exercise and play time, but is not calming down any time soon. It's funny because it takes about 5 minutes before he's fast asleep in his crate!

My pup was just like yours-loves sticks and anything made of wood! Unfortunately, I don't have too many suggestions for the wood replacement. I gave my pup a few of these when he was little, but after reading the Amazon reviews I would possibly reconsider that decision. He enjoyed them, however, and you can do some research and make your own decision!

As far as a puzzle game I highly suggest the Omega Paw Ball. My almost 1-year-old pup recently figured it out and has been loving it. The Kong Wubba is also good, but with my pup I noticed that the Omega Ball requires a bit more finesse and concentration, rather than the Wubba which mostly sent him into frenzied batting episodes.

Hope some of this was helpful!

The Kong Wobbler and Bobs-a-lot are great toys. I also use a Tricky Treat ball a lot. My dogs also really love the Snoop.

You could also try the Tug-a-Jug, Kibble Nibble, or Buster Cube.

Tuffy makes some good stuff. We have a number of them. I just picked up the large sheep, it's almost as big as she is. Great for tug. She will chew the ears off. But in 14 months she's only got through 1. There's bones, bully sticks, balls etc to distract her also.

These are the favorites:

http://www.tuffietoys.com/
https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Twist-Treat-Small/dp/B0002I0RLW
https://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M

He's eating too fast, probably. Couple of options:

1. Slow eater bowl, like /u/WaxBully suggested
   
2. Food ball. I have one of these. The large fits 1 cup almost exactly. Its like part toy, part food dish!
   (https://smile.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494942493&sr=8-2&keywords=dog+food+ball)
   
3. If you want to go the low tech route, you can make your own slow eater bowl by sticking a big rock in their normal food dish, so he has to work around it

We have three not including Kongs! She gets bored easily lol.

This is my favorite one because it's really easy to change the difficulty and it's too big to get caught under the furniture.

You can change the difficulty on this one too by closing it more tightly but is pretty easy

And this is the easiest one out of the three we have but she still really likes it.

There are like hundreds more to choose from! Someone posted this and I'm probably going to pick a couple from there, too.

We have this one which is AWESOME:

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1419201598&sr=1-1&keywords=roll+treat+ball

Use it for breakfast and dinner on rainy days when he doesn't get in his usual hike. Takes about... 8 minutes? But he has a lot of fun with it!

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M

It's soft plastic so it can handle being knocked around a bit - which is good, as Lucy has figured out the most efficient way to get treats out of it is to knock it down the stairs again and again. I think a hard plastic model would be smashed to smithereens by now.

It doesn't open up so it's hard to clean, I fill/drain it with water a bunch of times to try to get as much food residue out as I can, then pour boiling water into it every now and then to sterilize what's left.

It depends on the toy, and the dog. You do want to supervise them at first, to make sure that they won't just chew it to bits; most dogs are smart enough to figure it out after a little encouragement, but some try to chew the toy(s) open. A Kong or something frozen in a block of ice like /u/ifragbunniez suggested would be good, or here are a couple others I found:

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA - $11.87

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DK26M/ - $5.32

I have read some reports of dogs breaking their teeth on Nylabones, and they have never been our dogs' favorite thing anyway, so here are some alternate ideas for ya:

• Tie off a squeaky tennis ball loosely, in an old sock. Depending on the weave and material of the sock this toy will last from 20 minutes to 4 days.
  
  
• Toilet paper and paper towel tubes, or plain cardboard sections (no dyes or tape, etc.; I often use the unprinted flaps of shipping boxes). Non-toxic, fibrous if they ingest it, and it lets them destroy something without costing you a penny.
  
  
• Fill a treat ball with 10-15 small, soft, training treats, and watch them push it around with their nose for the next 10-30 minutes.
  
  
• Build a treat puzzle yourself with layers of non-toxic boxes, take out containers (NO STYROFOAM), and newspaper. Sprinkle small treats in each layer and hold it all together with a little string or paper tape.
  
  
• Like most breeds, both the Staffy and Terrier lines love to lay tug of war. If your dog has good teeth you can use something like this, or this one if they have any oral issues. Just remember to put away toys like this when you are not actively using them, or they will get shredded/chewed to bits.
  
  Have fun!

Fulfill her retriever side by doing just that, retrieving. In addition to long walks, try playing fetch with a frisbee or tennis ball. I also like giving mine a treat ball to keep him busy/entertained/thinking.

> Can you suggest a puzzle feeder that works well?

I have had good luck with wobbler toys like the one the other user suggested. I got this ball which is super cheap and takes forever to get the food out of. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DK26M/ The downside of the ball is that it goes everywhere. The upside is that it holds a ton of food and is genuinely difficult to get kibble out of, even for me.

> Also, how do you freeze liquid in it? I tried to stuff the hole last night with PB and dry food and poor stock in there and it just drained right out

personally, I've never tried this. Off the top of my head, I might put some peanut butter in the bottom of a coffee mug, plug the small hole of the kong from the inside with about a tablespoon of peanut butter, put the small side of the kong into the peanut butter inside the coffee mug. In my mind this makes the kong stand up straight and makes a plug for the stock. Maybe freeze the peanut butter plug for an hour or so to help give it a good seal? Sounds difficult, but I can definitely see the appeal for a low-calorie long lasting treat.

> Also, how do I feed him for good behaviors? Anytime I get up he follows me so if he were playing by himself he would stop as soon as I moved, so would he still associate it with the good behavior?

this is where a clicker really comes in handy. first you "charge your clicker" by clicking and treating and clicking and treating until when he hears a click he expects a treat. Then you train with the clicker so you click as close to the moment that the dog takes a desired action as possible. So, for sit, right when the butt touches the ground. This helps to "mark" a behavior. Always give a treat for a click, but the click abstracts the marking of the behavior from the reward for the behavior. Once that is all well ingrained, being able to click for playing alone becomes way more possible.

> And if I had the food just sitting by me he wouldn't leave me alone because he knows it's there.

The clicker is great here too. Click for when he starts to ignore you, and then toss the food somewhere else (maybe his mat/towel that you are working on "go to mat" with?). Over time, he learns that ignoring you gets him good stuff too. This is hard for the human, to be both inattentive and giving attention, but it pays off like crazy.

Hope this helps. If you're interested in the clicker stuff, this is a good video to get started with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPDOrEEsAJ8&t=1m55s As a final piece of information, my first trainer was certified with the Karen Pryor academy, and I learned a ton from her. Good luck!

I am so sorry, big hugs to you.

My Murphy is laying beside me, I'll give him a scratch for you.

I know Murph would love to destroy this stuffies are his fave.

More hugs and love to you.

My guess is Jazmine!

My duck's name is Pig and my sister's bunny's name is Skunk!

A bunch of squirrels to kill!

What exactly is Lush?

Soapy Paws

Thanks for the contest!

My dog is/was the same way. It took several months to get him to understand/play with toys. It finally started to work when we purchased the Hide-A-Squirrel toy. I would place small pieces of lunch meat/pupperoni in the base and stuff the squirrels ontop of it. So he was forced to remove the squirrels to get to the treats. Now he will play with the squirrels by themselves as well with ropes, and a frisbee. He still doesn't get balls (he just looks at them) but maybe with more time.

I have a GSD mix and the only thing (other than hide and seek) is that I bought a chicken and barn dog game that she loves. Here's something similar:

http://www.amazon.com/Plush-Puppies-Hide-A-Squirrel-Pet-Large/dp/B0002I0O60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382228088&sr=8-1&keywords=squirrel+game+dog

Generally, mine is only into it if I give it to her--so I doubt she'd play with it that much while I'm at work. If he's food motivated (mine isn't) there are a bunch of toys that will dispense food while requiring him to figure out a puzzle. Here are a couple examples (but there are a ton more):

http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Seek-A-Treat-Shuffle-Bone-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382228265&sr=8-2&keywords=dog+food+puzzle

http://www.amazon.com/Dog-Games-Star-Spinner-Treat/dp/B00440D8GU/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1382228265&sr=8-10&keywords=dog+food+puzzle

Good luck!

My doxies absolutely refuse to leave these guys in the log.

Edit: context

Just an FYI - this comment was auto-removed because referral links aren't allowed. If you want to post something from amazon, it needs to be chopped down to just the item number, like this:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/

Look into getting a stuffed animal with a heartbeat to put alongside them in their crate, such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=POEPM14MF4GV&keywords=puppy+heartbeat+stuffed+animal&qid=1565801743&s=gateway&sprefix=puppy+heart%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-3

Maybe try a Snuggle Puppy? It really helped our pup during her first week home. She would fall asleep right on top of the snuggle pup, comforted (I assume) by the simulated heartbeat and source of warmth.

My 8 week old Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (closely related to Goldens) was not a fan of the crate at all. We'd put her in there, even if she was tired, and she'd start whining up to a half hour.

I read about the Snuggle Puppy and the reviews on Amazon seemed too good to be true, but I wanted her to have an easier time and $30 seemed worth a shot. So, we got her this and honestly, it helps so much. The newer model comes with a heart that has an 8 hour setting, a continuous setting (runs until battery dies) and off.

So, what we do now is throw in some Freeze Dried Beef Liver Treats (the Ferrari of dog treats) in her Kong, top it off with some peanut butter and put that in the crate with her Snuggle Puppy. She'll go in there, work on her Kong and lay down. Once she lays down we cover the front of her cage with a blanket or towel to reduce some of the light and she goes to sleep with nary a whimper. It's been working day or night. It definitely comforts her. I highly recommend it.

I’m sorry I don’t have advice but that is so sweet! I just found this thing and thought it was so cute! Maybe she would like it!

SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy, Brown Mutt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2giODbGRJ7JDK

I can't offer you advice on everything, but definitely try the snuggle puppy. I've heard other people mention it on this sub and it apparently replicates the sound of a heartbeat and has heat inserts that your puppy might want to cuddle with.

My two current faverites are the Tricky Treat Ball and the Tug-A-Jug.


For the ball getting the first half of the kibble out is pretty easy but the second half is pretty tricky (aka getting the dog hooked and then upping the difficulty). The Jug is just awesome but it's loud as hell on wood floors and drives me nuts so I'll only give it to her when I'm about to leave the house.


I've also heard good things about Buster Cubes because they've got adjustable openings but I really need to stop buying stuff for my spoiled pup so I don't have one.

My mom'a husky mix likes this treat dispenser rope thing and I've had several large breed fosters like this egg treat dispenser thing

I think what works for your dog probably depends on his preferences and chew intensity. If you're not solely interested in treat/food dispensers, you might look into some of the scent training aids. You can buy animal scents in liquid form, and you basically put a few drops on a piece of scrap fabric and hide it as a game. My beagle loved it when he was younger. I put it in a kong or kong-like toy then hide the toy. Of course, I'd never leave it hidden unattended. They still have scent hound competitions so there's quite a bit of information out there about training.

Second vote for the Tug a jug, Buster Maze also the Mushroom are also good the Bobs A lot Also works great as it has variable settings for difficulty. Puzzles like this are great but they tend to be useless once the dog figures it out.

I don’t use those in particular, my current go tos are the tug a jug, Magic mushroom, and game changer.

I usually show him that kibble comes out and let him go to town. If he seems to be having trouble, I’ll usually show him every couple of minutes what to do but he usually picks it up pretty quick.

I introduced him to them pretty much as soon as I brought him home at 9 weeks. He very rarely gets a meal in a bowl. It’s pretty much training and puzzle toys when I’m feeling lazy.

Awwww! As bad as that is, that's really cute. Mine does that too. I bought her one of these bad boys and now she no longer destroys my personal property lol

So much destruction in a small package, am I right?

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Tug-A-Jug-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B000KV7ZGQ

I'm in the same boat you are, just 6 months in. Never had a dog before, always a cat person. Here's what I've learned (so far).

1. All they want is to be with you. If she's not with you, she probably into something.
   
2. They're smart. So smart that you'll realize you're not as smart as you thought you were. I bought ours this, filled it with treats, then anxiously awaited as he tried to solve the puzzle. He just picked the whole thing up and flipped it over so that all of the treat covers fell out. "Problem" solved.
   
3. It took ours a couple months to get the "retriever" part down, but once he did.. man he brings us everything.
   
4. Give him lots of toys that he can "work" at. Kong toys with treats in them, maze balls, etc. I'm thinking of picking up something like this for ours next.
   
5. Be ready to walk. Cold, hot, doesn't matter. Golden's need exercise and love to run. On that note...
   
6. Get him out to a dog park or visit with other dog-having friends as much as you can! Not only is it great for socializing the dog, but she'll be tired out from all of the playing.
   
7. Try to curb jumping up as soon as possible. we didn't do this, and now we're kicking ourselves.
   
8. Get some training books and start as soon as you feel your pup is ready. Ours looooves being engaged and figuring out what he's supposed to do.
   
9. When she picks up something she's not supposed to, don't chase after her. Again, this is our boys favorite game now. "Oh, daddy is trying to work? I'm just going to grab this pillow and run!"
   
10. Remember that it's always your fault. Any bad behavior is the result of the dog not being told what is allowed. Positive reinforcement is always the better option!

Also a puzzle toy is an option. My little pig-dog has a tug-a-jug, which takes him a good five minutes to eat his dinner, instead of fifteen seconds.

[This bottle] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KV7ZGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_87STAbYCHNNXY). Our girl ripped out the rope almost immediately. We put a tennis ball in the bottle and now a few tiny treats provide her hours of entertainment.

I can totally understand not wanting to leave her in her crate for so many total hours each day. First I would recommend having lots and lots of toys on hand. The idea is to try to keep her engaged as much as possible while she's out there. Dogs can get tired of toys so I suggest investing in some new ones if you can and rotate them every few days. Have lots of chew toys on hand including hooves, horns (mine loves water buffalo horns especially) and antlers. The Busy Buddy Tug-a-jug can be a great toy once they get the hang of it. People who keep dogs in their apartment will actually give them all of their chow in these (start with small sized kibble first - any ACD mix will be smart enough to figure it out quickly) and they work to get it out during the course of the day. This will tire them out not only physically but mentally as well, which is hugely important, especially for ACD's. Along these lines, find new ways to engage her when you are home. Walks and exercise are essential but maybe start some training on new tricks (just 5-8 minutes at a time). ACD's need a job to do and helping to fulfill that in various ways can help to ease anxiety during others times of the day. It will be a process and it may not come without some trouble but it should eventually get better. I hope some of this is useful.

In addition to the kong, I use a food ball dispenser to feed my dog a lot of the time. It doesn't fully tire him out, but it helps burn some of that energy.

Here is the one I use: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1396221697&sr=1-3&keywords=dog+food+ball

Most Labs do tend to eat with gusto. Make sure he's getting enough food. They do make some different food bowls to supposedly slow dogs down.

Interactive slow pet feeder

Skidstop slow feeder bowl

Gobble stopper bowl addition

Buster dog maze

I personally have had success with the treat type balls.

Kong wobbler

Kibble Nibbler

Is he paws-y in general? He may need one at first that he can see inside of like the Busy Buddy "Kibble Nibble." Some dogs need a lot more encouragement and praise and excitement to see the fun in dispensing toys, including you pushing it around to get food to fall out. A regular Kong Classic with dry kibble inside is a good one to try too as food falls out easily. The more full the toy is, the easier the food falls out so have it full the first few times you use it.

If your dog just isn't into it, you can also try puzzles. Kyjen and Nina Ottosson have good ones. You can DIY with a muffin pan or egg carton.

My dogs like these three treat dispensing toys we have:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ALMW0M

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F0RRUA

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002I0RN0

My Blanco did not eat so fast that he seemed to be getting sick, but knowing that he would enjoy being engaged for his food, we bought him this: https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob---Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1469221369&sr=8-2&keywords=dog+food+toy

I won't say he loves it, but he knows how it works and never leaves a piece behind. I've heard of dogs getting bored/frustrated by toys like this and refusing to eat if that is how their food is served, but he has been using it for a few months now and nothing has changed yet.

Plus it gives me like twenty minutes of me-time where I don't have to worry about entertaining him.

This.

It's interactive, and it's fantastic. I put Yumi's daily serve of dry food in it, and she is far more interested in it than she is when it's in a bowl.

I second toys, toys and more toys. I actually tend to buy her Ikea toys cause they're cheap so I can replace them when she destroys them (toys will be destroyed), they're made for babies so there's nothing she can rip off and swallow, and some even have squeaky things which she loves.

Give them more toys than you can poke a stick at. Thus far, they have saved my furniture and house from destruction. Well, except for the computer chair. For some reason she's obsessed with the wheels.

Dogs need two types of exercise, physical and mental. Although what you are doing with him does have a lot of mental stimulation it's mostly physical. Spend some time every morning and evening doing some type of training, either a new trick, or reinforcing the things he already knows.

Also get toys that will keep his mind active. I feed my dog with this every evening. You could also try a Snuffle mat.

I've found that most dogs chew because they're either bored or they teething. Keeping them active both physically and mentally will help cut a lot of unwanted chewing. After that just keep consistent and when you find them chewing on something they are not supposed to chew give them something they can.

It's up to us to teach them what is or is not allowed, they eventually catch on, but sometimes it can take a bit.

We got ours a Bob-a-lot; she gets all her meals that way and loves it!

I would agree that settling into a routine seemed to help the most with our grey. It took about 3 months for her to settle and for the separation anxiety to fade. We also got her some puzzle toys that we give her only when we leave. She now knows that we give her a toy before we leave and we always come home. The best one I've found is this one but we also have this one and this one.

Bob-a-lot is one idea. http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob---Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4

But I recommend that you practice his training for a few minutes every couple hours and then give him a toy to play with. The training will burn off mental energy and the release from training will make him eager for the toy.

We have the StarMark Bob-A-Lot and our puppy LOVES it - though it took him a while to figure it out.

I've read in a couple of places that using it for all meals is fantastic; I haven't tried doing that yet, we usually have our puppy eat all but one meal from the bowl.

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Pet Toy, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vzztyb0MZ25AN

I got this one from amazon. It's pretty big, so unless you have some really high couches it should be okay. It has little sliding doors to make the food easier/harder to get out too.

I haven't had it long though, so I can't vouch for durability or anything.

My dog gets her dinner in this. She loves it!!

It keeps her busy for a bit and helps get some of her her wiggles out at night. She does "protect" it from one cat, though. Any time Tobey comes in to the living room, she picks it up and sets it on her bed. Tobey has never shown any interest in the treat ball, but whatever.

Oh, Premier Pet makes a bunch of them - [on Amazon] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_n_3?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A2619533011%2Cp_4%3APremier-Pet-Products%2Cn%3A%212619534011%2Cn%3A2975312011%2Cn%3A2975413011&bbn=2975312011&ie=UTF8&qid=1427303947&rnid=2975312011) but most pet stores carry a few of them too.

I use the Kibble Nibbler Ball for his meals, and other toys for some kibble throughout the day - he loves squirrel buddy, but I also have the waggle bone, large twist n'treat, the mushroom, and the barnacle. He figures them out fast, but it does slow his eating and make him think!

He also [loves this toy] (http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob---Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1427304091&sr=1-1&keywords=bob+a+lot), which is way better than the similar Kong Wobbler in that its slower to dispense and better balanced (he figured out how to get the wobbler to balance on its side and just dump the kibble out in on big pile!)

We have a beagle who is highly food motivated (doesn't play with toys unless food is involved) and the bob-a-lot is a great toy: http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4 It is a bit heavier, and difficult to pick up with dog teeth, so probably less incline to be thrown.

I've had success with a Bob-a-Lot
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQLNB4/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just put regular kibble in there and it can last a few hours

This is what I used to slow my dog down: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQLNB4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

He is really terrible about eating so fast he forgets to chew. Been using this for a year and have been slowly starting to phase it out as he's been doing a lot better. He got good at this toy but it still prevents him from getting more than a few pieces of kibble at a time.

You might get one of the treat dispensing balls like this one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQLNB4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001JQLNB4&linkCode=as2&tag=k9ofmine-20&linkId=I6W6RIYKDEMUWFI6
The dog really has to work at it, gives the brain a workout too, and that might divert her for one meal. And the antler is a good alternative because it takes awhile and gives teeth and tummy a workout too.

Kong is good. Get two: one to keep in the freezer and one to give to her. The frozen ones will take longer for her to get through. Put some peanut butter and treats in there and she'll be occupied for awhile.

I also have one of these things for my smart dog and it's great for her meals. I put her full serving of dry food in it and it takes her a good half hour to get everything out. It's also great because you can adjust the size of the release points to make it harder or easier for her.

Thus thing is my Paps favorite! Just put a few pieces of their regular kibble in it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038WP1YC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pK2EAb3NJKM11

For interactive play, I have two puzzle toys
this
and something like this

So each lunch break, we play the "Find!" game. He loves manipulating things with his nose and feet.

He is fed out of puzzle toys, which I'm around for to make sure he doesn't chew on them too much, but he works himself. That's the kong wobbler, and an IQ treat ball. For monitored play, I also have stuffed toys, which he throws around like that video of an orca playing with a seal (vaguely disturbing), and WILL tear up given the chance. I also have balls on rope toys. Again, he will toss and whip those around, chase them across the floor, generally have a grand ole time. He WILL chew on the rope though, so that toys gets picked up when I'm not in the room.

For unattended, crate time, I have two rubber kongs, also stuffed with food, usually frozen, a Starmark ever-lasting treat ball, and a full antler. I got a split antler because I thought he might not like it. That was a mistake. he was splitting shards off the split one in < 30 min. He is the second dog I've seen do that, so I cannot recommend split antlers under any circumstances. We've had the full antler for about a month, and thought it's worn, it's still very solid. I have no concerns leaving it in his crate, and he chews it like a pacifier when he gets stressed/bored.

I am caring for a SUPER mouthy lab. He will pick up and eat anything. Really.An-nee-thing. I have lot of toys and try to rotate, but sometimes he still picks up a houseplant.

Right now, our favorite is The Odin. My dogs like that it's rolly and that I stuff it with good smelling things. I like that it doesn't make a bunch of noise banging around our hardwood floors.

My female dog is VERY smart. We used to have the IQ Treat Ball but she pretty quickly figured out that all she had to do was shake it the right way and the treats would fall out. The Odin is trickier and they spend more time on it.

Autumn also used to have things like this one but, again, she figured them out so quickly it was kind of a waste. That one, she can now do in under ten seconds. It's not even a challenge.

So instead of spending money on seek and find toys, I recommend making your own games like that by hiding treats under small solo cups or tennis balls cut in half.

As for training sessions...

Small, focused sessions work best when the dog is learning a new skill. It's easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed when you're learning something new, in a language you don't even speak. But once they have the basics down, you can add more variety and length. You also don't have to, say, do a 30 minute long stretch. You can do two 15s. Or two 10s.

And once they have the basics down, you can turn training into games. Sit-Down-Stand is one of my favorites because it's so useful and it can be done in a smaller space.

Games work great because you're reinforcing the "training" behavior, but you're doing it in a way that feels like fun for both you and your dog. Spending time with your dog should be fun!

I hope this helps. I have a pair of high energy, loudmouth kids of my own and this has made them a lot more managable.

My guy didn't care about peanut butter. Instead we soak a portion of his food in water and then mash it into the kong and freeze it the night before. It gives my guy about 20-30 mins until he starts whining (he's also 7 months). The kongs are built to withstand freezing and biting, so you should be fine.

We got my guy this https://www.amazon.ca/Ethical-Pet-Treat-Shuffle-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC but he is too smart. This takes him like 2 mins to get all the treats out. He is a mini Aussie.

I came to this thread hoping to get advice on harder treats too :)

Oh man, I have so many of them right now. I'm a huge fan of the Kong Wobbler but it makes too much of a mess on my floors (attracts ants -_-). I also have the Kong Tiltz which is apparently not as fun to my Shiba lol. I'm about to get a snuffle mat for Matcha! We have an IQ ball which also isn't very interesting to her lol. I have a few Starmark toys since they have lots of different interactive toys as well.

I also have this thing, which Matcha is still convinced is a chew toy lol.

The dog will be fine. My boyfriend and I just adopted a dog the end of May this year. She is a 1.5 yrs old Malamute/GSD/Lab mix. She has a TON of energy. We are out of the house from 6:50am-5pm and we have a webcam set up to watch her while at work, all she does all day is sleep in the sun. When we are home, we make sure to play with her, take her for a 20-30 mins walk in the morning before we leave, and a 40-60 mins walk in the evenings. We take her to the dog park on the weekends to help her burn off her energy as well.


If you are worried about burning off the energy, we invested in a flirt pole for her, maximum energy burn for her, minimum time/effort for us :)

Your job is absolutely not a problem!

Every dog is different - maybe ask your relatives what their dog likes? One of mine is a serious foodie and the other is more into toys/playtime.

FWIW - I wouldn’t offer it food without making sure they’re ok with it. Some dogs have incredibly sensitive stomachs and are on a specific diet.

Edit - if they have space and you’re down to spend a little, Ive yet to find a dog that doesn’t like a flirt pole. Would also be a way to keep the dog a ways away from you while playing

Squishy Face Studio Flirt Pole V2 Dog Exercise Toy with Blue/Aqua Squeaker Fleece Lure, 36-Inch - V2FP-BS

Do you think your dog would like this? It’s basically a giant cat toy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HFFXEWE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538696104&sr=8-1&keywords=squishy+face+flirt+pole&dpPl=1&dpID=317xyhwyOtL&ref=plSrch

The flirt stick I have is here (which honestly was probably way more sturdy than my dogs need XD), but you can also learn how to make your own here. It's important to limit tugging and chewing on the flirt stick anyway-- the game is the chase!

​

Rally is something you can easily start doing at home if you're interested and if your dog enjoys training with you. You can see signs and descriptions here and there's a great video demonstrating the signs here. If there's a certain exercise you're stuck on, you can generally find videos on YouTube that will teach you how to teach your dog X, Y, or Z. (This is how I learned how to teach my girl fronts.) I use a treat pouch when I train, and my dog gets SO excited when she sees me put the pouch on! In novice, you don't really need any equipment (some signs include cones, but you can either avoid those signs or use other things you have around to act as cones), which makes it a little more accessible than agility off the bat.

It sounds crazy but that honestly might not be enough exercise, especially if he's still "run[ning] around bonkers a bit on his own too". I am so glad I ended up with a smaller, semi-lazy dog, because even with four walks a day - adding up to probably around 6 miles total - he sometimes has extra energy to burn and we have to play fetch with him or tire him out with a flirt pole (which he LOVES). I'd be totally screwed if I had a larger, more active dog!

Mine dealt with separation anxiety, too, and it took months to train him to trust that we were coming back. High-value treats and food-dispensing toys helped a lot. It took a little while to figure out what he liked best. He goes nuts for peanut butter and bully sticks, though he chews through the latter in about five minutes so I started blending peanut butter with yogurt and water, piping that into a Kong plugged with a dried liver treat, and shoving the bully stick in the middle and then freezing that all so it takes him longer to get through. He also loves deer antlers, which are long lasting.

We decided to partition off one puppy-proofed room of the house instead of limiting him to just the crate. Now that he's finally used to us being gone he voluntarily goes into the crate to sleep until we get back.

I got this flirt pole from Amazon when it went on sale. My westies go nuts for it but it doesn't do much for my GSD mix.

i built it after hearing about them (http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com/homemade-dog-toy.html). if i had it to do again, i'd probably go with a pvc pipe handle so the rope actually goes through the whole handle to allow the toy to be pulled to the end of the pole for storage (and wrap up the excess rope). i've seen similar toys on amazon called "flirt poles" - but they didn't look as sturdy as the one i made. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFFXEWE

here's a video of a play session:
https://youtu.be/-TuZ9iGY8Lo

Hi there! Yes, I too have a big strong reactive pit. I agree that getting in some work to tire her out physically will go a long way. Will she play fetch in the yard? You could always play some fetch or use a flirt pole to wear her out before going on your joyride. Then she could actually enjoy the joy ride without having pent up energy.

Hm. When you did nosework in the past, did you do it on oils? Formal nosework uses their search/scent instincts, but the prize is usually an essential oil scent (like birch), which doesn't smell at all like any prey animals. If you haven't already done that, it might be worth a shot without the risk of bringing home other animals.

6 years old is middle-aged, so she's not going to have as much energy as a younger dog does. She's also going to have some extra skin that may look flabby. Don't make her run if she doesn't want to, since dogs overheat extremely easily. Continue taking her to the dog park and look into different toys like a flirt pole. Don't bother with supplements, everything she needs is in commercial dog food.

A cool way of giving your dog a great work out, without overstressing the body, is a flirt pole. I got one for Capone, and he's loving it! As am I!!! It get's him nice and tired, way more than any walk ever would. I've heard you shouldn't run or weight train them until at least 1.5 so that you don't mess up the hips, growth plates, or bone development... I've talked to my vet about it and he says the flirt pole is great!!


Here's what I use

Enjoy!!

https://www.amazon.com/Squishy-Face-Studio-Exercise-Squeaker/dp/B00HFFXEWE

If your puppy is strong for his size, get a large flirt pole meant for bigger breeds. I know our pug Fizgig (1yr)LOVES to play with things meant for bigger dogs. And I honestly think she feels like she's a BIG dog lol.

my mini wigglebutt has the same problem. He likes to be chased and chase things but doesn't like to return the ball. He thinks it is funner to drop the ball wait there and make me try and go get it and then he will pick it up and run. He gets nippy so its hard to play with him because he gets so amped up. i got him a tethertug that he will play with. https://tethertug.com I get him different squeaker toys to put on the end and he will latch onto it which is good. Although the toy is meant to be able to play by himself he does not like that. So I stay on the other end and get him amped up and swing it at him which he likes. He wont nip at me cause he will go after the toy and i don't have to go after every toy because it is in the ground. He will get tired pretty quickly which is nice. If you don't want to hammer a metal stake in the ground, I also have a flirt pole. its like the same thing as the tether tug but instead of it being in the ground you hold it and fly it around and my wigglebutt will hold on and likes to be dragged. https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-41001-Exercise-Replacement/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469571753&sr=8-1&keywords=flirt+pole something like this. I would recommend getting a flirt pole first to see if she likes the idea of having a toy on a pole. Hope this helps. it certainly has helped me not get nipped at, herded, or pull my shoulder out from playing with him.

I switched from normal bowl-feeding to [this food dispenser toy] (https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Treat-Kibble-Dispensing-Puppy/dp/B01CP7B9L4/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468270533&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=bobalot+feeder) and my dog LOVES it. It's hilarious to watch him knock it around and he just about does cartwheels at meal times.

Is it possible to start taking your pups for walks to tire them out? Or teaching fetch to tire them out quicker in the backyard, or tug of war?

I've also been thinking about getting a [flirt pole] (https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-41001-Exercise-Replacement/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1468270723&sr=1-1&keywords=flirt+pole) as my dog got to play with one at our training class this weekend and about crapped his pants (he really liked it). I think the trick is to figure out what activity your dogs likes best – chewing? squeaky stuff? chasing? digging? nosework? and then finding more focused activites related to that. Good luck!

We adopted our Yorkie at 7 months and I didn’t realize adolescence was a thing until about a week later. He’s 8 months now and still has his moments. We started clicker training with him via a group class and it’s helped eons. What I’d recommend most is what you seem to be doing—longer walks to help with excess energy. You may also want to look into mental stimulation. Our trainer recommended taking Amazon or any sort of packaging boxes and playing scent games using them. They seem to tire out our guy.

One more—this lure toy or anything like it. it helps SO MUCH with excess energy.

Flirt poles are god send especially on a rainy day. Dogs will chase that thing until they're ready to pass out. May want to get the "off" command down before getting the flirt pole just so it's not so annoying getting the dog to let it go. Flirt poles don't hold up as well as I would like.

I have always bought my dogs this one

I absolutely second the flirt pole if you can get your backyard fenced in. Hell, I use it in my house for Charlie (though he's only 8 lbs and I have a decent sized living room.) I also take him in the backyard with a flirt pole and long line attached to his harness. You might look into those too. Long line and Flirt Pole

My dogs favorite are her flirt pole and "Find it". You can also ask for some more tips on /r/Dogtraining

Shibas play differently than other dogs. The best way we kept our girl interested in playtime with a ball was to get a cat toy - had a stuffed bird inside and made noise when it rolled. She loved it and it spurred her prey drive. We also got a dog-hearty flirt pole and it’s still her favorite toy.

For the biting - he’s probably never been taught how to mouth rather than bite down and doesn’t realize what he’s doing. The trainer should be able to help with that.

I have a very high energy dog as well. He has separation anxiety and can be destructive when bored as well.
Crate training was hard and took more than 6 months but gives him a safe place while we are gone. He’s even gone into the kennel on his own one time when he saw me getting ready to leave!
Establishing a morning/daily routine also has helped a ton with that. That would also help with the house training!
As far as the energy goes, both mental stimulation and physical exercise are important. We take Benji to the dog park almost every day. If we don’t make it there, he gets a long (2-4mi) walk in the morning and evening. The exercise is good for me too! We got a martingale collar and that has helped a ton for the pulling! Highly recommend. We also got this toy which may help you as well- he loves it! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_9ldRBbTG31S4F Mental stimulation can be new smells or behavior/clicker/treat training.

Good luck!

My guess is Binx! Although that was a cat. My boys names are Maverick and Goose :D I'm obsessed with Lush and used to work there. I'd go back to work in a heartbeat of I could :) This is supposed to be guaranteed indestructible.

Soapy paws!

https://www.amazon.com/Goughnuts-Guaranteed-Indestructible-Dog-Original/dp/B0042JJB82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475161216&sr=8-1&keywords=doughnut+dog+toy

I once saw these recommended on here before for a similar question.

KONG works wonders for me. Half-freeze it and boom! Endless puppy satisfaction. It's really strong and you can put treats in it entice your pup. As fuckmylife112 says, rotate your toys so that your pup won't get bored. I also use those rope toys (tug-of-war toys) because they're also pretty strong. Do note that you need to reward good behavior and use a stern but warm voice when correcting your pup like yelping when he bites you.

If toys don't work, you can use an anti-biting spray. Spray it on the things you don't want get chewed on and once your pup tastes the bad flavor, they are less likely to bite again.

KONG:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AR182/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=dogmomdaily-20&linkId=a5015a0e131bf582d18ad2d7e1f3f95e&linkCode=w61&imprToken=HNayx181fUWwMY3FikiDyg&slotNum=0

ANTI-TEETHING SPRAY (FOOEY-what i use)https://www.amazon.com/SynergyLabs-Fooey-Ultra-Bitter-Spray/dp/B0002DIOD0/?tag=petresults-20

ANTI-TEETHING SPRAY (Bodhi dog)https://www.amazon.com/Chewing-Puppies-Training-Treatment-Professional/dp/B01I2A6MPG/?tag=petresults-20

There's this so called indestructible chew toy (with a guarantee, never used it but many people are worshiping it lol) if your pup is a death machinehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042JJB82/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0042JJB82&linkCode=as2&tag=territerri-20&linkId=R63I4QQQKB7BCLBS


EDIT: If you can't have these things delivered, you can buy those rope toys from the pet store or a supermarket in the pet sections. They're pretty good if you buy those tight and thick ones. Squeaky toys are really good too. Wipe some peanut butter on them if your pup doesn't seem interested and reward good behavior.


I also found ice cubes or iced toys really good too. The coldness soothes the gums and helps your pup.
You can get rawhide (get the big ones) but you need to supervise your pup when does chew on it because there are certain cons this https://www.dogingtonpost.com/rawhide-good-bad-ugly/


Good luck!

Kong rubber ball extreme? https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Extreme-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B004VBC0SY/

This Kong ball might be a good option.

I feed out of a wobbler or a mushroom, i would highly suggest these over a slow feeder, unless maybe your dog is really senior. There are a variety of slow feeders, ranging from ones with a simple ball placed in the middle to ones that are quite tight and like puzzle map, you will only know what your dog can do by trial and error. Mine definitely can get in to small creases, but she has a very short tongue and so anything long (like a PB jar) she really can't get through. And yes, my dogs face would be flat against it.

Hmm..Make sure it's something yummy - maybe try something you haven't before ie - peanut butter if you use wet dog food, my dog loves plain cream cheese and yogurt in his (low fat/fat free). Some dogs also just might not enjoy the kong for one reason or another, there's plenty of other food puzzles. My pup's favorite non-kong food dispenser is the magic mushroom

This is all great. I think you have a good chance at success with some tips here and some hard work. One thing you didn't mention in this update post is food toys. Freezing in a kong takes extra time but isn't tiring for their brain or body. You could invest in a couple feeder toys that will work his brain and make him move around during mealtimes, and lots of them are actually less work than freezing a kong. For example:

Kong wobbler
Mushroom toy

If you can supervise him outside, you can also just scatter his kibble and make him sniff it out to eat. Using his nose to find food will wear out his brain really, really fast!

I have a few for my bun that I've bought, but I saw that box at Michaels and thought the same thing! I might have to pick it up when I got next. I got this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TOKTEG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 & https://www.amazon.com/TRIXIE-Pet-Products-Board-Level/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=pd_sim_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0054Q9TMA&pd_rd_r=5PA45VWEP2AZ8VXYSN9R&pd_rd_w=l77F1&pd_rd_wg=1LEIl&psc=1&refRID=5PA45VWEP2AZ8VXYSN9R for my bunny and he loves them. Figured them out very quickly. There is one I can't find right now I saw that has pull tabs, and essentially the food drops down layers (it's tall) and the animal has to pull the string tabs out to get it. I want to try that one next :) Mine is spoilt as hell.

My mom adopted an nervous wreck of a dog 3 years ago, and she's just starting to come out of her shell. She would whine for over hour once my mother left the house for work, and pee on the floor when new people came over. She had not done the 'play bow' until about a year ago, would stand petrified at the dog park instead of playing. She only figured out how fetch worked this past winter. So it may take your mom's dog a bit of time to re-adjust to the new surroundings.

But I'm not a dog psychologist, so definitely talk to a professional about it. Aside from seeing a vet as /u/PikeleMaster suggested, is she very food motivated? You could try seeing if a puzzle toy of some variety might help with some mental stimulation or distract her enough to not pace.

Do you take him for a long walk at night?

This is a kong. You can fill it with peanut butter and some small treats, freeze it, and it will preoccupy your dog for hours

This is how I feed my dog her meals, she has to push it to get her kibble out, so it mentally stimulates her

Here are some other mentally stimulating toys we use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZTTSOE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lcQAzbWNWKYBJ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FbQAzbTVZQGKH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014OAYVKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8cQAzb365KDN2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F0RRTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HdQAzbMD3G61W

I have to be early to work so mornings are usually a no go, but late evening are usually tolerable. We have a few different ones but any that are like [this. ](trixie pet products flip board, level 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_klV4Db3WG3DWF) Something that makes him work for it with tiny details. He has gotten pretty smart though and if I don't hold the board down, he picks the whole thing up and turns it upside down.

Also, the Kong Wobbler . He broke the first one so we had to get the biggest one they had. I'll usually feed him his meals this way to make sure he gets the ants in his pants out.

I'm always looking for new suggestions though! He is a smart lil asshole who destroys EVERY TOY so i always gotta make sure anything I get him is pretty durable.

Haha, I have this Trixie flip board myself. It's pretty well made and has held up well. The only problem is that Frankfurt's too good at it now. Been trying to decide which Trixie toy to get next :P

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054Q9TMA

My aunt and uncle had a litter of really cute golden retriever pups :) they owned two of their own already, sisters. All the little guys went to really good families. I always got invited over to puppysit and it was the best.

As far as golden retrievers go, they've VERRRRRRY energetic and super affectionate. Do you have a backyard? Because that's very important with dogs like golden retrievers.

As far as toys go, KONG makes some really great stuff, and they usually have some good deals on amazon. I think this is too precious for words :D

enjoy your new family pet!

KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy

I thought about buying that for him, but the iguana toy he had, he ended up eating the tail, bit by bit, I would find pieces of it when I would go on poo-pickup patrol.

I have the same issue with Raider. Check out this

It's the only plush toy that's managed to remain unscathed.

https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Wishbone-Durable-Aggressive-Chewers/dp/B00CPDWT2M/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=wishbone+dog+chew&qid=1563108701&s=gateway&sprefix=wishb&sr=8-3

Try Benebone. Not exactly cheap, but these bad boys last months and my dogs love them.

My 9 month old puppy loves his benebone (http://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411690320&sr=8-1&keywords=benebone). I just got him his third one a few days ago. There's two flavors, bacon and peanut butter (http://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Peanut-Butter-Flavored-Wishbone/dp/B00IK243R6/ref=pd_sbs_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WFNGHN8B9FBJXC180JX), but my dog likes his bacon flavored benebone so much that I'm worried that he won't like the peanut butter one, so I haven't purchased that one for him. These last for a pretty long time. When he was a very young puppy, it lasted 3-4 months. His second one lasted 2 months. He used to spend 30 minutes to an hour chewing on it, but this has tapered off slightly.

I've bought him lots of chew toys, like a couple of different nylabones, an elk antler, bully sticks, etc. He chews on his elk antler once in a blue moon. He likes bully sticks, but can finish a 12" one in about 20 minutes, which is way too expensive for me. He never really liked his nylabones, especially the ones that are original flavored. Benebones are a lot like nylabones (they're both made of nylon), but the wishbone shape makes it easy to hold and it smells pretty strongly of bacon, which I think is why my dog likes it so much.

I have to be honest. In the first picture he looked kinda creepy. In the second one he's super adorable. I am so sorry you lost your poor pet and beloved family member. I'm dreading the day when my Perdy has to go. I dun want her to leave me. Jeez, just thinking about it is making me sad. I'd better stop before I do something silly. Holy crap is that a freaking dinosaur bone?! How much is something like that? My dog might actually take more than an hour to bust through it. She's a rather strong chewer. It's hard to find anything that she'd like that she can't also destroy right away. She loses interest in anything that she can't rip apart fairly quickly.

• I don't know what she'd do to something like this. Or you can pick anything you want if you'd prefer.
  
  
• I'll hug her extra hard just for you.
  
  
• It's kind of hard to see, as I didn't have the light on when I took this, but the white and brown one is her. The black blob is Duke who came to hang out with her. Doggeh. If you'd like a clearer picture I can post the other picture I have of her as well.

Haha, yep! We know whenever we give her a tennis ball that it's being sacrificed. We have a couple of Kongs, and we've also been really impressed with these bones - it's basically a nylabone, but with a bacon flavor (they have peanut butter, too). Her previous one lasted her about 6 months, and she seems to love it - it's the only toy she'll chew on regularly.

i bought this Benebone for my puppy even though he's not losing teeth yet. He seems to like chewing on it.

Hello,

I got a large dog and she chews on this all day and hasn't broken it yet after 2 months of daily chewing.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CPDWT2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are great for tiring doggos out, too: https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-Tail-Teaser-Flirt/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=pd_sim_199_4/132-4569949-6685960?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0042I5G2I&pd_rd_r=e8c95331-a39a-11e9-90e7-f1525924e8b2&pd_rd_w=2YowG&pd_rd_wg=Z1oEo&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=JKXZE9X74A2KWDS9SE0X&psc=1&refRID=JKXZE9X74A2KWDS9SE0X

I'm guessing you don't have a backyard?

Flirt pole! A tired dog is a happy dog. Also, use all that space for training/tricks! Mental exercise is just as important.

We use this (our dogs know "drop it" so they don't pull/destroy the toy when they catch it too much), but you may need a sturdier version - broom handle, rope, duct tape etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP02290-Exercise-Training-Replacement/dp/B0042I5G2I/

This saved my life when I got sick. ( Here is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.com/Exercise-Training-Replacement-Outward-Hound/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510181209&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+toy+pole&dpID=21tiCKznadL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch ) Could play with my new puppy more or less from the couch, and I used an app called Wag! that offered cheap walks and felt comfortable when meeting the walkers.

You might try something like this chase toy, seemed to really give my puppy a target to aim all his 'zoomies' at.

I believe I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/Exercise-Training-Replacement-Outward-Hound/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1499884677&sr=8-2&keywords=flirt+pole

The included squeaky toys definitely don't last, but you can just tie your leather rag on when you get that.

Yeah, don't think your suppose to use the laser pointer a lot. They need to be actually able to catch the thing occasionally otherwise it is really frustrating for them. :(

Learned this in puppy class a few months after we got our pup. They recommended this: https://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-41001-Exercise-Replacement/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1478206471&sr=1-2&keywords=chase+toy

I got one of these to work my dogs when they need it. Only had it since Friday but they love it.

Kyjen Tail Teaser with Refill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042I5G2I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_z8GXCbK2VEC40

Update: here’s a link to the flirt pole I have. I posted a link to the snuffle mat in another response in case you’re interested. Good luck with you pup!

After reading your other comments it seems to me that your pup needs more exercise. Having herding breeds myself, this is something I have to make sure to do if I don't want a wound-up and destructive pup on my hands.

If you have a yard and you're not in the mood to go for a walk, I would recommend getting a Flirt Pole for him and tiring him out that way. A tired dog is a happy dog and a tired dog doesn't cause problems.

Be advised, that Flirt Pole I linked is strong enough for my 25 pounder but neither toy survived her wrath. The one made by Squishy Face Studio is higher quality and the toy holds up fantastically. So far the only issue we've encountered is the toy gets a bit dirty but that's nothing that can't be easily solved.

Also try giving him some frozen kongs when you leave or treat dispensing toys filled with his food rations so he will have something to keep himself busy while you're not home.

Yes, gonoughts! It's the ONLY toy my friend's 80lb pit bull can't destroy. They have a lifetime warranty and interestingly the first version we got from Amazon did get chewed up in a couple weeks. After I sent it back the replacement they sent is is INDESTRUCTIBLE. That dog chews on it every day and has hardly made a dent in it after more than a year. I think the original version was some kind of cheaper rubber and they sent me the real thing when they realized I was going to use the warranty.

This is bently. He is an awesome dog. This is him after a long day. He couldn't destroy a toy if he tried to so I looked for indestructible dog toys on Amazon and this came up. Says it is guaranteed.

This would be my item.

These are my dogs, Bear and Lindy! Bear is a chow/golden retriever mix and Lindy is dobie/lab mix. Both are rescues and are my entire world <3


This chew toy is guaranteed indestructible


I'd love to donate this to my local humane society if I win :) I have a little box made up for them and I'm gonna drop it off once I get a nice little package set up.


Thanks for the contest! Hopefully I made it in on time


EDIT: Oh my gosh, Reggie is freaking adorable with those ears!!

I've had luck with the "Goughnut" toys (thick rubber rings) - bought mine on amazon. Pricey, but even with tagreted chewing my (3 year old) pup can't get through his.

My Boston Terrier is the same. I wouldn't think that a 16 pound dog could be such a destructive chewer, but toys don't last around here. Stuffies last a matter of minutes (even ones designed to withstand heaving chewing). I spent $30 and bought him the hard yak cheese and a Goughnuts toy (the company will replace the toy for free if your pet destroys it)... he won't touch either. He wants to paint our home with the lifeblood of his vanquished foes.

The only toy my dog hasn’t destroyed

This is Winston! He's a Chihuahua/shih-tzu mix that I adopted almost 2 years ago. His 2nd birthday is in 4 days and I'm so excited/sad.

My parents have this toy for their enormous bulldogs. It's still going strong! Kong toys are amazing though. Winston is such a crazy strong chewer for a teeny 10 pound dog that he needs the black Kongs. Hahaha

Edit: This toy says it's guaranteed to be indestructible :)

Winston lovesssss Kong animals. He would love the moose. I think this puts you right under $10 with shipping. I'm not sure exactly what the normal shipping rate is, so if I go over let me know and I'll choose something else!

Thanks for the contest! Congrats on adopting Reggie! He is so cute <3

EDIT 2: MORE PICTURES BECAUSE I LOVE HIM

I feel ya! My two consider it a personal challenge, it seems, to destroy even the most highly rated chew toy! In the end, I've found investing in a few slightly more expensive ones that are more durable is a little cheaper in the long run.

Mine make short work of black kongs, so I did a little shopping around to find something more durable.

• Galileo bones they like (after two chipped teeth I no longer give them antlers)
  
• "unbreakoball" is a fun, tough ball that they can still get a grip on and pack around. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004KA85SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485927690&sr=8-1&keywords=unbreakoball
  
• "goghnuts" brand toys are our fave. They have a "donut" and stick. The donuts last longer in our house (I've had one 3 years), but they seem to prefer the stick. The black ones are tougher than the green. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0042JJB82/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485928001&sr=8-1&keywords=goughnuts
  
  Good luck!

Goughnuts. It's a rubber shaped doughnut. If your dog destroys it they replace it for free.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0042JJB82/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_199_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=STZYTS8THAHM80WTKR7P&dpPl=1&dpID=51vS4-hICXL

Tennis balls last less than 10 minutes with my dog. A raquetball is too small. So far the Kong Ball is the only thing that can stand up to my shark dog.

Reggie is BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations!

My dogs are smaller, but they love to destroy things. They never "savor" their toys. Kong balls are amazing, but I'm sure you're aware. My dogs have a TON of nylabones that last forever. They really like the dinosaur and it's inexpensive as well.

Here are my GSP rescues wearing tie-dye! They would really enjoy this puppy cake as a prize!

Good luck to you and your new pup!

This is our 8 month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Winston!

He chews and chews and chews, but he's pretty good at keeping it to his toys (and the occasional stray sock)

His favourites (and those that haven't given up after about 5 minutes are the Kong ball, Kong classic, Kong squeezze, elk antlers and finally Nylabones (I tend to buy one size up to avoid him tearing through them...

He is a surprisingly strong chewer and has destroyed just about everything else we've presented to him within minutes, sometimes within seconds!

There are 3 pitbulls around my place and I find they have LOTS of energy...I would suggest that you invest in some "agility equipment" to work the mind and the body! We bought some cheap shower tension rods to use as jumping obstacles in the hallway, a play tunnel from IKEA - although it may be too small for a pit...and this summer, we will make some weave poles out of PVC pipes and stuff.

A travel bowl or this Nylabone dinosaur would be awesome for Winston! :D

Thanks so much for the contest and congrats on the new pup! Enjoy him and snuggle him and love him! Dogs are the best! :D

This is Bugsy. He is my pitbull.

Other than the kongs, thick ropes last long with him. Especially knotted like so. They arent indestructable, but they wont be gone in a day either.

I want dis for bugsy haha

Really? That long? Congrats! we're going on 3 years but looking toward the future. My pup NIk would love this ball; he chews through everything else.

I second this. Anything less than Kong and you're wasting your time.

KONG Extreme Ball, Dog Toy, Medium/Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VBC0SY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_GDTLwbE180SYW

get some kongs from amazon, and rope toys they freaking love them this is what i have bought for mine, he is currently 5 and so months and finishing the teething cycle, sorry for the links in mexican amazon but we are from mexico :P
https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B004VBC0SY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B00KNWVPFO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

guerilla gorillas

Fur my doggy. It's a Kong ball that looks virtually indestructible, though I'm sure my dog could find a way!

That one is $8.99 :)

sorry - totally spaced on this!!

this is my personal favorite, but we also rotate between the following:

kibble nibble

tug a jug - but we removed the rope

buster cube - this one is pretty tricky and may frustrate pups new to feeding from a meal dispensing toy

Our husky ... and I suppose most huskies ... is very odd with her eating habits.

• She will sometimes choose NOT to eat from a certain bowl. Put the food in a different bowl - No problem. Eats it up.
  
  
• Sometimes she wont eat her kibble from a bowl at all but will eat it from the floor or a plate.
  
  
• Sometimes she will only eat kibble from her food puzzle.
  
  
• She is picky with her food and sometimes will choose not to eat at all unless we change her food.
  
  Etc, etc, etc.

This - make eating fun, engaging, and mentally stimulating!

My guy eats every single meal out of either a Kong or one of these. I do a lot of work and mental development with him, and if I could only do one thing, it would be the practice of active feeding.

I very seriously cannot recommend it enough. The mental exercise every meal seems like nothing, but the dog is not only doing it a few times a day, every day, but also getting rewarded for problem solving. If you want a smarter, more resourceful, calmer, and happier dog, practice active feeding!

My dog would do the same thing. He is supper sound oriented with his food. The one I found he liked was this one. He could see the food and he could hear the food and I could dial up the difficulty when needed. Might be worth a shot.

We bought our goldendoodle some puzzle toys. These help a lot. Unfortunately he has figured them out and just solves it in seconds now lol.

https://www.amazon.com/TRIXIE-Pet-Products-Board-Level/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518452513&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+puzzle&dpID=416kgbG3sHL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch


https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Mad-Scientist-Dogs-Level/dp/B003TOKTEG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1518452513&sr=8-9&keywords=dog+puzzle

Thanks for the contest! I have my eyes set on this for my pup. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IKP88ZR4RS9YV&colid=278FT8GJ1O78S&psc=1

It sounds like he really likes toys he can destroy. My basenji is the same, he's only interested in the stimulation of being able to "solve" a toy. I found that a puzzle toy was really engaging for him, since it gave him an outlet for his creativity(?)

We use the large KONG Extreme Dog Toy, Medium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GUDZO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sQ81AbHCEGYVC, trixies flipboard 2 TRIXIE Pet Products Flip Board, Level 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RR81AbJEX56X9. treat ball OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oS81AbJ0XDRE8, a treat hiding thing Dog Smart Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Brain and Exercise Game for Dogs by Nina Ottosson https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711Y9Y8W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MS81AbJWBH0TC, a rolling nibble kibble PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Meal Dispensing Dog Toy, Medium/Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F0RRUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FT81AbYG9PW7N, a self toy KONG Rambler Ball, Large (colors vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BBGRT4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wU81AbYC200R4, and a large tug a jug PetSafe Medium/Large Sportsmen Tug A Jug Pet Chew Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K4KZ8M0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_LV81AbFBTP67F.

The kong I use spread treats inside because dry treats last only a few seconds.

Trixies flipboard is low to meh at getting her attention, sometimes she doesnt care for the food to bother with it.

Iq treat ball she finds a way to break, pushing into a wall, chomping on it, the moment you look away.

The hide a treat thing is easy for her.

The nibble kibble is the same as the treat ball.

The kong rambler she easily pulls the ball from its station and the toy is moot, now its just a ball.

The tug a jug becomes a weapon that she whips around until it smashes open.

The one thing I have noticed that can keep her attention is a pile of wood we have outside. Inside that pile of wood is chipmunks and squirrels that she messes with until I call her over. I'm thinking that she enjoys live toys? Or does she it as just something for her to herd.

I bought one of these and one of these. Hopefully she gets the flip board. She only likes toys that are food related so I want more enrichment for her.

I was thinking of getting her one of these treat balls for her food too.

She eats soooo fast and then she burps so I am getting worried about it! I have been trying 3x a day.

Dogit Mind Games 3-in-1 Interactive Smart Toy for Dogs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045DKZ6M/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_UlRuyb1G87S7G

TRIXIE Pet Products Flip Board, Level 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_.mRuybDJAXKES

Company of Animals Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Interactive Plastic Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KZ8FWE/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_DoRuyb1A4JKYH

My dog hasn't ever really "gotten" the logic toys that are in the form of a ball that you roll around, but we've started getting him puzzleboards and he loves them! It took him a while to learn and he gets super excited now whenever we bring it out. There's a whole series of them and we're about to get our bud his second one!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0054Q9TMA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499449077&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+trixie+puzzle+board&dpPl=1&dpID=416kgbG3sHL&ref=plSrch

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Not something I want, but I'm sure my puppy would love another stuffed animal.

Incase anyone is curious the toy is a KONG Cozie .. Marvin the Moose to be exactly. I distribute pet supplies and actually shipped 480 of these things today (not related to Reddit, they were presold).

http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Cozie-Marvin-Moose-Medium/dp/B005AP3B8S

Name that damn puppy already!

Shadow?

Duke?

Link <-- you could get one too!

X-Ray and Vav would be nice, but my mom's dog just died of pneumonia after staying in a really nice boarding facility, so I feel like loving my own dogs a bit more with this Marvin the Moose toy.

Thanks for having a contest.

mooooooooo my childrens would love this toy. Man's best friend is the bestest friend.

Best - Bully sticks, he will chew through these things like crazy but it's worth it. He's stopped biting us by 5 months and hasn't destroyed anything in the house.

Worst - Kong Moose, at only 3 months old he had this thing torn apart with stuffing everywhere in about 5 minutes. We complained to amazon and they sent us a new one. The new one lasted about the same amount of time.

If digital items count, this CD is over by three cents at $7.92. If digital items don't count, the best I can do without going over is $7.76.

Thanks for the contest!

Moose from Kong. http://www.amazon.com/KONG-Cozie-Marvin-Moose-Medium/dp/B005AP3B8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426049121&sr=8-1&keywords=moose+kong

I've got three little monsters! Their names are Bandit, Bubbles & Butters. Bubbles & Butters are both rescues and Bandit was purchased from a farm.

A new fleece blanket for the musketeers would be wonderful! They absolutely love my SO's baby blanket, but I think it's probably time to retire that before it becomes completely destroyed (through love, of course)

I don't have a dog (yet), but my friend purchased this for her dog and she says it's wonderful! I'm not quite sure how it works, since it looks like a hard chew toy but it's bacon flavored, so that must be good, right?

https://amzn.com/B00CPDWT2M

I have a boxer/plott hound and she's not obsessed with chewing but once she gets a good start on a rawhide she powers through it as fast as possible. I've tried a bunch of treats/toys and this one holds up the best and keeps her interested long term. Can't say how well this will work for a daily/constant chewer cuz luckily my dog is happy to pick it up a few times a week for an hour or so and then forget about it.

If you cannot move a lot (and that's why you can't exercise him a lot), I have a few possible suggestions.

https://smile.amazon.com/Squishy-Face-Studio-Exercise-Squeaker/dp/B00HFFXEWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484324235&sr=8-1&keywords=flirt+pole

A flirt pole is almost like a cat tease toy. It's a pole with a felt toy at the end, and you can get your dog to chase after it. Most people use it in their back yards, and the individual can stand in one place while make the flirt pole go in a circle and the dog runs after it. Depending on the dog, it can really tire them out. My particular puppy likes it, but only for a very limited amount of time (he would rather play keep away). I could see how you might possible be able to do the flirt pole indoors from a seated position.

Dog-feeding puzzles might help your dog calm by taxing his brain:

https://smile.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-Feeder-Bloat-Orange/dp/B00FPKNRCS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1484324554&sr=1-2&keywords=dog+feeding+puzzles

https://smile.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Treat-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1484324953&sr=1-1&keywords=dog+feeding+ball

Also, you could try hiding treats or a toy, and teaching him how to play "hide and seek" with you.

When we want to watch tv, and don't want to get up, we play fetch, and that keeps him happy for a while [but the dang ball always ends up under the couch or other furniture!].

Hope this helps a little.

If your dog likes this type of toy, try a flirt pole. They are one of the best dog toys ever invented.

Why not just use one of these chuckit-ball-launchers, they are cheap and are an all in one snowball compactor and delivery system. Just take it out to a softer snow bank (ice and dense pack might break it) and just grab a scoop of snow like you would going into a pint of ice cream, then let loose the new found projectile at your enemies. Fast reload time decent range and no moving parts make the Chuckit ball launcher a true tide turning piece of technology wintertime armament. As a side bonus during the summer if you have a dog and a tennis ball hours of fetch without throwing your arm out.

That's my wonderful boyfriend, wearing my hoodie, and throwing the ball for them with a ChuckIt. (We have a big backyard.)

Does your dog like to play fetch? We've got a lab-whippet mix and running is her favourite thing in the world. I bought a chuckit so that I can get a really long throw. We play in a big field, but if you've got a large yard, that will work too!

Edit: For some reason the other answers didn't load in until after I posted. I see that your dog looses interest in fetch. It might just be that he's getting a bit tired. I usually do five to ten throws of the ball and when I see my dog is starting to flag a little, I say "game over" and she gets a couple of minutes to relax and grab a drink of water before we start again. Ending the game on my terms instead of on hers keeps her interest in fetch really high.

Or one of these: Canine Hardware Chuckit Ball Launcher Classic Medium (25 inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IX59/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_E6JZCbNHAK0HK

This is even cheaper, and launches tennis balls a sufficient distance to tire out a pupper.

You can buy this product - https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59

Get a ChuckIt and save your arms! Not only can you throw a ball farther, you also don't have to pick up the nasty slobbery thing.

If they play fetch, tennis balls can be bought cheap. Pair some with a ChuckIt! Launcher and some treats and you'd have a nice doggy themed gift.

if he has energy to chew he might not be getting enough exercise. longer walks and more play time.

if you have a yard and he is into "fetch" get a [chuck-it] (http://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Ball-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342583169&sr=8-1&keywords=chuck+it) No more picking up the slobbery ball with your hand!

A ranch? So lots of running room? Throw a ball for them. Get one of these to save your arm and for farther throws. It really is a game changer. I like the glow in the dark balls the best as they bunch up easier when I have to pull them from my weims mouth. Part of the fetch game with my girl is "I just got it for you, you need to take it from me."

Doggie ball thrower....thing

Look into some throwing/fetch toys like the Chuck It Launcher. My little guy will literally fetch all day long if I let him.

Something that bounces randomly when it hits the ground is also great, he goes crazy trying to catch toys like that. We have the Chuck It Evader and the Kong Ring Zinger. I spent some time training him to bring the toy closer to me, having him lay down or do a trick before I'll throw it again. He prefers a game of fetch to treats any day and is highly motivated to learn new tricks/behaviours if he knows the reward is a round of ball chasing.

> http://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Classic-Launcher-Colors-Vary/dp/B00006IX59

If your dogs are anything like mine, the extra $5 for the one with the comfortable handle (instead of hard plastic) is a no-brainer... plus it throws a bit farther!

Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Hes4AbSRBJ7ME

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017JDGZO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kr6-zb8PX80P6

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000084E7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Av6-zbS52SFWB

These are Penny's favorite toys, and they are super cheap. Feel free to link your pup's favorite too! Christmas is coming!

Duckworth

I'll make a plug for this [yellow duckie] (https://www.amazon.com/Duckworth-Large-Yellow-Duck-Dog/dp/B000084E7Y/).

Is Duckworth a character of some kind?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000084E7Y?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd

This is the dog toy I have.

> was the treat something substantial that keeps her busy for the whole time you're gone, or just something regular like a dog treat ?

My pup has a slow feed bowl that looks something like this, so I used to put in some of the things that she would go crazy over, and would normally take her at least 5+ minutes to consume, like smearing a thin layer of peanut butter across all of the bowl surfaces. Be warned though, some dogs tend to have sensitive snouts and can rub their noses raw on the bowl, but my pup hasn't had that problem. You just need to find something that is truly a "high value" treat for your dog, and using it exclusively for that. My pup would go nuts over cheese, so I took a piece of old cheddar and smeared it like a crayon inside her bowl. She really liked that. Another option is a puzzle toy like this filled with something tasty (she could occupy herself for half an hour on that), or even a classic Kong with some liver flavoured spread.

> And when you say she wasn't allowed to eat the treat till you were gone - did she see you put it somewhere , how exactly does that work

That's correct! I would let her see me preparing a treat for her, and then I'd place it in her bowl so that she'd focus on waiting for the "go" command instead of building her anxiety at watching me get ready to leave (brushing my teeth, fixing my hair, tying my shoes, etc).

A quick bit of background - The first thing that I had trained her to do was to never snatch, pick up ,or take anything that I haven't specifically told her she can have - this meant toys, meals and treats. I would place treats in front of her, and she learned that she can't have it until I say so, even if I turn away or walk away. I was able to use this trait to keep her focused completely on waiting for the treats, so instead of pacing and whining that I was leaving, she would instead sit by her food bowl and wait for me while I got ready to leave. When I'd open the door and walk out, I'd give the release command "okay!" and she's make herself busy with her treat while I locked up and walked away.

I also reviewed the footage afterwards (from my home surveillance system) and after she finished her treats, she would sniff the door, whine once or twice, grumble a bit (because I'm gone), and then she'd go sleep on the couch all day.

Our 7mths old only eats out of these treats balls now. He seems to like the interactiveness of it. We're looking into the mats too now, since the ball leaves crumbs all over the house as he's rolling it around. Although he's pretty good at cleaning up his own messes most of the time. haha.

My dog's favorites are the Kong wobbler, Buster Cube, Omega treat ball, and a frozen Kong stuffed with a gross mixture of wet kibble and peanut butter. Personally, I like the Omega treat ball because it's soft and doesn't make a lot of noise on our hardwood floors.

We tried a few of those Ottosson dog puzzles, but my dog quickly figured out that she can flip the entire thing over and all her food falls out instead of figuring it out the "correct" way.

Don't overlook homemade toys too. I roll up kibble in newspaper, stuff the newspaper into small box, then put that box into larger box, tape it up, and let her shred it up. She loves it.

Failures were the Tug a Jug and the IQ treat ball.

Even at my dog's worst his blood work-ups (and parasite checks) came back normal, so I wouldn't necessarily trust those as an indicator that everything is fine. That being said, my dog was throwing up blood and getting spontaneous bloody diarrhea in the house though, so those are really obvious signs that something's wrong, you would notice something like that! Unfortunately it took a long time for the vet to figure out what was wrong, but since we've gotten it figured out we haven't had a single incident, thank goodness.

Since you don't have concerns about your dog's health, one thing you can try is feeding your dog his meals in a puzzle toy. My dog is much more motivated to eat if I put his kibble in a "kibble ball" (http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M), but you could also look into the kong wobbler or other toys where the dog can play to get his meal out. Even sticking kibble in a toilet paper tube and pinching the ends shut is fun for my dog. He thinks empty toilet paper rolls are fun though, too.

My dog is eating Annamaet, the venison/salmon formula. He doesn't do well with chicken/turkey/duck/some fish so his options are pretty limited. Annamaet does make GF foods too if you're really into that, I used to feed the red meat formula ("manitok") but 30% protein is too much for my pup. Plus I'm not opposed to grains for dogs, I'm just careful about which ones/how much. I really love Annamaet, it's really popular here, but it's definitely not available everywhere!

If you're looking for a basic guide to dog foods, this website does a pretty great job rating dog foods. Ultimately, the best dog food for your dog is one your dog does well on, but this is a nice place to see what kinds of ingredients are present in dog foods and the potential benefits/issues with certain ingredients in dog foods: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/brand/

What's his attitude while pacing? Ears up, tail position/movement? Where and when does he usually do it - just out in public, or at home too? How does he react when you distract him or give him a command?

It's possible he's needing more mental stimulation. Pibs are very high-drive prey-focused dogs, so they need something that tires them out mentally as well as just expending their energy. What do you do for exercise? If you haven't tried a flirt pole yet, I'd pick one up, and give that a shot. You can also use puzzle toys and treat dispensers like the Starmark Everlast toys and the Omega Paw ball to feed him, which'll get rid of some of his need to 'hunt'.

I feed my dog out of a treat dispensing ball.

Omega Paw Products Tricky Treat Ball - Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UjyTBbAC38X25

https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Gyro-Dog-Toy-Large/dp/B01GP4826S

this one is good.. but it's hard plastic, soo if your using it on a hard surface it can be a bit loud.


https://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1500479295&sr=1-6&keywords=dog+treat+ball

this one has always been staple in my house for all my dogs, it's fairly quiet, they have to learn to push it around with their nose. my old BC used to push this thing around all day long it was great if she was being a bit of a pest!

I'm not sure what budget you're working with, but with the fitness/snowboarding interest, maybe a camelbak would be a good gift! I think it'd be fun to throw in a gift or two for their dog, too. You could get a hide-a-squirrel or a tricky treat ball.

Also my dog loves this omega Ball. We put food and treats in it and it keeps him busy and lets him work. Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_W6KrybQFTNCMY

Somebody else mentioned treat balls, here's the one we have. I think my dog like the rubbery texture of it, and can pick it up when she wants to.

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1454166849&sr=1-1&keywords=treat+ball

You can also do it in the yard! Scatter the food around the grass so he has to search it out.

My dog gets her breakfast out of this ball. It's fairly easy for the kibble to fall out (until the last one, which she can never get), but she spends about 15 minutes wandering around the house rolling it and eating. Gives her mind something to do, takes her a bit longer to eat her food, and gives me a peaceful 15 minutes to drink my coffee.

There are also 'snuffle mats' you can try (basically a fleece blanket with a bunch of knots in it; lots of DIY options). All of these are fun ways to get your dog his food while giving him a bit of a challenge!

My dog uses this and she absolutely loves it. It's made of a soft plastic, so unless your dog will try to chew through the ball, it's pretty durable.

You've gotten a lot of good opinions, I'll throw mine in for fun :-)

First. I think you're a good dog owner and I think you can make this work.

Many people have suggested a dog walker - I think that is a great idea. I have a coworker who has a dog walker who gathers up a few dogs from his neighborhood, drives them to a park and they have 3+ hour adventures! Plus they get to spend some time riding around to pick up and drop off the other dogs, I think it really fills their dogs day. My coworker does this M-F but even one day a week would be awesome.

Second. Work his brain. I'd start feeding all his meals in a food dispensing toy he enjoys. I used all of the ones I'll link below either for the dogs I work with or my pets.

[Bob-a-lot] (http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4) This one is pretty tough and can be left alone with some dogs

[Tug-a-Jug] (http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Dispensing-Medium-Large/dp/B000KV7ZGQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1426890582&sr=1-1&keywords=food+dispensing+bottle+rope+toy) This one can be dangerous if they eat the 'rope' but I love how ease it is to fill.

[Tricky Treat Ball] (http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1426890517&sr=1-3&keywords=food+dispensing+dog+toy) This one takes my dog FOREVER but holds her interest well. The plastic is really soft so I supervise her using it (while I watch TV or brush my teeth) so she doesn't just lay down and chew at it to get her food. The other thing I like about the soft plastic/rubber is that it is pretty quiet for her to use unlike the other options I've listed.

[Buster Cube] (http://www.amazon.com/Buster-Food-Cube-Large-Colors/dp/B0006G54OU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1426890999&sr=8-9&keywords=food+dispensing+dog+toy) Not sure if the buster cube was the first of the roll around style food dispensers but it was the only one I knew about for a long time. They're pretty sturdy and challenging.

There are a LOT more food dispensing toys out there but I think the ones they have to move can be a little more exciting than a tightly packed kong they lick at. Kongs are great too, I'd just include them in a rotation of feeding devices.

Another thing you can do to make life more exciting for your dog is to rotate toys. If he has a lot of toys only leave out 2 or 3 on a given day and swap them out for toys you've kept hidden and occasionally introduce a new toy. Some dogs really love novelty.

Finally I think trick training is great. A few 5 minute sessions a day of learning a new behavior, or building on an existing behavior is a great way to beat the boredom.

Some fun tricks you can teach that you can use to make really complex behaviors are take it (hold in mouth), paw target (touch with foot) and nose target (touch with nose). You can use those behaviors along with others tricks to teach him to close doors, open doors, turn lights on and off, put things away, cross his legs, ring a bell, limp, pretend to pee (targeting with a back foot) etc.

Lastly, I'd teach him to search for hidden items in your house. I like to hide something while my dog is out going potty, then watch her search for it while I brush my teeth.

Hope those ideas for easy entertainment help some! Keep the dog, do what you can, you're doing SO MUCH MORE than so many dog owners already. I think he'd be fine if you kept him and just did what you're doing now. :-)

I love this idea! We bought this a while ago, but have up after a few unsuccessful tries. We'll use your method and go from there - thanks!

P.S. Give your golden boy a treat for me!

I bought mine at Walmart. But here is the link for amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DK26M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1410838767&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Yes, like that one. This one (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DK26M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523798861&sr=8-1&keywords=omega+tricky+treat+ball) is the exact one I got because it's cheaper and it holds more food (I have a large breed pup).

My dog has some similar play tendencies and she LOVES this ball:
ttp://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DK26M
These treats are the perfect size and not too high in calories (and they smell delicious):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002R8SLUY
She'll nudge the ball around for hours trying the get a treat from it, even picking it up in her mouth and bouncing it against the wall! It's made from a durable plastic. I've had hers for over a year and it's good as new. Its just the right balance of work/reward and is hands down her favourite toy.
2nd runner up is a braided rope bone for thrashing about and playing tug-o-war.

Three dogs and five cats home here. Thank you so taking in this dog. You and you wife deserve praise for being so caring. Your new dog will want to check out everything, most probably the kitties. I think the main thing you will need to do is train him not to chase kitties. I dog sit for a friend of mine when they go on vacation, and when Sam first came here he was fascinated with the kitties. He also had to deal with my two Labs and German Shepherd. Just give him some time and scold him if he chases the cats. He will learn fast enough. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the kitties likes to play with him. I am also going to tell you a toy that my dog was given and every dog seems to love.
This is the amazon link but you can get them elsewhere.http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP01056-Hide-A-Squirrel-Squeak-4-Piece/dp/B0002I0O60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405262415&sr=8-1&keywords=squirrel+in+a+stump+dog+toy
Stay in touch and tell us how things are going.

Bully sticks are a favorite for my pair, but they don't last long (maybe 30-45 min). Anything stuffed is shredded into stuffing and fluff within 2 weeks. My boy doesn't chew this toy, but it he loves it. Carries it around with him everywhere, licking it, tossing it, sleeping on it. Unfortunately the girl makes it her mission to actually destroy it, so I have to buy a new one every month or so. Funny enough, they have zero interest in the little squirrels, only the tree trunk, so i have like 20 little squirrels in their "toy bin" now.

I no longer give them elk antlers because they've both cracked teeth on them. They have had zero interest in nylabones.

I'm sure I'm supposed to put my husband here, and he's really been making an effort lately. However, at this very moment, my dog is giving me puppy face. I just can't resist puppy face. Also, he barks to protect me from strange house noises, people passing by on the sidewalk, wind... He is very brave, and I've never had a truer friend. I hope he hides behind me and barks at the pizza guy for many years to come.

Would you consider getting Malcolm this interesting toy from his list if we win? I'm sure he'd be pretty grateful.

Thanks for the contest, and happy 8th birthday to your favorite person! (Carrot cake is an excellent choice!)

Hi - we also have an adopted rat terrier who had a lot of behavioral issues when we first adopted him (bark/lunge/growl at every stranger who entered the house, afraid of all big dogs, buses, etc).

when we got him he had multiple scars & lacerations, we don't know if it was from a human or another animal.

we tried a lot of different re-direction techniques, and in the end, what worked best was a tip from the last trainer - squirt him in the face. we got a little squirt bottle, filled it with water, and when he behaved aggressively towards people, we would just squirt him. he got the the message very quickly that we didn't want him to do that.

it took him about 6 months to play with a toy. we started with something he could chew on, just a leather ring...then soft toys, and he likes the shake them around like he is killing them :)

he really liked the squirrels in the tree soft toy - he could pull out the little squirrels and shake them around. http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP01056-Hide-A-Squirrel-Pet-Large/dp/B0002I0O60

good luck!

We like:

Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel Fun Hide & Seek Interactive Puzzle Plush Dog Toy, 4 Piece, Junior/Large/Jumbo/Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002I0O60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RbwGDb9J3V7KC

And the Trixie puzzle board games

If so, my family dog, Josh, who's only 10LB loves this hide-a-squirrel toy. They make various sizes, including one for little dogs. I think it'd be a good thing to distract from any chewing things that oughtn't be. Josh likes to tote the squirrels around, throw them in the air and basically play fetch with himself.

He definitely needs one of these...they are awesome...I was gifted the gigantic one for my dogs...but your can use the little one...oh and did I say squirrels!!! http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP01056-Hide-A-Squirrel-Squeak-4-Piece/dp/B0002I0O60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420856682&sr=8-1&keywords=squirrel+stump+dog+toy

My puppy is always crated when someone isn't home. We have nice things and it isn't fair to ask a toddler not to destroy nice things without supervision. What we do: we don't make it a big deal at all to put him in, or take him out. I got him this and he gets really excited about it. I hide treats under the squirrel, and I put it in his crate. He now will preemptively go in there as soon as he sees me pick up his squirrel house because he loves it so much. Also, because I don't want him to be anxious or lonely, I bought him a buddy (stuffed dog) and put it in there with him along with other toys, and his crate faces the TV, so we play a nature DVD in the background. I also bought him a crate cover so it's more den-like.

Congrats! I just got a pug puppy myself a few weeks ago. Wanted to share my experiences I've had so far.

What kind of bed should we get for a pug? I'm thinking about getting this bed in the Medium size. Is this too big for the dog?

My pug tends to like plush things, he's always making his way into my clothes/towels. I got him this one since he loves hiding under my couch, and he loves it.

Is this crate a good fit for the pug? I'm planning to get the 24"x18"x19" size.

Crate training is a god send, especially when it comes to potty training. If you have the time, I would invest in doing that. I have the same exact crate and it works for him. The crate should only be big enough for him to stand and turn around, if he's a bit smaller (younger), you can use the divider so the crate will grow with your pug.

Any suggestions on a leash (retractable, fixed or both?)

My pug isn't old enough to go on walks yet, he hasn't had all his shots so I wouldn't be able to tell you. As a previous dog owner, fixed leash is best until he's learned proper walking manners and then you can invest in a retractable.

What kind of toys would a pug enjoy? I was told we needed a chewing one and a tugging one!

My pug's favorite toy is this one.

Any recommendations for food or treats?

Like what people earlier said, low-calorie treats are good since pugs tend to gain weights easily. When training, I would recommend freeze dried liver treats... my pug loves them!! Food wise, I feed my pug Taste of the Wild puppy formula... them or Blue Buffalo are great bets for your pug.

Good luck!!

My Mum's dogs had these squirrel toys and they went crazy for them!

This was always my puppy's favorite toy and lasts into adulthood...

Edit: These are also a great way to deal with potty training and alerting you when she needs to go out.

Thanks for the contest!

i would love some dog toys for my fur babies

This is Wiley. I think he would really like this hide-a-squirrel puzzle toy. Aren't they cute?

My family owns an English Mastiff. She swallowed one of the squirrels from this toy. After the initial shock (for her and us) we had a lovely evening of trying to control a 150lb Mastiff while attempting to "feed" her Hydrogen Peroxide. For things like toys they recommend feeding them bread first as well as it will encapsulate the toy/etc so that it doesn't wreck their throats on the way out.

Tip: we ended up soaking the bread in the peroxide and feeding that to her. Squirting it down her throat was a WWE Battle Royal, but soaking bread in it was a feast - freaking dogs. Then the throwing up began. And then we had two round balls of bread, one full of dog food and the other, low and behold, containing the missing squirrel.

My mother in laws dogs love this toy happy Birthday to your puppy!

Brandy looks wonderful. Such lovely colouring.

I get these for Butters. He loves them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002I0O60/ref=s9_al_bw_g199_i2

Hey this might help you:
SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy, Brown Mutt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HfAlDbXZDAV21

I have a 7 week old Goldendoodle and bought a SmartPet Suggle Puppy (Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy, Brown Mutt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LDuExb6FDJ7J1). They have a heartbeat and a place for a warming pack, really helped my little guy I think. He snuggles with it every night and seems to love it. It was expensive, but I feel it was worth the splurge!

I did towels in the crate since I worried about potty training, but my guy has been awesome and had no accidents. Just make sure to take them out often (I do every hour when he's awake!) and take away food/water at least an hour before bed.

Good luck!! Stay patient with crate training, it's been my biggest obstacle so far.

Have you thought of getting a snuggle puppy? It is a plush toy with a battery powered heart beat inside it. The sound combined with the plush toy are supposed to mimic another puppy or mom they can snuggle up against to reduce anxiety.

There is already a lot of good advice in this thread. Don't give in, feed her meals in her crate, etc. But here is something else you can try as well.

Before I got my puppy, I was browsing this sub and someone recommended this behavioral aid toy.

I ordered it and I think it worked great. At the very least, it made me feel better about tearing her away from her mom and litter mates! I used the heart ticker for a long time afterwards too just to calm her down for sleep time.

A MUTE BUTTON

Ok, but seriously...It's expensive, but I've heard of some breeders sending this home with their puppies. I bought one myself and left it with the breeder during our last visit before pick up so she could let the puppies play with an sufficiently rub their smells all over it (which resulted in us getting a photo of our puppy snuggled up to it a few hours later). It's a great transitional device for them leaving the litter.

Something I do with all my dogs, and maybe something that would be nifty from a breeder, is having a binder with important information pertaining to the dogs, and dividers for different categories. I keep their health records in there, the 3 page document with information we get when I bring them home, registration paperwork, print outs from class, certificates, etc. I think getting a binder to neatly store all important information on my dog is very useful, and getting one from the breeder with suggestions on training, expected puppy behavior, etc. would be pretty useful.

But really, I've never had a lot sent home with me after getting dogs, beyond a gallon bag of food to transition with and a toy that smells like mom.

I got a stuffed toy with a heartbeat:
https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS

She just snuggles with it when we go to sleep... Well until the time she destroyed it! But at that point she didn't really have the separation anxiety anymore.

If you can't get it or its too expensive you can DIY with a stuffed toy and an old times alarm clock... Just any watch or clock with a strong tick.
Never used the heatpack though

https://www.amazon.ca/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS

Nothing wrong with laying next to the crate, but if he's coming from a situation where he was with a lot of other dogs, this might be a good tool for you. If that's too expensive and he's small enough, this should be sufficient and it's a lot cheaper. Our dog had the same issues, but the latter option was much too small for her. I hope that helps. :-)

For the first while you should sleep with her in same room or area.

At night have her on a potty schedule, set an alarm and get up and wake her up to take her out before she cries to ask to go. Do not let her associate crying with you taking her out of the crate. Assuming your pup is 8 weeks - you should be taking her out at least twice overnight - example - 11:00 pm bedtime potty break - set alarm for 1:30 am potty break, set alarm for 3:30/4:00 am potty break; up around 6:30 am. As she gets older you will be able to spread out and eventually eliminate the nighttime breaks. The important thing is you get her out before she asks. When you take her out, do not speak to her a lot, just be very quiet and soothing and tell her to do her business. When she is done give her a treat pick her up and put her back in crate quickly and quietly. She needs to learn night time is not play time or fun time. I would not leave a lot of toys in her crate during the night for playing.

For at night, you may want to try one of those stuffed dogs that has a heartbeat https://www.amazon.ca/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS

We got a snuggle puppy for our 11 week puppy and it has been a life saver!! You can find them on Amazon - Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy, Brown Mutt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AYGyybQW2BN5X

Has a heart beat in it and heating pad that will make him feel like he's with his litter mates. We used the heating pads at first but found them unnecessary and expensive to use on a daily basis since you would have to buy replacements often but may be good for such a young puppy to have the heat aspect as well. Recommend watching him with it first because there is velcro at the bottom to get where the fake heart it is so just make sure he can't chew it. Our puppy treat his like his littermate and loves it.

https://www.amazon.com/SmartPetLove-Snuggle-Puppy-Behavioral-Brown/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=asc_df_B000C9YHFS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076665015&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15468377802100250732&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002296&hvtargid=aud-643565131866:pla-352722601139&psc=1

Best purchase I ever made.

OMG. so cute. Something like this may also be comforting. I am getting one for my golden when she comes home.

He's a baby - the crying is normal, the first week or 2 you can expect crying as he gets used to the crate. It took my girl about a week before she stopped crying in it. I also bought a sound machine off Amazon for cheap that I put on loud so she doesn't hear noises and get distracted and cry.

The toy was not the cheapest, but it works great. Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Pet-Love-Snuggle-Behavioral/dp/B000C9YHFS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526918487&sr=8-3&keywords=puppy+toy+heart

Sure! http://m.imgur.com/gallery/YIVgM

If you're finding it difficult to get through the night, this helped us a lot. It's a toy dog with a heartbeat and you can add heat pads as well. It kind of feels like another puppy, which reminds them of their littermates. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000C9YHFS/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

We have a tug-a-jug feeder

My 50lb shepherd loves it

PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal Dispensing Dog Toy, Medium/Large by Petsafe Premier http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KV7ZGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_VQuftb1JHFVRT

There are plenty of ways to keep your dog occupied during the day. Adults at least; puppies require a lot more attention.

Kongs (which I swear really are dog toys, despite what they look like) can be filled with any number of treats like plain low-fat Greek yogurt, peanut butter, low-fat cream cheese, no-salt broth, wet food, pureed sweet potato, and more... and frozen to make the treat last longer.

Other treat dispensing toys like the Tug-A-Jug. The idea in both of these cases is to make getting their breakfast take up time and present a challenge.

And of course, it always helps to exercise them and give them short training sessions in the morning before you go so that once you leave (with a treat, so your departure is a positive thing), they're in for a nice long nap until you get back. A well-exercised/trained dog is a happy dog, and one that's much less prone to destroy your house or terrorize other people/animals. If you do get a dog, make sure you look into breeds that are known for having an energy level that fits what you're willing to offer!

Some folks crate train (and play crate games along with or as their training sessions), but I've found that the more settled my dog gets, the less he needs a crate. It's safe for him to roam part of the house.

Other people take their dogs to daycare (which sounds silly, but a good daycare with the right dog can be great for play and socialization) or hire a dog walker to come by during their work shift.

Sure!

The Buster Cube (I have this) is an awesome puzzle toy (this is the "large" version, be sure to check sizes). This is a little bit more difficult to use, as the hole that spits out the food is pretty small, and as the kibble gets to be lesser and lesser inside of the Cube, it's harder to get it out. It's cube-shaped (obviously), so pushing it around isn't all that easy, and your dog needs to be firm with it in order to get the food out. This isn't a good toy for linoleum, or hardwood - it's really only good on carpet.

The IQ Ball is awesome too! It is adjustable, which is cool, so you can make it easy at first, and more challenging as your pup gets better and better at it. This is probably a better choice for tile, linoleum, hardwood, etc.

The Bob-A-Lot is another good one. It's more challenging than the Kong Wobbler (again, check the size, I believe this one is a "large").

I also have this Busy Buddy toy for my dog. It's really really challenging for her. The rope has to go inside of it, and then the dog has to pull it out in order to get the food out. This one takes a bit of effort on your part, unless you think your pup can figure out how to push the rope in and then pull it out again.

There are also plenty of food dispensing toys like this one that force your dog to move "puzzle" pieces around to get the food underneath them!

Lots of options!

We have the tug a jug for our dog ----- which, won't crinkle or tumble like a soda bottle (it's hard plastic), but it's the same size and shape, and they're great for kibble or treats to keep them busy.
Different than what you were asking, but first thing that came to mind lol.

Yep we have this one, this one, and this one. She always gets meals in one of those, or mixed with yogurt and frozen in a Kong, or I'll give it to her a few pieces at a time while doing tricks. Never just in a bowl. And we do scent work and tons of tricks. I think a lot of the problem is just that she's so freaking smart. Sitting there chewing a bone doesn't do it for her the way it does for a lot of dogs, she really needs to always be actively mentally engaged. I'm happy to do scent work with her for 20-30 minutes, and teach her a new trick every few days and run through all her old tricks, but I can't spend literally the whole day giving her mind something to do, so she gets bored and starts with the whining/pacing/pawing at me. I think I could get away with just a run a day if I could think of enough stuff to engage her mind, I'm just out of ideas! So we go walk for an hour, so she has new things to sniff and explore.

Like this dog plots things out. Once she saw I'd left the dog gate to the "cat's room" (where his food and litter are) open and she had a chance to go eat his food. She came back to the room I was in, watched me a little, then picked up her ball and threw it under the couch. I went down to get it as I always do, and while I was digging around under there she ran and ate the cat's food. That's so many steps of thinking for a dog. "Hm, I can get to the food. But if I just go for it she'll hear me and come stop me. I need to distract her. It always takes her a minute to get my ball out when I lose it under the couch. I'll put my ball really far under the couch so I have plenty of time to dash off and scarf down the cat food." That's just one example, it's amazing how much stuff she has figured out and how far ahead she can think to get around the rules and get what she wants.

I agree with mental stimulation. I'm always home with my corgi and give him lots of exercise and socialization outside but he loves food toys for mental stimulation and it makes his meals last so much longer.

We use these for kibble: http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Tug-A-Jug-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B000KV7ZGQ

http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4

http://www.amazon.com/Buster-Food-Cube-Large-Colors/dp/B0006G54OU/ref=pd_sim_199_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=41NL87Y8KbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1N6FCHDFXGVVTQFF7HAG

and we use these for treats:
http://www.petsmart.com/dog/toys/martha-stewart-pets-treat-dispensing-bone-dog-toy-zid36-19474/cat-36-catid-100118

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5245

http://www.amazon.com/Starmark-Treat-Dispensing-Jack-Medium/dp/B00L61279E

I use the Bob-a-Lot (linked above), the Tug-a-Jug and the Buster Cube.

They are all fairly loud, but keep him occupied for a while. I switch them out daily so he doesn't get bored with one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000KV7ZGQ?pc_redir=1396769958&robot_redir=1
If food is a motivator this might work. My pup loves it!

My rescue terrier is a nervous chewer and is super destructive with toys, but we can't give him chews like bully sticks because he's on a restricted diet and he can't have bones because he has broken teeth (he hit the jackpot of bad luck). We've found that the only toy he hasn't been able to chew through is his Chuck-It ball - When we're not using it for fetch he'll often just chew on it like a bone; he's had that thing since day 1 and 5 months later hasn't even broken the slightest piece off.

Aside from that, puzzle games will help with the anxiety. Besides Kongs, you can try something like this ball which dispenses kibble or treats as the dog rolls it around.

Yeah, it's juuuust enough to almost go back to sleep.

I'm thinking I should set my alarm earlier and get up in time for a 45-60 minute walk, I think he could use a tad more. Right now my pup is 9 months, but when he's a bit older I'm hoping to switch to a 30 min run.

I switch between this toy and this[feeder] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPKNRF0/ref=twister_B00IHCS3K20 , (the green one,) but lately I have been doing half and half. On a side note, damn, it's way cheaper on Amazon than my local pet store. It's mostly to keep him occupied for a while longer and hopefully it's at least slightly mentally stimulating. It takes maybe 10 minutes for him to eat from the feeder and 15-20 minutes for the toy (which is sort of noisy.)

First and foremost I definitely recommend seeking a professional or asking advice from a breeder as well.

If you have a two year old husky/mix it needs EXERCISE. What are you doing to help release her energy? A walk a day wont do it. Our (nearly two) year old goes for about 2-3 long walks a day and we try to run her 2-4 miles when we can. I tired husky is a happy and lazy one.

Also toys to help stimulate her mind and make her work for her food will keep her busy and distracted. We have several types of kings and big ass roller type toys that we put ALL her kibble in. She rarely eat out of her food bowl because of this. I will show a milk bone in a kong and she will work on that for a while, or i'll stick 1/4 cup of kibble in a roller ball that has a tiny opening and plays with that for 30 min. Usually she naps after.

The key to these dogs is to outsmart them. They will own the house if you let them. Do not be afraid to dominate them. I do not mean abuse btw, i mean just using your body and frame of mind to assert that you are the alpha. Dont greet them until they are qquiet and this may be done by putting them in a crate.

Is she crate trained? When we got our husky as a puppy it was much easier since she was small. However, it can be stressful for rescue dogs who arent used to that. You want to make the crate THEIR safe place. Anytime you stick peanut butter in a kong, put in the crate and wait for them to go in there and get it. Reward them with a simple "good girl". Put a tshirt of yours in the crate that has your scent on it also. Never use the crate as a form of punishment. they will just destroy it.

On accidents in the house. Female dogs (especially huskies) do not completely empty their bladders once they go outside. We usually for ours to relieve herself at least three times before bringing her back in. Another think that may be causing her to keep having accidents is anxiety. Are you yelling at her when she has accidents? Whenever she has one, do not yell at her, but just immediately stop her by touching her. Put on the leash, then immediately take her outside. Wait for her to relieve herself again and then reward her. This will take the anxiety out of it.

This is my schedule with Lucy. 6-7 AM wakeup call from her letting me know she needs to go out. Walk her and wait for her to completely relieve herself and poop on the neighbors lawn. Then put 1/4 cup kibble in a kong and stuff a medium milk bone in there. Get ready for work. By the time I come out it's nap time for her. I take her out again 10 am before I leave. She goes in the crate with another 1/4 kibble in a different kong (variety is important). She sleeps the whole time. I come home for an hour on lunch break and she goes for a long walk. Usually right after I leave to go back to work, my SO comes home and takes her on another walk. She will get play time, scratches and belly rubs, and cuddles. She goes out ever 2 hours after that generally and then goes to bed around 9-10 pm and she's tuckered out. She sleeps on the bed until lights out and then she just hops off and goes into her crate on her own.

So I know this is a wall of text, but you can see how having a husky takes a lot of effort and attention. It was more than we bargained for but we made it work and everyone "ooooh's" and "aaaah's" when they see her.

here are some of the types of toys to look out for:

• http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA
  
• this thing is amazing
  
• we leave this one in her crate with kibble in it and sometimes seal it with peanutbutter and throw it in the freezer the night before.
  
• put milkbones or chicken jerky in this one
  
• also bully sticks and bacon flavored nylabone type toys. get on that
  
  she gets two cups of kibble a day and she works for most of it with the toys we have
  
  Edit: alsp go to petsmart and get some bitter spray (anti chewing). Get their brand because its the most offensive tasting one. Whenever she has chewed or where she might chew, spray. Then spray once in her mouth so she knows how disgusting it is. When you catch her chewing, stop her and spray in her mouth and then spray the area she just chewed.

So, there's a couple things that helped a lot with our pup that I haven't seen here yet. Daisy loooves her food egg and food cube. These are toys that also dispense food. We sometimes exclusively feed her from one of these. The cube was definitely her favorite, but became difficult for us to open. These are great because they provide enrichment during feeding, plus, if you're puppy is a gorge-and-puke eater, it'll help with that.

For toys, I'd say grab things that are varying levels of durable. They get a lot of satisfaction from pure destruction like with a stuffed animal or skineez, but having something to work on, like a nylabone or kong, is also good.

Have fun! Getting Daisy was definitely one of the best things I've ever done in my life. So yeah, good job!

Kongs are what we use the most. A large one filled with treats and a small one filled with either yogurt or peanut butter that has been frozen. We also have one of these that we use every now and then but he has gotten too good with it.

Hey there,
So your dog sounds like someone who would really love puzzle toys. They are toys that can keep dogs occupied for a while since the way the toy administers treats really varies so the dog will keep at it. A good one that isn't too expensive that my dog loves is this one from amazon. It has an adjustable hole so you can control how often food/treats will come out of the ball. Just keep in mind it's made out of a hard plastic so it may make noise when it gets knocked into things. If this concerns you, another toy I would suggest is this one which is also on amazon. It's a little more expensive but it does the same thing as the first one I listed and it has rubber bumpers around it so it won't make as much noise. Hope this helps!

Fetch, like others have mentioned and basically just letting him chase me or my bf around. The biggest help we've had is giving him his food in a ball (I'm on mobile, hope that worked.) We give his entire meal at night in one and it can make a HUGE difference.

Edit: We also have been doing a lot of training with him, which definitely keeps his brain engaged and focused.

I have a pup who occasionally gets in a picky mood so I got one of these wobbler feeding balls to mix up his mealtime routine.


If he still seems disinterested, sometimes I throw in one or two pieces of a small treat that I know he will smell and go after. It's a lot of fun to watch, too!


Edit to add: Since you mentioned that she sometimes eats it when scattered on the floor... have you looked into a Snuffle mat? They are basically small fringed rugs that the food "hides" in and they have to sniff it out.

We have one of these and our dogs love it! I put kibble in it and they'll roll it around for hours, even after all the kibble has been dispensed (hoping that more will suddenly appear!).

not sure if you are referring to the flirt pole or the kong wobble:

I built my flirt pole:
its most similar to the first link, but I drilled holes in PVC caps for a more finished look
https://bullymax.com/flirt-pole/
https://notesfromadogwalker.com/2012/04/24/flirt-pole/

For the feeding toy:

kong


starmark bob-a-lot

Good news is the more food-motivated a dog is, often the easier they are to train.

In addition to making sure your dog does whatever "calm" behavior you want before giving the food (sit, lay down, go to a special place) - I'd strongly consider feeding her via a Bobble, Kong, or puzzle toy.

This will slow down her eating process, help digestion (so she's not scarfing food down in a single gulp, and if she's super-active may provide mental stimulation akin to a long walk or session of fetch.

When my dog was a puppy we used the Bobble and puzzle toys on rainy days when he couldn't get a lot of exercise outside and they worked wonders on exhausting him without physical exercise.

[This food toy ](StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Pet Toy, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_9lN9ybXY00DZT) I love everything about it: pup learned how to use it quickly, it's easy to clean, holds enough food for each meal.

I can change how fast it dispenses the food depending on kibble size and how difficult I want to make it. Keeps my pup entertained for about 20 minutes which is great in the morning while I get ready for my day. I've recommended it to many friends and have never had a complaint.

I got this for my dog and he loves to play with it. You fill it with treats and hes has to knock it around to work them out. Keeps him entertained for awhile.

http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-A-Lot-Interactive-Pet-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1418248676&sr=1-2&keywords=dog+toy+treat+dispenser

You can put her food in this and she'll be distracted for a while. Also, maybe try an alternate walking route?

Game and maze toys are great! They also help to get my pyr to eat since she isn't usually inspired by the food in her bowl. My pup loves these two toys and will nudge them around the house until they are empty. Congrats on the new pyr :)

OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-hrMzb3WWTK2W

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Pet Toy, Large
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JQLNB4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RirMzb483MJ7Z

What was your last one made of? Was it plastic coated wire cable? I have one like /u/tokisushi linked for potty breaks and my dog has broken 2 collars (running after cats/squirrels) but never has hurt the tie-out.

Better than a stationary tie-out might be one of those zipline tracks that you string between two trees, especially if your intent is for the dog to get some exercise. Dogs generally do not "wear themselves out" like you are hoping for but it would at least be more conducive to running than a regular tie-out.

I read your other comment about how the dog is not yours and all that, and I totally get where you're coming from. Just thinking out loud, mental stimulation is usually a lot more tiring (especially for puppies) than physical stimulation. Since he's confined to the kitchen a lot, he'd probably benefit from something like a puzzle feeder.

Absolutely! I usually do training for half of the meal and give the second half in a puzzle toy - we have a Bob a lot, an erratic ball and a weird strawberry thing on rotation at the moment.

I'll check those out! Thanks for the recommendations. I already have the kong for her and I'll freeze PB with some of her kibble in it, which takes her some time to get through. She has an insane amount of energy, so the others will definitely help! She also loves the Bob-A-Lot, if you're looking for something else for yours. But this one is also incredibly loud because of the hard plastic.

My pup loves this similar toy. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001JQLNB4/ref=pd_aw_fbt__petsupplies_img_2?refRID=1RERHBZZFNNP7ZF0SAFK

Basically, never feed your dog out of a bowl again. Every meal is an opportunity for mental stimulation!
Use:
Frozen Kongs - these are super easy to prep in advance. I usually have 3-5 in the freezer at any given time.
Puzzle toys like these are good for treats: 1, 2, 3

These are good for kibble: 1, 2, 3

For training, an easy way to get started is to go through the 101 Dog Tricks book. It's 101 tricks/skills to teach them with step by step instructions. Super approachable, and the tricks range from simple stuff like sit and down to more advanced skills like leg weaves. Any of the Do More With Your Dog series is good. I think they have a puppy specific book as well.

If your dog likes learning new tricks or skills you might consider getting into a dog sport like agility or nosework or even obedience. They're fun and challenging for both you and your dog - plus it's a great way to strengthen your relationship in general.

Here are some we've had luck with:

Hyper Pet Lickimat Slow Feeder Dog Mat & Boredom Buster there are a ton of recipes out there. I've learned Maisey prefers savory more to sweet recipes.

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy This seems pretty darn sturdy. Ours has small teeth marks on the top from when Maisey pushes it into a corner and picks it up to move it, but otherwise she uses it exactly as intended and no destruction involved. Our blue heeler, on the other hand, knew where the treats were coming from and would actively paw at the opening to try and dig them out. She would NOT push it around. Dot was special though. Being a blue heeler, she was a stubborn, intelligent dog who wasn't playing anyone's games.

VARRAM Pet Fitness Robot Pet robot that cracks me up to see Maisey play with. It has an app on your phone that you drive it around with. It's like a sphero that dispenses treats.

Starmark Everlasting Bento Ball I highly recommend this. Maisey can spend so much time on it, we've started setting a timer.

Squishy Face Studio Flirt Pole You'll see a lot of recommendations for flirt poles. They require training (for both you and the dog) to use properly - there are a ton of videos on YouTube about how to use it - don't get me wrong, it's pretty easy. Maisey didn't really go for it. It wasn't her thing. Her prey drive isn't very high.

We also have a Kong but it isn't my favorite. I don't like squeezing the toy in, I have problems every time. I know people will put in food and freeze it, but I don't have that kind of forethought. They are great for destructive dogs though.

You can also look up indoor games. You can put a treat or toy in a blanket and have them dig it out. You can setup obstacle courses. Just google something like indoor dog games or something similar.

Hope that helps!

Trick training is amazing to wear out your dog's brain and you can make major progress in as little as two 10 minute sessions a day. Check out Kyra Sundance's books:

101 Dog Tricks

10 Minute Dog Training Games

101 Ways to do More With Your Dog

Kyra runs the Do More With Your Dog website which is an easy way to earn titles with your dog by doing tricks. At the lower levels anyone can sign off as witness to your dog's tricks to earn the titles so you don't have to be in a class or anything (though classes are fun and the DMWYD website has resources to find local trainers)

You can also check out brain engaging toys such as these (NOTE these toys should be used with supervision so your dog doesn't eat the toy!)

-Ethical Pet Seek-A-Treat Shuffle Bone Dog Puzzle

-Ethical Pet Seek-A-Treat Flip 'N Flap Dog Puzzle

-Nina Ottosson Plastic Dog Brick Interactive Interactive Doy Toy Puzzle for Dogs, Plastic

-Nina Ottosson Dog Casino Interactive Doy Toy Puzzle for Dogs, Wood

Really any toy by Nina Ottosson is a good choice.

Enrichment can also be as easy as not feeding your dog out of a bowl. Try these (can be used with less direct supervision)

-Nina Ottosson Dog Treat Maze

-Kong Wobbler

And my dogs have constant access to these chewies (i leave these in their crates as well as long as they don't chew them down small enough to be choking risks).

-Nylabone

-Busy Buddy Treat Holding Bone

-Busy Buddy Jack

-Refills for the above Busy Buddy bones

-Busy Buddy for extreme chewers

Some puzzles tend to be made of particle board and aren't very durable. Normal licking and pawing will start to make the particle board puzzles fall apart. This happened with my dog.

This is what I mean by particle board puzzles: http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Seek---Treat-Shuffle-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324588644&sr=8-1

It seems like that brand in particular uses the particle board type material. It would probably be fine for some dogs but my large lab mix licked and pawed and pieces fell off.

Bully sticks are good options for chewers, and they come in a variety of sizes, cuts, and lengths. I recommend the Barkworthies brand because they have odorless ones that won't smell up your place - they are available on Chewy, Wag, and Amazon. They have curly ones that seem to require a tad bit more effort than the standard stick ones. The Barkworthies ones are fine on the carpet as well - never had any color transfer, and I'm cautious since I'm a renter. There are probably other just as good brands out there, but be cautious about where the product is made - no Chinese produced bully sticks (per my vet).

Another good option are puzzle games. There are tons of types, and they have the advantage of both entertaining your dog, and giving them mental exercise at the same time. Nina Ottosson ones are fabulous, but they aren't very cheap (and can be a bit complicated, and often require more interaction from the human). My dog loves the Ethical Pet brand ones for some reason this is her favorite one. They are kind of boring looking, but she seems to be more willing to engage with those than the flashier ones.

I usually get chicken jerky and use kitchen shears to cut the strips up into tiny little pieces, and use those in the puzzle games as opposed to traditional treats. I also use string cheese and carrot pieces, and she loves 'em.

Have you looked into nosework? This comment does a good job of laying out structured nosework. But, for my dog (Lhasa Apso), I usually just take the cut up pieces of chicken jerky and toss 'em around the room - they have a pretty strong smell, and she just goes off searching. It keeps her occupied for a good bit, and then she just takes a nap.

> sidering the bob a lot by starmark.

We use them for a treat after they get their nails done or teeth brushed, they seem to look forward to those activities more and more now...

We have this one (no name)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KZ5EZU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this:
http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Seek---Treat-Shuffle-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC/ref=sr_1_sc_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1416098799&sr=1-6-spell&keywords=nina+ottoson


I like the 1st one best, the second one it is hard for them to slide the trays as they are so slippery. I'd like to get a few more , they really like them. They don't work as great on our Newfoundland, it's just to small for her, but for our Italian greyhounds they are the perfect size.

I want to get this for my bunny! I don't get to spend as much time with him as I would like and I imagine he gets very bored when I am not home.

As for music: Muse, Silversun Pickups, Interpol, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Royal Blood...

I'm actually a grad student as well, and am always looking for ways to keep the critters busy while I'm gone or studying. I've found a few helpful toys, though the best entertainment I have is a bird feeder on my deck, they will sit and chirp at the birds for hours.

I've heard good things about this toy, unfortunately you can't set it to go off while you're gone. But it has a setting to turn off after 15mins so you can set it and leave.
http://www.amazon.com/FroliCat-BOLT-Interactive-Laser-Pet/dp/B0021L8W6K

This one is amazing, it was recommended to me by a vet. If your cat is food driven this will keep him busy. You can put treats or cat nip in it, or even their whole meal.
http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-SlimCat-Food-Distributor-Ball/dp/B0018CG40O/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1348904553&sr=1-1&keywords=food+ball

This is also great for food motivated cats, one of mine will walk over and move the sliders around asking for treats. If he seems particularly bored I'll put most of his meal in this and make him work for it.
http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-Seek-A-Treat-Shuffle-Bone-Puzzle/dp/B0038WP1YC/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1348904645&sr=1-2&keywords=dog+puzzle+toys

I have this one as well, this works better for when you're home and can turn it on and off, there is no timer. My cats love to chase things under blankets, and they come running when I turn this on. It is kind of loud, so I put it in the other room while I'm studying so I don't have cats all over my books.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11539790

Hope this helps! I would highly recommend starting with the food ball or the laser light as they're a little cheaper, but I also know us pet parents like to spoil our critters.

I've been really wanting this puzzle for my puppy, she destroys all her toys but I doubt she would see this as a chew item!
Thank you so much!
:D

I've got an 18 lb dog and we usually alternate between a kong with frozen dog safe peanut butter, a ball that she can push around until treats come out ( https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Treat-Colors/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1485722531&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+puzzle+toy ), and also this toy with flaps but she figured it out too fast: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZTTSOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A puppy who is full of energy and would rather play than eat might benefit from a more engaging meal - try a treat ball or a Kong (add her meal, seal it with a bit of peanut butter and freeze it for a fun treat). Treat feeders, along with feeding on a schedule, helped reform my dainty eater.

Our Pets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy (ASSORTED COLOR) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_zV1rDbMEB2T79

My cats took a bit of time to figure it out, but it keeps mine busy for a long time.


Also would recommend a window perch if you don’t have one yet.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could get a cat harness and take the cat on a walk. I’ve done that with my cats and they do behave differently from a dog, but it does give them a lot of stimulation.

My suggestion is to get another cat.

That thing kicks out a ton of food! I have this one and my dog loses his mind over it. He has to work pretty hard to get food out of it and he loves it. I'd like to get a soft rubber one like you have though. Which one is this? The plastic one is way too noisy for anything off carpet.

My 8 week old Aussie seems to really love his [IQ treat ball](OurPets Smarter Toys Interactive IQ Treat Ball Dog Toy, 4 Inches (Colors may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pNoyxbZT4SMMJ)

Although fair warning, it can get a little annoying after a while. He was nosing it around for almost an hour trying to get kibble out and it's just a tad noisy.

For some combination light physical movement and mental stimulation, would she chase a treat ball?

I have a 7y/o lab mix who is insanely food motivated. I bought a little ball that I fill with kibble that slowly dispenses the kibble as she pushes it around and plays with it, and it is her absolute favorite thing ever! Found it on Amazon!

OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_26ALAb3XT8VFQ

Our Pets IQ Treat Ball... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf


I believe there are two different sizes

A little meatball for little meatball!

My issue with a toy like Pickle Pocket, is that I'd be afraid it'd be a choking hazard looking at the shape.
There are other simpler toys like OurPets IQ Treat Ball - with over 5000 reviews, more traditional and cheaper. Just my 2c.

This is something my Leo would love! It'd keep him occupied so maybe he wouldn't bite my hand so much. He's teething...lost two teeth so far! I love my pet! Though he can be a little menace sometimes...but he's a cute little menace!

I would suggest something to keep any puppy busy, lest you lose a shoe or ten...

I love my pet :)

I use this treat ball. The bad reviews are all yorkies getting their bottom jaw stuck in it, not an issue with my girl. The one disadvantage is that it's very loud, but she knocks it around and pounces on it and understands that her kibble comes out.

How old is your pup? If the dog has adult teeth, try getting a deer antler. They are a renewable, non-staining, long-lasting chew toy and my Papillon loves them. She also loves her kong stuffed with peanut butter or dog food or cheese and any of the prior combinations but she won't really chew on anything aside from the antler. If she doesn't have one or can't find hers for a couple days, I find that anything in the house becomes at risk for chewing and she's 2+ years old. You could also try this with some food or hard treats inside just to keep the pup busy. Hope that helps! EDIT: If you find that keeping the dog in sight is an issue, leashing the pup and keeping them tethered to you with a carabiner to a belt loop helps a ton!

I just picked one at random as an example so not sure. I use this with my dogs when I don't have time to do training. Its pretty small though only fits about half a cup of kibble

I Agree but things to also take into consideration. Environments with high and/or dry temperatures will cause most dogs to attempt to cool off through panting and laying on cool surfaces. (Some people see this as being tired, but is a different form of fatigue)

For the peeing, make a note of any changes that have happened in the past 3-4 months (The new kitten?), even something like change in outdoor lighting can cause a dog to stress. This in turn could cause a fear of peeing at night, or added stress could cause a UTI. Make a note of anything you can for the vet trip. I would restrict your dogs access to the house when you sleep (Crate training, or in your room, or something like that.) Allowing him to continue the behavior is VERY counter productive. Every time he gets away with it, he is 'rewarded' which makes the behavior harder to break.

Something to note JRTs are very high energy dogs that chase small vermin, anything that might run around or roll around (Nothing living please :-) will help burn energy. things like this toy will help with both the terrier predatory drive and his high energy.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Pets-Interactive-Dispensing-ASSORTED/dp/B003ARUKTG

It works well and has an easier and more difficult setting. He loves it and it keeps him stimulated - cause he’ll do anything for food (but not much else) 😂

Then you need this IQ toy on your list!

My puppy loves this one and the difficulty is adjustable. Easy to clean too!

OurPets Smarter Toys Interactive IQ Treat Ball Dog Toy (Colors may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZQvmybAZCEFXN

Hello everyone! We are [Bear] (http://i.imgur.com/yJcaP4C.jpg), [Pancake] (http://i.imgur.com/ulnyNmC.jpg), and [Chunk] (http://i.imgur.com/M7ZG6mC.jpg). Mom says we are spoiled brats, but come on, look at how cute we are! Mom also says we are the most handsomest boys on the planet and we completely agree with her there. We would like to hang out with both Viktor and Hanners, since we love both puppies and kitties. We really think you both would like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Ourpets-DT-10504-Smarter-Toys-Inches/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369328903&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+toys) because your mom could put treats in it for both of you (and who doesn't like to chase a ball around?). Our mommy thinks we would like anything on this [list] (http://amzn.com/w/2QB5CR9KR71XX). But really we like just about everything and we aren't picky at all!

And some extra picture because mommy says we are adorable. [Bear with our mommy!] (http://i.imgur.com/qGMPuT4.jpg) and [The two kitties together!] (http://i.imgur.com/7DEMfR2.jpg).

Thanks for wanting to spoil us and all the other pets out there!

I want to be friends with Hanners and Viktor!

I've been doing this with our min pin for a while. I got one of these from Amazon, and depending on the setting, it takes her up to 35 minutes to eat what normally takes her about 10 seconds out of a bowl.

Coconut's been messing around with this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DQJQ1C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But she likes to take the wood pegs from the latter one and run off with them so I'm worried she's going to choke on them. She only gets to play with that one under supervision.

But now I'm thinking of getting some timber from Home Depot for her to gnaw on.

We used a trainer but pet smart is a great option! We chose group classes since it teaches socialization and that's where you will get bite inhibition. It will be frustrating at first bc puppy won't listen to you but stick with it!

We use several treat dispensing toys and as for the Kong I will actually soak her food in water for a bit until it absorbs some and then freeze it because she is having stomach issue so we aren't using treats. She really has to work at it to get it out. Here are some of the toys we use:

That's so exciting! Congrats! My big dog (7 years old) and my cousin's puppy both love this treat dispenser toy.

I just picked up one of these and it holds the attention of my easily bored, overly excited, chewer. I've used the tug-o-jug and the food cube, both of which she figured out how to pick up and throw around until they break open, and then she chews on the sharp plastic bits if I don't get to them quickly enough. So far, she can't pick up the ball so she can't slam it down and destroy it, and it rolls around which entertains her a good bit. She gets every meal served in this and never seems to lose interest.

It is a small thing but we have been using this for 6 months solid instead of a bowl for feedings: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It turns what was 10 seconds of food munching into 15 minutes of nudging a ball around the house. The only downer is finding the stupid thing at the next mealtime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

im a huge fan of this toy, it's got adjustable difficulties and my bc loves it!

I have a 2 year old red nosed pit.

none are affiliate links

My pit is obsessed with large circular balls, and she'll easily deflate a soccer ball in minutes, so I bought this rubber soccer-sized ball that doesn't deflate. I kick and throw this ball around, and all her attention is on it. She's a gnaw-er, so she try to bite through basketballs and soccer balls as quickly as she can. This ball has stayed un-deflated for weeks now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EMSVVAI/

For fetching with smaller balls, I bought two lacrosse balls, as they are very durable. And the reason they're durable is because they're not mostly empty inside, like regular bouncy balls you'll find at Petco. My pit isn't good at dropping the ball at me, so I throw the second when she gets close enough to me with the first, and she'll drop the ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JANLLU/

Nylabone, super durable and a great chew toy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ASNAM/

This food dispensing toy for mental stimulation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/

I also have the luxury of having a co-worker who had a dog supply ecommerce website (closed shop last month) and he gave me these large deer antler(?) bones as well as several other items for free. But the antler bone is easily the best chew toy the dog has ever tried to chew on, and it was free.

I got the IQ Treat Ball in one of my monthly Bark Box packages (highly recommend for their great products and awesome customer service) and it is one of the best, longest lasting dog products I've owned.

My dog has abused it in many ways, including chewing. It only broke open once when I wasn't supervising but I'm guessing it was because the top was loose. However, I've tossed and rolled it across my house and hasn't broken open once. You can adjust the opening for the treats depending on how easy or hard you want your dog to get to the food.

It hold a good amount of food, definitely enough to feed my dog. You can always refill it too. The ball has a twist open top so you can clean it inside and out. Your dog must be very food motivated in order for him to play with it. At first you need to show your dog there food and treats inside to get him to play with it but she will catch on. After a while, my dog figured out how to roll the ball in a way that will get multiple treats out. One of my more prouder moments as a dog owner.

Amazon link: http://amzn.com/B003ARUKTG

Oh I love the idea of making him work for every bit of kibble! I am going to try to use this!

To piggyback off of this comment, my pup LOVES this toy: http://www.amazon.com/Our-PetsSmarter-Treat-Inches-Colors/dp/B003ARUKU0

The nice thing about it is that you can increase the difficulty of the treat release. My puppy blasted through the levels, but the hardest level is still pretty challenging and he loves running around the house with it :)

It will get better soon! Trust me! I felt the same way you did 3 months ago. My pug puppy is 5 months old now and she is so much easier to handle than before!

I found that feeding my girl out of a treat ball was a great way for her to get physical exercise and also mental exercise. This is the one I got for her in the 3 inch option. There's a middle white portion that makes it harder to get kibble/treats out but I removed that until she got the hang of using it. It's so much fun to watch her bat the ball around the house and get her food out.

Keep up the training and be consistent. They say pugs are hard to potty train but if you keep up a routine it will really help! My girl lets me know when she needs to go now because she knows she will get a yummy high value treat when she potties outside.

I can't tell you how many times I almost gave up and regretted getting her. Now I feel so guilty for thinking that way because she truly makes me happy every single day. Good luck!

How much physical and mental exercise is he getting daily right now (in hours)?

It sounds like he's food motivated! An easy way to introduce some mental stimulation is to get some treat dispensing puzzles and feed him his meals in those! If he's never done them before I would get a few and start him off on an easy one first. This one is a great one to get started with and this one has a piece in the middle you can take out or put in for more difficulty. Other than that, just two 5-10 minute sessions of trick or obedience training daily can make a big difference. There's lots of great guides on youtube for that. Taking a fun training or sports class together is also a great way to tire out his brain and body and a wonderful way to bond and become closer.

As far as off leash back yard play time, I always like to recommend a flirt pole. They are super easy to make yourself or you can order off Amazon. I've got a BC/Cattle Dog mix and we like to alternate flirt pole, fetch, tug/keep away/chase, and blowing bubbles!

But honestly if he's getting a lot of exercise and fairly chill, not destructive or having other behavior issues he might just be fine. Not all dogs like to snuggle or be right up in your face all the time.

Do you mean something like this?

Lol I keep seeing your posts! I saw "Riley" and I thought, hey I know that name.

Just wanted to drop a comment and say Kiba is about 17 lbs now. He got weighed at his lime disease shot a week ago so he's probably another pound by now.

He also eats about 2 cups a day, but I find that he'll graze and come back to his bowl when he's hungry again. He'll often eat the whole thing in one sitting, but not always. A few days ago I haphazardly spilled the bag into the bowl and didn't know it wasn't enough until he started pawing at the food bag. I gave him the rest of his lunch (sorry Kiba!) and he ate it and left the food bag alone.

Shibas tend to be good about eating their fill and leaving what's left. If you want to give him a little extra and see if he eats it, I can't see a problem with that.

Overfeeding dogs as puppies is a little like overfeeding kids. A bit of extra weight isn't that big of a problem, as long as they are growing into their weight and not staying plump as they become an adolescent. A good rule of thumb is paying attention to their waistline from top-down. So standing over him, does he have a defined waist? His body should curve in and then out again when you reach his hips. Fatter puppies are sort of hot dog shaped, and underfed dogs either have visible ribs or, in flyffy dogs, ribs you can feel individually when you run your hand over them.

Since he's a puppy, giving him a little bit more food, I think, is okay. As long as he's getting his walks and playtime, He'll grow into his weight as he reaches a year.

Also, want to feed him, stimulate him, and get him some playtime all at the same time? Kiba gets one of his meals in this every day (mostly at night when im too busy to play with him): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKU0/ref=twister_B06XCNJCMG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The 3-incher is about the size of a tennis ball. Kiba can pick it up in his mouth and throw it at me when it's empty and needs more :)

He is cute as hell!! Also, he is a terror-terrier, you got a double whammy there with him being a chihuahua AND a min pin! They are pretty smart and usually know when they are being bad. Have you tried belly bands? You can get washable/reusable packs or disposables if that's better. Basically you put them on covering his penis when he is in the house after his walk, then remove it after you get outside for his next walk. Though what he is doing sounds like submission peeing which could be a whole different issue. ...

I do know that frustration you are feeling. I felt it with my male when he was that age and now with my female. Try working on new tricks or things to build a stronger bond, and maybe get him some busy toys? The IQ ball is awesome now for my troublesome female- it keeps her busy and rewards her for playing rather than being destructive.

It will pass, hang in there and force yourself to snuggle and love him as much as you can!! :)

If the little one is food motivated-
https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Smarter-Interactive-Treal-Colors/dp/B003ARUKU0

Works best on a hard surface! When they try to pin it down it shoots away from them.

We've always used puzzle feeders for our dog, even as a puppy. We did some hand-feeding early on per our trainer's suggestion to make sure our dog didn't become resource aggressive, then moved to a bowl in which we would slowly drop the kibble, and then a bowl where we would add treats as he was eating.

When we started feeding kibble without any kind of interruptions, we immediately started with puzzles.

First we used the star, then went to the iq puzzle ball when our pups' snout got to big, and now use this one.

> Your weekend ignore training regime, was that again in an x pen? Where you frequently went in/out of the room but not pen?
>
>

My puppy is a 16 week old Indian pariah mix that we've had since she was 12 weeks (though separated from her mother at <6 weeks, since that's the age the fosters found her at as a lost stray). The breed is known for its social playing, intelligence, but is also not big on cuddling.

I don't have an X-pen, but we do have a puppy gate: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089HDZYY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 that has been a lifesaver.
Cords have been moved behind big furniture, like the couch, where she can't reach them.

My dog has a lot of food-toys and chews.

Food ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKU0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bob-a-lot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YHB8EI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

"Wood" stick we use to lure her away from tempting wooden furniture legs:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0754P3NSC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solo-playing works best with toys that make a noise or move on their own (at least for my puppy). We've found a hard golf ball that noisily rolls across the floor (debatable whether this is a good idea; right now our puppy is too small to fit it fully in her mouth, let alone choke on it, but it's definitely hard enough that I worry she might break a tooth. But no signs of aggressive chewing yet), but she also likes other balls and stuffed toys (which she just takes in her mouth and shakes about wildly).

IMO, the food-dispensing toys are a must-have.

We also leave her dog bed and crate available in this space, and a blanket on the floor, that she likes to sit on while she chews.

Weekend training regime is the same as anything else. Dog in the living room, living room closed off with puppy gate so she can't follow us out, and is in a relatively puppy-proofed space, and toys and chews left strewn about.

She mostly sleeps through the day, now, knowing we won't engage with her playing. If she's being too noisy or needy, I'll leave her alone in the puppy-gated living room and work in another room.

I hope this helps!

You could try non-chew activity toys. My pup particularly likes the plastic food-dispensing balls. http://amzn.com/B003ARUKU0

We've been using this one for the past few months and it's been great. It takes my dog about 7-10 minutes to get all the food out. Plus it's super entertaining to watch her play with it.

I feed my dog breakfast every day in this: https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-Lot-Interactive-Small/dp/B003YHB8EI.

I like it because it involves both physical and mental exercise and it takes my dog about 30 mins to complete.

My Springer spaniel girl loves puzzle toys! I got her a Bobalot and Kong 'flying saucer' plus a puzzle bowl, all of which she loves!

Just to chime in: I have a Corgi pup, and we bought her this. It’s been clutch.

You can dispense treats with it, but we often put her food in it to occupy her while we eat.

Hi. I'm late, and my stuff is similar to yours but I'll show you anyway.

Our piglet LOVES this thing, we put cheerio halves inside: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YHB8EI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

I made this rooting box last wknd during the snow storm and he now uses it once a day. I went the cheap route w the pans until I knew he'd actually use it. That's regular hay sprayed down with water and we add raw cut up veggies.
http://imgur.com/YM4DK4r

Also, this bed is the best. He roots in it 24/7 and tires himself out. I also have a hot water bottle in there that is kind of heavy, he likes digging under it and rooting into it too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GQV68U?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00

Good luck!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YHB8EI

Also if it’s an issue of her bouncing back way too fast after napping post dogpark, we love the flirt pole. 10-15 minutes in a green space with the flirt pole uses a lot of energy. Even better if you’re on a hill!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HFFXEWE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sqhXCb69Y3193

If it's important to you, you can work on building her play drive. I used this method to get my dog from complete disinterest in toys to a reliable tug in the house. We're still working on interest in other environments.


Remember to always stop before she gets bored, always leave her wanting more. Even if that means putting the toy away after she sniffs it if you think she's not in the mood. Our agility instructor recommended that if you initiate play do whatever you have to do to get them interested, don't ever let them walk away from you first offering the toy, then you can stop once you get even the slightest bit of interest.


Have you tried chaseable toys like a flirt pole? If you're not morally opposed you could also try a toy with real fur. Clean Run has an entire category of motivational toys.


Last thing, it's probably impossible to over exercise a 2 year old pointer mix, but if she's getting all her energy out in other ways she might be perfectly content to just relax at home. My 2 year old is much more interested in play if I cut our 2 hours of daily exercise down to 1 hour for a day or two so she starts going just a little crazy.


Good luck!

I agree that your dog needs more exercise. One game that can help during the winter months is tug. If done appropriately it can even help stop bites.

Read Tug O' War is a Fun Game to Play With Your Dog for more info.

I've also heard good things about the flirt pole.

Remember, anytime she bites, play ends.

When guests arrive, I would keep her away from the door and the humans altogether. Set up a room or an exercise pen for her to stay in and give her a special treat, like a marrow bone or bully stick, for her to chew on. People entering is a lot of excitement; set her up to succeed by giving her something to do when people are entering and then let her greet people when she is calm. My dog bites for real and this has worked wonders.

Finally, learning to respond to her name as a positive interrupter, a solid recall, sit, and settle on a mat are all helpful tools to get her away from others or you and her feet and butt on the floor so drill those as much as you can, working towards increasing distractions. Desensitizing and counter-conditioning her to the sound of the door opening, knocking on the door and people entering can also help.

What about a flirt pole?


What type of toys does your son use to play with your puppy? Is there ample room between where the puppy grabs the toy and where your son holds onto it?


You can make the "bite = leave" concept more clear to puppy if you work with a baby gate. Have your son play with puppy on one side of the baby gate and puppy on another. Maybe take a long toy and drag it so puppy can get it. When puppy's teeth hit your son's skin, he needs to immediately leave the baby gate, whether he drops the toy for puppy or drags it with him is up to him. You may need to do a few practice sessions to show him exactly what you mean. But the baby gate creates a clear barrier and separation that you can immediately employ when needed. After 15-20 seconds, go back to playing.


Alternatively, you can have the puppy on a longer leash, like 6-8 feet at least. Have your son play with puppy while you hold onto the leash. When puppy bites, hold onto the leash firmly (don't pull) and have your son move away from the puppy immediately so puppy doesn't follow him.