Interactive toys for very clever dogs

[horsemadmom]

I need to find a really stimulating toy to keep the Lab occupied while I work. He's just the kind of dog that needs to be doing something at all times. When bored, he resorts to bringing me things that I would rather he didn't- remotes, expensive sofa cushions, dvd boxes etc.
We had a treat dispensing cube with a spiral inside that had to be rolled to release a treat. He figured that out in about 5 minutes and then discovered that he could unscrew the core and get the treats faster. Today, he took the (supposedly lockable) core out and then repeatedly bashed the cube against the cooker until it split in half. So, it's fair to say that we need something more challenging...and durable.

The Kong just doesn't do much for him. Even freezing it so it lasts longer. He isn't content to just sit and chew. He needs an activity.
Any recommendations for a robust toy that requires real thinking that will last for an hour at a time between our cuddle breaks. I can't overstate how clever this pup is. I can't work with one hand and do fetch with the other any more.

Stealth boast?

That is clearly one G&T dog. He seems to be well in to his retrieving. Is there another skill-set you could teach him that would make him less focused on bringing you stuff?

Try a tug-a-jug. You can vary the size of the treats to make it steadily more difficult

I hide food. Started with little bits of smelly cheese in one room, then progressed to smelly cheese in all the downstairs rooms with increasing levels of hiding difficulty, then just onto kibble. I have a lab too and she is more than happy to spend 30 mins looking for 3 or 4 tiny bits of kibble.

I make her wait in her basket while I'm hiding it. Didn't need a cue word. Finding food comes naturally

Cool ideas. Thanks.
I've seen the tug a jug thing. Would it last an hour?
Hiding food is a good idea but there aren't too many places to hide it at the moment because he's not allowed upstairs. Also, if his ball rolls under the sofa he'll bash the sofa backwards to get it. I can imagine spending a lot of time putting the furniture back into position.

Tug a jug is good, my lab x took a while to figure it out...it doesn't last an hour, though. Ten minutes, maybe fifteen if its full enough! Mind you, I give him small quantities in it.

Mouse also retrieves endlessly, bringing me things he shouldn't for the sheer joy of having me say 'Nooooo!' and take them out of his mouth again

I ended up giving him a teddy from the school tombola bagfull I was washing, that worked for fifteen minutes (and is unchewed, but much loved).

But I think some of the advanced trainer-y people on here could give you training ideas that would keep him busier - maybe collecting a whole basketfull of (specific - balls??) objects and putting them in a basket??

You can clicker train to 'settle' too.

Could you train him to do useful things like take the washing out of the machine? Think I'm a bit because my dog has always been exceedingly dim.

Try a stag bar here. Mine haven't left them alone since they arrived.

I can't think of a single thing which will keep a lab exclusively occupied for an hour, but these are pretty good.

It'd also be worth teaching him to self settles too - it'd make life a little easier.

I've just bought my lab a tug-a-jug, also bento balls look good but the 'everlasting treats' you have to put in each side are about £7 each so I'm waiting for someone to tell me how amazing they are before I spend the best part of £25 on one toy for my dog!

The everlasting treats last about 1/2 hour if your pup figures out that he can squeeze the edges of the ball and it pops out. Will try a tug a jug.
He isn't content to just chew. He needs a job.
Considering the laundry option as he is quite good at doing the dishes already.

....by climbing into the open dishwasher as I'm loading it!

Make one of (Disclaimer: YouTube Video)

oops, he is a clever boy. Is he being stimulated mentally as well as physically? He definitely needs a job. And boundaries.

try this site here

I wouldnt bother with the weeble pyramid type toys - my dogs learned to hold it down with one paw and turn it to get all the treats out; in about 5 minutes!

Also, you may want to ignore the behaviour. He is being rewarded with attention every time he brings you something, doesnt matter whether its positive or negative.

Try saying nothing to him when he brings you cushion/remote control, just swap what he brings you for something of 'his'

Sorry, rather disjointed, trying to multi task...

Meant to say that after his walk/run in the morning he needs to learn to 'settle' and not continually harass you for love. If he has a snuggly toy give him that to 'hold'

But he is a lab, he is very cute and I cant wait to rub those silky ears. How can you resist those big eyes?

Thanks Jax,
Come round any time for an ear rub. They are our favourite bit of him! I've tried ignoring him especially after his run in the morning- 1/2 hr with his doggie mates on the Heath and he's at my feet with his chin up asking to go home. Discovered swimming and loves it! Must build up his stamina- he's a bit like a human boy- runs around like a loony then gets tired and cranky and needs mummy. Unfortunately, he gets really distressed if ignored (they were right. He is a sensitive boy). I try to take a break every hour to give him some love but he has got to entertain himself in between. This afternoon he managed to rip his 'indestructable' chew bone in half.

Sometimes he plays hunting games with toys which is pretty funny. Stalks a kong, pounces on it, bats it away, pretends to walk away, wheels around and pounces again, hides behind furniture to check it is still there and flies across the room etc.
I'll have a look at the site you recommended. Did I mention that we absolutely LOVE him?

You need a kitten. We ended up with a stray when our Lab was 5/6 months old and they entertain each other very well

My Springer is clearly not g&t! He can't work out his tug a jug at all. Still, keeps him busy so long as there's a stinky treat mixed in with the kibble. Duh!

you may have mentioned once or twice that you love him.

I love watching them 'stalk' their toys. Lolly stalks a couple of tiny plastic plant pots she has stolen that were in the greenhouse for seedlings. It is hilarious, the dogs have a box of toys in the garden and she bats the little pots around and springs around like a loon.

Petplanet have got loads of things and also a sale / clearance at the moment. Might be worth a look.

BTW- Still LOVE him. I'll have a look at both sites. Got desperate today as it was really crunch time with work. I took the rubber toy that had a tug rope through it (he got the rope out his first night with us) and put marrow bone shaped treats in each hole. Really had to squeeze them in. Zig figured out that if he repeatedly bounced it, he could loosen the treats and squeeze them out. Gave me 15 mins at a time to work between reloading.

how about a raw meaty bone from the butchers? That should keep him busy for a while and its good for their gums/teeth.

ipad?

Education City?

ipad

We considered an ipad but we know he'll just get obsessed with the apps and he'll be off calculating gratuities and buying books and playing Angry Birds all day. I dread to think what mischeif he could do with email access.