Mentally stimulating toys for 5 month old Collie??

[kippersmum]

Title says it all really. Please don't suggest Kongs, I have 2 in 2 different sizes & he had shown zero interest in them. Although everyone else raves about them, maybe I'm doing it wrong?

He is an amazingly well behaved dog (considering he is a collie puppy) but all his favourite toys are bits of rope or fluffy dog toys. I have read so much about the importance of mentally stimulating Collies that I'm worried I'm not doing something I should & we will have big problems in the future as a result.

If not a Kong then I would say lots of training would be best for him, you could get him doing tricks. As far as toys go the only other thing I can think of is a Kong wobbler, have you seen them?

What did you put in the Kongs?

You . You should be his most interesting toy at all times. However not 24/7.

Get him to play tuggy,
Teach him tricks - do you use clicker training?
Train him to pull and tug and he can help with the housework - putting washing in a machine, taking it out of the tumble drier. handing it to you from the basket to hang on the line etc.

What do you feed him - use his meals throughout the day as training treats instead of giving him 2 meals a day.

5/10 mins bursts of training or interaction from you and then he should chill. It is really important that he does not hassle you all day (he will he is a collie if you give him the chance) so teaching him to chill and relax in his bed is just as important as the above.

For us - having someone with our collies all day (and each other) is enough mental stimulation - together with normal lots of games of ball etc. Just keep them mentally engaged (you can't physically wear them out - they just get fitter :)).

I am thinking of a kong - but it depends on what you put in it. My younger collie (18 months) is not food motivated at all, the older one (6) is more food motivated now, but couldn't care less when younger.

I think I do too much with ours, they almost expect me to do stuff with them now!

I know they don't like kongs, but have you tried the kong puzzle toys? They are good fun. We have a kong wobbler, which occupies them for ages, plus other kong puzzle toys that you can fill with treats or kibble.

Treats in boxes or bottles, hidden in the house. We do 'find it' where I chuck good in the garden and they sniff it out.

Oh and clicker training is great fun.

Take the pressure off yourself! If your collie enjoys bits of old rope, rejoice! You will keep your pup quite happy if you teach him calmness if he is excitable, and teach him independence if he needs it. Collies need a job, even if it is lying about being calm!

Depends what you will be doing with your dog in 12 months time. There are generic things that most enjoy and get tired from (scentwork, trick training, food dispensing toys, retrieving/chasing/tugging/dissecting) but if, in a couple of years, you'd like to be doing treiball or agility with your dog then your "tricks and training" focus can be on stuff that'll be productive to that.

100% agree with NuttyMutty that interaction with you is the key. Clicker training is the only thing which really stretches my dog mentally

Although at the times where that just isn't possible, I have some Nina Ottosson games which are pretty good.
Games which involve scent also knacker them out. Scattered kibble in the grass to find was a favourite at that age. Or amongst stuff in the house if it's too wet in the garden. Move on to searching for a toy by smell as he improves

my collie is obsessed with orange peel - the smaller the better. She loves to hide it in drawers or under cupboards and then whine and whinge because she can't get it out. keeps her occupied for ages and drives us all nuts.

You should see her eyes light up when we get out an orange for lunch :)

Thanks for all the helpful replies, loads of useful info for me :)

I agree with throkenholt. I have always had collies and a walk, a game of ball, a training class (we do agility too) and yourself is generally all they need. Rope toys are fine! Do not let people undermine your confidence. I do have Kong's but they were not about in the old days and our collies survived. Chill

My collies favourite 'you're is a nylobone :o

That should say toy! Not you're

My 18 mo collie doesn't like kongs. He just used to throw it at us to throw for him

He love love loves his tennis balls. He'd play ball forever. He also likes rawhide bones. They keep him good for hours.. until he gets bored and then he throws a wet soggy piece of rawhide at you to throw

We have a 2 yo ds and he has just started to throw balls etc for the dog.. he doesn't get bored and neither does the dog.. it's a win win situation