Boredom busters for puppy

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Got our 10 week miniature poodle puppy four days ago. He’s great fun and has lots of energy.

I want some ideas for entertainment for him. We have a puppy Kong and some soft toys. He likes to rag his blanket around (especially when I hide his kong in there) and dismantle his bed.

What other things keep your puppy entertained?

[MissShapesMissStakes]

No. Thank you I will have a look now.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

Have you joined the Canine Enrichment Facebook group? Lots of ideas there

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Thank you. What brilliant ideas!

He loves stealing socks and shoes so I think he will love a noisy bottle covered in a sock!

The frozen carrot sounds fun too. Will stick one in now.

I’m waiting for him to finish his jabs so I can take him for a harness and practice lead walking.

He has learnt to come and sit really nicely. We can definitely do more training. He seems to prefer getting his food for a reason, rather than helping himself to it in his bowl.

Love the ball in the bowl idea too!

He’s our first ever dog. I have a lot to learn!

[simplepimple]

An small empty plastic water bottle with rice grains in that he can chase around - just check it regularly and change it if theres a risk the grains can get out. It can also be put inside an old sock with a knot at the end.

Two toys exactly the same - tuggers are good - so that when he brings one you can show him the other one so that he learns to 'drop' the first one.

An old t shirt knotted up so it doesn't look like a t shirt. (and he doesnt learn all t shirts are toys)

Have a toybox to keep his things in and change them regularly - keep one thats 'your' toy to motivate him later.

Squeaky toys - those 'roadkill' flat ones without any stuffing are really good.

If he's fed dry food....

Start some training using his kibble as rewards - 2 mins spent thinking is as tiring as 10 mins playing.

When you feed him hide his kibble around the house so he has to 'work' for his food - or put a ball into his bowl with the kibble - it will take longer to eat.

Play hide the kibble underneath something - let him see you do it at first till he 'gets' the game and then slowly make it more difficult.

Buy a number of bone 'shanks' where they are hollow inside or sometimes filled with a paste. Remove the paste and smear with marmite or fill with soaked kibble. Freeze. Give straight from the freezer.

Give him ice cubes to play with. Freeze carrots as a treat. Give frozen.

Have lead work practices indoors where the idea is to keep his focus on you at all times - so you have to be really interesting to him. Much easier to get this done indoors than outside where there are so many distractions.

Read 'how to train your dog like a pro' - excellent book.