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Boredom busters
Here are some suggestions for keeping your canine friends entertained and out of mischief.
· Bungy Bouncer: Hang a bungy cord from a tree branch or an overhanging beam. Tie a favorite toy to the end so that the toy hangs about six inches higher than your dog’s head. The breeze will cause the toy to move and catch your dog’s attention. As he bites it and pins it to the ground, the toy will spring upwards. You can also tie tennis balls in an old pair of pantyhose and hang it over the dog’s head or tie it to the kennel. A rope hanging from a tree, knotted and frayed at the end will move with the wind and attract the dog.
· Buster Cube (available from Bark Busters): This award-winning dog toy is a great distraction. Fill the toy with dry kibble. As your dog rolls it around on the ground, the kibble falls out from multiple compartments. This motivates your dog work for his food, keeping a brain-active dog busy for hours.
· Scatter Feeding: Turn feeding into a treasure hunt. Scatter a variety of foods (such as whole carrots, celery, peas, broccoli, beans, apples, bananas and mushrooms) around the yard when you leave. This gives your dog something to forage for as well as some nutritious food to chew on (rather than your wooden lawn furniture). You can also scatter his dry food around the yard. Some items (especially raw, meaty bones or dried liver bits) can be hidden in a digging pit, such as a child’s wading pool filled with sand.
· Knotted Puzzle: Take an old sheet or towel and cut one piece into a small square. Place a few dry dog biscuits or treats in the center of the square. Gather the sheet around the biscuits and tie it into knots. Dangle the knotted biscuits in front of your dog’s nose and entice him to play. Place these "knots" around the yard. Once your dog has worked out how to rip the sheet to get the biscuits, you can make the task harder by tying more layers of sheet around the biscuits or wrapping them in a thicker fabric, such as an old towel.
· Kong Toys: This durable rubber toy has a hollow center that can be stuffed with delectables like cheese, peanut butter, kibble or dried liver. Seal the ends with a biscuit to make it harder to get the goodies inside. Fill it with food then freeze to give your dog “Kongsicles” to enjoy.
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