Doggy Enrichment

[Tilly]

I went to the education talk on enriching your dogs life ... it has really got me thinking about how boring it can be for the dogs left in the backyard home alone for the day while I am at work.

My boys have some aussie dog toys such (Home Alone and Bundge Chook). There is also coke bottles with treats inside as well as frozen treats such as an ice-cream contain with treats (or even fish) frozen into a block of ice that they either chew or wait until the ice melts.

There is also scatter feeding and hiding food in various places around the yard. I use the kongs with treats and a diluted salt reduced chicken stock frozen inside.

I notice the boys don't tend to play with their toys until they squeak or I am there to play with them ...

So, what ways to you enrich your dogs life - either with them or when you are away for the day? I am looking for some more ideas

[PuddleDuck]

We do much of the same, kongs which amazingly at times take me a hammer to wedge huge pieces in there and the dogs get it out every time!!

We chuck cat food out over the mulch (our dog yard is mulched because the Kodiak Bear likes to dig) and then run a rake over it so it falls into the mulch. I hide treats in different places and smear peanut butter on stuff (above head height etc). Frozen ice blocks - we 1/2 fill the container, freeze it, then put the treat in, more water and freeze again, so that the treat is right in the middle. They love frozen apple pieces (and it uses up any apples we dont get around to eating). They have a clamshell pool in summer as well.

Despite all this, I expect they knock it all over in about an hour and then go sleep for the rest of the day. Kodi also has a weird habit of stacking the kongs up neatly at the far end of the yard when she is finished with them.

[Tilly]

One of the ideas they gave us was for hanging up Kongs. Basically you freeze the kong with a bit of string in it (like a candle) and then tie the other end of the string to the clothesline (or something) - then as the ice melts in the kong ... it will suddenly drop down some time later in the day (string still attached to the clothesline).

Edited: Because my spelling is almost as good as my typing...

Edited June 26, 2010 by Tilly

[VJB]

I fill up lots of silicone ice cube trays with lots of yummy stuff and freeze them. It takes Heidi a fairly long time to get all the bits out, and she loves them. I also scatter dry food around, cut up apple etc. Keeps her busy, but not sure exactly how long for.

[Whippetsmum]

We chop up apple, carrot, pear (any fruit and vege) and leave it concealed in the garden. In return we get nicely skinned pieces of fruit and vege every afternoon.