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Lavenders_Blue

Keeping a dog occupied

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Does anyone have any great ideas for keeping a dog occupied whilst home alone? Tango, our rescue terrier crossbreed is left home alone for a few hours most days - usually up to 3.5 hours but occasionally a wee bit longer.

She is a very good girl, and is not destructive whilst we are out, nor does she seem hyper and stressed when we get home, so I'm assuming she doesn't get upset when we go out and leave her. However, I'm conscious that she is a young (1 year-ish), active dog who enjoys a mental challenge as much as she enjoys going for a walk so I don't want her to be bored whilst home alone. When we go out, we always leave her a small stuffed kong (frozen, or else it would be gone in seconds) and a treat ball with some biscuits in which she looooooves, but I would be surprised if these last her more than 45 minutes in total, which means that she could have 3 hours in which to occupy herself. So, what other good toys are there out there that would occupy her whilst we are out or...... am I just being a worry wart and actually she will be quite happy snoozing away for 3 hours?!

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Have you tried a Tug a Jug? These are brilliant and I usually my dog's evening meal in one. Bit annoying when watching TV as we have a hard floor! Basically, fill with dry kibble - you need to check it is small enough to get out. Dog learns to upend with nose and paws and pull on rope to dispense food. I'm on my second. The original model had a rubber 'rope' which was great but they don't seem to make them like that any more. Left in the garden, fox chewed the 'rope'. The bottle is indestructable but the next time the fox nicked the whole thing. You can buy them at Pets at Home too.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Busy-Buddy-Dog-Medium-Large/dp/B000KV7ZGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318348287&sr=8-1

 

You'll probably be surprised and find that your dog sleeps most of the time. A half hour session on a Kong or other dispensing toy can be quite tiring.

 

Sue

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I leave the TV or Radio on when I leave my two and I find it distracts them from the silence and outside noises. I always find them asleep when I get home. You could try scattering treats in various places in the house for her to find and this keeps them occupied for ages.

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I like the look of the Tug a Jug - looks like lots of fun!

The frozen kong lasts Tango about 1/2 hour (I've given her one a couple of times when I've been at home to keep her amused) as it's only a little one, and the treat ball not long at all, as she's a total whizz at getting the biscuits out :lol:

Maybe I'll stop worrying for now and see if Santa brings the Tug a Jug..........

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our puppy has a boiled bone whitch is great keeps her entertained for hours :D

 

 

I am going to be a worrywort here - do you mean one of those stuffed jobbies from the pet shop - not one you've cooked yourself?

 

Sue

I'd echo the concern re feeding cooked bones. I have seen far too many dogs rear ends torn to shreds trying to pass pieces of bone - not pleasant.

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I wouldn't give cooked bones either :? I only ever feed raw and never leave a dog with any sort of bone or chew in case they choke.

 

Mine get plenty of exercise and are then comatose while I am at work; in fact they are in almost exactly the same position when I return :roll: I wouldn't worry unduly if she's obviously not fretting when you're gone, they like a bit of down time.

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I worry about Dylan when i take Dawn to trials as he is on his own all day in the kennel, I tire him

out the day before and he gets a Kong extreme with frozen mince in.

TBH i think it makes me feel better as he doesn't seem to give a chunky monkey, as i rush back worrying

about him he crawls out his box yawning. :roll:

We are having security cameras put up soon so i will be able to see what my mad lot get up to!

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