Puzzle Toys for Dogs!

As you all know, Owen is a very smart, very energetic dog so we have to keep him busy (see my "agility" post for more on keeping a dog busy with activities). About 6 months ago, on a rainy day, I got him his first puzzle toy/brain game. I brought it home and let him try it out and it didn't take him long to figure out how to get the treats! The first one I got him has drawers that he has to slide out to get the treats (blue and green "bone-shaped" one in the picture of the toys, below).

Since that time, I have gotten him/made him several other puzzles/brain games (all pictured below). These toys are GREAT if you have a dog that needs something to do (and what dog doesn't?) to keep him/her busy. They can be bought at most pet stores. They CAN be expensive, but they don't have to be! Most of Owen's were bought when they were on sale and were less than $5/each! You can also make a simple puzzle with a cupcake tin (or, for small dogs, an ice cube tray) and some tennis balls (pictured).

 

 I frequently feed Owen his meals in these toys instead of his bowl because these make him work for his food and also slow him down (he eats SUPER fast!). Other types of "puzzle" for dogs include the "Kong" type toys, feeder balls, etc. (Owen has several of these too but these are easier and are more suited for treats than full meals).

If you want to keep your dog busy and stimulated mentally, get a puzzle toy for him/her and watch him/her solve it!

Happy Birthday, Owen!

Today is Owen's birthday! Well, technically I don't know the exact day he was born because he is a rescue pup, but based on his age, I estimate his birthday was around the first of April and so I am celebrating his 1 year birthday today!
I made him a little "cake" or "pie" of sorts (frozen because I didn't have time to bake one). It has Nutro Banana treats in it (the crumb crust) as well as peanut butter and apple pieces (top apple was cut to look like the number "1"). It was formed and then frozen (think "ice cream cake").

Fun on Friday!

Owen is a really smart dog. Because he is smart, he can be a challenge to keep entertained at times! The good thing is that he loves learning new things. One thing I've been working on with him is agility. He is really good at it and loves doing it! He has learned how to do a bar jump, hoop jump, pause table, teeter-totter and is currently working on weave poles.

He started out (like any young dog) looking clumsy attempting just one piece of equipment at a time but can now sequence multiple pieces together. It is great bonding time too because he has to be really cued into me to make sure he gets the sequence right. I have had people ask if I plan to compete with him in the future. I don't know about that, but he certainly has fun with it anyway! 

I think agility is something that most/all dogs can enjoy in some form. If my beagle/terrier mix can do it, so can your dog! Whether you do it to compete or just for fun, agility is a great experience for any dog owner. You can make a lot of the needed equipment for little money or you can buy pre-made equipment. If you are interested in trying agility, there are many videos avilable to get you started and many areas have classes if you are serious.