Need some suggestions

[MontanaRott]

We are going into our 3rd week of being trapped in the house because of smoke from wildfires. We have been keeping the training going here in the house and outside whenever possible. But are keeping outside activities to a minimum for the boy because of the smoke.
So what we need are some suggestions for different things to do to spice up his indoor training and or games to play, or tricks to teach to keep him busy! A tired pup is a good pup, and we need HELP from you guys to keep him engaged and tired!
We just don't want him to get bored with the training.

[RottiMomCT]

If not doing it already - play a game of hide and seek...you hide some treats, and send him searching for them.

I have unknowingly turned my hallway into a dog run...Ben will brign me a tennis ball while I watch TV and I'll toss it down the hall...he'll run after it and bring it back to me...I know he's getting tired when he starts to walk down the hall instead of run...or if he just looks down the hall after I throw the ball, I know he's done!

[Rott-Wiley]

When we can't go out, I like to work on the backing up command. We do it while standing and also while sitting. That's not going to tire him out very much but it does exercise his mind.

[MontanaRott]

Hide and seek! DUH! Why did we not think of THAT! We do the same thing throw the ball down the hall and let him rip, lots of tug too. Back up is a great thing to work on! Thanks for the suggestions. We are taking this time to work on holding his mouth open and being still while we count his teeth. Now how to lay a track in the house! LOL.

[Judi W]

Well, my dogs all still have their thumbs so I can set them to work cooking, knitting and writing out checks for me. They've been studying what I do long and hard enough for sure.

Retrieving different things. Go ahead and use some work gloves. walk through the house with him and drop something behind you and keep walking. Then you exclaim "oh my gosh, I've dropped my (fill in the blanks), please go get it for me". I've used gloves, my wallet, a scarf, whatever I can think of. They feel so darn smart. Especially when they have to go through several rooms to make the find and retrieve. Start out stopping and asking for help when the article is directly behind you and you can both see it. Then advance to going further and around corners.

Teach him to carry a piece of paper with a note on it (give the dog a cookie maybe?) and send him to find the other person. Graduate to using him to carry tools.

Oh, the ideas are endless.

[MontanaRott]

Thanks Judi, I was hoping you would see this and give us some ideas. And those are perfect, getting him to pick things up and bring them to us, will help him in a number of ways.
Now about those dogs with thumbs.................

[Judi W]

The really big downside to having dogs with thumbs is that you have to start a college fund and they are always wanting to borrow the car.

[moondog]

I think he's old enough for some chores! He can carry groceries to the kitchen and carry the trash out to the cans. I bet he could even pull a laundry basket to the washing machine. That would hardly weigh anything and if you have smooth floors, put a towel under it and it'll slide like a sled. :) Then when he gets his reward for working so hard, he can guess which hand the treat is in! :D

He can learn the names of all his toys and bring the one you ask for. He can learn to put them all away at the end of the day. He can learn to "spit" a ball back to you for a two-sided game of catch. Maybe he can learn how to take a pug on a leash for a walk around the house! :D

[Judi W]

BTW, we're watching the Snow-Talon fire closely as it is closing in on my sister's place up near Lincoln. So, everyone is holding their breath. Last big burn I had family lose a couple of places up by the ferry.

[MontanaRott]

Originally posted by Judi W
BTW, we're watching the Snow-Talon fire closely as it is closing in on my sister's place up near Lincoln. So, everyone is holding their breath. Last big burn I had family lose a couple of places up by the ferry.

Good suggestions Patty thanks!

I will keep your sister in my thoughts Judi, it is really bad here this year. I have family up near Lincoln also. It is the Thompson/Fish Creek complex that is threatening us. The shop Phil works in was evacuated yesterday, but they all signed waivers and went to work today. We have the national guard down the street keeping watch on a blockade. They are expecting the fires to make a run tomorrow because of a front that is expected. So they are being careful to keep residents and looky loo's out. Lets just keep hoping for the best, with these dang fires and in the mean time we will work with the boy and be grateful he has not asked for the car keys YET!

[Burnsway]

Sometimes when I see Psyche getting bored and it is to hot in Texas to be out a lot during the day we do alot of what many here have suggested.

One thing we do is pour her whole basket of toys all over the house and she has to bring them back to me one at a time by name if possible. The Retriever mix really shows through in this exercise.

We also do a lot of handing her things and have her bring to other family members. My Husband is a auto tech so we started the tool thing but he has heavy metal tools and she doesn't care for those. She will go pick them up but drop them and scoot them with her feet or nose to us..... We are trying to find some cheaper plastic handled ones to start her off better with.

We do a lot of show me(Fill in the blank) She loves this. All she has to do is touch the item I named that she knows and the task is done.......:D Sometimes she does it a bit overly excited and fast, the item falls......

Go kiss Nicki is a make fun game for my own entertainment.....bad me.....They have no love loss for one another and when I say go give Nicki a kiss she will go about 3 inches from Nicki and quick turn around and come back to me as if I won't notice she didn't actually give the kiss......LOL!


The ideas of inside work and play can be endless......

[MontanaRott]

More great ideas! Thanks Melissa.