Keeping dogs entertained

Harry Bloomfield · 15 Oct 2019

Two border collies, one knocking on a bit so not really interested, but the other one a real live wire and very, very clever. She likes to play fetch in the house with tennis balls. She often throws them for me to catch, has a habit of putting them carefully balanced on tables, chairs and in waste baskets. If a ball gets somewhere out of her reach, she taps me constantly until I get it for her. I have had to retrieve them from under furniture and trapped in between double panel radiators a few times.

I'm trying to think of something to enable her to have the tennis ball thrown automatically for her. My first idea was to maybe try adapting one of golf practise things, where the golf ball goes in then is launched back out. Another idea is a J shaped pipe or tube, with a funnel shape at the top, so she could drop the ball in the top and have it come rolling out the bottom.

Anyone got any alternative ideas?

sodthisforfun · 15 Oct 2019

Harry Bloomfield said:
Two border collies, one knocking on a bit so not really interested, but the other one a real live wire and very, very clever. She likes to play fetch in the house with tennis balls. She often throws them for me to catch, has a habit of putting them carefully balanced on tables, chairs and in waste baskets. If a ball gets somewhere out of her reach, she taps me constantly until I get it for her. I have had to retrieve them from under furniture and trapped in between double panel radiators a few times.

I'm trying to think of something to enable her to have the tennis ball thrown automatically for her. My first idea was to maybe try adapting one of golf practise things, where the golf ball goes in then is launched back out. Another idea is a J shaped pipe or tube, with a funnel shape at the top, so she could drop the ball in the top and have it come rolling out the bottom.

Anyone got any alternative ideas?

Play with her yourself instead! Half the fun of having dogs and I think dogs appreciate your time playing too.

EddieM · 15 Oct 2019

One of the poorest choices of dog for a pet. Lovely as they are, they're bred to be working dogs.

Harry Bloomfield · 15 Oct 2019

sodthisforfun said:
Play with her yourself instead! Half the fun of having dogs and I think dogs appreciate your time playing too.

Oh, I do, but I'm busy sometimes and she likes 100% of your attention on her.

Notch7 · 15 Oct 2019

Very high energy dogs and very intelligent.

Im trying to train my dog (podengo) toys by name. She has learnt one toy, which she will go off and find, but Im trying the second toy now and confusion sets in....

Using mental energy is quite intense for dogs -border collies would love it.

Unfortunately border collies can keep up catching balls for ages, it gets quite wearing after a while!

They love football too

Harry Bloomfield · 15 Oct 2019

Notch7 said:
Im trying to train my dog (podengo) toys by name. She has learnt one toy, which she will go off and find, but Im trying the second toy now and confusion sets in....

Using mental energy is quite intense for dogs -border collies would love it.

They pick words up very easily - wondering round the house, I always tell her where I'm going, so she can get there before me. She is laid on the carpet next to her step brother at the moment, tapping him with her paw, to get him to chase her..

Jakg · 15 Oct 2019

You need to try something actually mentally fulfilling, rather than repetitive that will lead to obsession.

durhamplumber · 16 Oct 2019

EddieM said:
One of the poorest choices of dog for a pet. Lovely as they are, they're bred to be working dogs.

Agreed.Even more lively than springers.My girlfriend had one...constantly squeaked a toy and watched tv ..Went berserk at every animal on tv,trying to round it up...

gasbanni · 16 Oct 2019

EddieM said:
One of the poorest choices of dog for a pet. Lovely as they are, they're bred to be working dogs.

Absolute Booollllocks.

gasbanni · 16 Oct 2019

We had our border collie for 18 years .....very intelligent they certainly are.

Take her to a field and throw the ball till she's exhausted, then you'll have half an hour of peace !

durhamplumber · 17 Oct 2019

gasbanni said:
and throw the ball till she's exhausted, then you'll have half an hour of peace !

Not bollx then

Notch7 · 17 Oct 2019

durhamplumber said:
Not bollx then

Its diificult to keep a border collie as a pet in a house - they are high energy dogs and do suffer stress if they get bored.

I had a neighbour who had a border -it was bred from working farm dogs. They left it at home all day once and it stripped the wallpaper off the wall and chewed big holes in their sofa.

They are very lovely dogs but its a responsibility taking one on.

A greyhound on the other handvis a low energy dog, in fact they can be harmed by too much exercise.
Apparently one should never put a greyhound on an extending lead -greyhounds have such high acceleration it could break a wrist!

Harry Bloomfield · 17 Oct 2019

Notch7 said:
Its diificult to keep a border collie as a pet in a house - they are high energy dogs and do suffer stress if they get bored.

I had a neighbour who had a border -it was bred from working farm dogs. They left it at home all day once and it stripped the wallpaper off the wall and chewed big holes in their sofa.

We have plenty of garden space, so they never get bored. The older one takes himself out on a long patrol around the perimeter several times a day, he's not up to going out for a walk now. Neither have ever been destructive, though she collects card board to tear up - she actually goes through the waste baskets looking for things to tear up.

We had his litter sister, before we has him, now she was destructive - carpets, skirting boards, shoes etc.. She died of a brain tumour at three years of age.

All are/have been lovely, faithful dogs..

durhamplumber · 17 Oct 2019

Notch7 said:
Its diificult to keep a border collie as a pet in a house - they are high energy dogs and do suffer stress if they get bored.

I agree.

gasbanni · 17 Oct 2019

One silly game with Max was I'd blow up a plastic carrier bag shake it front of him and he'd rip pieces out of it spit them out continued to there was nothing left.

When he was young his teeth were like needles so I'd put on a pair of leather gloves to scragg him about ( play fight ) when he was fully grown if I put on a pair of leather gloves he'd excitedly attack me !! Not a full attack but a real rough play fight.

A good game is to put the dog out of sight and hide bits of torn off schmackos all over they run round the house trying to find them and usually do !

Keeping dogs entertained

sodthisforfun

EddieM

durhamplumber

durhamplumber

durhamplumber

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