Toys for home alone?

Emoore · 01-17-2012, 09:44 PM

Today was the first time I had to leave Kopper at home for more than 5 or 6 hours. He had a grand old time with a roll of paper towels and when I came home I thought it had snowed. I'll crate him if I have to but to be fair, he's an intelligent, active, young dog and he doesn't have much in the way of toys besides his balls and one bone. I'd like to try leaving him with some engaging toys before I try crating him.

Does anyone know of any toys that:
a) are entertaining
b) are safe to be played with unsupervised (so nothing with stuffing or small pieces that can come off and get swallowed)
c) doesn't dispense food. Him and Rocky are loose together and I don't want fights breaking out over food.

I'm thinking of maybe a jolly ball? Kongs are only entertaining to my dogs when they're stuffed so that's out. Any other suggestions?

onyx'girl · 01-17-2012, 09:57 PM

I leave a toy basket out with lots of choices(no stuffies) for my three, but I really think they just sleep when I'm gone. My dogs have never destroyed things, and I can leave antlers/nylabones out with out resource guarding. They probably would guard more with humans present anyway.
I think it depends on the dog....maybe a crate with a nice stuffed kong would be better than trying to find the perfect toy, especially if they are prone to destructive behaviors.

Emoore · 01-17-2012, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I leave a toy basket out with lots of choices(no stuffies) for my three, but I really think they just sleep when I'm gone. My dogs have never destroyed things, and I can leave antlers/nylabones out with out resource guarding. They probably would guard more with humans present anyway.
I think it depends on the dog....maybe a crate with a nice stuffed kong would be better than trying to find the perfect toy, especially if they are prone to destructive behaviors.

See that's the thing, he's never destroyed anything before so I wouldn't really call him prone to it. I know he doesn't have SA, I think he was just bored! I'm sure that unraveling the paper towels was a real hoot. What toys do you leave in the basket? I'm so paranoid about choking hazards.

onyx'girl · 01-17-2012, 10:07 PM

Cuz balls, thick rubber football, fleece tugs(karlo liked to chew these, though), Elk antlers, holee roller/nylabones.
Onyx is a bit bully with Kacie so I worried about higher value chews unsupervised. So far so good. LIke I posted, I think they value things more when their humans are around.

Karlo will take a ball and a tug and play with both on his own. Funny to watch him do that.
The only time he's ever done anything wrong was getting into a houseplant and digging out the annuals planted at the base of the plant. I had watered it that morning, so the fresh soil smell must have been too much for him! It was mid winter, he was about 10-11 mos old and had been free from crating since 7 months. Oh, and one of my lovebirds escaped his cage, I came home to feathers and no mojo...they ate poor mojo:'(

Emoore · 01-17-2012, 10:10 PM

Oh poor Mojo!

TheActuary · 01-17-2012, 10:17 PM

Oh god... RIP Mojo

RocketDog · 01-17-2012, 10:18 PM

I'm sorry about Mojo and it seems untimely to post this, but--

I laughed out loud at the "snowed" comment. I can only imagine. Did he greet you all happy and proud like "LOOK! I DID SOMETHING FOR YOU!!"

onyx'girl · 01-17-2012, 10:19 PM

I know, he was the sweetest thing, but would escape if he could. I thought the dogs got a down pillow, but then looked at the coloring of the feathers.
MoJo squeezed out of his door. A violet fischers lovebird...very uncommon, and we handfed him from 2 weeks of age.

RocketDog · 01-17-2012, 10:23 PM

Awww, that is sad.

Our lab used to let DD's parakeet ride on his back. About 2 months ago, we had the parakeet out to let Rocket see him, from a few feet away and while we held him, and the dang bird flew and landed on Rocket's nose. He was so surprised he just sat there. I was like "OH SH*T" and quickly stuck my finger out and made the bird hop back on and put him in his cage.

Whew. I don't know that Rocket would intentionally kill it, but instinct is instinct, and how horrid would that have been in front of my kids?

Emoore · 01-17-2012, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RocketDog

I laughed out loud at the "snowed" comment. I can only imagine. Did he greet you all happy and proud like "LOOK! I DID SOMETHING FOR YOU!!"

Yes, that's exactly how it went down.

01-17-2012, 09:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	Toys for home alone? Today was the first time I had to leave Kopper at home for more than 5 or 6 hours. He had a grand old time with a roll of paper towels and when I came home I thought it had snowed. I'll crate him if I have to but to be fair, he's an intelligent, active, young dog and he doesn't have much in the way of toys besides his balls and one bone. I'd like to try leaving him with some engaging toys before I try crating him. Does anyone know of any toys that: a) are entertaining b) are safe to be played with unsupervised (so nothing with stuffing or small pieces that can come off and get swallowed) c) doesn't dispense food. Him and Rocky are loose together and I don't want fights breaking out over food. I'm thinking of maybe a jolly ball? Kongs are only entertaining to my dogs when they're stuffed so that's out. Any other suggestions? __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

01-17-2012, 09:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I leave a toy basket out with lots of choices(no stuffies) for my three, but I really think they just sleep when I'm gone. My dogs have never destroyed things, and I can leave antlers/nylabones out with out resource guarding. They probably would guard more with humans present anyway. I think it depends on the dog....maybe a crate with a nice stuffed kong would be better than trying to find the perfect toy, especially if they are prone to destructive behaviors. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-17-2012, 10:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	Cuz balls, thick rubber football, fleece tugs(karlo liked to chew these, though), Elk antlers, holee roller/nylabones. Onyx is a bit bully with Kacie so I worried about higher value chews unsupervised. So far so good. LIke I posted, I think they value things more when their humans are around. Karlo will take a ball and a tug and play with both on his own. Funny to watch him do that. The only time he's ever done anything wrong was getting into a houseplant and digging out the annuals planted at the base of the plant. I had watered it that morning, so the fresh soil smell must have been too much for him! It was mid winter, he was about 10-11 mos old and had been free from crating since 7 months. Oh, and one of my lovebirds escaped his cage, I came home to feathers and no mojo...they ate poor mojo:'( __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-17-2012, 10:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,215	Oh poor Mojo! __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

01-17-2012, 10:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I know, he was the sweetest thing, but would escape if he could. I thought the dogs got a down pillow, but then looked at the coloring of the feathers. MoJo squeezed out of his door. A violet fischers lovebird...very uncommon, and we handfed him from 2 weeks of age. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-17-2012, 10:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheActuary Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 118	Oh god... RIP Mojo

01-17-2012, 10:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	I'm sorry about Mojo and it seems untimely to post this, but-- I laughed out loud at the "snowed" comment. I can only imagine. Did he greet you all happy and proud like "LOOK! I DID SOMETHING FOR YOU!!"

01-17-2012, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
RocketDog Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,268	Awww, that is sad. Our lab used to let DD's parakeet ride on his back. About 2 months ago, we had the parakeet out to let Rocket see him, from a few feet away and while we held him, and the dang bird flew and landed on Rocket's nose. He was so surprised he just sat there. I was like "OH SH*T" and quickly stuck my finger out and made the bird hop back on and put him in his cage. Whew. I don't know that Rocket would intentionally kill it, but instinct is instinct, and how horrid would that have been in front of my kids?

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