foraging for food

[lyn.lamanna]

What do you think about making dogs work for their food? i.e. foraging mats, treat dispensers or dishes that require dogs think to get their dinner. Is there any value to these products? If so is there one that you prefer over another?

[JMFS]

Howdy! I'm not the expert, but my dogs love the Find It game, even old arthritic Abbi. Abbi does great with treats rolled up in a blanket as she's easy on them and therefore they remain intact. Gertie takes her meals out of an Orbee Tuff and it's become her favorite dispenser. She started with the Kong Wobbler and she still enjoys that, but we've packed up some boxes and so there's limited room for her to move that around these days. I've been known to wet her food, stuff it in her regular Kong and freeze it. Sometimes with peanut butter or yogurt to really stick it all together. Keeps her busy for quite some time! Momo loves to sniff his food out in the yard. He doesn't get toys because he's a resource guarder, but he seems content with the yard being an oversized snuffle mat. When I had more room I'd hide Gertie's food in little piles around the room that's now filled with boxes. All three dogs enjoy the Nina Ottosson toys. Momo has a slow feed bowl that everyone thinks is the craziest thing they've ever seen. I don't see what the fuss is about, it's just a plastic bowl with walls that create a flower design so he has to work his food out from between the walls. There are numerous examples of these bowls on Amazon and Chewy.com.

 

The short of it - it's a great way to stimulate, exercise, and tire their minds and it's often encouraged around here - so much so that it's offered as part of a solution to many issues which occur as a result of boredom. In my household there are no free meals - all require work! Even the cat has to sit before I'll pour his food. That's about all one can expect from a cat. Abbi is an exception for her regular meals - we have to cajole her into eating those and I'm not above putting them in the shape of a smiley face. Astonishingly, it actually works. :rolleyes: Spoiled. Princess.

[lyn.lamanna]

Thank you! We play a lot of games here too and Find It! is a favorite. But this foraging thing has really caught my interest and it sounds like it will catch theirs also. Thank you for the recommendations. I had looked at the Nina Ottosson toys but never believe the reviews on Amazon so this is good to hear.

[JMFS]

The thing about the Nina Ottosson toys is that many (I'd even venture to say Most) folks think they can load the game up and walk away as if it's a dog sitter. I made that mistake with Momo's first game long long ago. Live and learn! Then these people end up with a destroyed toy and post a bad review. Positive reviews come from people with dogs who either don't tear toys up (Abbi) or dogs who are supervised during play (Gertie and Momo). If I walked away Gertie would absolutely, and gleefully, destroy the plastic bones. It might take her a while to build up to it, but it would happen - I have one defunct plastic bone as proof, lol. Mo would have when he was younger but he's Finally beginning to mellow a tiny bit at 8½ years. He Might leave it alone after getting the treats out now, but before he'd have destroyed it without a second thought.

 

Here's how it went for us with the Level 1 toy the first time:

 

 

• Momo: Systematically picked up each bone and set it aside, until that last one that got away from him and broke his attention. Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't flip the entire game over with his paw to get it all in one fell swoop.:
  
  
• Gertie: Mostly doghandled the thing with her paws and yipped at it a couple times when she couldn't get the treats. Funny thing is, she's the most delicate of our three pooches when taking food from our hands and has yet to touch me with her teeth:
  
  
• Abbi: No video of her. She pushed the bones aside with her long nose and lost interest a couple times out of frustration, but with encouragement she caught on and got excited when it was her turn. She struggles more than the bigger dogs, but her games are usually less than 90 seconds even with the arthritis. Gertie and Momo finish it in less than 45 seconds now.
  

 

The Level 2 toy is the Dog Tornado. That's the one that has 3 different levels that spin and there are numerous options to make it easier or more difficult. Gertie and Mo do great with it, Abbi hasn't been tested. This one takes them quite a bit more time.

 

And then I found this page while I was looking up the second toy. I thought it had interesting ideas:

 

https://www.nina-ottosson.com/news-tips/tips-tricks/

 

Two negatives I have to say about the toys are:

 

1. Even though my dogs aren't drooly like say, a bulldog, the toys get slimed. Well and truly slimed. Especially by Momo - he leaves it looking like an oil spill. That means resetting the game is dirty work.

2. They're noisy. We have wood floors and the racket the dogs make is akin to a construction site. Especially Gertie since she doghandles it.

 

On carpet it will be less noisy, but if your dogs slobber then your carpet is likely to suffer. That's easily remedied by putting down a blanket or mat, though.

[lyn.lamanna]

Your YouTube videos are great! Gertie looks enough like my son's dog to be a litter mate! They both look like pretty happy dogs.

 

Have you had Momo's blood drawn for a thyroid test? I used to work in the veterinary field and if he is that restless maybe it has an underlying medical cause. Just an idea I am throwing out there.

 

Thank you for the link to Nina-Ottoson's site. I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.

[Adrienne Farricelli]

What do you think about making dogs work for their food? i.e. foraging mats, treat dispensers or dishes that require dogs think to get their dinner. Is there any value to these products? If so is there one that you prefer over another?

 

Providing mental enrichment is the core of the brain training for dogs course. We want to provide our dogs with mental stimulation and this includes plenty of foraging opportunities. You can accomplish this through interactive toys, food puzzles and several of the brain games outlined in the course.

 

It was once thought that a puppy's sensitive period (a time when puppies are more responsive to certain stimuli and more receptive to learn particular skills) was a window of time that permanently "shut close" once the time frame has elapsed, but the truth is, dogs are always in a learning state. Even when they are sleeping, they are absorbing what they learned. And this includes old dogs too. In fact, you can teach an old dog new tricks, it just might take a little longer. A dog's brain never stops changing and adjusting. By providing puzzles, training new skills and creating mental challenges, new neural connections take place (thanks to the neuroplasticity of the brain).

 

Teaching a dog a new trick or a new skill and providing environmental enrichment is very beneficial to our canine companions. It is an essential component of care and has a positive effect on their welfare and well-being. Dog breeders are starting to acknowledge the importance of this and are beginning to challenge their pups when young in their care so to produce more stable-minded and confident pups.

 

There are many toys and puzzles on the market nowadays. Einstein still loves to play the muffin tin game (it's in the brain training course) and he loves his Kong Wobbler. I like the Kong Wobbler because of its durability (it has survived a large number of dogs with only some teeth scratches here and there) and its unpredictable movements. Like Jennifer pointed out, durability to a great extent is based on owner supervision considering that dogs may be prone to destroy these toys if not supervised.

[JMFS]

Banfield draws his blood annually and nothing odd has turned up thus far. He's always been hyper. He's a Spitz / Husky / Spaniel mix, all three are energetic and smart. Pair that with the Husky's endurance and you have a Momo. :D The funny thing is Mo was sleeping against a plastic pool the day I adopted him. His brother and sister were jumping on the pen, each other, other puppies, hopping up to greet people, wiggling to and fro, nipping, licking and pouncing anything that moved or didn't. To think I got the calm one of the bunch!

 

I may or may not have fostered his perpetual energy (I Totally did). :o When I was also younger and had more energy, as well as less aches and pains, we would wrestle, run around wildly, chase each other, and I fully and wholeheartedly supported his zoomies. When I got home, rather than piddling around a bit before letting him out of the crate, I'd greet him enthusiastically, fling the crate open and playfully smack him on the tush, which sent him into a whirlwind around the house. Ah, had I only known then what I know now! He's still the best trained of the three pups and it's apparent when he and Gertie are together. I'll call them in and Mo will stop in his tracks (okay, slide to a stop) and look at me. Gertie is off in the woods, pretending to be utterly oblivious. In fact, I've sent Mo after her to herd her in to me several times. It's hit or miss, he's got about a 65% success rate. The other times they end up chasing each other again.

 

My Behaviorist said several times each session that Momo needed a job. She suggested flyball but I don't have the time (and they do it early - I'm Not a morning person), though he'd dominate at it. She was going to borrow him so she could learn more about it herself, and how to handle, but then she got an offer she couldn't refuse and back to the Ivory Coast she went. I have been trying to devise a cart that he can pull to help me in the yard, kind of going with the Husky thing. The husband thinks I'm bonkers so he hasn't built one for me, yet. Maybe this Christmas will be the one! :D Mo is only 35'ish pounds so it would be small stuff, but I think he'd dig it. Or, perhaps the husband will finally bring home the 1" pvc pipe I've been asking for so I can set up an agility course! We have plenty of scraps around our job sites and he's built some of my other crazy ideas with it so I'll keep trying. Oooh, think of the foraging games we could create with different sizes of pvc pipe! If he asks why all our houses are missing toilet flanges it Wasn't me!

 

Gertie is The happy-go-lucky dog. She has not a care in the world . . . except loud noises. She's not fond of those. Otherwise she is like furry Valium - complete opposite of Mo. She is as content to chill with me in the office as she is to dive into the pool or run around like a maniac with Momo. I sent an update letter to the Humane Society and told them I'd be happy to set up a playdate with her brother who was adopted the day we went to look at dogs. Heck, I'd adopt him if his family ever had to give him up.

 

Okay, that was Way more information than necessary, as usual. Can't help myself sometimes - dogs are just too good Not to talk about!

[lyn.lamanna]

I have been away from the forum and am just now reading this post. Thank you so much for responding. I have ordered a few things from Amazon. I have four dogs and I feel like they need more stimulation than I give them sometimes. I am enjoying looking over the course and have tried some things with success. So thank you for that too! My biggest challenge is going to be to get them to respond in a group but I am working with them one on one for now. Baby steps!

[lyn.lamanna]

Providing mental enrichment is the core of the brain training for dogs course. We want to provide our dogs with mental stimulation and this includes plenty of foraging opportunities. You can accomplish this through interactive toys, food puzzles and several of the brain games outlined in the course.

 

It was once thought that a puppy's sensitive period (a time when puppies are more responsive to certain stimuli and more receptive to learn particular skills) was a window of time that permanently "shut close" once the time frame has elapsed, but the truth is, dogs are always in a learning state. Even when they are sleeping, they are absorbing what they learned. And this includes old dogs too. In fact, you can teach an old dog new tricks, it just might take a little longer. A dog's brain never stops changing and adjusting. By providing puzzles, training new skills and creating mental challenges, new neural connections take place (thanks to the neuroplasticity of the brain).

 

Teaching a dog a new trick or a new skill and providing environmental enrichment is very beneficial to our canine companions. It is an essential component of care and has a positive effect on their welfare and well-being. Dog breeders are starting to acknowledge the importance of this and are beginning to challenge their pups when young in their care so to produce more stable-minded and confident pups.

 

There are many toys and puzzles on the market nowadays. Einstein still loves to play the muffin tin game (it's in the brain training course) and he loves his Kong Wobbler. I like the Kong Wobbler because of its durability (it has survived a large number of dogs with only some teeth scratches here and there) and its unpredictable movements. Like Jennifer pointed out, durability to a great extent is based on owner supervision considering that dogs may be prone to destroy these toys if not supervised.

 

I have been away from the forum and am just now reading this post. Thank you so much for responding. I have ordered a few things from Amazon. I have four dogs and I feel like they need more stimulation than I give them sometimes. I am enjoying looking over the course and have tried some things with success. So thank you for that too! My biggest challenge is going to be to get them to respond in a group but I am working with them one on one for now. Baby steps!

[lyn.lamanna]

Banfield draws his blood annually and nothing odd has turned up thus far. He's always been hyper. He's a Spitz / Husky / Spaniel mix, all three are energetic and smart. Pair that with the Husky's endurance and you have a Momo. :D The funny thing is Mo was sleeping against a plastic pool the day I adopted him. His brother and sister were jumping on the pen, each other, other puppies, hopping up to greet people, wiggling to and fro, nipping, licking and pouncing anything that moved or didn't. To think I got the calm one of the bunch!

 

I may or may not have fostered his perpetual energy (I Totally did). :o When I was also younger and had more energy, as well as less aches and pains, we would wrestle, run around wildly, chase each other, and I fully and wholeheartedly supported his zoomies. When I got home, rather than piddling around a bit before letting him out of the crate, I'd greet him enthusiastically, fling the crate open and playfully smack him on the tush, which sent him into a whirlwind around the house. Ah, had I only known then what I know now! He's still the best trained of the three pups and it's apparent when he and Gertie are together. I'll call them in and Mo will stop in his tracks (okay, slide to a stop) and look at me. Gertie is off in the woods, pretending to be utterly oblivious. In fact, I've sent Mo after her to herd her in to me several times. It's hit or miss, he's got about a 65% success rate. The other times they end up chasing each other again.

 

My Behaviorist said several times each session that Momo needed a job. She suggested flyball but I don't have the time (and they do it early - I'm Not a morning person), though he'd dominate at it. She was going to borrow him so she could learn more about it herself, and how to handle, but then she got an offer she couldn't refuse and back to the Ivory Coast she went. I have been trying to devise a cart that he can pull to help me in the yard, kind of going with the Husky thing. The husband thinks I'm bonkers so he hasn't built one for me, yet. Maybe this Christmas will be the one! :D Mo is only 35'ish pounds so it would be small stuff, but I think he'd dig it. Or, perhaps the husband will finally bring home the 1" pvc pipe I've been asking for so I can set up an agility course! We have plenty of scraps around our job sites and he's built some of my other crazy ideas with it so I'll keep trying. Oooh, think of the foraging games we could create with different sizes of pvc pipe! If he asks why all our houses are missing toilet flanges it Wasn't me!

 

Gertie is The happy-go-lucky dog. She has not a care in the world . . . except loud noises. She's not fond of those. Otherwise she is like furry Valium - complete opposite of Mo. She is as content to chill with me in the office as she is to dive into the pool or run around like a maniac with Momo. I sent an update letter to the Humane Society and told them I'd be happy to set up a playdate with her brother who was adopted the day we went to look at dogs. Heck, I'd adopt him if his family ever had to give him up.

 

Okay, that was Way more information than necessary, as usual. Can't help myself sometimes - dogs are just too good Not to talk about!

 

I had a feeling you were probably already on the thyroid thing but I figured it couldn't hurt to throw it out there. :)

 

Your dogs sound lovely and lively! I have four. They all come from bad beginnings. I foster and all four are fails. If I adopt a dog out and they come back they are forever mine. Since the inn is full fostering is on hold for now. I still do an overnight, (dog needs to be safe), thing but that is it.

 

Thank you for all your information and don't worry about TMI. When it comes to dog I totally get it.

[JMFS]

Four is the max I think I'd go as well. We've been up to three and I manage it, but I think four might stretch me thin. If I didn't have to work and could dedicate all my time to pups And didn't want to travel (I don't really, but we get a free trip each year and I'm not turning That down!) I would have many more. I read that Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have Fifteen! I can see her being a dog person - she's got the energy for it. It's not the training or the loving, it's the Cleaning. Oh em gee the Cleaning! We have very sandy soil and the dogs and humans track it in by the pound. I can't Stand sand - the grittiness, yuck, lol. I took the shedding blade to Mo today and we had fluffy white undercoat covering the back yard. He doesn't look like a Husky, but when I start shedding him it's there. At least the birds will have solid comfy nests this year! He was so bad I could see tufts of hair poking out and I could pull them out effortlessly. I really fell behind with the poor guy, but he's all fixed up now. Handsome as ever!

 

I give a shot at convincing the husband to foster once in a while. So far he's held steadfast, dangit. I think it's an honorable and selfless thing to do. Now you've got me curious since he Does intend to have us retire in the next 5 years so I'll need something to do! Is that a rule specific to the shelter you foster for about the returns, or is that usual? We saw someone bringing a dog back the day we adopted Gertie. The girl behind the counter shook her head and said, "we're taking more in than we're adopting out." I thought about that a month later and wrote them a letter with an update on Gertrude and a small donation to tell them if Gertie's brother ever came back I'd take him in a heartbeat! He looks just like her and had the same disposition so I seriously doubt he was going back, but I had to try. :D

[lyn.lamanna]

Four is the max I think I'd go as well.:D

 

No this is my policy. I have been doing this on my own for years. I worked for a vet which is how it all started with dogs and cats. Then I switched careers to dog grooming because veterinary services became too heartbreaking. The last dog I took off of Craigslist, (free to a good home... very bad idea to post a dog that way), and he was so ill I did ask a local rescue for help. They were wonderful and I got him all better and adopted him out. But her dog attacked him and the adopter did not feel up to the task of trying to work out the logistics of it all. He was not hurt but he did not want to stay there I could tell. The reason I say that is because he hates to ride in the truck because he gets sick, (or used to we worked that out), and when I came to get him he was so happy to see me! and jumped right in the truck with no urging from me. He rode all the way home with his big ol' paw on my arm. He would not let me NOT touch him. He had two overnighters with the adopter before we gave it a shot and no one saw that coming. The dogs seemed to get along and play well so I feel like it could have been worked out over time but everyone has their threshold of what they can and cannot manage.

 

Over the years though I have found quite a few dogs good homes and a few have ended up here. This is my last batch though as I just turned 65 and I don't want to have to worry about dogs going in the shelter if something happens to me. As it stands now they all have a place to be if I go before they do but I cannot add anymore.

[JMFS]

Aw, what a cute crew! And happy to pose together for a family picture. :) You're thoughtful to have planned for their future. I still don't know what my dad did with my grandmother's dog - she was 78 but her passing was still unexpected as she was healthy, but a car accident that took her sooner than we were ready for. I was warned about "free to a good home" when my cat had kittens (because I was not yet a responsible animal guardian). I was told to put at least a $10 fee for each kitten to keep sickos away, and I've shared that with as many people as will listen. When I found adopters I "waived" the fee and explained why there was a fee to begin with. Spread the word! The four kittens went to two good families with adorable kiddos. And I got my cats spayed and neutered (I don't only preach, I try to learn, too!).

 

I understand the adopter's position about not feeling up to the task. I went 8 years with Momo being food aggressive and it was stressful. I was finally in a position to have a Behaviorist come help us and we've got a new lease on life. Up until that point, though, there were a couple times when I thought I couldn't do it any more. Thankfully, I'm stubborn and am strongly opposed to quitting just because something is difficult (thanks, Dad, for always telling me there are no quitters in this family, haha).

 

There's a Humane Society adoption event at Petsmart this weekend and I keep urging my husband to go. I want to take Gertie so "Kat" can see how happy this pooch is. Kat was not going to let us take Gertie because I said Gertrude was going to be primarily outside with Momo and shelters don't like that answer; however, I'm a firm believer in honesty so I told the truth. (Turns out Gertie is a Great inside dog and she's my office buddy, though she Wishes she could be outside more.) Kat had made up her mind before even seeing our yard. With the screened in pool. And tons of trees. And 1.3 fenced acres . . .. Another worker had a good feeling about us and I showed him video of our yard so he came to our house for the assessment before Kat could. So, yes, I want to be a wee petty and gloat by showing her how much Gertrude has changed since coming home with us. We see Kat often at the grocery store, but she doesn't recognize us. I'd like to change that, lol. I'm a wee embarrassed at my pettiness, but apparently that situation really stuck in my craw and I haven't reached closure! :D The first step is recognition, right?

 

My primary motive, though, involves a 3-yr old Dachshund they have for adoption, and the husband will only accept a Dachshund for our next addition (ugh). I'm not a fan of the breed, but his two Dachshunds didn't grow up with me and were largely untrained so I'm open to trying One more. Brownie passed a few years ago and Abbi is getting up there in years so I'd like to have another one trained and acclimated before Abbi passes because she helped him greatly through Brownie's passing. Plus, it would feel too still and empty in the house with only Gertie inside. Momo comes in at night until the weather is warmer - in the warm months he's our critter control. We get armadillos, raccoons, opossums, and moles, and Mo keeps them all out of our yard. Bonus - he couldn't be happier about it. He spent his first 3 years mostly crated while I was at work so he enjoys the heck out of his outdoor life.