Reddit mentions: The best dog chew toys

I'm not entirely sure why the cooing at toys would work. I feel like this is just anthropomorphizing the toy and your dog's "understanding" of the situation. If it is actually working for you, it's probably the fact that you are taking away the toy from her, letting her settle, and then returning it when her energy level/fixation are more in check. The "gentle" cue is definitely nice to teach, but it is probably working due to your addition/subtraction of reinforcer. That being said, "gentle" is a tough thing to teach some high energy dogs so props to you.

Also, the exercise thing is a great point. If you exhaust your pup with a good run or hour at the park they will be far less destructive in the house. Physical stimulation and mental stimulation need to go hand in hand, and one should not replace the other.

Just a point to bring up: if your (OP's) dog is chewing things like wires, socks, etc. he probably has a lot of opportunity to do so. How are you managing his environment - supervision levels, puppy-proofing, movement throughout the house, restriction when unsupervised (crating), etc? You need to minimize or eliminate as many possibilities for your dog to "mess up" as possible and set them up for success. For example, make sure he is in "puppy proofed" rooms with all foreign objects picked up off the floor and is provided with appropriate outlets for his energy (Kongs, stuffed bones, etc). A six month old puppy probably should not have free run of the house just yet, especially since he is most likely still teething and is still learning appropriate outlets for chewing. Slowly increase his freedom once he has learned these things. Start by keeping him in one or two rooms, gated off, and slowly increase his freedom once he learns more appropriate behaviors and has matured a bit more. Am I suggesting condemning your dog to a room for life? Absolutely not. You just have to manage his environment as much as possible and eliminate possibilities for him to fail.

It would also be worth investing in some brain toys to drain more energy, such as Wobble Kongs, Busy Buddy feeders, Buster Food Cubes, etc. In fact, feeding his meals exclusively out of these toys rather than a bowl would be a great opportunity to mentally stimulate him and drain more energy. Just make sure you supervise him as some of these toys could definitely be torn up if left unattended.

Just some food for thought. Hope you found this helpful! :)

Edit: Some products I've found helpful.

Brain toys for feeding:

• Kong Wobbler for meal times. Pretty durable and my guy can't figure out how to open it. Loves eating out of this thing, even if it was simple for him to figure out. My lab took weeks to get it though. Regardless, great brain-toy.
  
  
• Buster food cube for dispensing. Pretty difficult to figure out.
  
  
• Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble egg: My guys LOVE this, although the plastic just cracked on the inside after a few months. Can definitely be torn apart if left alone but super stimulating and engaging. Worth it!
  
  
• Tug a Jug for keeping them busy when you need to do something else. Durable bottle that gets scratched up. Ours is a few months in and still kicking.
  
  Chew toys:
  
  
• Kong XL for stuffing with RB, wet food, boiled chicken, etc. Strong than the regular red Kongs. Can also be frozen which increases the difficulty and time needed to get the food inside. have several I rotate out and they are basically the same shape as the day I bought them, which is impressive as my pup is a monster chewer.
  
  
• Filled thigh bones are pretty nice. They last as a while and can be rinsed and restuffed if the bone is still in good shape. Watch out, though - some brands are more prone to cracking and splintering while others last for ever. Trial and error basis. I can't remember the brand I use that works well but it's carried at my local Farmer Supply store (I find the bones and toys at these places to generally be better quality and also cheaper than chain pet stores).
  
  
• Meaty thigh bones are marrow filled and still have some "meat" on the exterior. They tend to last longer than the washed filled variety (above) and are "stinkier" and (I would imagine?) tastier. My guys prefer these to the plain bones since there are more goodies to get at. Downside is that they are a little stinkier at first and can possibly leave a mess, so make sure the dog is eating it on a towel.
  
  
• Bully sticks! Make sure they are real beef tendons though. Many companies make pressed rawhide varieties to resemble the real tendons but rawhide is, IMO, less safe for dogs. Last a while and smell like bacon but made my stomach a little queasy. Dogs go nuts for them though.
  
  
• Jolly Ball - not necessarily a chew toy but lasts a long time. Their teeth can penetrate the ball but the design is such that the ball doesn't pop. I had the variety with the rope that went through the center. The rope came off pretty quickly but the ball itself is still kicking. It is challenging to pick it up when playing fetch so he is less interested in tearing it to pieces than retrieving. It's poked through with holes but is the only ball that has lasted this long. Still going. Maybe worth checking out.

Oh Lordy I have a ton...I'll try to categorize them...

Best for Puppies
These are all easy toys that dispense a lot of kibble with very little movement. Perfect for baby puppies or really low-confidence dogs. These can also be upgraded in difficulty later by stuffing them with wet food and freezing, or stuffing with a large, hard to extract treat (like a slice of lunchmeat).

• PetSafe Busy Buddy Twist 'n Treat...total pain in the ass to fill if you put more than half a cup of food in it, but it's a great "intro to puzzle toys" for a dog that has never had to work for food before. Also very easy to clean.
  
• Soda Pup Coffee Cup...representative of a whole genre of "rubber toys with large holes" that make great easy kibble toys or challenging stuff and freeze toys. Some other toys in this genre are the Kong and the West Paw Toppl. I like the Soda Pup ones best because they have higher capacity and a flat bottom.
  
• Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Snoop...pretty easy by itself with kibble, can be made more challenging by stuffing a Mazee ball in the large hole.
  
• Plastic Milk Jug...or a water bottle, raid your recycling bin. You'll have to supervise to make sure your puppy doesn't shred and eat the jug, but it's a relatively easy and fun (and free) enrichment item. Another puzzle toy you may find in your recycling bin is a cardboard box filled with paper balls. Sprinkle some treats in the box, fill with the balls, and let your dog forage around in your DIY ball pit.
  
  Easy Rollers
  These basically just dispense kibble by rolling. Not particularly complex, but good for the dog that prefers to solve puzzles by brute force.
  
  
• IQ Treat Ball...this toy takes the longest to empty out of all my toys, but it is way too freaking small and loud as hell on my hardwood at 6am. Really easy to fill and clean though, as it comes completely apart.
  
• Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball...a lot quieter but it empties faster and isn't as easy to fill (or clean).
  
• Kruuse Buster Cube...this one is also ungodly loud, but it takes a good while to empty despite the fairly consistent payoff per roll. It's a cube (but they also make a spherical one) and the insides have a few baffles to keep kibble from just falling out.
  
  Wobblers
  These require a more finessed rolling motion to empty, so they're the next step up from just batting a toy around.
  
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble...more of a wobbler/roller hybrid. Surprisingly time-consuming for how huge the holes are, and it gets an A+ for filling and cleaning. Unfortunately my GSD knows how to unscrew it, so it's not much of a challenge for him.
  
• Starmark Bob-A-Lot...lots of ways to adjust the difficulty on this one, which is nice. I had a foster chew the yellow piece off of mine, but it still works well.
  
• Kong Wobbler...pretty standard toy, I actually do not have one of these but I know a lot of people that like them. They're available at big box pet stores which is nice.
  
• Nina Ottosson Pyramid...very similar to the Kong Wobbler, but the hole is in a more difficult location. Good toy but the bottom could use more counterweighting for the wobble action.
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Magic Mushroom...really good wobble action, but for some reason it's common for dogs to try and chuck this one down the stairs and break it. I've heard of a few dogs doing this, including my GSD. I have no idea what about this toy screams "fling me down the stairs!"
  
  Complex Action Toys
  These need movement in more than one direction (or very specific movement) to get kibble out of, which makes them pretty challenging.
  
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-a-Jug...this toy is hard to learn but easy to master. Once your dog figures out the mechanism it doesn't last long. Also that rope gets SUPER GROSS.
  
• Nina Ottosson Board Games...I don't personally have any of these because my dogs cannot be trusted with small parts, but I've heard people say good things about them.
  
• Trixie Mad Scientist...this toy is cool because the dog has to learn to spin the tubes slowly or centripetal acceleration holds the food in. Good exercise in impulse control. I had a DIY one for awhile but my dogs decided to brute force this toy.
  
  Soothing, Low Energy Toys
  Along with the stuff n' freeze toys, these are good for dogs on crate rest or who need some extra help relaxing before bed.
  
  
• Snuffle Mat...great toy for activating a dog's foraging instincts and calming their minds. This is a good DIY project, or you can get extra lazy and chuck a bunch of food into the grass for nature's puzzle toy.
  
• HyperPet Lickimat...my cats eat their wet food from the orange kind ("buddy"), and my dogs use the green kind ("soother") with some PB or cheese as a distraction during grooming. You can spread a thin layer of something tasty on them and freeze for a long-lasting treat that promotes the calming behavior of licking.
  
  
  My dogs (and cats!) eat all their food out of puzzles so I am constantly on the lookout for new challenges! I'd be happy to provide more details on any of the toys I have, or buy and review any toys people have been wondering about :)
  EDIT: btw this Jackson Galaxy Asteroid is my favorite cat puzzle toy. They really need to make one for dogs because it is kinda quirky with its bounciness and super quiet.

I'm just going to start listing off puzzle toys that I like since I don't know which ones you'd used before.
Kong toys are excellent ways to stimulate using food. You can also try food puzzles, such as the IQ Ball or Trixie Pet products. Snuff mats can also be helpful, if your dog likes to "forage" for food.

Licking and chewing can also relieve stress. There's a lick mat that I recently found that my pups really love. You can put something like peanut butter or yogurt on it, freeze it, and my dogs go at it for 30 minutes. For chewing, you can look at variety of different things, such a bully sticks, chew toys, Himalayan dog chews, etc. My dogs like all of the above, but the longest lasting chews for them are Benebones.

Search high and low for these types of toys and puzzles. You can often find discounted pet toys at Marshalls or Ross, if you have these types of stores near you. I know they can be kind of expensive, but a good brand will last forever, and for my dogs, they've been great investments!

You can also make your own games, if you'd rather not purchase toys. Hide treats under plastic cups and tell Micah to "go find!" You can play hide-and-go-seek around the home. For a DIY toy, put treats in a muffin tin and cover each tin with a tennis ball for him to remove. If he is comfortable with these in the house, you can take these types of games outside, too.

Beyond just toys and physical things you can buy to help stimulate and relieve stress, working with your dog can only help. This means basic obedience training. I highly recommend using a clicker-- dogs learn very well when they know exactly what behaviors you want of them.

The benefits of working with your dog? Mental exercise can be as satisfying and grueling at physical exercise -- I'm not saying that it's a substitute for the physical stuff, but it can certainly play part of your dog's overall health. Working with your dog, teaching him basic obedience, and perhaps moving onto some fun tricks will not only turn the gears in Micah's head and give you more of a foundation to work with him in the presence of other dogs, but obedience builds confidence. You're teaching Micah that he has other behaviors he can present in XYZ situation aside from reactivity. It's always important that dogs understand they have a choice, and the choices they make have consequences. In Micah's case, he can get upset at other dogs and bark his head off or he can choose to sit with you and get tasty treats for "watch me" or "shake" or "lie down" or whatever it is you ask of him. One is far more pleasant for both you and him than the other.

You have to work up to these ideal behaviors, of course, but you have to start somewhere! You can google and search on Youtube for basic cues and tricks to teach him. There are some very comprehensive Youtube videos out there that will teach you step by step and make it fun for both you and Micah. Here are some common ones: sit, lie down, watch me, touch, shake, take a bow, rollover, play dead, spin around.

As for physical exercise, you're going to have to find something that works for you, I'm afraid. If you don't have a backyard and are limited on space in the home, you might have to get creative. This might mean taking a jog after dark when no one else walks their dog, assuming you live in a safe neighborhood -- although, with a dog as big as Micah, someone would have to be an idiot to do you harm. You might resort to a flirt pole, fetch, or frisbee in a trusted friend or neighbor's yard. Although kind of pricey, Micah might take to agility training or some other dog sport/activity. You could also engage him in an intense game of fetch/tug if you can find some room in your home.

I can almost guarantee that if Micah gets the energy outlet that his husky/shepherd heart and brain need, he'll be easier to manage and train with regards to reactivity.

I know this is a lot of information. I have more if you want it. There is always hope, and Micah really is lucky to have found you. He will get better in time!

The fact is, if you want a well behaved dog, you MUST make time to train him, exercise him, and socialize him. If you want things to change, why are you depending on your girlfriend? Talk to her, take things into your own hands if needs be, but you if you're living together and it's a committed relationship, you need to take on training this dog together. Here are a few pieces of suggestions/advice:

• It sounds like you are not being consistent. Pick training techniques and stay with them. It will work.
  
• I used two techniques when teaching my dog to walk: I held treats in front of him and after a few steps walking by my side without pulling I gave him the treat. Gradually, over a long amount of time (weeks), I lengthened the amount of area we covered before a treat. The second technique I used was completely stopping when the dog pulled or would not follow OR walking the complete other direction if the dog would not follow. He quickly got the picture. Changing tactics so many times is not helping him, or even communicating your message to him, but probably traumatizing him.
  
• He is a small dog, and you appear huge towering over him. Physical intimidation does not work very well, neither does a shock collar.
  
• A dachsund shouldn't be kept outside. Keep his nails trimmed and the floor should be fine. If he struggles with nail clippings, just start carrying the clippers out at random times without using them. When he acts calm around them, give him a lot of praise and a lot of treats. Eventually, gradually move to clippings. If you don't want to do this, pay a groomer to do it.
  
• A dog is not a baby. But, like a baby, a dog ill grow up to be a brat if completely spoiled. A dog needs training, routine, and structure. If there isn't, OF COURSE he is just going to do what his instincts tell him to do. Wouldn't you?
  
• With the dominance, you need to socialize him OFTEN. Take him to a dog park or a park where lots of people walk their dogs often at least once a week, if not more. Give him an amazing treat (maybe pieces of a hot dog) when he behaves and interacts in a positive manner with other dogs or humans. This should work. I also HIGHLY SUGGEST obedience classes. I paid $70 for 6 weeks when my dog was a puppy, and it was an excellent decision.
  
• You and your gf MUST make time to exercise him. The dachsund is a small breed, and also a hound bread to hunt, so it has a lot of energy and is bread to chase things. He NEEDS exercise, and exercise does not equal running around the yard always.
  
• Get some toys that will stimulate him. I suggest a Kong toy with stuffing treats and a Kong autofeeder. My dog loves these. Often, If I know I will have a long day at work, I'll fill a Kong with treats and kibble, then fill in the ending with peanut butter, and freeze it over night. I give it to him the next day as I leave, as well as about a cup of food in his autofeeder. Not only does this give him something to do while I'm gone, but it stimulates his mind and also takes his mind off of the fact that I am leaving for the day, which for a lot of dogs is a big issue. This might also help with the noises he makes. He might just be bored and he might need something constructive to do. Just running around the yard with a few random toys to chew on doesn't always do it. A nylabone to chew on probably wouldn't hurt, either.
  
• With the noise, IGNORE IT. DO NOT RESPOND TO IT IN ANYWAY. He is doing it to get attention. When you give it to him, whether it be positive, negative, or neutral, this reinforces his will to make the noise. It might be hard, but you have to do it, and it might take a long, long time. It took a long time when I got my dog for him to stop whining every night in his crate, but I had to ignore it. If I would have given in, he would never have accepted his crate. GIVE HIM ATTENTION FOR POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, NOT NEGATIVE.
  
• If your girlfriend really cares about this dog, and you care about her, and I'm hoping you somewhat care about the dog, you need to sit down with her and come up with a plan of action that you both commit to. If you follow a steady routine of structure and training, you will see improvement. The key is ROUTINE. It may take months and months, but you will see a possitive improvement, TRUST ME.
  
• If you can't see yourself and your girlfriend doing these things, PLEASE find an owner who will. The dog deserves a good life, and it's not right that he lives this way if you feel that you don't have enough time to train him. PLEASE find an owner if you can't. There is no shame in it. Just make sure you find a GOOD owner, preferably with experience. You could call vets, shelters, etc, to help you find someone.
  
  Here are some links to some of the toys I mention:
  
  
• Kong toy
  
  
• Kong treats
  
  
• Kong autofeeder
  
  
• Nylabone
  
  
  I hope this helps, you can PM me if you have anymore questions.
  

I've posted this before, and it's a great list! Originally posted by u/manatee1010 and I have tried several:

I keep this list of brain toy links handy to send to friends who get dogs. It's getting pretty long...

Toys that get stuffed with food and frozen:

• Kong Classic (15-20 minutes) (it sounds like Watson is lukewarm toward this… have you tried mixing a spoonful of canned food in with some kibble and freezing it?
  
  
• Zogoflex Toppl Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Toy (this can be a stand-alone toy, or if you get a big one and little one they can fit together and dispense kibble) (15-20 minutes)
  
  
• Starmark Pickle Pocket (my big dog really likes this one… we put cheese in it) (20-25 minutes)
  
  Kibble dispensing toys, hard material (good for carpeted areas)
  
  
• Bob-A-Lot (~10 minutes… this one can be adjusted to make it harder)
  
  
• Tug-A-Jug (10-30 minutes, depending on the dog)
  
  
• Magic Mushroom (10-30 minutes, depending on the dog)
  
  
• Kong Wobbler (~5-10 minutes)
  
  
• IQ Treat Ball (~10-15 minutes)
  
  
• Pet Zone IQ Ball (this is the ONLY toy my dogs can’t get all the kibble out of. They’ll usually persist for half an hour or so before they give up)
  
  
• Buster Cube (I think this has several difficulty settings… my guys now don’t have one of these, but my dog when I was growing up had one. I’d guess this is probably a 20-30 minute toy depending on difficulty and what you load into it)
  
  
• Treatstik – I have NO idea how long this one takes to load, but it’s on my to-purchase list because it seems like it’s one of the longer lasting toys on the market. If anyone has/gets one, I’m super interested to hear about it!
  
  Kibble dispensing toys, soft material (good for hardwood/tile/laminate)
  
  
• Barnacle (this can be stuffed like a Kong as well… I lost this one when I moved but I think in terms of kibble dispensing it was shorter lasting, maybe 5-10 minutes)
  
  
• Tricky Treater (I REALLY like this one; super easy to load and clean, lasts 10-15 minutes)
  
  
• Tricky Treat Ball (another super easy one… <5 minutes)
  
  
• Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop Treat Dispensing Dog Toy – this one just arrived yesterday so I don’t have a solid rating of its durability yet, but so far it seems great… easy to load, takes the dogs awhile to empty, and super duper quiet.
  
  
• JW Pet Company Treat Puzzler Dog Toy (this one is super easy for them to empty… I’d say 3-5 minutes)
  
  
• PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Meal Dispensing Dog Toy (this one is okay, not my favorite… I didn’t like that I had to make a decision about cutting it immediately after opening. It takes ~5-10 minutes to unload)
  
  
• Starmark Treat Dispensing Puzzle Ball - this one is new! I almost bought it the other day but haven't yet; I think it's most similar to a Buster Cube in terms of adjustable difficulty, it's just a softer material.
  
  Time-release kibble dispensing toys (good for work days)
  
  
• the Foobler is great because it works on a timer that rotates to the next of six, ¼ cup food hoppers at set intervals of time (you pick, the options are 15-30-60-90 minutes), which makes it last way longer than most of these toys. This is hard plastic.
  
  
• CleverPet – this has a December release date. I’m way pumped about it and have been in touch with the company… hopefully I’ll be getting one of the first models off the line!
  
  Lastly, there are also these two that I haven’t tried yet, so I’m not positive how to classify…
  
  
• Starmark Crunching Barbell
  
  
• Starmark Treat Crunching Multiball
  
  
  ETA: If you have any others you like (or don't like) that I've left off this list, please chime in!

Obviously as others have said, don't do it. If she really is that disruptive to your life, rehoming her to someone who can manage the behaviour is a better option for everyone involved. Declawing creates more problems than what you have now, and to a more severe degree than the immediate surgery pain.

Aside from what other people have suggested and what you've already tried, you may need to change up her routine and the spaces she's given access to. If she's scratching up living room furniture, keep her in another room when you're not there to supervise.

I've found this to work on all the cats I've met so far, but instead of something like a spray bottle or even a sudden noise, tell her in her own language what she's doing isn't cool - if I catch a cat scratching up my rug or doing anything inappropriate, I let out a loud, sharp SSSSS sound. Cats I've never met (neighbourhood cats) before have responded to this in an instant. It doesn't generate the confusion of "that was loud, what was it?" or "something got me wet, what was it?", but it mimics their own vocabulary of STOP IT.

You'll have to find a toy or set of toys that can really engage her for many short spurts. Cats will usually play, then rest, then play more, and then rest. If you can get her panting after a few play sessions, you can know you've done a good job. Obviously do this right before bed. Jackson Galaxy's Da Bird has rave reviews, but I've also had great success with Cat Dancer and shoe laces. My cat loves chasing small, bouncy things that make a noise when they bounce off of things, so when dollar store wand toys break, I take the end cap and use them as a chase toy.

Once she's tired, feed her - but you don't have to feed her straight from a bowl or saucer. Make her work for it. Feed kibble? Toss each piece of kibble and make her chase it down piece by piece.

You know those dog foraging puzzles? Get some of those. Cats figure them out quickly, but they don't always have the best dexterity, so it eats up some time as they maneuver the pieces to get their food. I think the puzzle toys for cats are way too easy. There are lots on Amazon like the Trixie or Outward Hound line, and there are also Wobbler bobbing toys, slow feeders, and treat balls (I reinforce these with duct tape on the inside so there are little blockages that prevent food from easily rolling out at once - straight out of the box, they are just way too easy), but you can also just get three pieces of wood, a dowel, and some water bottles and create your own version of this toy but customize the difficulty by putting holes in different parts of the water bottles and keeping the caps on.

Also, hide kibble all over her appropriate play areas like towers and cat-friendly furniture. I do this every night all over my room in every cat-appropriate nook and cranny I can find, and by the time she's done hunting down all the pieces she smells and wants, she should be ready to turn in for a few hours. I actually make a bedtime mini meal of kibble foraging and I love knowing that during a time she would naturally be most active, my cat is pretty mellow until she sees me get up in the morning, or even later beyond that.

Also, if you haven't yet, try all textures, directions, shapes, and heights of different types of scratchers to see if she can find a preference over pieces of furniture, or rearrange to block those parts of the furniture away from her. You can also apply stuff like Sticky Paws double sided adhesive so it's uncomfortable where/when she tries to scratch.

And yes, definitely learn to clip her nails.

From what you've said here my best guess would be is that he is barking out of boredom. He's figured out that when he barks you come out and play a fun game of (unintentional) chase.

I know you've said that he gets plenty of exercise, which is fantastic, but dogs need more than just physical exercise. They also need mental stimulation and fun so I would work on making the yard more exciting.

First step is if you haven't already, getting rid of the food bowl. Food bowls are boring, there's no challenge and 30 seconds later the food is gone. Get food puzzle toys, I recommend getting at least 2 different ones so you can alternate and they don't get boring. Something like the Kong Wobbler and a Treat Ball there are so many types out there. Another really simple method is simply scattering their food around the yard so they have to go searching around and forage for it. Give him meaty bones and chew toys/treats that he has to really focus on and spend time with, not just Snap and its gone.

Does he have any toys out in the yard to play with? If so, does he actually play with them? I could surround my dog in tennis balls and soft toys and she's just sleep on them, but give her a cheap plastic flowerpot and she's running around like a lunatic. Make sure they're actually toys he wants to play with and again its a good idea to alternate them so they don't get old. There are some great ideas for enrichment here, some really good homemade (and cheap) enrichment ideas. If your dog likes to dig then maybe set up a sandpit, just get a plastic wading pool and put sand in it, hide treats and toys in there, lots of fun. If he likes tug of war then the Bungees are great (I'm sure there's a US version).

You should do daily training sessions with him. These don't require giant chunks of time, in fact its better if you only do 5-10 minutes at a time. Do these a few times a day, you can do 1-2 in the morning and then a couple more in the evening. It doesn't matter what you're teaching him, just get him using his brain. Tricks are fun for both of you and dogs love showing them off for attention.

Addressing the barking though, I think you need to stop going out when he barks. He gets your attention and a game for this behaviour, why would he stop? He only gets rewarded for appropriate behaviour. Hold out for quiet and calm behaviour, I'll warn you now that he'll most likely get worse before he gets better. This is known as an Extinction Burst do NOT give in. He is just trying harder and longer to get the reaction he wants if you give in he will simply have learned to bark more. If you feel its necessary drop a note to your neighbours letting them know that you are working on his barking and he might be worse for a little bit but it should pass quickly.
This teaches him what wont get a good reaction, so you should teach him what to do instead. When he's calm and just doing his own thing, reward it. Give him a treat or a game, or let him inside. Make being quiet the behaviour that gets him what he wants.

The basics (food, leash, collar, dishes, crate) will probably already be taken care of. I'd focus on training and positive dog-kid interaction, because it will set the stage for their relationship. If they're working together then it's easier to commit long term and be responsible, because it's enjoyable.

I guess it depends how much money are you looking to spend.

In the upper ranges, you could pay for a puppy kindergarten class (great for socialization, great for everyone involved).

Or maybe, a manners minder, a very effective training tool.

In the less expensive categories,

What about puzzle toys? They'll keep the puppy mentally stimulated, keep him quiet(er) when left alone, and give your family some peaceful breaks from the chaos. People need to destress too, in order to interact with dogs successfully.

• kong is a classic. Smear some peanut butter on the inside and it's like a puppy pacifier. Or, stuff it with mushy dog food and freeze it for an even longer lasting activity.
  
• JW treat ball is more active and will tire a puppy out. Treat balls are good for feeding kibble at mealtimes (no need to use dishes at every meal!).
  
  Maybe a portable dog water bottle/bowl for long walks? Something like this: gulpy water. That would encourage the idea of exercise and getting out and about, and also the idea that the puppy's well being and safety need to be accounted for.
  
  Books are a good idea too. It depends what his reading level is, and how much he enjoys reading. I wouldn't want to make puppy care tedious or a chore. There's a good training booklist here http://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/books. If you think those would be a bit too heavy for him, maybe a book of dog trick ideas would be fun.
  
  The sooner kids interact positively with a puppy, the better it will go in the long run. On that note, like flibbertygiblet said, a clicker, treat bag, and a bag of tiny stinky treats would be a great idea. If you go the clicker route, I'd recommend starting with a quiet one, so the puppy doesn't get startled at first. Kids and puppies can be a bit unpredictable, so better safe than sorry. I like the iClick model.
  
  
  

I am not a trainer so take this with a grain of salt (I am training my own SD currently with assistance of a trainer, though). I'd definitely recommend clicker training, too.

For puppies, I'd start out feeding them out of your hand (to prevent resource guarding) and then transition to a bowl in your lap. Or feed him in a kong in his crate (put some water in a serving of dry food, mix it and freeze it in the kong). Be sure when you crate him to give him lots of teething and chew toys (no stuffed animals because they could be torn up), no rope toys (because they could be swallowed and make him sick), and no squeaky toys (for obvious reasons). Give him positive association with the crate (throw treats in and around it, feed him in it, put chew toys in it, etc) Be sure to let him outside enough during the night (since he's so young) but don't let him out every time he barks or he will think every time he barks, he gets to leave. For things to chew, I'd recommend any type of chew toy, split antlers, hooves, and benebones. (Don't do rawhides, though)

I'd recommend doing a lot of socializing and building your bond at this point (especially since he's a GSD, if he's not socialized enough he could become protective of you). Get him used to traveling in a car. Touch all over his body and get him used to being touched (for grooming purposes). Do a puppy socialization class if you can. Carry him into pet friendly stores and get him used to lots of situations & have good meetings with strangers and let them pet him. Get into a routine. Feeding, exercising, crating, etc. all at the same time every day. Don't let him sleep in your bed at a young age. While he's still potty training, crating is essential. And make sure he can walk on a loose leash (and use training collars to help with this if you want to).

Start with basic obedience (come, sit, down, stand, stay, etc.) and do a lot of self control training. I'd keep him on a leash at all times. What I do with my dog is give her a "place" that she stays on all the time when we're at home and not playing or exercising (and she's on a leash too but I'd recommend getting some type of tether instead to keep him in his place). This teaches them to settle. Reward being calm and work on waiting (like drop a treat and they have to wait for you to say "okay!" and waiting to go through doors, etc.). Do not let him get into behaviors like jumping on people or counter surfing.

Then after all of that is solid (and he's older), do a lot of PA training. Then work on task training. Here is a good video on medical alerts. I don't know if seizure alert training is similar to other medical alerts but I hope that the video is helpful.

For training help, I'd recommend this YouTube channel.

> I wouldn't register him if he wasn't ready or able to do it though.

I don't know where you live but in the US, there's no such thing as registering.

(Source) Look at questions 7 and 17

Good luck with your dog!

I don't think I have too much to add beyond the great advice others have given you, but I just want to encourage you to hang in there. We definitely went through similar frustrations (adopted a 2y/o lab border collie mix 10 months ago), and plenty of tears over this with our pup. I'm not going to lie, the first few weeks, and even months were hard, very hard at times -- we'd solve problems, and then others would pop up, and 10 months in, we're still figuring things out, but at this point, not a day goes by that I'd wish for it any other way. A great thing to remember is your pup has lived for a year in who knows what condition with who knows what, if any rules. Dogs love routine, so give the guy a chance to build a routine with you and reward him when he's being good without you asking. It won't happen overnight, but a very precise routine helped us tremendously. Other game-changers that others have already mentioned -- fetch on a long-lead to replace one of his walks in the late afternoon (this was the BEST thing we ever did, and taught him a great drop while we were at it, and has also helped buckets with recall -- also just got a flirt pole, which is equally amazing), using brain games to feed him (if he's a chewer like mine, and can clean a frozen kong out in 5 minutes, start with this one, since it's too big to easily chew, on the flip-side, it's also pretty hard: https://www.amazon.com/OurPets-Buster-Interactive-Large-Colors/dp/B003A23HZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466528343&sr=8-1&keywords=dog+cube -- totally nuts how much this tires my pup out, panting and everything, not to mention 20 minutes of peace), impulse control training, and capturing calm techniques. My pup is too anxiety prone for daycare settings, but if you can find a facility that works for your pup, this is amazing too, even for just a couple of hours a week, not to mention fantastic for socialization. Once we got my pup's leash skills a bit more under control (this took him months, ack!), running with him was also a great addition. You got this, and I can almost promise you, it will get better!!!

Can't answer anything area specific but I'll link some toys/beds/products my dogs like.

Food Dispensing Toys

• IQ ball. My dogs eat all their meals out of this one. It is quite loud on hard floors.
  
  
• Bob-a-lot.
  
  
• Magic mushroom
  
  
• Tricky treat ball
  
  
• Kong Wobbler
  
  Puzzles
  
  
• Twister
  
  
• Tornado. This one is fairly easy.
  
  
• Chess 3
  
  
• Move to pull
  
  
• Brick. Very easy but good starter puzzle.
  
  This is a nice bed for dogs who like to burrow/get under covers. They also like beds similar to this one.
  
  Food is up to you. Do some research online and read through ingredients to find a good one. One of my dogs gets Orijen and the other gets Wellness.
  
  I definitely recommend you seek out some training classes. They are also good for socialization in a controlled environment. It's a great way to bond with your dog and really fun to advance through different classes and class types.
  
  The toys my dogs like are beanie babies and kleenex. If your dog is a chewer then don't waste money on stuffed toys.
  

ACDs are quite the toy destroyers aren't they? Although my guy isn't quite as esteemed in the destruction field as an ACD, he is pretty bad. Here's what has survived him:

• Kong Sqrunch
  
• Ethical Skinneeez Big Bite Coyote Stuffingless Dog Toy (I really like this one because you can replace the water bottle inside. The only issue I have with it is that it can get kind of grimey)
  
• KONG Wobbler Treat Dispensing Dog Toy (good if he likes puzzles)
  
• KONG Extreme Dog Toy, Black
  
• Invincibles Snake Stuffingless Durable Tough Plush Dog Squeaky Toy with Squeakers by Outward Hound
  
• Jolly Pets Push-n-Play 14-Inch (might be really fun for him as it taps in to some herding dog's natural herding instinct)
  
• Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Chew Toy, Made in USA (I'd be careful with these and supervision only at first. If your dog's chewing style is too aggressive, he can end up bleeding. I wouldn't dismiss it until you try it though. My boy is pretty aggressive, but works for him.)
  
• West Paw Zogoflex Hurley Durable Dog Bone Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers, 100% Guaranteed Tough, It Floats!, Made in USA, for Strong Chewers (this one is awesome. Aside from some dirt, it looks exactly like the day I bought it to this day.
  
• goDog Dragons Flats Plush Dog Toy with Chew Guard Technology (My guy really likes plush toys and squeakers. He doesn't normally get them because he likes ripping them out and it's not the safest. This is the best one that I've found so far that will put up the biggest fight.)
  
• Goughnuts - Original Dog Chew Ring (a lot of people really like this, but unfortunately, Atlas doesn't seem to like the shape too much.)
  
• MultiPet Goblets Pig latex Dog toy Assorted Colors (lmfao my dog fucking loves this pig. The squeaker doesn't last, but the pig's outer shell does. He loves it a lot.)
  
• JW Pet Company Mini Hol-ee Roller Dog Toy, Colors Vary (They've also got an extreme edition here)
  
• MuttNation Fueled by Miranda Lambert Faux Suede Dog Toy (his face has come off, and his tail is frayed, but it is still chewable and he enjoys playing with it)
  
• KONG Cozies Dog Squeaky Toy (Also a really great option if you want to treat him to a plush toy. It will last longer than most others. Mine ripped off the ear when he first got it, but the rest lasted quite a while.)
  
• Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel and Puzzle Plush Squeaking Toys for Dogs (He loved this toy so much. He loves puzzles, but he destroyed the log fairly quickly. Surprisingly, he has had one of the squirrels for over a year ... and it still squeaks. I lost the rest of them, but that one little squirrel is still going strong.)
  
• Mammoth TireBiter Chew Toy with Rope (don't get this unless you don't mind bits of tire coming off)
  
• OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy (great if your dog eats kibble and likes puzzles)
  
• Nylabone Dental Dino Power Chew DuraChew Dental Chew Toy (Like the benebone, watch him with this one at first. It's really hard and you don't want him to hurt himself. Eventually wears down, but takes a damn long time)
  
• We also do rope toys, antlers, bully sticks (special occasion- they last like 5 minutes), raw bones (we feed raw), Himalayan Yak Chews, and Flirt Pole.
  
  Reading my list, god damn my dog is spoiled. Keep in mind, these are just the toys that have made it. I'm not even counting the ones he's destroyed!
  
  Let me know if you have any questions!
  
  Lastly, I don't own a husky, but man do I respect the destruction a husky can wreck. I would recommend going to a husky group on facebook or a subreddit to see what toys they would recommend. If it's husky approved... it should last.
  
  
  

I buy dog toys at places like Marshall’s, TJMaxx, Tuesday Mornings etc.

I get at least 5-7 toys for $25ish depending on what i pick out and often times find Kong, chuck it and other good brands.

Some toys Diesel will destroy within hours, some within a week or and a few lucky ones last a couple months.

They all just go into a toy bin that he’ll dig through on his own.

Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Sarah (my parents and sister) always have fun buying him more expensive “extra fun” toys for Christmas, Birthday, random holidays etc. We call those the extra fun toys because they’re the ones I’d never buy him knowing that they’ll last 10 minutes. (Although a few have turned out to be amazing quality and have held up.) They know toys don’t last long with him but all our family’s previous dogs were small and not into toys so they have fun picking things out for him.

Also there’s a few that I keep put away unles we’re actively playing with like the big fuzzy chuck it ball. Toss it in the air and Diesel with pop it back to you volleyball style. When we’re done, i take it away or else he’d just shred it.

Also I’ve had good luck with JW Pet Company Invincible Chains LT Triple Dog Toy, Large (Colors Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJXFI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UXnDAbR4NNHF2 and with their big holey balls. Diesel will tear them up after a while but he doesn’t eat the pieces, just spits them out so even if he tears it open it sticks around for a while. I think he like how the rubber feels when he chews on it.

Edit: oh and frisbee golf frisbees are great. My friend who was really into the sport and had dozens of old ones gave us some because my pit and his pit loved to chase and play with them. They last for a long time and are like $10 at a sporting goods store.

So if /u/CiElBie is right, that would explain a lot about your dog's behavior, haha.

Have you tried a front-connecting harness, like the Easywalk, Sense-ible, or Kurgo Journey harnesses? Those have proven extremely helpful in redirecting our dog on walks and teaching him not to tug.

You can also get him some puzzle toys. You put treats in them and they keep your dog occupied. Treats can be peanut butter, yogurt, wet food, and frozen fruit/veggies. These would be my recommendations: Westpaw Tux, Busy Buddy Squirrel, Planet Dog Orbee-tuff Snoop, Kong Wobbler (dry food only), Starmark Everlasting Wheeler, Orbee-tuff Produce, GoofBall.

Mental stimulation is another big thing. If you haven't already, familiarize yourself with the basics of clicker training (Kikopup is a fantastic resource). Then you can teach all kinds of fun tricks, which will engage your dog, encourage bonding, and tire him out mentally, which is very important for dogs with working dog ancestry. Examples of tricks can be paw, beg, roll over, twirl (dance), touch, jump (if his health allows it - no more than 10 minutes of jumping training at a time), weave (dog weaves between your legs), army crawl, bow, and so on. Just 15 to 20 minutes of mental stimulation can really tire out a dog, so I strongly recommend this if your dog is super hyper!

Other interactive toys. Flirt poles are great, and can be good for reinforcing drop it because the dog is rewarded immediately with more playtime. I would also encourage giving all meals either as training treats or in large puzzle toys (I highly recommend Nina Ottosson toys: Tornado, Dog Smart, Twister, Casino, Brick. Make sure to supervise your dog while using these toys, since they won't be as durable as the rubber toys I recommended above). My dog also LOVES this funny squirrel toy; it moves around and makes funny noises-- I think he believes it's a real squirrel! This is the Amazon link, and again for this I'd recommend supervision because I don't know it's that durable.

I might also recommend extending one of your walks to 1.5 to 2 hrs by combining two of the daily walks together into one long walk-- this might exhaust your dog more, as opposed to multiple shorter walks a day. This really depends on your dog, though; give it a try but I can't guarantee it'll work. Do ensure that the long walk takes place at approximately the same time each day, so he knows when his "big playtime" is and learns to relax throughout the rest of the day. For the whining at outside stimuli, perhaps invest in a white noise machine or loud box fan, which will help your dog relax at home.

Best of luck, hope this is helpful!!

How much physical and mental exercise is he getting daily right now (in hours)?

It sounds like he's food motivated! An easy way to introduce some mental stimulation is to get some treat dispensing puzzles and feed him his meals in those! If he's never done them before I would get a few and start him off on an easy one first. This one is a great one to get started with and this one has a piece in the middle you can take out or put in for more difficulty. Other than that, just two 5-10 minute sessions of trick or obedience training daily can make a big difference. There's lots of great guides on youtube for that. Taking a fun training or sports class together is also a great way to tire out his brain and body and a wonderful way to bond and become closer.

As far as off leash back yard play time, I always like to recommend a flirt pole. They are super easy to make yourself or you can order off Amazon. I've got a BC/Cattle Dog mix and we like to alternate flirt pole, fetch, tug/keep away/chase, and blowing bubbles!

But honestly if he's getting a lot of exercise and fairly chill, not destructive or having other behavior issues he might just be fine. Not all dogs like to snuggle or be right up in your face all the time.

This is my advice from training lots of dogs and volunteering many years at the humane society (I am not a professional) - "don't work harder, work smarter." You are trying way too hard and you are burning yourself out. That does not bode well for you or your dog.

He is hyperactive and needs to get his energy out, but that said, no dog needs 4-5 hours of activity a day. That is just crazy. Instead of running or walking (save your knees, you need them!) with him, train him to do urban mushing. Since you says he pulls a lot, it would be dangerous for you to get a regular bike so I would recommend getting a cart.

Next, buy him a weighted pack. Throw this on him (and feel free to put your water bottles and snacks in there) while you are walking or for a couple of hours a day and it will slow him down and tire him out. It also makes him feel like he has a job to do. Since you think he may be a blue lacey, you really need to give him a job to do since he is a working dog. That also explains why he doesn't like doing tricks but likes finding stuff for you.

A couple of activities that are great for a working dog are agility and nose work. Sign up for your local agility and nose work class and the people there will give you great tips on how to tire your dog out without burning yourself out since they are actually experienced with training with working dogs. These kinds of jobs also train him to listen to your commands in a home setting.

Your dog is not a extremely dominant or submissive, he is what working dog trainers call a "soft" dog. This means they are very sensitive to loud, verbal yelling or negative energy. It is hard to see them react when you overcorrect but this also means that they are very trainable since they want to please you. Use a calm and low voice when you correct your dog.

For working from home, you have to learn to ignore him. I know it is heartbreaking to hear his whining but the truth of it is, if you give a dog an inch, they will take a mile. He knows how to push your buttons and he will so you have to harden yourself up not give in. Instead, get him a bunch of interactive toys
like this 1, [2] (https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Mad-Scientist-Dogs-Level/dp/B003TOKTEG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1469997634&sr=8-11&keywords=interactive+dog+toys), [3.] (https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Gambling-Tower-Level-1/dp/B002XCTUIQ/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1469997634&sr=8-38&keywords=interactive+dog+toys) Fill them with his favorite treats and let him learn to amuse himself.

Lastly, this is probably the most important advice I have - get a gentle leader. It jerks their head to the side if they pull, so they stop pulling. It works amazingly for dogs who like to pull on their leash and do not respond to training. It seriously is a godsend for many of the dogs I walked in the shelter and could not control. It will save you many a more broken bones.

Feel free to message me if you need more help. I love helping people who love their dogs enough to not give up on them.

KONG works wonders for me. Half-freeze it and boom! Endless puppy satisfaction. It's really strong and you can put treats in it entice your pup. As fuckmylife112 says, rotate your toys so that your pup won't get bored. I also use those rope toys (tug-of-war toys) because they're also pretty strong. Do note that you need to reward good behavior and use a stern but warm voice when correcting your pup like yelping when he bites you.

If toys don't work, you can use an anti-biting spray. Spray it on the things you don't want get chewed on and once your pup tastes the bad flavor, they are less likely to bite again.

KONG:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AR182/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=dogmomdaily-20&linkId=a5015a0e131bf582d18ad2d7e1f3f95e&linkCode=w61&imprToken=HNayx181fUWwMY3FikiDyg&slotNum=0

ANTI-TEETHING SPRAY (FOOEY-what i use)https://www.amazon.com/SynergyLabs-Fooey-Ultra-Bitter-Spray/dp/B0002DIOD0/?tag=petresults-20

ANTI-TEETHING SPRAY (Bodhi dog)https://www.amazon.com/Chewing-Puppies-Training-Treatment-Professional/dp/B01I2A6MPG/?tag=petresults-20

There's this so called indestructible chew toy (with a guarantee, never used it but many people are worshiping it lol) if your pup is a death machinehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042JJB82/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0042JJB82&linkCode=as2&tag=territerri-20&linkId=R63I4QQQKB7BCLBS


EDIT: If you can't have these things delivered, you can buy those rope toys from the pet store or a supermarket in the pet sections. They're pretty good if you buy those tight and thick ones. Squeaky toys are really good too. Wipe some peanut butter on them if your pup doesn't seem interested and reward good behavior.


I also found ice cubes or iced toys really good too. The coldness soothes the gums and helps your pup.
You can get rawhide (get the big ones) but you need to supervise your pup when does chew on it because there are certain cons this https://www.dogingtonpost.com/rawhide-good-bad-ugly/


Good luck!

So, there's a couple things that helped a lot with our pup that I haven't seen here yet. Daisy loooves her food egg and food cube. These are toys that also dispense food. We sometimes exclusively feed her from one of these. The cube was definitely her favorite, but became difficult for us to open. These are great because they provide enrichment during feeding, plus, if you're puppy is a gorge-and-puke eater, it'll help with that.

For toys, I'd say grab things that are varying levels of durable. They get a lot of satisfaction from pure destruction like with a stuffed animal or skineez, but having something to work on, like a nylabone or kong, is also good.

Have fun! Getting Daisy was definitely one of the best things I've ever done in my life. So yeah, good job!

We have... lots of toys we've collected over the years. The dog in question just chews until he finishes the toys, then falls asleep. Without, he barks non-stop for hours on end. The toys rarely wear out, although it does happen.

I used to use a lot of rolly toys, but it seems like he does better with stuff he can calmly lay and chew on.

My favorites are:

• Kong
  
• Starmark Pickle Pocket
  
• Starmark Crunching Barbell(I don't use the refills, though; they're stupid expensive. I stuff one end with the guys mix, drop some kibble in the middle, and seal the other end)
  
• Zogoflex Toppl(the large and small sizes fit together to make it last longer)
  
  Rolly toys, I like:
  
  
• Orbee Tuff (better on hardwood, the material gets gross fast on carpet)
  
  
• and on carpet my favorite is the
  Foobler. It's pricier, but it's cool because it makes more food available to your dog at specified times intervals (15/30/60/90 min). The downside is, it really bangs around on hard floors.
  
  We use frozen marrow bones, as well. They're cheap (~$1 each), don't require any prep, and last about an hour.
  
  He's baby gated in the kitchen and has a big memory foam bed. We cover it with a cheap blanket because it's easier to clean and sometimes he's messy.
  
  We taught him a "relax" cue, which means "lay down, pop your hip, and put your chin on the ground." He has to stay like that in his bed while I take the toys out and lay them around the room. I release him as I walk out the door and he runs to collect his toys. It really helps for him to spend a few minutes relaxing before I leave, and getting him focused on something other than me leaving is a good distraction.
  
  I hope this helps. It's a frustrating issue and I can only hope my experience can help others.

Here's a thread about favorite treat toys. To date, the most successful one for our ACD/Boxer has been the Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude, for its durability, gentleness on our hardwood floors, and suitability for smaller kibble and treats. For dogs that will be left alone for long periods, a lot of people like to fill the classic Kong with a mix of stuff--fruits, veggies, kibble, soft cheese or yogurt, PB, broth, etc.--then freeze it for a longer-lasting snacking project. You really do have to experiment with treat toys to see what works best for your dog; ours has a history of shattering hard plastic ones, which many of them are, and we generally only feed her small treats/kibble so aren't keen on ones with large holes, but YMMV.

If there's an off-leash area nearby...our dog's 25" herding ball is hands down the best way to get her to run herself ragged in 15 minutes; its size and motion trigger her drive to heel without us having to do much of anything except transport it and her to a nearby field. Hers is a high-quality horse ball and was pricey, but an inexpensive anti-burst exercise ball from a sporting goods store would be a good starter model; no reason to spend much if you don't know whether your dog would like it. Our dog isn't into Frisbee but lots of ACDs adore it, and that's another fairly easy way to burn lots of energy--I'd ask my vet about it first though, since that can be a very high-impact exercise.

Does Jack like/can he have squeaky toys? For indoor play, squeakies and treat toys are what hold Luna's interest the longest. Squeakies do tend to be fairly short-lived with her (and the plush squeakies are a complete forget-it), but at least she likes them enough that they can often take off that restless edge, whereas she finds chew toys a total bore.

I have a 2 year old American Bulldog aka Big Head lots of energy. Can relate. Below are some of the toys + tips for high energy destructive dog.

This figure 8 toy is pretty great and seriously difficult for the dog to break. Your dog may be initially less interested in it, for that reason, but if he's super into playing tug with it. It's also has some give so I'm less worried about him cracking a tooth or something. It's also neat because it changes color if torn into, and has a separate hold for your hand vs his mouth if he's still learning those two don't belong together during play.


This collection of rope toys is cheap so if he wrecks them, it's not so bad.

Tips:

1. Dogs don't always instinctively know or enjoy fetch, but you can teach it if it's something you're interested in. There's youtube videos that are p helpful. You can also get bulk dead/not bouncy tennis balls of ebay for super cheap. I think I paid like 30 bucks for 100 something including shipping?
   
   
2. Could also try tiring him out in other ways before tug so he's not as destructive? Maybe obedience training for ridiculous tips or Frozen stuffed kongs orthis barnacle buddy

My Boxer is a connoisseur of puzzle toys. In Minnesota, it gets way too cold for us to go on long walks to curb his energy, so I engage his brain when it becomes a frozen wasteland outside.

I feed Keenan out of a large Kong Wobbler -- he gets at least one meal a day out of this. It takes him about 30 minutes to work out all the kibbles.

IQ Treat Ball is great for pets that work out puzzles super quickly. This is a fairly difficult toy. Be warned, if you have hard floors, this is loudest thing ever. It's also the perfect size to get stuck under sofas with legs.

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball is easier to roll around and get kibble sized treats out of. It's also a pain to fill and clean. We don't use this one much.

Everlasting Fun Ball is also hard to fill and difficult to clean, but it's tough. When Keenan is on my last nerve, he gets something super delicious in this and it keeps him occupied until he gets frustrated with it.

Monster Mouth is really tough to get things out of for pups. I'll stuff full sized milk bones in this and leave just a tip hanging out so he can try to pull it out. It keeps him pretty busy, but he gets frustrated by this one quickly.

Buster Food Cube is brilliant in design--you can make it easier and harder to get food out of by twisting the opening. This was Keenan's first puzzle toy and when he figured it out, he got a lot of enjoyment "hiking" it through his back legs at a hard surface to make it bounce off and spray kibbles around. It's loud on hard floors. So loud my ex SO threw it away.

I also pick up random puzzle toys at the store when I see them. I can't find accurate representations on Amazon. Most of them are soft/silicone that you can bend to open and put treats in. Keenan likes his big football one because he knows the yummy, big treats go in that one.

>I personally dont mind her leading the way but I want to fix the way she pulls.

Look into front-hooking harnesses. I, too, have a hound mix and he leads with his nose on walks! This used to result in pulling, but after asking this question on some training subs, and being told to get a front-hooking harness, I bought one and it fixed the issue almost immediately. I think this is the one I have.

>On walks, sometimes she uses the bathroom more than once. I read online that it either means she could possibly have an UTI or she is leaving a mark.

Peeing more than once on a walk isn't in itself a concern. You say she isn't having accidents in the house, so this is a good thing. A sign of UTIs is having sudden and/or frequent accidents in their crate, in the house, etc. If you're truly concerned, talk to your vet, but my first instinct is that you have nothing to worry about.

>I've read online and everyone has mixed reviews about saying it's bad or find a high quality rawhide.

Rawhides are fine in moderation. I don't give them to my pup often because he eats them really really quickly and, if unattended, can easily finish one in an hour. Also, they give him awful gas! They're really good for teaching pups and dogs proper chewing (aka "don't chew on my shoe, please chew on this bone!"), keeps them entertained, and cleans their teeth. I'd just recommend giving your dog some alternatives to rawhides once in a while. Get some Nylabones, some rope toys, some squeaky toys, etc. to add some variety.

Other tips...

1. It seems like you're googling a lot about every little thing (peeing more than once, rawhides are "bad", etc.), like how some people immediately hop on WebMD when they have a headache and conclude they have a tumor. You've had your dog for barely 5 days! It sounds like you've never had a dog before, which is totally fine, but don't drive yourself nuts by looking up every little thing wondering if it's "normal".
   
   
2. If you do want some tips for common things (crate training, potty training, "How do I get my dog to stop chewing my table legs?!?", how to teach basic commands and tricks, etc.) go to /r/puppy101 and /r/dogtraining. Puppy101 has a great list of links in their sidebar - check it out! Most are applicable for grown dogs and puppies alike.
   
   Congrats on your new family member!
   
   [Edited because I dared to say "puppy" instead of "dog".]

My dog (Australian Shepherd) can still surgically rip these apart, but it takes her longer (3-6 months) than for most toys (1-2 days). She always does, though. I just made peace with the idea of buying her 3-4 new toys a year. Check out Tuffy's

(http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_5?url=search-alias%3Dpets&field-keywords=tuffy+dog+toys&sprefix=tuffy%2Caps%2C157&rh=n%3A2619533011%2Ck%3Atuffy+dog+toys).

We've had a few of the sea creature ones (lobster, octopus, starfish, shark). They all had squeakers. For whatever reason, she found the octopus easiest to dissect and the starfish has lasted the longest. The lobster's probably my favorite (easy to play tug, more spots to grasp before my dog slobbers them all). Anyway, could be worth a try!


This dragon from Go Dog is made of tougher stuff too:

http://www.amazon.com/Sherpa-Baby-Dragon-Periwinkle-Guard/dp/B001FNZG96/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1372505109&sr=1-1&keywords=dragon

It has a squeaker in it, but it's not the traditional high-pitched sort. My dog had the pink one and the wings came off first thing, within about a day. To my surprise, it lasted a solid month or two after that (I was impressed) and then she slit its throat and started frantically de-stuffing it and it was all downhill from there. She still plays with the carcass, though, and once it was de-stuffed, she was satisfied with it.

Anyway, if your dog is slightly Wednesday Adams-ish with toys too, these are the best I've found so far.

This is Winston! He's a Chihuahua/shih-tzu mix that I adopted almost 2 years ago. His 2nd birthday is in 4 days and I'm so excited/sad.

My parents have this toy for their enormous bulldogs. It's still going strong! Kong toys are amazing though. Winston is such a crazy strong chewer for a teeny 10 pound dog that he needs the black Kongs. Hahaha

Edit: This toy says it's guaranteed to be indestructible :)

Winston lovesssss Kong animals. He would love the moose. I think this puts you right under $10 with shipping. I'm not sure exactly what the normal shipping rate is, so if I go over let me know and I'll choose something else!

Thanks for the contest! Congrats on adopting Reggie! He is so cute <3

EDIT 2: MORE PICTURES BECAUSE I LOVE HIM

Training tools:

• Light long line 50' - I don't trust her off-leash yet, but this allows her to tear around at the park and practice "come."
  
• Gentle Leader - I've been weaning her off of it now, but it's been hugely helpful in teaching her how to walk politely on a leash and not pull me all over and get distracted by everyone and everything. Also good for times when I really need her under full control in distracting environments.
  
• Lupine Martingale Collar - Nice quality and nice looking.
  
  Dog bed/crate pad:
  
  
• [Unreal Lambskin Brute Synthetic Fleece Dog Bed] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006EG1KNU/) - she destroyed three beds/pads and I thought I was going to have to give up on soft beds for her crate, but this one is tough and soft.
  
  Toys:
  
  
• Kong and Kong Genius - entertains her for a long time if I stuff it with peanut butter, yogurt, and kibble and freeze it, especially if I'm crating her and leaving for a few hours.
  
• Knight Pet pig - the only other thing thing she can amuse herself with, without my participation, that doesn't get immediately destroyed. Plus, the grunting sound is hilarious and not annoying like high-pitched squeaky toys.
  
  Miscellaneous:
  
  
• Wisdom Panel 2.0 - So much fun to learn about my mystery mutt's genetic background.
  
• All of Patricia McConnell's stuff. This book was a good basic practical training guide, but I read a lot of her stuff and enjoy her blog.

I have a mini Aussie so I feel you. I try to be as inventive as possible with my budget but I suggest most interactive/treat dispensing toys. I make large ice cubes that are half chicken/beef broth with a jerky or bone sticking out only a little. Then because it’s a mini and she’s not a huge chewer I can make these inside a talenti gelato container. So basically inside a Tupperware (which plastic isn’t ideal because they can swallow it but mine doesn’t and focuses on the bone) there is the half and half broth with a bone and an easy treat to get. She also doesn’t eat paper/cardboard so I can put a bone or treat inside a tissue box or empty pasta box or whatever and she’ll rip it apart to get to it. Once again, I can only do it because I’m watching and I know she does not ingest this.

Here are some toys I suggest that are proven safer:

Lumo Ball

Snuffle Mat I really like the snuffle mat because you can feed all your meals in this and bring it with you if you want to keep your dog busy wherever you are.

OSPet Interactive Feeder
Trixie Puzzle

Ottosson Puzzle I really like most toys Outward Hound makes.

My dog’s favorite kong I find I can put just a biscuit or fill it full of kibble and pb and she’ll spend quite a bit of time getting it out.

My dog will be a year in July and he still chews everything he can. We have to be constantly buying toys because they don't last!!

The best thing we've found is one of these. They are extremely hard and Jake's now looks like the 6th picture on the site but it's still going strong!! It's one of his favorite toys.

I'd say the positive side of chewers is that they keep their teeth super clean :)

Have you done any training classes with him? Along with tiring the dog out physically, tiring the dog out mentally has really helped me and my dog. He gets quite excited when he gets to perform his tricks. Learning new ones really tires him out, and he's very interested. Getting that communication with him really helped with other training too- he is much more likely to listen to me. It sounds like him having too much energy and perhaps not listening is the root of the problem here.

When my dog was learning to walk on a leash, I would take him out when very few people would be around - early morning, late night and when people are at work/school. That way, we could really focus on walking before slowly introducing other distractions like people, cars and other dogs. Bring his breakfast in a treat pouch, and use it to keep him in check. When he pulls, stop walking and use the treats/food to lead him back to you. It helps to be generous with the treats - that's why taking his normal meal is good, as he won't be gaining weight from extra food. Try not to use the leash to control him- the only time you should be doing that is if he's in danger. My dog is still a bit wary of certain groups people (he really doesn't like old men)- if he's scared, I stop walking. If he has a good interaction with another person or dog, he gets treats and praise. Are there any walking trails or paths in your area? Sometimes those are a little quieter than a sidewalk. Regardless, it's going to take some time for him to learn. You've got to be patient, and consistent. Try not to avoid taking him out- the only way he will learn how to walk on a leash is to physically do it a lot.

When I just needed to tire my dog out, I brought him to a fenced in dog park and played fetch. Again, I brought him when few people will be around. Doing that when he was still learning meant we could focus on training while still being safe. The trouble with dog parks is that you don't know what kind of other dogs will be there. That's why I took him when few people were around. Fetch is a good game to teach dogs - you can tire them out without other dogs or too much walking (good for dogs with endless energy). If you have a fenced in back yard or a long hallway free of breakables, you can play it there too.

Are you using a harness or collar? The trainer I saw when my dog was a puppy said not to use a harness if your dog has a problem with pulling- his theory was that the harness enables the dog to pull, instead of bothering the dog like a pulled (normal, NOT pronged) collar would. Another question - are you using an extendable leash or a normal one? Extendable leashes were also something my trainer had us avoid. Again, it enables the pulling.

My dog chews. The only things that have helped with that is tiring him out and providing lots of safe toys for him to chew. These "indestructible" chains by JW were a lifesaver when he was teething, and he still gnaws on them today. I also get elk antlers for him - they're his favourite. Just make sure you get one that is appropriately sized and isn't overly processed. I would avoid rawhides - they made my dog very sick (they can expand in the stomach). Another thing that helped was getting food toys and putting his meals in them instead of a bowl. Just make sure you take the toy away when he's done so he doesn't chew it to pieces.

I think Kongs are a good start.

I think with young puppies though, depending on their food drive and motivations, they may or may not take to puzzle toys early, so don't feel badly if it's too much for them.

We actually didn't start our dog on puzzle feeders for any "intelligence" benefit - she had super high food drive and kept eating quickly without chewing, vomiting out her meal, then eating her vomit, so we bought a slow feeder bowl which was perfect for her at 4 months old. We fed her out of frozen-solid Kongs in the morning starting when she was 5 months old to help curb her separation anxiety, and then eventually bought a Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble. Even on the easiest settings, she struggled quite a bit as a puppy so we cut down the stoppers to make the flow easier. When she got better at the game, we re-bought the toy and made it substantially more difficult.

My younger dog, a Samoyed, actually doesn't eat out of toys. He has a lesser food drive and while he'll occasionally eat out of a toy, he prefers to just eat his food and work for better snacks (i.e. training for high value treats), so figuring out what your future dog's preferences are is definitely going to be something you'll have to do as your dog grows up. This dog did not eat out of Kongs until he was about 6 months old, either. He's just as smart, just not as insanely food driven as my first dog!

This - make eating fun, engaging, and mentally stimulating!

My guy eats every single meal out of either a Kong or one of these. I do a lot of work and mental development with him, and if I could only do one thing, it would be the practice of active feeding.

I very seriously cannot recommend it enough. The mental exercise every meal seems like nothing, but the dog is not only doing it a few times a day, every day, but also getting rewarded for problem solving. If you want a smarter, more resourceful, calmer, and happier dog, practice active feeding!

Is he paws-y in general? He may need one at first that he can see inside of like the Busy Buddy "Kibble Nibble." Some dogs need a lot more encouragement and praise and excitement to see the fun in dispensing toys, including you pushing it around to get food to fall out. A regular Kong Classic with dry kibble inside is a good one to try too as food falls out easily. The more full the toy is, the easier the food falls out so have it full the first few times you use it.

If your dog just isn't into it, you can also try puzzles. Kyjen and Nina Ottosson have good ones. You can DIY with a muffin pan or egg carton.

I'm in a similar boat (except I've got more advance notice) and have been finding the Digital Dog Training Textbook linked-to in the sidebar to be invaluable. Highly recommend. It's a little oddly laid out and it repeats itself itself but—as it says—you're really training yourself how to train the pup, so the reinforcement works (at least for me).

Their shopping list (oddly-formatted, watch out) includes:

• At least six chewtoys to stuff with kibble and treats (The Kong Company’s Kong and Biscuit Ball, Premier’s Squirrel Dude and Football, and sterilized long bones^† are the best.)
  
• Water bowl (Only buy your pup a food bowl once he is socialized, well-trained, and has impeccable household manners.)
  
• Dog food (dry kibble) During his first weeks at home, make sure your puppy receives all food stuffed in chewtoys, or handfed as rewards for socialization and training.
  
• Freeze-dried liver for men, strangers, and children to win your puppy's confidence and as rewards for housetraining
  
  (All links non-affiliate, just tryna be helpful :)
  
  Also, I saw this recommended somewhere. I have used a similar product for our cats and it's fucking magic, so if you're concerned your pup might be stressed, I highly recommend.
  
  ^† above, /u/caffeinatedlackey recommends against these until older

I've got three little monsters! Their names are Bandit, Bubbles & Butters. Bubbles & Butters are both rescues and Bandit was purchased from a farm.

A new fleece blanket for the musketeers would be wonderful! They absolutely love my SO's baby blanket, but I think it's probably time to retire that before it becomes completely destroyed (through love, of course)

I don't have a dog (yet), but my friend purchased this for her dog and she says it's wonderful! I'm not quite sure how it works, since it looks like a hard chew toy but it's bacon flavored, so that must be good, right?

ive had a few of these, but i made some modifications since the wire just ends. i got some zipties and ziptied the ends of the wires very tightly to the rest of the wire coil (hard to explain, sorry)- i had to poke holes thru the plastic to do it but it was much safer after the modification imho.
it is literally hours of fun, lol.
http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Pet-Products-FT-190-Thru-Way/dp/B0002DJL0K

even more durable is the larger tunnel for cats http://bit.ly/Oui3MV that we used when my boy got too tubby for the thruway tunnel, haha. it's not nearly as long but he liked hanging out in it, and it folds up really nice for travel.

My 9 month old puppy loves his benebone (http://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411690320&sr=8-1&keywords=benebone). I just got him his third one a few days ago. There's two flavors, bacon and peanut butter (http://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Peanut-Butter-Flavored-Wishbone/dp/B00IK243R6/ref=pd_sbs_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WFNGHN8B9FBJXC180JX), but my dog likes his bacon flavored benebone so much that I'm worried that he won't like the peanut butter one, so I haven't purchased that one for him. These last for a pretty long time. When he was a very young puppy, it lasted 3-4 months. His second one lasted 2 months. He used to spend 30 minutes to an hour chewing on it, but this has tapered off slightly.

I've bought him lots of chew toys, like a couple of different nylabones, an elk antler, bully sticks, etc. He chews on his elk antler once in a blue moon. He likes bully sticks, but can finish a 12" one in about 20 minutes, which is way too expensive for me. He never really liked his nylabones, especially the ones that are original flavored. Benebones are a lot like nylabones (they're both made of nylon), but the wishbone shape makes it easy to hold and it smells pretty strongly of bacon, which I think is why my dog likes it so much.

• Lupine collars and leashes - they have a great guarantee of free replacement if the dog chews up the collar or leash. Perfect for puppies. You can find them in most specialty pet shops.
  
  
• Kibble Nibble - this is an interactive toy that I recommend feeding your puppy and grown up dog from. It keeps them busy and they have to work for their food.
  
  
• Nylabones - start with the puppy ones and when your pup starts getting adult teeth move on to the regular versions. Rotate teething toys so your pup always has something interesting to chew on.
  
  
• Sterilized Bones
  
  When you buy Kongs make sure you get the large or x-large size. Don't fall into the marketing scheme where you buy as they grow. Large Kongs are great because you can stuff all sorts of things in it to keep them busy.
  
  Kong Recipes
  
  If you have an Amazon Prime account I'd order a lot from them. Free shipping saves you a lot. If you don't have Amazon Prime then you should look at ordering from a bulk pet supply place like Pet Edge. You have to order $60 worth of stuff to avoid the surcharge but you can get some good deals depending on how expensive shipping is. I try to split an order with a friend to keep costs down.

I feel your pain. I just had my pup spayed in late December. Your pup sounds like she might be more energetic than mine but my lab definitely wasn't happy about being kept inside that long.

People here told me puzzle balls too but I'll try to be a little more specific. Out of all the puzzle balls I found this one to be the best one http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1393869755&sr=1-9&keywords=dog+puzzle

I fed her her meals out of that when she was housebound. It typically takes her maybe 30+ minutes to get most of the kibbles out. Sometimes longer. Between 3 meals you will probably keep her entertained maybe 2 hours with no work on your part (other than having to listen to the ball roll around).

Another game my dog likes to play is hide and seek. I'll tell her to sit and stay in a room and then call out "come!" from another room and have her find me. Hope that helps.

Oh this is hard.

1. Magic Mushroom. Her favorite food-dispensing toy.
   
   
2. Puller Rings. Syd's very favorite toy to play tug with.
   
   
3. Squeaky Alligator. With so many squeakers what's not to love?
   
   
4. Kong Squekair Tennis Ball. Best fetching toy. In fact, the only ball Syd likes to fetch. We go through these really quickly.
   
   
5. Flirt Pole. Great for getting her to run, jump, and chase. Also good for impulse training.

I also have an adopted destructo-dog.

We just got this toy in our Barkbox this month. She is rough on toys. So rough I had to email barkbox a few months ago and request stronger toys - she was ripping them up within a few minutes of play. She has not been able to put a dent in this one after some very spirited play. Ours is a cute little orange color - not the red.

This dog cigar toy came in a barkbox a few months ago. She loves it and it has also lasted.

I would avoid the Kong tennis balls. They're super cute and squeak but they are very easily destroyed. Someone on here sent us a pack of three and I think only one has not been gutted.

If we win she would like this toy OR this toy. I can't decide which one would be better.

This looks pretty neat! Interactive "mind" game for dogs!

and like many others have said, Kongs are great and so durable!

edit: this one is great for small dogs! I have a tiny dog at home who loves hers!

These are my dogs, Bear and Lindy! Bear is a chow/golden retriever mix and Lindy is dobie/lab mix. Both are rescues and are my entire world <3


This chew toy is guaranteed indestructible


I'd love to donate this to my local humane society if I win :) I have a little box made up for them and I'm gonna drop it off once I get a nice little package set up.


Thanks for the contest! Hopefully I made it in on time


EDIT: Oh my gosh, Reggie is freaking adorable with those ears!!

Haha I know all about rubber toys and the millions pieces you'll have to pick up afterwards. I remember seeing an online list of the best toys for Pits and bought some.

Currently, I have the Benebone Wishbone both Bacon and peanut Butter flavor. I bought this for her about 3 months ago and theyre only halfway destroyed. Definitely worth it.

I also have this Nylabone toy and just like the Benebone, it has lasted the past few months as well. This one is wearing down more, but 3 months is fine with me.

Finally, these Goughnuts toys are great. I bought both the Stick and the Donut, even though my Pit likes the stick more.

And I have a large amount of tennis balls because you can never have enough lol. Hope this list helps!

https://amzn.com/B00CPDWT2M

I have a boxer/plott hound and she's not obsessed with chewing but once she gets a good start on a rawhide she powers through it as fast as possible. I've tried a bunch of treats/toys and this one holds up the best and keeps her interested long term. Can't say how well this will work for a daily/constant chewer cuz luckily my dog is happy to pick it up a few times a week for an hour or so and then forget about it.

First, what a cutie. I hope he never grows into those ears. They’re huge and adorable.

So.. You have so many options. Everything from simple toys (like the wobble kong or the tricky treat ball) to more complex puzzles (like the mad scientist or the mini mover). If your pup is pretty smart, & the fact he’s border collie/gsd suggests he probably is, he might really enjoy the mental work out the more challenging puzzles present.

If eating too quick is your main worry and you don’t always have time for feeding toys you can also get bowls specifically designed to slow dogs down. Just search “dog slow feeder bowls” on google/amazon. (The outward hound bowls are great.)

Fetch, like others have mentioned and basically just letting him chase me or my bf around. The biggest help we've had is giving him his food in a ball (I'm on mobile, hope that worked.) We give his entire meal at night in one and it can make a HUGE difference.

Edit: We also have been doing a lot of training with him, which definitely keeps his brain engaged and focused.

Hiya!
A Lily by any other name is still a beautiful little puppy
I have 2 pups that I love to death and this would be a perfect gift for them :)
For a 4 month old pup, beware of the teeting and biting. the puppy will gnaw through your furniture so make sure you have something chewy to keep the dog busy :). Lastly, congratulations on your new addition to the family!

• Labs are notoriously fast eaters, so maybe a puzzle toy? Here are some good ones: 1, 2, 3. You can also never have enough Kongs, and they're sold at big box pet stores.
  
• A cool fetch toy might be fun too, like a Chuckit or a Ball-on-a-Rope. You can find Chuckit products at the big box pet stores. I like the ball-on-a-rope for training...I can throw it, tug with it, dangle it like a flirt pole, and it fits in my pocket. This Frisbee is good for training too because I can fold it up and put it in my pocket. Plus it glows in the dark and floats!

Just for some toy recommendations... my dog loves these and also likes to shred her toys.

KONG Genius

Walmart Sumo (KONG Dupe)

Elk Antlers

Puzzle Toy

All of these take some thinking (except for the antler which is just oh so fun to chew) and should be super fun for her! I like to fill the KONG and Sumo with treats and peanut butter and freeze overnight to make them super difficult.

1. Ferret math means you'll rarely have one animal. I'm not just saying this to be cute; ferrets are extremely social animals, and if you don't (or can't) provide them with regular interaction they will not be happy, healthy creatures. Please do consider a pair of ferrets; the upkeep isn't significantly greater and it will be a better experience for both animals. That all being said, the Ferret Nation Habitat is a very popular and sturdy cage for one or two animals. They also sell a dual-level model, and these can be expanded with additional units.
   
2. You'll get a great deal of discussion about this. My personal preference is SwheatScoop unscented. It is a wheat-based clumping litter with low dust and, as a bonus, can be safely flushed down the toilet. Should you go looking at other options you'll want to be sure to avoid anything with perfumes/scents, and anything clay-based.
   
3. My ferrets adore and thrive on Wellness CORE original formula. Don't balk at the price; it takes my three ferrets about about 4-6 weeks to go through a 12 lb bag so you're looking at about 33¢ per ferret per day. There are other options out there; avoid anything that isn't at least 35% meat-based protein, anything that has sugar or sweeteners, and anything that has grain or grain product as the primary ingredient.
   
4. Treats are tricky as you don't want to give them anything that's patently unhealthy. In the past (before I knew better) I would give my ferrets Honey Nut Cheerios, peanut butter, raisins, and a bunch of other things. They loved it but it really wasn't healthy for them at all. Most ferrets like a squirt of Ferretone every now and then. Freeze-dried meats and jerky products are good, but again avoid things with added sugars and salt (honey and molasses finds its way into many pet jerky products). Once in awhile I'll slip my ferrets a little bit of cooked hamburger or roasted turkey but that's hit or miss. Remember: Ferrets are total carnivores!
   
   Though you didn't ask, I'll volunteer: Be very careful when giving your ferret(s) toys to play with. Avoid anything made of foam, for example; chewed pieces can get caught in their intestinal tract and cause serious problems. For similar reasons, avoid anything that has pieces which can be chewed off (e.g., a plastic eye); anything with plastic bits (like ribbons); and all kinds of squeaky toys and things made of thin rubber. Good toys: Cardboard tubes and boxes. Ping-pong balls. Super Thru-Way. Cotton rope toys. Large towels. Small cotton unadorned stuffed animals.

We use the large KONG Extreme Dog Toy, Medium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GUDZO2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sQ81AbHCEGYVC, trixies flipboard 2 TRIXIE Pet Products Flip Board, Level 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_RR81AbJEX56X9. treat ball OurPets IQ Treat Ball Interactive Food Dispensing Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARUKTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oS81AbJ0XDRE8, a treat hiding thing Dog Smart Treat Dispensing Dog Toy Brain and Exercise Game for Dogs by Nina Ottosson https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711Y9Y8W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_MS81AbJWBH0TC, a rolling nibble kibble PetSafe Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble Meal Dispensing Dog Toy, Medium/Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F0RRUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FT81AbYG9PW7N, a self toy KONG Rambler Ball, Large (colors vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BBGRT4Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wU81AbYC200R4, and a large tug a jug PetSafe Medium/Large Sportsmen Tug A Jug Pet Chew Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K4KZ8M0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_LV81AbFBTP67F.

The kong I use spread treats inside because dry treats last only a few seconds.

Trixies flipboard is low to meh at getting her attention, sometimes she doesnt care for the food to bother with it.

Iq treat ball she finds a way to break, pushing into a wall, chomping on it, the moment you look away.

The hide a treat thing is easy for her.

The nibble kibble is the same as the treat ball.

The kong rambler she easily pulls the ball from its station and the toy is moot, now its just a ball.

The tug a jug becomes a weapon that she whips around until it smashes open.

The one thing I have noticed that can keep her attention is a pile of wood we have outside. Inside that pile of wood is chipmunks and squirrels that she messes with until I call her over. I'm thinking that she enjoys live toys? Or does she it as just something for her to herd.

Start with clicker training and free-shaping, since he seems curious and driven. I like 101 things to do with a box.

Toy recommendations:

• Pickle pocket
  
• Snoop
  
• Food cube
  
  Impulse control exercises:
  
  
• Doggie zen
  
• Wait & release
  
• Impulse control exercises
  
  Essentially, you want your dog to "ask permission" before doing things. Do lots of eye contact exercises. I did a lot of the things on kikopup's youtube channel when I got my dog. If you keep at it, you'll eventually have a dog that looks at you once he recognizes a distraction.
  
  What kind of treats are you using? I love using Easy Cheese (aerosol can) as my highest-level reward. You can put some on a wooden spoon and give the dog a tiny lick of it as a treat. Very few dogs don't go crazy for it.

We alternate between the Kong Wobbler, the Buster Cube, and the IQ Ball every morning for breakfast. The wobbler is definitely the easiest, the cube is definitely the hardest, and the IQ ball is Sequoia's favorite (but she loves balls of any kind, so no real surprise there).

The total surprise winner was the Pickle! I was convinced it would be torn to shreds in minutes, but it has held up well! It doesn't last super long, but it is easy enough to just stick a little more peanut butter and some more kibble in when she is done.

Mine is 9 months old. I work from home and still enforce naps and have her in her crate for roughly 4 hours each day during my work day; sometimes a little more if she's being too unruly. It's just not feasible for me to keep an eye on her constantly despite being home. And quite frankly wasn't fair to me; I need a break from her too once in awhile despite how much I love her. Watching a puppy is also work, and trying to do both my work and the work of watching her at the same time was too tough. And my pup doesn't always settle on her own when she sees that I'm doing other stuff. Sometimes her nap is broken up into 2 2 hour naps, and other times it's a solid 4 hour chunk. I let her sleep until I see she's awake; I have a webcam pointed in her crate and I cast the image to the TV closest to me so I can keep an eye on her.

As far as keeping her occupied when she's awake, I use bully sticks, nylabones, kongs stuffed with string cheese, and an Orbee Tuff puzzle ball stuffed with chicken jerky which keeps her occupied for usually a couple hours at the least. Orbee Tuff: https://www.amazon.com/Planet-Dog-Interactive-Dispensing-Puzzle/dp/B00EE1660O chicken jerky: https://www.costco.com/Top-Chews-Chicken-Jerky-Fillets-Recipe-100%25-Natural-Dog-Treats.product.100246298.html definitely not how the Orbee Tuff is supposed to be used but I tear the chicken jerky pieces in half and put them inside the ball and they're super hard to get out. They're a high value treat for her though so she stays at it. I try to keep toys out for her that are mostly rubber and not soft, so I don't have to be constantly staring at her to make sure she isn't pulling out strings or stuffing from soft toys.

I also moved her crate from our family room (was in there per the advice of this sub so the dog 'wouldn't feel left out from the pack since they're so social' or something like that...worst advice ever for us) into our guest bedroom. I cover her crate with a blanket, close the door, and have a white noise machine running in there so she can't hear me when I'm on a call. Moving her crate was by far the most beneficial thing I've ever done for her I think. She sleeps more soundly and is so much better behaved overall. Her demand barking when awake and out of her crate pretty much stopped after I moved her crate. I'm chalking it up to her actually getting restful sleep for once and not feeling like she's missing out or being disturbed by what's going on around her. 🤷

Sure!

My partner built him something like this.

I also got him these two puzzles that I only give him when I'm home, just for safety reasons: this "level 2" one that he solved in 30 seconds and this "level 3" one that he hasn't quite gotten the opening drawer part down yet.

He also has this treat ball that he LOVES, but I don't recommend if you live in an apartment/condo with hard floors.

His favorite that he carries around and chucks down our stairs to open is this mushroom.

He also gets kongs with peanut butter in them.

Amazon gets a lot of my money. Lol.

• IQ Ball
  
  
• Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
  
  
• Buster Cube
  
  
• Tug a Jug
  
  
• Jolly Egg (not a treat dispenser, but a good self amuse-r)
  
  
• Kong Wobbler
  
  
• Kibble Nibble
  
  
• Cagey Cube (good for sticking your dogs favorite ball or toy into)
  
  
• Kongs (if you don't have some already)
  
  
• Any Nina Ottosson toy - but they are best with supervision. There are a lot of small pieces with some of them.

Kong wobbler

I feed my dog half in her bowl, half in the wobbler and she loves it. She’s a picky eater, but loves to play. So it was perfect for us.

Aww nothing worse than waking up to animal vomit! My puppy, now 2 years old, was such a chewer... chewed through many computer cords, bottom of our dresser, socks and underwear, corner of baseboards, rails under our bed. She did eventually grow out of it, we did exactly what you are planning to do scolded her as we saw it happening and tried keeping everything out of her reach. I also ordered a ton of chew toys until we figured out what she liked -- check out amazon, I found their prices way better than the pet store. My pup loves this one https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M/ . She sleeps in our bedroom at night, no crate, and we close the door so she isn't out getting into trouble. Seemed like if she had gotten plenty of play time before bed she slept through the night and didn't chew on our furniture :) Only time we have issues now, which is really rare, is if she is bored and doesn't have a bone to chew on. Good luck!!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Pet-Products-FT-190-Thru-Way/dp/B0002DJL0K I pretty sure its one of these! But the link you sent could be a pretty awesome alternative :D THANK YOU!

This purple squirrel treat puzzle toy was suggested to me on this subforum a while back, and has been very good for my ACD. He and his older Boston Terrier brother love it to death, and yet haven’t come close to tearing it apart like they do with almost any other toy.

As for chews, antlers are great. My ACD loves them. It’s just a matter of being able to find them for cheap.

We bought a puzzle feeding bowl and never looked back, they are cheap on amazon, under $10. If your dog is high energy (mine is) then it’s perfectly fine to feed all meals in devices that make your dog work for the food (this advice came from our trainer). It helps tire them out and they eat slower. It’s very common for us to feed our dog from this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001F0RRUA/ref=mp_s_a_1_27?ie=UTF8&qid=1524460063&sr=8-27&keywords=dog+treat+ball . I know the reviews are not amazing but the small one works great for our dog. I do not recommend the large, it comes unscrewed to easy. A lot of people like the kong wobbler but our dog doesn’t get it. Frozen Kong’s only work for us if it’s a mix of wet food and dry. We have this one too which works well but is a bit of a pain to fill an entire meal in. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003YHB8EI/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1524460313&sr=8-15&keywords=dog+treat+dispenser

I used to have two single units strapped together side-by-side and I loved it. I loved the full 6 foot length of floor space that allowed them to run back and forth at mach speeds.

The dark gray liners that match the cage color look really slick.

Question; the clear ferret tube (Marshall Super Thru-Way?)... does it smell? I bought a similar tube from the hardware store and it smelled so terrible I just threw it away. I've read some reviews by people complaining about the smell. Have you noticed that or should I go ahead and get one?

My dog (pit mix) who has destroyed every toy I’ve ever bought her has yet to destroy this one and we’re 6 months in. Goughnuts - TuG Interactive Large Dog Toy - MaXX Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBQ12QW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_0WSVDb6SFTKSS

I actually bought a second one to keep at my parent’s house who watch her for me sometimes. I love it. It’s also great for tug with her. Ropes she’ll destroy sometimes and if I play tug with a rope she’ll keep biting up to get a better purchase which sometimes puts your hand at risk. With this I don’t know if it’s because it’s thicker or the rubber but she can’t keep that purchase and she doesn’t get anywhere near my hand. And it bounces great when I toss it. I was at first reluctant to spend $30 when I figured she’d just chew it up but even if I had to buy twice a year totally worth it.

1. Stuffed moose
   
   
2. IQ Treat Ball (she gets kibble in it)
   
   
3. Kong Wobbler (more kibble)
   
   
4. Treat & Train (still more kibble)
   
   
5. Snuffle mat (have I mentioned kibble?)
   
   So yeah, the only toy that has held her interest despite its inability to dispense food is the stuffed moose. I've actually put all the rest of her toys away in hopes of someday reintroducing them and having them seem novel again.

I feel ya! My two consider it a personal challenge, it seems, to destroy even the most highly rated chew toy! In the end, I've found investing in a few slightly more expensive ones that are more durable is a little cheaper in the long run.

Mine make short work of black kongs, so I did a little shopping around to find something more durable.

• Galileo bones they like (after two chipped teeth I no longer give them antlers)
  
• "unbreakoball" is a fun, tough ball that they can still get a grip on and pack around. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004KA85SA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485927690&sr=8-1&keywords=unbreakoball
  
• "goghnuts" brand toys are our fave. They have a "donut" and stick. The donuts last longer in our house (I've had one 3 years), but they seem to prefer the stick. The black ones are tougher than the green. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0042JJB82/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485928001&sr=8-1&keywords=goughnuts
  
  Good luck!

My border collie mix loves this! If he loves tug he should love that

Super congrats on the new and better job!!! Great contest! ^^^^Not ^^^^really ^^^^I'm ^^^^being ^^^^sarcastic!!!

^^^I'm ^^^not ^^^actually ^^^kidding ^^^or ^^^being ^^^sarcastic!

I just wanted something to go with Jim Carrey's look. I swear I didn't mean the first part in tiny words!!!

I don't know if you have prime or not, but if you do there is this dog bone under ten dollars. If you don't have prime let me know and I'll find something else if the shipping is too much. That is, if I win.

Hey there,
So your dog sounds like someone who would really love puzzle toys. They are toys that can keep dogs occupied for a while since the way the toy administers treats really varies so the dog will keep at it. A good one that isn't too expensive that my dog loves is this one from amazon. It has an adjustable hole so you can control how often food/treats will come out of the ball. Just keep in mind it's made out of a hard plastic so it may make noise when it gets knocked into things. If this concerns you, another toy I would suggest is this one which is also on amazon. It's a little more expensive but it does the same thing as the first one I listed and it has rubber bumpers around it so it won't make as much noise. Hope this helps!

I have a 2 year old yellow lab. We had exactly the same problem. Tried all sorts of things and got down to mouthy biting when he was super excited - playing, someone comes to the door, etc.

What finally worked was we found a plush toy that he really liked, that was fairly durable and every time he got excited, he wasn't allowed to proceed until he put a soft toy in his mouth. We started with - someone comes to the door - he's not allowed to say hello until he has a toy.

Now, doorbell rings, he grabs a toy and runs to the door. Even without the toy the biting has stopped (with age, possibly) but the toy stopped our friends from getting welcome bites as he got through the phase.

The only possilbe downside is that he looks like a goof when he's excited, with a plushie hanging out of his face. It seems to be a bit of a security blanket for him - I've seen him angry bark at a squirrel, look around, grab a periwinkle dinosaur in his face, continue to try and angry bark at the squirrel through the plushie - he will never intimidate an intruder.


These are his favourite brand of plushes. He does get through them eventually, if left to chew (and I have to leave them out so he is in control of grabbing them when excited), but I just accept it as a cost, we're currently on our 5th in 2 years.

The Kong Wobbler and Bobs-a-lot are great toys. I also use a Tricky Treat ball a lot. My dogs also really love the Snoop.

You could also try the Tug-a-Jug, Kibble Nibble, or Buster Cube.

I have been meaning to try GoughNuts, they're supposed to be indestructible and they promise to replace the toy if your dog does destroy it.

My dogs' three outdoor toys have lasted really well so far, but I think they don't really chew on them, just fetch and tug.

We have:

Jolly Ball Teaser

JW Invincible Chain

Mammoth Tire Biter (This is my dogs' favorite toy to fetch, they love chasing it while it's rolling.)

For indoor toys, the only things that last are antlers, big Nylabones, and ropes (they only chew the fringes off quickly). Anything soft dies really quickly. I just bought them a stuffingless toy and a Kong Wubba yesterday, the stuffingless toy is mostly dead but the Wubba is doing alright. It's only been one day but one of my dogs adopted the Wubba and has squeaked it nonstop since she got ahold of it; if she's not holding it in her mouth, she's laying so one of her paws is touching it, so I'm impressed with how long it's lasted already.

Haha, yep! We know whenever we give her a tennis ball that it's being sacrificed. We have a couple of Kongs, and we've also been really impressed with these bones - it's basically a nylabone, but with a bacon flavor (they have peanut butter, too). Her previous one lasted her about 6 months, and she seems to love it - it's the only toy she'll chew on regularly.

Yes, gonoughts! It's the ONLY toy my friend's 80lb pit bull can't destroy. They have a lifetime warranty and interestingly the first version we got from Amazon did get chewed up in a couple weeks. After I sent it back the replacement they sent is is INDESTRUCTIBLE. That dog chews on it every day and has hardly made a dent in it after more than a year. I think the original version was some kind of cheaper rubber and they sent me the real thing when they realized I was going to use the warranty.

Hmm..Make sure it's something yummy - maybe try something you haven't before ie - peanut butter if you use wet dog food, my dog loves plain cream cheese and yogurt in his (low fat/fat free). Some dogs also just might not enjoy the kong for one reason or another, there's plenty of other food puzzles. My pup's favorite non-kong food dispenser is the magic mushroom

Cake Party

Arts

If you haven't seen this show yet you really really should

For my puppy

Thank you for the contest. I didn't know what price range to go with so I just linked items of varying cost, hope that's ok. :)

I don’t use those in particular, my current go tos are the tug a jug, Magic mushroom, and game changer.

I usually show him that kibble comes out and let him go to town. If he seems to be having trouble, I’ll usually show him every couple of minutes what to do but he usually picks it up pretty quick.

I introduced him to them pretty much as soon as I brought him home at 9 weeks. He very rarely gets a meal in a bowl. It’s pretty much training and puzzle toys when I’m feeling lazy.

Do you have another dog who the puppy would be sleeping near in his crate out of your bedroom? Dogs are pack animals and want to be with their people or other dogs.

I would be feeding him all his meals in the crate. You can get some of these puppy kongs and soak some of his kibble to soften it up then stick it inside the kong and freeze it. It'll take him 20-30 minutes to eat his food that way.

If you start with feeding him with the crate door open, then move to feeding him with the door closed, then go in and out of the room while he's eating, then move up to feeding him and leaving the room. You should be able to Google frozen kong and crate games for some more ideas about how this works.

Signing him up for a puppy kindergarten class is a good way to learn about these and other issues that you just haven't started having yet. Most puppies go through a lot of the same problems so teacher should be a good resource and the best thing that you can do for your puppy right now is to get him socialized (just please don't take him to the dog park).

Are you looking for zero treat toys or just "less" treats? Are you giving her an empty Kong?

For treat-less, my pup kinda likes the Benebone. Every couple days he'll play with a ball by himself; he'll throw it in the air, then run to catch it. You can also try split elk antlers too if you consider that treat-less.

My pup used to not like Kongs either until we found the right canned food. Now it'll keep him busy for about 45 minutes. We fill them with stuff like Merricks 96% Beef and freeze it. That way you can use it as a meal too and not worry about over-treating.

Are any of those toys puzzles that work her brain instead of her body? They need mental exercise too, not just physical, and sometimes getting overly tired physically can make a dog act more goofy mentally.

If you don't have puzzles for her, I'd look for a black Kong to start and feed some of her dinner out of it. They're nice for bullies b/c the dog can't just bite it open and spill all the food out after 30 seconds like a lot of plastic toys that stand up to smaller dogs for years. :D Gotta love "bully strong"!

You can also make an inexpensive answer to The Mad Scientist with water or 2 liter pop bottles, a dowel rod from the craft section of a department store, and a couple pieces of wood or a ladder. Here's a video of how it works with a Belgian Malinois, which is another SUPER intensely high-energy, and thinking, breed of dog.

Dogs still have the instinct to chase and beat something up before they eat. BUT, dogs and wolves living wild also have to pull apart a carcass before they can eat it, so that kind of problem-solving, fine-motor-skill play (taking apart stuffed toys, shaking the thunder out of a sock with a tennis ball in the toe, whatever) can do wonders for a hyper pup too. :)

Dog puzzle feeders.
My dog gets his dinner from toys everyday. I rotate between OurPets IQ Puzzle Ball, Kong Wobbler, Magic Mushroom, and Tug a Jug, since those are the slowest dispensing as well as easiest to fill. I also have a load of other ones but found them to be too easy for him (One minute to empty Buster Cube on "hardest" difficulty vs average 20 minutes from the toys I mentioned). I used them everyday for about 5 to 6 years and never had to replace them.( Then again, my dog is not much of a chewer of hard plastic.) My dog LOVES getting his food from toys to the point of actually almost refusing to eat while giving me a very sad disappointed face when I just put it in his bowl. He has fun and they tire him out (he is panting after every meal). Win for me.

Oh you poor thing, I hope you are feeling better. This is my fluffball Atilla the Hun (bottom dog) he is a Bichon Frise and thinks hes a person!

He looks like a teddy bear too! Chew toy he loves here

toys that are mentally stimulating. Corgis are smart and get bored with toys that are too boring. Get some toys or puzzles that can keep their interest and/or last a long time.

My boy Frank likes nylabones that come in different shapes and flavors, Kongs with peanut butter, and toys that you roll around for food. We give him meals in a Kong Wobbler so he doesn't eat to fast and he has fun with it. The small size works well for a corgi. http://amzn.com/B004NSVIRY

The herding/nipping instinct they have from being bred to be herding dogs can be annoying. From my experience and others I've talked to, they just grow out of it. A vet tech, who's had corgis all her life, suggested getting those cheap inflated bouncy balls that they sell at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc.. that are kept in those big bins. Your corgi can herd those instead of you. It seemed to work for Frank.

You should also have an enzyme based cleaner for accidents during potty training. The enzymes break up the particles and get rid of the smell better than other cleaners so they won't be tempted to use it as a permanent potty stop.

I think it's going to be hard training the way a dog eats. Not sure if there are any strategies for that, but I'm sure someone can chime in about that.

As for products, try some treat dispensing toys like the Kong Wobbler or the Snoot toy. I think some people have said the hole to the Kong Wobbler is too big and dispenses too many treats/kibble at once, but you can put some masking/duct tape to cover half the hole to slow down how much food comes out. I switch between a slow feeder bowl and puzzle toys when feeding Oreo who wolfs down food.

Feste's the same way with his toys. He had the gopher version of the piggy, and poor Malvolio died within a week :(

There are a couple toys that we've had for a long time, though.

1.) Kong makes a few good toys for "extreme chewers." They're usually black and smell like rubber, but they've held up. We have a ball and a treat dispensing Kong like this.

2.) Rope toys don't last, but one Invincible Chain from JW has lasted us several months (I even wrote a review on it).

Oh, and here's Feste (when he was a puppy) with Malvolio

Most Labs do tend to eat with gusto. Make sure he's getting enough food. They do make some different food bowls to supposedly slow dogs down.

Interactive slow pet feeder

Skidstop slow feeder bowl

Gobble stopper bowl addition

Buster dog maze

I personally have had success with the treat type balls.

Kong wobbler

Kibble Nibbler

I would try with amazon if it’s not too late. this is a great treat ball, made of rubber and it has got also some accessories to make the game more challenging!

Is it one of those standing showers with a door? I had to move from a bathtub (which my dog loves) to one of those. Luckily, we got a detachable shower-head, so I just sit on the floor and let him rest his chin on my shoulder while I rinse him and get him all sudsy, when he needs something to sit on him for a bit we just turn off the shower and sit there for that time and wait with him resting his head and then rinse. There are also things like this that you can fill up with something yummy and stick to the shower wall.

First, your forever friend is adorable! Lucy is a lucky, happy dog!

For the item : GoDog Chew Toys seem to work pretty well for overly active chewers. Plus, if he destroys it they have a policy where you email them a pic of the destroyed toy and they'll send you a replacement for free (limit 1 per household). Link to the Guarantee

Anyway. Not sure if this counts.. but here's Quasar being quite the gentleman in his bowtie and DayStar being a mighty beast in hunter mode. Both pictures!

The hydrogen peroxide was a good call. I don't have much experience with my grey eating things so I'm not sure whether you should take him to the vet or not at this point. Seems like maybe just keep an eye on him.

But as for you second question - I bought this Buster Food Cube puzzle toy for our girl since she's home alone all day and she started to get into a few things and she LOVES it. Knocking this around the living room is probably the highlight of her day. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A23HZK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also putting treats and biscuits in her Kong that are really hard to get out can keep her busy for a long time too.

Pet store, this is the over priced Marshal stuff most pet stores have. But it works great as a clear tube. If you must have clear, any pet store will do, or you can get it here:

http://smile.amazon.com/Marshall-Pet-Products-FT-190-Thru-Way/dp/B0002DJL0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414617745&sr=8-1&keywords=ferret+tunnel

Yeah, it's juuuust enough to almost go back to sleep.

I'm thinking I should set my alarm earlier and get up in time for a 45-60 minute walk, I think he could use a tad more. Right now my pup is 9 months, but when he's a bit older I'm hoping to switch to a 30 min run.

I switch between this toy and this[feeder] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPKNRF0/ref=twister_B00IHCS3K20 , (the green one,) but lately I have been doing half and half. On a side note, damn, it's way cheaper on Amazon than my local pet store. It's mostly to keep him occupied for a while longer and hopefully it's at least slightly mentally stimulating. It takes maybe 10 minutes for him to eat from the feeder and 15-20 minutes for the toy (which is sort of noisy.)

My lab/pit Ella can't go to dog parks either as she's leash reactive (so like, actually getting her to the dog park is the issue) but she's young so she has craaaazy energy! We feed her both of her meals in either her kong wobbler or her "magic mushroom", we switch it up on her a lot so she doesn't get bored of the same puzzle feeder over and over. She's a pretty heavy chewer and hasn't been able to destroy either one!

We also freeze kongs for her pretty much every day, we'll put cottage cheese (her favorite) or broth with some cut up apples in it. Like I said earlier, she's a power chewer! So this keeps her mouth busy. She also gets beef trachea, nylabones, Himalayan chews and bully sticks. Chewing wears her out because she stays so focused.

The other thing we do is looooots of mental stimulation. We play hide and seek in the house, we'll hide her toys for her to find them, we do lots and lots of training, and we just try our hardest to make her use her brain! Our trainer once said 15 minutes of training is equal to 45 minutes of running in terms of exhaustion, so we've taken that and rolled with it lol.

ETA: here's a link to the magic mushroom on amazon! https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Buddy-Mushroom-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B00520EJXW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506283184&sr=8-1&keywords=magic+mushroom+dog+toy

Puzzle toys: Odin, KONG Genius Mike, KONG Genius Leo, are a few simple ones.

Since you live in a condo, sounds like you are going to need to carry your dog down the stairs for now. Nothing else to be done really.

X-pens are great! 30-60 seconds sounds good. Don't want to do longer. Though I prefer removing myself from the puppy for crazy biting.

My little guy has jaws of steel, too, but I've had some success with the Tuffy ring series and the goDog plush toys. Supposedly they have this special "chew guard technology" that makes them more resistant. Going on 6 months with both brands toys and all of my purchases are still relatively intact!

The Kong Wobbler was perfect for my pup with the same problem. The dog has to paw the dispenser to get any food out so it's great for getting energy out too! The hole is fairly large, so it's pretty easy for the food to just fall out when the dog tilts it, but I put tape on the inside to adjust the hole size, and I can keep my high energy pup eating & playing for 15-30 min! Oh and the small size can hold up to 1.5-2 cups of kibble and is plenty big, even for large dogs.

I just got two of these
https://smile.amazon.com/KONG-Puppy-Kong-Small-Assorted/dp/B0002AR18C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496790665&sr=8-1&keywords=puppy+kong

And one of these
https://smile.amazon.com/KONG-StuffN-Treat-8-Ounce-Puppy/dp/B0009YD7P2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496790691&sr=8-1&keywords=puppy+kong+stuffing

Although like I said, sometimes we use small dabs of peanut butter. I got two so that I could switch them out - so he can have one to chew on (empty) during the day and one in the freezer. I've never had a chewer before, so this was my first experience with Kongs, and so far, they're great!

First make sure she isn't sick. Second make sure her kibble is a good food.

My bulldog isn't a big eater. Putting the food in a snuffle mat or a feeder toy can help, it makes eating more fun. My go-to is using a food stand (mainly to reduce chance of bloat) and mixing her food with healthy treats. I use canned pumpkin (Libby's 100%), egg, plain nonfat yogurt, cottage cheese, honey, peanut butter, blueberries, chicken/beef broth, carrots, or apple. Of course, not all of it at once. I've noticed if she's being fed the same thing for too long she gets tired of eating it. I can't blame her, I do the same thing.

Another suggestion is leaving her food down for ten minutes and if she doesn't eat it, put the food up. I haven't personally done this method, but I've heard it works.

Did you mean only outings or things you can do at home, too? We have a homemade agility course in the backyard. There are some good videos on YouTube about how to make your own inexpensive course. Alternatively you could do a rally course with just cones or similar markers. We also like interactive toys like this one.

My dog loves her Kong Wobbler.
https://www.amazon.com/KONG-PW1-Wobbler-Large/dp/B004NSVIRY/

I feed her twice daily, each time I give 3/4 of her meal on a snuff mat and 1/4 of it in the wobbler.

She's a GSP. A velcro dog that loves her people. But in the morning, when it's time for us to leave for work, she's practically pushing us out the door so she can have her wobbler.

My chis love the Kong Wobbler. And it's dishwasher safe.

https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Wobbler-Treat-Dispensing-Large/dp/B004NSVIRY

my boston would use the shirts as a new toy. His 3rd favorite thing involves me throwing the toy across the apartment for him to chase. So, in the same spirit of leostotch's idea, I have put a semi hard treat inside some of his toys. This will occupy him from 30min to an hour. Works well for the socal heat wave season.

https://www.amazon.ca/Goughnuts-Interactive-Large-MaXX-Black/dp/B00MBQ12QW/ref=pd_sim_199_1?tag=thehappypuppycan-20&_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00MBQ12QW&pd_rd_r=ZBT2A2H88C7Z1N9014EM&pd_rd_w=Iu844&pd_rd_wg=US6O4&psc=1&refRID=ZBT2A2H88C7Z1N9014EM
I have good success with these !

It depends on the toy, and the dog. You do want to supervise them at first, to make sure that they won't just chew it to bits; most dogs are smart enough to figure it out after a little encouragement, but some try to chew the toy(s) open. A Kong or something frozen in a block of ice like /u/ifragbunniez suggested would be good, or here are a couple others I found:

http://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Kibble-Nibble-Dispensing-Medium/dp/B001F0RRUA - $11.87

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DK26M/ - $5.32

Awesome, just bought one. For those interested, you can't purchase from their website, get them here (Amazon prime).

Puppy Kong. They're the perfect size for ferrets. My girls steal it and hide it because it's their favorite thing in the world. Also, be sure to yelp when they bite you. That's how ferrets convey to each other that the play is too rough.

My mom'a husky mix likes this treat dispenser rope thing and I've had several large breed fosters like this egg treat dispenser thing

I think what works for your dog probably depends on his preferences and chew intensity. If you're not solely interested in treat/food dispensers, you might look into some of the scent training aids. You can buy animal scents in liquid form, and you basically put a few drops on a piece of scrap fabric and hide it as a game. My beagle loved it when he was younger. I put it in a kong or kong-like toy then hide the toy. Of course, I'd never leave it hidden unattended. They still have scent hound competitions so there's quite a bit of information out there about training.

I'm sad because I'm still recovering from my last back procedure and have to have another one on Tuesday. My buddy Tater could really use Nylabone Dura Chew Regular Bone Dog Chew Toy Value Pack because he hangs out with me all the time while I'm stuck at the house. He cheers me up so much that I'm committed to starting to walk him next year after I heal up. Merry Christmas!

I have a papillion chihuahua mix who just turned 2. If it were up to him I would play fetch all day long. When I need him to keep busy independently, I have a couple things I try:

Bully sticks. Sometimes he's into it, sometimes not. Depends on the day. Some days he'll chew on a bully stick for over an hour.

Puzzle toys like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-41008-Flapper-Training/dp/B006ZTTSOE/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1463561315&sr=8-16&keywords=dog+puzzle

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NSVIRY/ref=twister_B009NMOZKM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1463561410&sr=8-25&keywords=dog+puzzle


I also rotate his toys, he loves digging through and discovering the "new" toys.

Other times I put him in his crate. This is usually when he's had exercise and play time, but is not calming down any time soon. It's funny because it takes about 5 minutes before he's fast asleep in his crate!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TOKTEG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is this one, the tubs are on a bar and he has to stretch up and knock them over to get food out. Takes several attempts on each vial to get them all

The other one I have is
https://www.amazon.com/TRIXIE-Pet-Products-Board-Level/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=pd_bxgy_199_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0054Q9TMA&pd_rd_r=02QJ894NE5TTNMNNYZST&pd_rd_w=vV3KY&pd_rd_wg=A544N&psc=1&refRID=02QJ894NE5TTNMNNYZST

Which he loves as well. Then one of those balls that drops treats as they roll it.

You may want to try to feed her using a food ball. Here is the one I use and my high energy dog loves it.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001F0RRUA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1408731182&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40

Also take a look at "Wobbler" and "UFO" .. we have all of those, only had to replace them maybe once every 18 months or so (but they get daily use) .. rotate them so he doesn't get bored. Fill this one with Peanut Butter (smear it on the inside with the back of a spoon) you can throw it in the freezer first for an hour to stiffen the spread to make it last longer of course. And actually that is a small advantage of the ones that have the two separate parts that unscrew for cleaning (unlike RFB) .. you can add something in to them that is messy (PB) and its cool cuz you can easily clean them later. The PB makes them freaking insane for w/e is in there. So you put the snacks inside and just ONE with a little dab of PB (or cheez whizz) on it and the PB actually makes the whole process of getting them out more difficult .. so its good play for them. The only down side to those top two is that they are louder than RFB cuz hard plastic. Enjoy!

This is all great. I think you have a good chance at success with some tips here and some hard work. One thing you didn't mention in this update post is food toys. Freezing in a kong takes extra time but isn't tiring for their brain or body. You could invest in a couple feeder toys that will work his brain and make him move around during mealtimes, and lots of them are actually less work than freezing a kong. For example:

Kong wobbler
Mushroom toy

If you can supervise him outside, you can also just scatter his kibble and make him sniff it out to eat. Using his nose to find food will wear out his brain really, really fast!

Marshall Super Thru-Way https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJL0K/ (We have the ball pit too because I got it on sale).

The tube is super stretchy. It says 15 feet on the box, but it can go closer to 20. If you have plastic chewers it won't last, but that isn't an issue for us.

Only negative - take it out of the box and let it air out for about 3-4 days to get rid of the smell of the plastic before using it. It stores neatly in the box it came in. :)

Get him a https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M

Also had luck with sour apple spray.

edit, adding: really the biggest thing that worked for us was providing ample and attractive alternatives.

How about a treat dispensing toy?

IQ Ball

Omega Tricky Treat Ball

Planet Dog Mazee

Busy Buddy Magic Mushroom

Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble

Busy Buddy Tug a Jug

Kong Wobbler

Bob-a-Lot

I just want to echo that lethargy and vomiting are signs that you need to see a vet.

Also, eating items can be pretty dangerous, so I would consider crating her when you can't supervise. It seems like maybe she is bored, and since you want her to gain weight I would try some food dispensing toys like Squirrel Dude.

We bought our goldendoodle some puzzle toys. These help a lot. Unfortunately he has figured them out and just solves it in seconds now lol.

https://www.amazon.com/TRIXIE-Pet-Products-Board-Level/dp/B0054Q9TMA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518452513&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+puzzle&dpID=416kgbG3sHL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch


https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Mad-Scientist-Dogs-Level/dp/B003TOKTEG/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1518452513&sr=8-9&keywords=dog+puzzle

This in the only toy that my pup hasn't destroyed. It has been her go-to toy for nearly two years now and it is not damaged at all. Oh and it's perfect for tug since you both get something to grab on to!

I have my adorable little kitty, Munchie! She's a silly kitty. We names her as we did because when she was a baby, she was mildly feral and would eat anything and also steal food.

Item for her!

Item for you!

Thanks for the contest!

Finn plays with most of his toys on a big area rug. He knows to pick it up and take it back to the rug when it rolls off. I taught him by picking up his toys and taking them back to the rug every time they fell off. He eventually got the picture.

Even so, our favorite toys are soft rubber ones. The Omega Paw Tricky Treat ball is great, and so is the Orbee Tuff Snoop. To make the Snoop harder, you can buy another ball to put inside it.

I feed out of a wobbler or a mushroom, i would highly suggest these over a slow feeder, unless maybe your dog is really senior. There are a variety of slow feeders, ranging from ones with a simple ball placed in the middle to ones that are quite tight and like puzzle map, you will only know what your dog can do by trial and error. Mine definitely can get in to small creases, but she has a very short tongue and so anything long (like a PB jar) she really can't get through. And yes, my dogs face would be flat against it.

we do go through a lot of soft toys. my dogs like to "seek the squeak". but I have found if I get large sized soft toys like those made by Go Dog, Tuffies, that my dog cannot easy close their jaws around, they last longer. Also balls from planet dog do well.

Then I get the petstages antler and stick. I don't like the really hard nylabones and stay away from antlers or anything really hard because my one corgi cracked some teeth and had 3 removed.

I also just tried the https://www.amazon.com/Benebone-Bacon-Flavored-Wishbone-Chew/dp/B00CPDWT2M?th=1 for my dog

They seem to like it.

Room or walk in closet? Whatever works right?
Tubes and Dig Box. Hands down. You can even cheat, by putting socks in a box and calling it a day. Don't buy play sand, I don't like rice, I personally prefer biodegradable non-toxic packing peanuts. Tubes aren't too bad if you buy online, Pet stores are insanely over priced. This isn't too bad as you get free Shipping with Prime https://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Pet-Products-FT-190-Thru-Way/dp/B0002DJL0K, you can also just go to your local hardware store and ask about the tubes they have available for saw dust collection. Usually Cheaper and more efficient to buy in bulk. Even the Marshall Tunnel is 15 Feet, so thats a good length to start with.

My dogs like these three treat dispensing toys we have:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ALMW0M

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001F0RRUA

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002I0RN0

I don't really recommend a Furminator as it has a blade in it, so could damage the coat.

I use a slicker brush and conditioning spray on my Kees, I also second the undercoat rake suggestion below. I suggest a firm slicker, make sure there's no little pinheads on the bristles. It looks evil but it shouldn't hurt your dog and it works way better than anything else I've tried.

In terms of dealing with a dog that's impatient with brushing, I definitely have some experience there. One thing I found very helpful was this: https://www.amazon.com/Chase-Chomp-Sticky-Bone-Chew/product-reviews/B00D0S4MOY

Filled with peanut butter, stuck to a wall somewhere = immobilized dog :). Depends on how food-motivated your dog is though.

My two current faverites are the Tricky Treat Ball and the Tug-A-Jug.


For the ball getting the first half of the kibble out is pretty easy but the second half is pretty tricky (aka getting the dog hooked and then upping the difficulty). The Jug is just awesome but it's loud as hell on wood floors and drives me nuts so I'll only give it to her when I'm about to leave the house.


I've also heard good things about Buster Cubes because they've got adjustable openings but I really need to stop buying stuff for my spoiled pup so I don't have one.

Yeah it was those treat holes in the ends that were the toy's undoing. They gave my dog the right angle and leverage on the ends, and she ripped it apart in about 20 minutes.

This is the only thing she hasn't been able to get through.

Reviews are mixed but this chain toy has been holding up much better than rope toys for us.

Kongs are what we use the most. A large one filled with treats and a small one filled with either yogurt or peanut butter that has been frozen. We also have one of these that we use every now and then but he has gotten too good with it.

buy one of these treat dispensing puzzle toys, seriously, it has saved my sanity many times...

http://www.amazon.com/JW-Pet-Company-Puzzler-Colors/dp/B00106WXSA

This is bently. He is an awesome dog. This is him after a long day. He couldn't destroy a toy if he tried to so I looked for indestructible dog toys on Amazon and this came up. Says it is guaranteed.

This would be my item.

This filled with something he isn't allergic to (yogurt, pumpkin baby food, sweet potato etc), suction cupped to bathtub tile. You can freeze it to make it last longer.

My guess is Binx! Although that was a cat. My boys names are Maverick and Goose :D I'm obsessed with Lush and used to work there. I'd go back to work in a heartbeat of I could :) This is supposed to be guaranteed indestructible.

Soapy paws!

Haha no worries, his instagram is pretty public :P

I use this bone for him! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F92LKHV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But for Gin I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D0S4MOY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A lot of pet stores will have them.

Also Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Portion-Pacer-Stainless/dp/B0028QHN3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523111262&sr=8-1&keywords=metal+ball+dog+food

I use one of these for my golden and it slows him down. I also use a Kong wobbler to feed him dinner. Occasionally I'll use a snoop, which also works well.

Alternatively, you could stick two spoons in the bowl in an X fashion. There are tons of ways to slow fast chompers down so they don't get bloat!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Decyam-Feeder-Bloat-Interactive-Puzzle/dp/B01MZ5RPOR That's my favourite slow feeder.

I've made my own version of this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Strategie-Spiel-Turn-Around-level/dp/B003TOKTEG I found instructions online but I can't find the link

This is also a favourite and fits about 130g of kibble https://www.amazon.co.uk/KONG-Wobbler-Treat-Dispensing-Large/dp/B003ALMW0M

And this treat ball which is big enough to hold a full meal https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Dog-Activity-Snack-Ball/dp/B00121XPS0

I've got a labrador and 3 lurchers. They rotate between the different bowls and toys so they don't get bored. I also use snuffle mats and scatter feed too. Deep chested dogs are prone to bloat and I prefer their meals to entertain them for longer than a 5 second inhale.

Use the Kong Treat Dispenser(wobbler) for his kibble. It should provide him interaction and slow down his feeding by A LOT.

Link to wobbler on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KONG-PW2-Wobbler-Small/dp/B004NSVIRY/ref=asc_df_B004NSVIRY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=218421090408&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6838922508306478072&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029014&hvtargid=pla-355380579545&psc=1

Second vote for the Tug a jug, Buster Maze also the Mushroom are also good the Bobs A lot Also works great as it has variable settings for difficulty. Puzzles like this are great but they tend to be useless once the dog figures it out.