BOREDOM

[AvaLawrence2017]

Before diagnosis, Ava (our dog) loved stimulating treat toys (tricky treat ball, kong, starmark everlasting treat toys, etc.). Unfortunately now with the diagnosis she can no longer use them. I've gotten her nylabones for chewing and cleaning teeth and she will use them but they are not the same!
We exercise our dog regularly via walks, going to doggy day care, going to the dog park, playing with her, etc. but I feel like her mind is not stimulated enough (she is a rescue, we know she is part mastiff and we think the other part is german shepherd based on her look and demeanor). I know german shepherds require a lot of mental stimulation and they love it!
Does anyone have any recommendations for activities or toys WITHOUT FOOD that provide this type of stimulation??? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[Madelon]

Hi there. There is a great group on FB called Canine Enrichment that will have lots of ideas. We play hide the toy a lot with Doc and make him find it - or we sometimes hide ourselves. Once your dog is stable - weight gain and good, solid poops for a few months you can try some of the treat recipes on our website . https://epi4dogs.com/treats/

My boy can't tolerate anything but his enzymed kibble so I make kibble jerky - I grind the kibble into a fine powder in a blender, mix with the usual amount of water and enzymes then use a jerky tool and make thin jerky strips and dehydrate at 120degrees for 7 hours (because I use more water than most it takes longer to dry out and get crunchy). Whatever you try keep a detailed log and watch the poops

[AvaLawrence2017]

Thank you so much for the information!!!!

[Miss Maddie Moo]

Maddie loved to find and rescue her favorite toy from anywhere we hid it in the house .

[Barb]

We also play 'Hide it." I make Kolby sit while I hide a ball of his choosing somewhere in the house. He takes off on the hunt, which is usually over in a very short time, and brings the ball back to clapping and cheering. The grandkids love playing this with him.

He also loves to deliver things. He gets the newspaper in the morning and brings it in to us and we let him bring in the mail and give it to whoever didn't take him out to get it. We sometimes have to make him practice "letting it go" by having him pass things from one person to the other. Otherwise, he will carry it around for quite a while or want us to chase him for it.

Barb

[Jean]

i feel for you, try chasing ice cubes, and stuff a kong with enzymed food

[Barb]

I forgot to add that we put very small amounts of enzymed kibble into ice cube trays to be frozen and used as rewards or treats.....Kolby likes the crunch of the frozen kibble. If you do this, you have to always be alert for SID ...... some dogs have no problem with this method, but some pups do, so keep your eye out for change in poos.

Barb