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12-18-2009, 05:49 AM | #1 |
CURRENTLY SUSPENDED! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA, US
Posts: 207
| What else can my dog do 4 month old 'toy' yorkie, amazing little guy so receptive, responsive, trains in 30 seconds, has PILES of energy. This dog was dumped on me. I'm in love, but how do I keep him busy? When I run out of steam, he usually goes and lays down. I don't like that because I know he'd rather be doing something. Sometimes he'll pester the cat, or roll his ball down any slope he can find and attack it over and over. I love the bell/door idea. We found a nice red Coca Cola bell at Walmart. He rings it not only for himself, but also for us to let the cat in when he sees her. I can see that he could and needs to have a lot to do. I'm asking for lists of ideas of smart things dogs can do, and *especially*, *please* some things that can keep him occupied by himself. Tips? Ground floor, large yard but no fence currently, and is trained to poop indoors. I'm always home, but I am not a dog. I absolutely do NOT want to get ANOTHER dog. I don't know the neighbors well enough to have 'yorkie sleepovers', but the thought has crossed my mind that they should visit each other a lot... So what else can he do that I can get him started on? |
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12-18-2009, 06:35 AM | #2 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Welcome to the world of Yorkies. I honestly never expected the breed to be so smart and quick and was pleasantly surprised when I got Jackson at 9 weeks old. He sounds like your little one - he definitely needs something to do most of the time or he will find other things to do. Jackson is a pretty active dog but around the house, he's pretty laidback. They do need their down-time too and don't NEED to be active 24/7 (regardless of what THEY think! ) I bring Jackson to the dog park 3-4 times a week during nice-ish weather but we try to rough it out once a week in the cold weather, too. 2 hours at the dog park and he's really worn out! Comes home and sleeps the rest of the day usually. Sometimes, if it's just too cold to do outdoor things (he loves to be outside) I'll stick him in the car for a "ride" which he loves and take him to Petsmart just to walk around, sniff, meet other dogs, and do something different. Another that tires them out mentally is trick training. Since you said your little guy was so smart, I'd look into it. Jackson knows about 13-14 cute tricks and every morning we have our "trick training session." We try to work on a new trick every week. Right now he's learning take a bow and try to shoot a ball through a hoop. After 15 minutes of this, it usually tires him out. Every other night or so, I play a nightly game of fetch with him. He doesn't play fetch when he's outside but when inside, he LOVES it. Again - tires him out after 10-15 minutes of that. Anyways, sorry my post was so long, I hope you got something out of it. Good luck!
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
12-18-2009, 10:06 AM | #3 |
CURRENTLY SUSPENDED! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA, US
Posts: 207
| Hmmm. I can't picture how you would get him to shoot a ball through a hoop. Is it a sponge ball? He use his teeth/nose/or paw? The hoop is in the air? Do you toss it? This one, Frisco, somehow reminds me of a hockey player. But he readily jumped through a hoop last night, that's what got me thinking on this. It took all of 5 seconds to get him to do that, I just don't see the point really. Today I made a slide he could roll his ball down, except he thinks it's funnier to drop it off the side for me to fetch. He could play fetch/wrassle/hide & seek ALL DAY. I take him rat hunting in the woods, and sometimes we visit the friendly neighbor dogs (way too big for him). Ditches and ravines thrill him. He whimpers for the first couple of minute in the car, not sure why?? I left him in it with the door open while I jumped out to use a park facility, I could hear he was crying. He's a companion dog for sure. I strung a toy from the ceiling and he'll give it a wack and a tug here and there, but there's no real interaction which he thrives on... But, I did have a life before he showed up...I'm not sure I can service him properly. omigod he is so sweet though. There's other adults around here sometimes, but they don't seem to have the maternal/packing/activity instincts very strong. I figured out I can get him to go to sleep by brushing him. I think he knows it's good for him...passing out is how he tolerates not being allowed to eat the comb. But, I thought I should maybe try to get the local firemen to babysit him to teach him something useful? If I ever did have to give him to another pack, gawd what an awful thought but it could happen, expertise at something might come in handy. I just feel sort of brain-dead as to what kinds of things are good ideas for dogs to do. He wouldn't help me scrounge kindling, but I'll try that again if the rain stops. Just bought some of the 'busy buddy' toys I read about. I don't like to keep his food in the bowl much - better he hunts for it scattered around the house. I very much appreciate your experience and did not find your reply lengthy, buy my reply here is lengthy too I guess. Open to all advice here, and will keep reading. |
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