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. |