Indoor activities for dog

[finally]

We have a VERY active 15 month old pup.  With this horrible weather we have been subjected to here on the east coast, spending a lot of time outside is not an option.  We cleared out the basement so we do play catch & use laser pointer down there to get her to run off some steam but we are both getting bored of the same games since we need to play for at least a good hour if we want her to settle down.  I will also hide small treats around the house for her to find but I need some new ideas to tire her out.  I googled some but didn't find much useful so now it's time to ask the "experts" if you all have any ideas.

Signed,
Tired Mom 

[dexteroni]

We have some Nina Ottosson interactive toys (Casino and Brick). Quincy and Sadie like them both, and sometimes we use the little cups to play a shell game. Kyjen also has some interactive toys at way lower prices than Nina Ottosson. Had I known about them earlier, I would have bought a few of these instead. Oh well.

Have you tried doggy daycare? Even one day a week will probably help a lot with her energy levels. There's nothing like running and wrestling with other dogs to get out that puppy energy.

[patches31709]

We also teach completely pointless tricks to help burn off a little brain energy. Things like figure 8s through our legs and random things like that.
We'll also through a ball and have him bring it back to a tug so that makes it a little different than just playing fetch.

[miniroller]

This is possibly not very helpful, but we also have an energetic pup in the freezing cold SO you mentioned you had a basement: one of my GoTo's (usually 2 or 3 times a day) is fetch on the basement stairs. I just sit @ the top & we usually do 15-20 (progressively slower ) tosses. Even though it seems like such a simple task, it WEARS him out!

[finally]

Feb 7, 2014 0:15:55 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

Have you tried doggy daycare? Even one day a week will probably help a lot with her energy levels. There's nothing like running and wrestling with other dogs to get out that puppy energy.

Yes, she goes to daycare 2x a week and it's wonderful.  I wish we could send her more but it's $$$.  I keep telling them they need hourly care so that I can drop her off to run around for 2-3 hours just to take the edge off her energy.

[mcmel]

We teach a ton of tricks to burn off steam. You could also get treat puzzles and your dog has to figure out the toy to get the treats.

You may want to go light on the laser pointer though. Since dogs never "catch" it, sometimes they become extremely neurotic and it can become a real problem.

[katietornado]

Ditto Nina Ottosson toys. Kongs too.

But also, and I'm not being judgy...I have a herding dog and he gets out every day (I'm in Ohio). We've had days of -30* windchill and 11" of snow and we still get out. Nothing substitutes for the real thing, you know? Throw on all the clothes you have, get a coat for the pup, and get out!

[finally]

Feb 9, 2014 8:41:34 GMT -5 katietornado said:

Ditto Nina Ottosson toys. Kongs too.

But also, and I'm not being judgy...I have a herding dog and he gets out every day (I'm in Ohio). We've had days of -30* windchill and 11" of snow and we still get out. Nothing substitutes for the real thing, you know? Throw on all the clothes you have, get a coat for the pup, and get out!

No amount of clothes help with the ice that is everywhere...

[katietornado]

Feb 9, 2014 14:35:02 GMT -5 finally said:

Feb 9, 2014 8:41:34 GMT -5 katietornado said:

Ditto Nina Ottosson toys. Kongs too.

But also, and I'm not being judgy...I have a herding dog and he gets out every day (I'm in Ohio). We've had days of -30* windchill and 11" of snow and we still get out. Nothing substitutes for the real thing, you know? Throw on all the clothes you have, get a coat for the pup, and get out!

No amount of clothes help with the ice that is everywhere...

Yak Trax!  They are my best friend when it's icy out.

www.yaktrax.com/