Fudge and Vern Take Their First IQ Test!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We had a rather boring Easter today, so I decided to open some fun things I purchased at TJ Maxx to test my dog’s intelligence.

First up, were two treat balls (no picture included), one for each of them that I filled with Kibble.  Getting into the package tested my IQ, my strength, and my patience, but that is another discussion.  I will say I always wonder if the manufacturers of some of these toys think we have access to the Incredible Hulk, dynamite, or some sort of sharp object that in addition to opening these packages could also slice off three fingers in the process, because they make these things so hard to open. Once opened, the dogs took their new toys outside, I showed them where the kibble was, did a quick demonstration, and turned to see one of my students eating a leaf.  I don’t want to give too much away too soon, but the student was blonde.  Next, my daughter spent some time rolling the ball around and I told her, because I know how important positive feedback can be to a young mind, how proud I was of her attempts to find the kibble and that I was going to give her a passing grade.  I am sure the reason she told me to be quiet was because she was trying to concentrate.

 

In no time at all, Fudge figured out if she rolled the ball, treats were dispensed. Fudge even seemed to know that rolling it on the sidewalk was smarter than rolling it on stones or leaves.  Several times, she picked the ball up and moved it to a flatter surface. 

Vern, on the other hand, decided his best recourse was to take the ball into the sticker bush, or what is left of our bush, thanks to Vern the landscaper, and try and chew his way directly to the kibble. 

Rolling the ball did not seem to be an option for Vern.  Eventually, I had to take what was left of the ball away from Vern and hand him the kibble from inside. 

Even though one dog used brains and the other brawn, both dogs got the treats out to enjoy, so who is to say which method is better?  I will say that Fudge’s ball did not have to be thrown into the trash and Vern did have to be stopped from eating parts of the ball.

 

Next up, was a wooden toy with treats hidden under moving circular blocks.

The dogs needed to use their paws to slide the covers to the right or the left to get a treat or move a little lever forward or back to open the treat compartment.  Fudge was too fixated on the rolling ball to care about this toy, but Vern was very interested.  In Vern’s defense, I think his paws were just too big for the toy, but we kept trying together to get the compartments to open.  A couple of times I showed him the treat and then covered it to peak his interest and finally it looked like Vern was catching on, because he did manage to get some of the treats out to eat. 

Eventually, he decided that brute strength and some serious chewing might get them out faster and we had to put the toy back in the box before it made its way to the trash bin. 

Again, his humans gave him the treats he did not recover, so Vern does get full credit for training two humans to give him his rewards.  All in all, I decided my dogs are two smart Doodles.

Later, inside the house, Vern tried to take a turn with Fudge's treat ball and Fudge promptly let him know that was not going to happen. Here is Vern right after he got the message.

P.S. Some of the best pictures today were missed by the photographer.  She tried taking several pictures and then started screaming, "what is wrong with this stupid camera?" only to be told the lens cap was still attached. Again, I don't want to name names, but this photographer has just had a discussion written about her by F Parker.  It seems she reminds her of Julia Roberts!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Uh, Julia Who - think again!  Vern's method of toy playing is mostly what happens here - if it doesn't open easily, just chew it open.  Our Springer, who never plays,  loves to roll the treat ball with his nose while the treats trickle out.  The doodles have fun gobbling them up.  This does not make him happy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nancy, F made a mistake with her discussion..it was Julia Roberts. She wrote me privately...LOL!! Poor Gordie...having to share with those Doodles :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Of course (said very slowly and stretched out)!  Gordie is such a sad sack that I feel really bad for him. First his fuzzy balls got stolen by puppy Ned, then Ned finally grows up and while he still tore holes in the balls, he was more careful and both Gordie and Ned could enjoy them.  Then along cones Clancy and - no more fuzzy balls.  So we try treat balls to occupy Gordie when we have to leave him  and those darn doodles eat the treats.  Very, very sad.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

There are lies and damn lies. Take your pick : )

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Where are those DK censors when we need them? LOL

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

LOL!   We have the same situation here....Guinness is great at the puzzles, and Murph not so much.  I actually just had to put them away, because Guinness can't have the treats since his Pancreatitis episode, and Murph just gets really frustrated with the puzzles.  I wonder if any dog toys are made for "slow learners"?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jane, Maybe we need to create one using Vern and Murphy to test the prototypes :) LOL

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Lucy and Sophie each have one of those treat balls and love them.  They will pick them up and put them on their dog beds and then push them off so they roll further.  Many times I will see Sophie just following behind Lucy and picking up the treats that Lucy misses though.  I can't believe that you tossed Vern's ball.  he spent all that time making his hole larger so the treats were coming out faster and you just tossed it.  lol ...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, I found remnants this morning of that treat ball in Vern's morning poop. I thought I got all the pieces, but I must have missed a few. That darn dog would eat anything if I let him...LOL!!! Now, I just have to keep Fudge's ball away from him.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Great fun pictures, ah yes I empathise on opening packaging and am often known to scream blue murder and yell profanities as I think to myself what if I had arthritis and was older, would I be able to open anything at all???!!!

Definitely when it comes to these type of toys it's the humans that get trained! lol  Oh and I often leave on the lens cap too, usually when I'm looking cool and doing an uber cool fashion show.  I end up muttering 'too much champagne' or something under my breath as I realize I have missed half the show!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nicky, LOL about the lens cap. Good comeback, though....always blame it on the champagne :)

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Laurie I loved this. This is exactly how it goes over here too. Sophie delicately figures things out, and Winnie just chews through the problem. I had the same treat ball but when Winnie got fed up with waiting for sophie to dispense the treats so he could push her aside and get them, he eventually got hold of the ball himself and ate about a third of it before I caught him. Perhaps Vern and Winnie are just efficient. They don't have time for messing around when there are treats to be had. They out smarted us and our oh so clever treat toys.