Good ideas for entertaining your pup when you CAN'T play with them?

[Camilla and Darwin]

Spur of the moment question:

Darwin has been crazy today! I've been stitching like crazy trying to get my little sister's quilt finished by tomorrow, and can't stop! I have a ton left to do and only tonight to do it. Darwin is going a little insane and has had the zoomies for the last few hours. Any fun indoor games that will entertain your pup for a while? 

[Camilla and Darwin]

I get them at the place I buy Darwin's food. It's a specialty dog and cat food store, as well as a dog bakery. Most specialty pet foods stores sell them. You can also buy them online.

[Kelly-Orchard View Labradoodles]

My dogs love empty water bottles. Take off the cap, plastic ring and label and you have an instant, cheap toy. The sound of the squeaking plastic keeps them totally absorbed. When it's flat, it's done.

[Alex Garfield]

I've got two....Cooper and lester
we're together most of the time
When we're not, they've got each other
And they sure have fun
They're wonderfully playful
And they love each other very much
Cooper is 3, Lester's 8 months

So, the best entertainment....and actually as easy as having one if just for the value of making more happiness, is to get another.
if I move up to the farm like friends and I speak about these days, I'll get another.....maybe more.
I'm a doodle nut now

[Missi]

This was going to be my suggestion! Another doodle and a fenced in backyard. My doodles play for HOURS upon HOURS then come inside and pass out on the floor. Lizzie used to be so bored and beg us for attention before Marley joined the family. Now I hardly have to worry about it.

[Cindy]

I would have to agree.....Saphira had to be literally touching us....laying on our feet, lap or legs before we got Willow. Now they play for hours.

[Bill Folkerth]

I TOTALY AGREE.GOT ME ONE OF EACH STYLE NOW.LABRADOODLE SNICKERS AND GOLDENDOODLE SKITTLES.A DAILY PLEASURE IN THIS MESSED UP WORLD WE ARE IN THESE DAYS

[Glenn Massie]

For more ideas visit the following pages:

http://www.habitatoutfitters.com/enrichingyourdogslife.html

For hot summers:
http://www.habitatoutfitters.com/frozentreatsfordogs.html

List of great treat dispensing toys:
http://www.habitatoutfitters.com/dogproductswelike/doginteractiveto...

For information on a topic search the A-Z page:
http://www.habitatoutfitters.com/searchaz.html

Glenn Massie
www.homeskooling4dogs.com

[claire johnston]

Are there any bones that will not harm them that they can chew on like lamb ears, etc?

[Glenn Massie]

For guidance on bones:

http://www.habitatoutfitters.com/bonesfordogs.html

[Tamara & Giada]

I buy Monster bones

http://www.petproducts24-7.com/

[Camille Burch]

I'm a sales rep so I work from home occasionally and I run into this alot - I need to work but Holly thinks since I'm home, it's non-stop play time. There are several things that work for me. We can have ten or fifteen minutes of "power play" which our normal play activities on a faster, harder scale. One thing I'll do is get two of her favorite toys and throw them one right after the other so the second she brings one back and drops it, the other one is in the air. We also take short power walks. I go to the gym regularly so I'm in pretty good shape, and I'll take Holly for a walk at a very brisk pace and keep it going for awhile, it's like a short jog for her (my doodle is a mini, so it really works well). My final default trick is to put animal planet on TV - she goes crazy for the dog shows. I TIVOd the Dogs 101 story of labradoodles, so I have one on standby that I can always run for her and she loves it. She also loves the cat shows. Now my last dog couldn't care less about TV, so it depends on whether that stimulates your particular dog. Good luck!

[Samantha and Socrates]

Any type of filled Kong usually keeps Socs busy for hours. I found a recipe for 'Puppy Pops' where you blend non-fat vanilla yogurt, peanut butter and a touch of honey in a blender and then freeze it in Dixie Cups. I have been stuffing one of those in his Kong lately and he loves it!

And for the times when I can't take him out for a walk (like when it's raining or I'm in a huge hurry), I use a laser-pointer to get him running around the house! We actually bought it for the cat but Socrates just goes nuts for it! I can get to laps, run sprints, anything back and forth to really wear him out and he just loves it. I don't reccommend this on wood or tile, as the dog could slip and injure themselves. Keep it on carpet, just make sure the toenails are very short so they don't catch and rip one. If your Doodle regularly gets the 'zoomies' around the house I'm sure he'll be fine!!