Any challenges or games for a bored dog post-op?

[Shamas mom]

Shamas is off the wall with no toys in the house...he's stealing water bottles, only to have them taken away...tearing up paper, dragging blankets onto the floor to make sulking nests....

And of course at the same time, it's wet, scary weather so he's not walking past a block :/ we're relying on Cha[pters. Canadian Tire and occasionally Petsmart to walk him


He;s not allowed solids, so I'm out looking for games, and rewards to occupy his bored mind until the vet lets him have his toy box back again.


On the bright side, that hole in his mouth looks much cleaner, and no smell. He doesn't indicate any pain and is in high spirits

 

[Beanwood]

Maybe have a look at our Summer challenges thread? You might find something in there...

Glad he is feeling better!

Things to do on restricted exercise

 

[HAH]

Yes! And maybe some liquid/frozen treats if he can have them, like diluted salt free chicken stock in cubes, put in a water bowl so he can bob for them - or frozen lick mats smeared with yoghurt or (sweetener-free - important to check first) peanut butter?

 

[Shamas mom]

I'll do both things.

He;s running around stealing water bottles, tupperware, lids, cans...trash raiding.....you name it. And now he's getting a little resource-guardy over the things he does find because we keep taking them away. The only thing he has is a level one puzzle game, which I'm feeding him his breakfast in. I'd freeze soup stock in it, but it doesn't fit in my side by side freezer..

 

[MellowYellow]

Is he not allowed toys to keep dirt out of his mouth, or to stop him hurting the wound? I think I’d be inclined to get him something he is allowed to carry, like a big toy rubber bone, that you Can wash and that doesn’t have bits that can get stuck in the wound. He’s almost more likely to hurt himself stealing stuff out of the trash than having one or two things he is allowed.

What about a frozen Kong? That would probably keep him busy for a while.

 

[HAH]

I remember this post of @snowbunny 's on teaching 'give' with things in their mouth: Teaching your dog to give you things in his mouth
It might be a neat bit of training at the moment with increased levels of boredom for Shamas, and to help counteract that resource-guarding of contraband (I need to work more on this too, as we still have a merry game of 'can we swap?' when things are Just. Too. Exciting. for swapping...)

 

[Shamas mom]

Is he not allowed toys to keep dirt out of his mouth, or to stop him hurting the wound? I think I’d be inclined to get him something he is allowed to carry, like a big toy rubber bone, that you Can wash and that doesn’t have bits that can get stuck in the wound. He’s almost more likely to hurt himself stealing stuff out of the trash than having one or two things he is allowed.

What about a frozen Kong? That would probably keep him busy for a while.

It's because he ripped his stitches, so now he can't have anything until the hole heals. We think he did it on his big ball, that has handles...all chew-type toys had been taken already, but the ball has handles, and he hangs it from his jaws.

I'm going to ask tomorrow if he can't please at least have a soft toy of some sort?? It'd be safer than him grabbing any random object he can find to play with....

Shamas is well versed in "give".....the issue here is that his treats are mostly forbidden also. I've resorted to cream cheese as treat, a dab on my finger..and I'm loading his puppy puzzle with canned food. I've two Kongs in the house, and would LOVE to hand them over....

 

[Beanwood]

Maybe look at using soft cheese in a tube as a reward. Revisit tricks such as paw, down, sit, stay and give...rewarding with squeezy tube cheese?

 

[Shamas mom]

Yes, if I can find it. I was eyeing the Kong filler...I know it's empty calories, but he's eating less right now. Surprisingly, he's not all that keen on soft food and eats a full can less a day than prescribed. Probably doesn't like what it does at the other end :/

 

[Shamas mom]

Finally!

We have GO for very specific toys...they must be big enough that they will not rub the gum, which is still rough, and not quite healed. So Medium to large balls, and carry toys. And watch his gum. NO tennis balls, because he carries them in the side of his mouth. NO Kong ball, because he hangs it from his jaw, and NOTHING he will chew on

SO I got him that obnoxious giggly ball that is always being advertised on social media, and I saw at Walmart..and a rubber-type one that can have treats put inside later on. Both have holes/divets, but not lumps for tooth grips to pick up the ball. Both are about as round as a cereal bowl


Starting Monday, he can start having his food soaked for less time each day until he's back on solids. No more cans from the pet store. Even though they were good brands, he's not used to a soft diet, and it was making him throw up, combined with nausea from the antibiotics. Only the digestive care stuff from the vet whilst he's on the pills.