Bored puppy

Londonwriter

Any ideas how to entertain a puppy who is too young to go out?

I give him at least an hour of play a day (I work from home) and my husband supervises him for several hours when he gets home from work.

We've tried leaping over brooms balanced on plant pots, chasing brooms, tug games, find the treat, Nina Ottosson games (the only one he can't do instantly is the fighter), sit, fetch, come...

The minute he goes back into his long-term confinement area, he's bored. He keeps reaching through the playpen bars with his paws to grab stuff, etc. Shaking the playpen violently, trying to get out, whining, etc. I don't encourage this behaviour - I don't let him out if he's whining or scratching.

I can't tire him out mentally or physically. Because I have a job (albeit home -based) I can't constantly supervise or entertain him.

It's not his fault he's bored. I bought him puppy and chew toys when I got him, but he only played with them for about 10 seconds, even if I played with him.

mum26

I've seen doggy bubble machines, not sure if they are a good idea - i'm sure someone will be along soon who knows.

Does he have a kong that you can fill with food.

He is only a baby, is it unfeasible for him to come into your work area with you so he can see you?

aliasojo

Just a thought...but maybe you're in danger of trying too hard to entertain him that he's just not learning to amuse himself/enjoy his own company?

I know he's only little and needs attention but maybe he's becoming too 'expectant'?

Of course maybe that's just rubbish. :rotfl: There's loads of knowledgeable peeps here that will be along soon to advise.

lostinrates

Does he settle when not in the pen? Could he have a bed near your feet? Do you have clients coming into your work area? If so then obviously hving him under your feet/in the room might not be possible.

Are you rewarding him settling? Ignoring him till he's settled then giving him a smooch will help him understand that is what you want from him. He my get a bit excited when you join him at first, but he'll get the idea. another great idea is to spend just a couple of minutes when you make tea/coffee interacting with him: depending on age perhaps working on his basic commands...just once, a reward nd then bck to work.

What sort of puppy is it? is it a puppy breed designed to sleep or a breed that wants to be busy, busy, busy?

oystercatcher

Is it that he wants to play or just that he wants to be with you?
He might be happy to play on his own if he's in the same room as you while you work.

Mine used to like a kong with food in, something quite sticky and hard to get out like peanut butter with dry dog food mixed in so it takes ages to empty.

Raksha

Why can't you take him out? He will need socialising at some point, and the sooner the better - doesn't have to be places where other dogs go at the moment - shopping centres are usually good - keep him in your arms most of the time.......

Also, please don't do leaping over brooms as this puts a strain on the joints - dogs who are going to do agility don't normally start practising jumping until they are at least 12 months old. Encouraging him chase brooms isn't a good idea either, unless you can tolerate a fully grown dog doing it whenever you want to sweep the kitchen floor.....

He defiantly needs to learn to amuse himself, so maybe look into 'clicker training' and from there 'free shaping'. A 'settle' command is good too. This is a quite good instruction sheet, only I'd use a chew toy/Kong at least a few times when first training it, then back it up with frequent, then less frequent food rewards until the pup gets the hang of it.

HTH

sarabe

If he was mine he would be out and about seeing the big wide world.

I would be playing all of his games outside in the garden and thus encouraging calm indoors.

Agree totally with Raksha, jumping over brooms is not good for growing joints. Chasing brooms isn't something I would be teaching a puppy. It sounds as if maybe you are over stimulating him.

Look into clicker training and teach calm behaviours indoors and letting of steam and being energised outside.

chris_n_tj

First thing how old is puppy? Puppies shouldnt be given treats until they are at least 6 months old. As others have said no jumping over anything, their little bones are still growing. You say you spend an hour a day playing with puppy, is that all at once or as it should be in small blocks of time? As for the attention seeking, because thats what it is, puppies need to have little and often playtime, just like babies they get tired quick, depending on age. If you can say what breed and hope old then can maybe give you more help.
Chris n TJ

Londonwriter

Our garden isn't really big enough for use as anything but a dog toilet. It's smaller than his long-term confinement area. We have a little, fenced, cobbled yard with a rockery. We live next to a 12 mile sq wild park where I go running for 1-2 hours daily, which is why we got the breed (we're also keen, long-distance hikers).

I can't keep him next to me when I'm working because the only tiled area is the kitchen and my office is in the attic up a dodgy ladder. I've tried working downstairs on a laptop, but I ended up rushing out the door with him under my arm and my mobile phone clamped to my ear trying to answer a work call while preventing him peeing on the carpet.

I've taken him out on little excursions in my arms, but he's a complete wriggle merchant. He wants to be on the ground constantly.

Socialisation-wise, he's been on a train, to the vets and to the children's playground (to meet some kids and babies). Next week, he's meeting one of my clients, this weekend he's meeting some neighbours and my husband's parents, the weekend after he's meeting about 10 of my friends, some horses, some children, a dog and some cats, and the weekend after that he's meeting my parents (my mum is scared of dogs and my dad is elderly). He's also been signed up to puppy socialisation classes and, every week, our cleaner plays with him too.

I am worried about him because one of my clients said they had to get rid of their springer because he was too crazy. My 9-week-old puppy is a working cocker spaniel - he behaves like he's wearing a rocket pack and extensible front limbs while riding a pogo stick. I love him to bits, but I always feel I'm letting him down because he goes so crazy/bonkers/excited when he comes out for his play sessions.

I'm sure we'll be ok once he can go out for little walks, but I don't know how to keep him mentally and physically stimulated until then. It is possible that I'm trying too hard to keep him occupied...

foreign_correspondent

Londonwriter wrote: »

My 9-week-old puppy is a working cocker spaniel - he behaves like he's wearing a rocket pack and extensible front limbs while riding a pogo stick.

He has been selectively bred for centuries from the most energetic dogs to have lots of stamina and energy- although as a pup he will need to sleep a lot too... I would ditch the playpen, and have him with me in the house and try and teach him 'settle down'.

I would also be taking him out and about on a daily basis, even if he cant go on the ground yet - new sights and sounds are not only important for his socialisation, they are also stimulating.

Londonwriter

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

He has been selectively bred for centuries from the most energetic dogs to have lots of stamina and energy- although as a pup he will need to sleep a lot too... I would ditch the playpen, and have him with me in the house and try and teach him 'settle down'.

I would also be taking him out and about on a daily basis, even if he cant go on the ground yet - new sights and sounds are not only important for his socialisation, they are also stimulating.

Any other suggestions? He can't come into the rest of the house. Even though he goes out to the loo every hour, he still manages to poo and pee in the living room. Sometimes, he doesn't go for five hours and then goes four times in an hour! He needs constant supervision (and I mean constant - I have to stand over him) in the living room as a result. When I'm working, this isn't possible.

I tried watching TV with him out last night and he hid behind the clothes rack to poo so I couldn't see him. It was over in seconds. I don't shout at him for pooing so he's got no reason to be covert, but it's possible he doesn't like being carried outside when we see him about to go.

If I take him out, he will try to leap out of my arms (and scratch and occasionally bite). When I took him to the vet (15 minutes walk), it was like being in the wars. He managed the playground (5 minutes walk) to meet some children, but still tried an escape attempt when we got there. It's like walking while sticking an octopus in a string bag.

Is there any way I can physically and mentally stimulate him in the living room during the periods I have available to stand over him to stop him stealth pooing? As I say, I've tried puzzles, hide the treat, agility (which I know I'm not supposed to do), tug and chase games.

I'm sure we'll be fine once he can go out and we can go for a little walk together (and, when he's older, agility, long hikes, bike rides and runs). It's just I don't know what to do for the next fortnight. I am trying hard to socialise him - we are going on a bus to puppy classes (which will be 'interesting' - it's good he's cute - people are tolerant), he is meeting my friends, parents, clients, friends' children, friends' dogs and cats, friends' children when they are going riding horses...

I desperately need something realistic I can do that's puppy suitable. As I say, the most successful thing I've found so far is the Nina Ottosson Dog Fighter - he still can't solve that consistently. Note: I found the puppy Kong a dead loss, although I'm happy to try again. I put a dog biscuit in it with the end poking out and he nibbled the end and then ignored it. It didn't leap about so he could bark and pounce on it. Apart from the Dog Fighter, his favourite toy is a squeaky Tony Blair. It's slippery so it skids away from him and makes a noise. He sees it 'escaping' and 'squawking' and chases it around the room getting more and more excited - this can entertain him for a whole fifteen minutes.

I love his energy and excitement - it's why I adore the breed. I just wish I knew how to channel all that energy while we can't do sporty stuff together.