(Part 2) Best dog toy balls according to redditors
We found 730 Reddit comments discussing the best dog toy balls. We ranked the 178 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Warning- my suggestions are QUITE LENGTHY! I really love ACD's and have kept a list of what works with them, so here goes:
All of these can be done indoors or in a fenced in yard:
For 'settling down', impulse control and training an off switch, I found Protocol for Relaxation to be invaluable for my blue heeler. I would start that ASAP.
Kikopup is, in my opinion, phenomenal- find her videos on youtube on tons of topics (she's never steered me wrong)
Loose leash walking is something you have to commit to. Be prepared to walk circles in front of your house/building until your dog understands that you WILL NOT be moving forward with a tight leash. Lots of treats/clicker training will be extremely useful. Start doing this indoors/in your backyard so that when you're allowed in public again, you can transition the skills to the sidewalk/park, etc.
These videos were extremely valuable to me in training loose leash walking. Stopping/going the other direction seriously frustrated my heeler to the point he would attack the leash, so I needed something different.
Shaping Loose Leash Walking With a High Rate of Reinforcement Part 1, Part 2and Part 3 by Helix Fairweather and Lynn Martin. (Read the text below the videos too!)
Formal obedience classes are going to be something you want to invest in with this dog. My 11 month old heeler and I are currently in Obedience 3 (advanced level pre-CGC class) and it has made life so much easier. It also knocks him out the entire next day because his brain is so exhausted. Having access to resources like expert trainers and behaviorists has been great as well. (you mention you're starting this soon- this is great! I've found my ACD really responds well to positive reinforcement-based training).
**Mental stimulation is just as important (if not more so) than physical stimulation. Unless you are actually working your dog, you're definitely not going to hit their physical limits.
What we do:
Formal obedience training (tires them out and provides building blocks for bonding and future fun!)
Protocol for Relaxation (mentioned above)
Sniff walks (roam around letting the dog choose where to go and let them sniff all over the place. Only rule, no pulling- if you pull we stop and stand still until you release the pressure on the leash and then we continue)* to do after you're allowed back out
Nosework (we hide easter eggs filled with smelly treats around the house and let my ACD find them)
Puzzle Toys (our exclusively eats as a reward for loose leash walking, obedience/commands or out of puzzle toys/kongs- no free feeding)
Kong Wobbler
IQ Ball
Buster Cube
Bone Flipper Puzzle
Maze Puzzle Toy
If your dog isn't familiar with puzzle toys, I would start with the Kong Wobbler. It's still my dog's favorite - mostly because it's the easiest! hahha
our own version of fetch (our ACD doesn't bring the ball back)
Tug (LOTS of tug, with rules- no snatching it out of my hand, sit to start, etc).
Bones/chew toys
Frozen Kongs for mandatory settle down crate time
Mat training (surprisingly difficult and mentally draining for ours)
Find it (throw kibble into tall grass and let him find it)
Hide and Seek (self explanatory)
Water play (mine LOVES rivers/shallow water but not actual swimming) *maybe get a cheap plastic wading pool?
Bubbles
Flirt pole (15 minutes max 2 or so times a week) with rules- must be in a down, must wait until I tell him to get it, must drop it when I tell him to, and go back into a down to wait for his next turn, etc.
Hope this helps!
It sounds like she’s in her terrible twos. It will get better. You got this.
I have one thing to add to the above advise. Any meal she eats out of a bowl is a missed opportunity. When my pup was going through his destructive phase I would use about half of each meal for training. — sit, down, stand drills... scent training... “watch me” on walks.. look up rally training— and the other half would go in a food ball. I’ve included a link to the one we use but there are lots of different types and brands. We also use slow feeders. And they make dog puzzles but they need to be supervised.
Walks are excellent but brain training will exhaust her faster.
https://www.amazon.com/Hipat-Interactive-Dispenser-Environmental-Fragrance/dp/B074C4LCY1?crid=1AJ0BVK43Z0BV&keywords=dog+food+ball&qid=1537918685&sprefix=dog+food+ball&sr=8-6&ref=mp_s_a_1_6
If you're going to crate the dog, then I suggest this crate. It has a divider so that you can make the crate small for when he's a puppy and then slowly move the divider as he gets larger. As long as the crate has only room enough for him to turn around and lay down then he will not poop or pee in the crate. Fill the empty side of the crate with some cardboard boxes so that it feels small and cozy. This is by far the best way to potty train a dog. This crate size is perfect for my 93lb 4 year old and he has plenty of room in it to stand up and sleep in multiple positions.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AT3ME/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Do not get him bedding with stuffing. He will most likely destroy it, eat the stuffing, and get blockages (same with stuffed toys). Mine did this to all his beds but luckily he pooped out the stuffing. Instead, I got him a big white IKEA comforter. It's a like a big blanky he can move around to his desire and he won't destroy it. Also, it's easy to toss in the washer.
Buy a Kong so you can stuff peanut butter, cheese, and other treats into to keep him busy.
These are the best dog balls I've found. My dog can't destroy them and he loves playing with them:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280MUXA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Also, do NOT cheap out on his food. Buy 100% grain free high quality food. Dobermans are subject to getting bloating and foods with grain can cause it which can lead to death. I suggest Taste of the Wild's Salmon puppy formula.
Good review site for dog food:
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/taste-of-the-wild-dog-food-dry/
Lastly, socialize this dog like crazy. Take it everywhere and have it meet all sorts of people, dogs, animals, city life, etc. At first, though, since he doesn't have all his shots you might have to just stick to puppy classes where other dogs have their shots (so no one catches any illnesses). Don't take the puppy to random dog parks as they can be filled with diseases which your puppy isn't protected against.
Good luck!
Oh Lordy I have a ton...I'll try to categorize them...
Best for Puppies
These are all easy toys that dispense a lot of kibble with very little movement. Perfect for baby puppies or really low-confidence dogs. These can also be upgraded in difficulty later by stuffing them with wet food and freezing, or stuffing with a large, hard to extract treat (like a slice of lunchmeat).
Easy Rollers
These basically just dispense kibble by rolling. Not particularly complex, but good for the dog that prefers to solve puzzles by brute force.
Wobblers
These require a more finessed rolling motion to empty, so they're the next step up from just batting a toy around.
Complex Action Toys
These need movement in more than one direction (or very specific movement) to get kibble out of, which makes them pretty challenging.
Soothing, Low Energy Toys
Along with the stuff n' freeze toys, these are good for dogs on crate rest or who need some extra help relaxing before bed.
My dogs (and cats!) eat all their food out of puzzles so I am constantly on the lookout for new challenges! I'd be happy to provide more details on any of the toys I have, or buy and review any toys people have been wondering about :)
EDIT: btw this Jackson Galaxy Asteroid is my favorite cat puzzle toy. They really need to make one for dogs because it is kinda quirky with its bounciness and super quiet.
Those balls are sweet - they glow in the dark which makes it much easier for my dog to find and they make a whistling sound when you throw them which makes my blinder dog able to track it. https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Medium-Glow-2-5-Inch-1-Pack/dp/B001B4TV2W
First, what a cutie. I hope he never grows into those ears. They’re huge and adorable.
So.. You have so many options. Everything from simple toys (like the wobble kong or the tricky treat ball) to more complex puzzles (like the mad scientist or the mini mover). If your pup is pretty smart, & the fact he’s border collie/gsd suggests he probably is, he might really enjoy the mental work out the more challenging puzzles present.
If eating too quick is your main worry and you don’t always have time for feeding toys you can also get bowls specifically designed to slow dogs down. Just search “dog slow feeder bowls” on google/amazon. (The outward hound bowls are great.)
Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Luna Moon Dog Chew Ball, 100% Guaranteed Tough, Glow in the Dark, Made in the USA, Medium, Glow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0LZYO4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4FMWBbR7WS7B3
I've had both the Luna and Sol an they've lasted for years where nothing else will. Also the Chuck it extreme balls are great too!
Treat Dispensing Chew Ball, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009YD8NS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_M-K0BbT1WXP3H
Am I right? Or is it the everlasting one?
https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Everlasting-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B003YHB8DO
https://www.amazon.ca/Chuckit-Medium-Fetch-2-Pack-Colors/dp/B00280MUXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462251851&sr=8-1&keywords=chuckit
Seconding the Chuck-It! durable balls; the orange and blue ones. Although my guy isn't much of a chewer when it comes to tennis balls, some of the pups I dog walk snap the balls in half, and then they become a choking hazard and unusable. Have literally spent upwards of $500 trying different kinds--squeaky, regular, various colours and brands--and these are the only ones that have lasted, and they show ZERO signs of wear, plus they make a cool whistling sound when thrown! These, along with the Chuck-it thrower, are lifesavers for eliminating slobbery hands and sore arms.
I sound like a Chuck-It rep, but I'm just so psyched about their products!
University Lake is fantastic for dogs. You'll need a headlamp for night and also you see a lot of people who put lights on their dogs. The Delaney Park Strip downtown is good (West end is best) as well as the fenced softball field at Valley of the Moon park at 17th and E. That's become an unofficial dog park.
We love these light up dog balls - you can play fetch in the dark! https://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-MTLP-08-07-MeteorLight-Disc/dp/B001QC9DTU
My Boxer is a connoisseur of puzzle toys. In Minnesota, it gets way too cold for us to go on long walks to curb his energy, so I engage his brain when it becomes a frozen wasteland outside.
I feed Keenan out of a large Kong Wobbler -- he gets at least one meal a day out of this. It takes him about 30 minutes to work out all the kibbles.
IQ Treat Ball is great for pets that work out puzzles super quickly. This is a fairly difficult toy. Be warned, if you have hard floors, this is loudest thing ever. It's also the perfect size to get stuck under sofas with legs.
Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball is easier to roll around and get kibble sized treats out of. It's also a pain to fill and clean. We don't use this one much.
Everlasting Fun Ball is also hard to fill and difficult to clean, but it's tough. When Keenan is on my last nerve, he gets something super delicious in this and it keeps him occupied until he gets frustrated with it.
Monster Mouth is really tough to get things out of for pups. I'll stuff full sized milk bones in this and leave just a tip hanging out so he can try to pull it out. It keeps him pretty busy, but he gets frustrated by this one quickly.
Buster Food Cube is brilliant in design--you can make it easier and harder to get food out of by twisting the opening. This was Keenan's first puzzle toy and when he figured it out, he got a lot of enjoyment "hiking" it through his back legs at a hard surface to make it bounce off and spray kibbles around. It's loud on hard floors. So loud my ex SO threw it away.
I also pick up random puzzle toys at the store when I see them. I can't find accurate representations on Amazon. Most of them are soft/silicone that you can bend to open and put treats in. Keenan likes his big football one because he knows the yummy, big treats go in that one.
I have a 9 or 10 y.o. who is partially disabled so is also losing weight despite having free reign over our living room.
Our vet cautioned us against feeding too much sugary fruit. Even though these foods are higher in calories, the sugar will upset the natural bacteria balance in their guts. Our vet suggested doubling the pellets but not unlimited. Also, she suggested briefly using pellets designed for young rabbits (Oxbow makes an excellent high quality one) because they have more calories. This should only be for the short term, however.
Don't forget unlimited hay... with older rabbits (Though 7 is not toooooo old) sometimes they respond better to Orchard Grass (Again, Oxbow) because it is safe and healthy for unlimited use, but it's softer and sweeter tasting (apparently, I have not personally tasted it haha)
Exercising the bun will help too - to rebuild atrophied muscles. This thing Treat Ball is an insanely popular toy for our 2 rabbits. Fill it with Oxbow pellets and when they push it w/ their noses a few fall out at a time. They catch on quick and it really motivates movement. This will help build muscle mass, which is what you want.
Might not be exactly what you're looking for, but this soccer ball-sized ball has been Mastiff/Dane-proof.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01EMSVV4E?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Here's a picture with our puppy and the ball a few months back: https://imgur.com/a/1AvBirW
Even though it's the size of a soccer ball, we play fetch with it. We don't use tennis balls anymore because he gets more enjoyment out of tearing it up than playing fetch.
The wobble wag giggle ball
Babble ball
Weazle ball; sometimes they are noisy just rolling around.
Interactive plush squeaky toy
My boys used to have one of those talking babble ball toys. It's made of a fairly hard plastic and survived being chewed upon by a Lab. HOWEVER, it is super obnoxious! Haha, it will go off on the slightest vibrations, and sometimes it felt like it would never shut up.
I think a couple companies make 'whistling' toys made for fetching too, but I can't remember any off the top of my head. They are kind of like those Nerf football things that warble when they go through the air.
Have you tried dog activity boards? They're great because they work well with food-motivated buns. Here's the one I have and my girl absolutely loves it. She starts doing circles every time I pull it out. I'll admit, she tries to lift it up and flip it over (unsuccessfully) but she'll easily spend a half-hour working at it, even sometimes after she's gotten all the treats. I make sure to take it away once she's had her fill of playing with it. So far, it's been 7 months and it hasn't lost its appeal. There's lots of other versions and great ways to switch things up so it's always a new game.
I put her meal-time pellets in the treat holes. She spends quite a bit of energy working at it so I can usually expect a full, exhausted flop afterwards. You can find more brands and styles through this link.. I think that website even has videos of their bun enjoying them!
Tips: If your girl is 13 lbs, you might want to glue/tape some weights to the bottom so she doesn't just flip it upside down.
It may just be a matter of finding toys that can keep him engaged. There are toys that are like catnip kickers or static little stuffies, but then there are also some that are battery-operated or plug in (lasers, concealed motion toys, magnetic toys).
My personal preference, especially if I'm not home to supervise are toys that can be active with just the cat's actions alone. This woven straw is one of my cat's favourites because it catches in her claws as she swats it, so as she moves, it follows her motion until it uncatches and flings off, so she'll go chase it.
I've got this cheap little wand that I use to play with her that moves fairly unpredictably and actually got my cat panting because she was so into it.
Another thing I do everyday is spend 15-20 minutes making her chase her meal. I feed wet food during the day and offer a limited amount of kibble at night, so what I do with the kibble is toss it up the stairs or around the house within her sight so she chases each piece to get fed. I do this until she gets so tired that she has to lie down 3 or 4 separate times, and then I let her rest.
After that, I fill some foraging toys with some more kibble so she has something to work for. If your cat is food motivated, this could work well for you too because it keeps them mentally and physically busy. I have a treat ball and a Wobbert (a little more challenging than a regular treat ball) but I find they're quick to solve and not very engaging. Most of the ones I get are dog toys:
Also, I hide kibble pieces all over her furniture and any cat-friendly furniture. In toys, in any nooks and crannies, in places I want her to explode. It's a good reason to get her feeling like she has a bit of a mission and poking around.
Looks like you have a good list going, remember to update your pups microchip with your address and get him/her a tag with your details.
We got a 36 inch crate and it's plenty big for our boy (he's around 30 pounds).
Puppia harness is a great starter harness, it's soft and doesn't have a bunch of metal jingling pieces which our puppy HATED on his harness our breeder gave us.
Kibble, check out dog food advisor for reviews and ratings of foods content, we were using grain free salmon and sweet potato from chicken soup for the soul, it's decently priced and well rated I can't find it anywhere atm so we're switching him back to their normal kibble.
Salmon Oil is a lifesaver in the winter, our pup gets terribly dry skin and extremely itchy without it.
Start out with a puppy kong, they sell kong fillers that are cheese and peanut butter flavored, our puppy was pretty picky at first and only ate the cheese one, didn't like frozen kongs either.
I'd start with a Basic Collar here's a Dog Tag Silencer and a Break-away collar for outdoors or dog park. A dog was choked unconscious at our park so I typically just keep our guys ID tags on his harness and don't use a collar, but if you do I definitely recommend a break-away if you are primarily using a harness with it.
Items we found useful: Bed Liner, Crate Fence, Kong, Stainless Steel Bowls (highly reccomend US made do not buy any made in China for health reasons), Zippy Paws Hide and Seek toys, Potty/accident cleaner, Potty Bells, Anti-chew Bitter Apple spray, 50 ft Leash, Retractable Leash, Soft stop Leash extender, Car Seat Belt, Car Booster Seat, Gentle Shampoo, Comb, Travel Water Bottle, Flirt Pole, Special Treats, Chew Stick, Greenies
Sorry for the HUGE list lol, feel free to ask any questions!
Is this it?
I got mine one of these to put pellets in and he LOVES IT. I also sometimes put pellets in a box that has shredded paper bits in it so he has to "dig" for them.
Maybe the ball style Kong will work better? I use these for my 3 dogs and they all love them.
Dear cat owners:
Before feeding, require that they catch this twice.
1/4 cup dry food morning & evening goes in here.
1/2 small can of wet food before bed.
This will create a svelte, but not too skinny, very happy cat who will love you for longer, be able to lick its ass and clean itself, and not require insulin shots or crazy shit like that later in life.
My dog has a verrrry strong bite but has never tried to bite toys like this. We used the IQ Puzzle Ball for a number of months before getting an Omega Ball Tricky Treat Ball that he's been using for about a year now. Any "strong chewer" toys/bones get demolished in minutes.
That being said, he also does not try to chew things that he shouldn't chew. We've never lost shoes or furniture to his chewing, so it could just be that he was less likely to try the chomping route.
My dog has good luck with this treat ball:
http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B0002DK26M
However, when she used this one, she got similarly frustrated, and would even angrily pounce at it.
http://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Everlasting-Ball-Medium-Large/dp/B003YHB8DO/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1427208454&sr=1-2&keywords=treat+dispensing+chew+ball
The second ball had these little rubber pegs that stopped the treats from easily falling out, so I cut one of the pegs off, and now her kibble falls out more easily. She likes it more and doesn't get mad at it. =)
I showed my dog how they fell out, pointing to the hole and then holding it upside down. I did that enough that now I see Luna trying to hold hers different angles with her head so the hole points down. She's a smart pup!
Sure!
My partner built him something like this.
I also got him these two puzzles that I only give him when I'm home, just for safety reasons: this "level 2" one that he solved in 30 seconds and this "level 3" one that he hasn't quite gotten the opening drawer part down yet.
He also has this treat ball that he LOVES, but I don't recommend if you live in an apartment/condo with hard floors.
His favorite that he carries around and chucks down our stairs to open is this mushroom.
He also gets kongs with peanut butter in them.
Amazon gets a lot of my money. Lol.
Check with your local laws, because it might be illegal to let your dog out to roam. They can be classified as a dog at large and taken to the local shelter. If your dog where to bite anyone, it is on you to pay for the damages. Also cars hit dogs all the time, so it’s best to keep the dog contained in a yard, on leash or dog run.
Couple of questions
What kind of dog do you have?
-Some breeds need more energy outlets then other. Some also need more mental stimulation than others.
How old is this dog?
-Some breeds have a longer “puppy faze” than others.
Does this dog wear a shock collar or shock bark collar?
Has the dog been seen by a vet to rule out any illness or pain related issue?
What training does this dog have?
Where is this dog at all day?
Other than the walks what other sort of energy outlets does the dog have?
Dogs need play time too! Also a energized dog is way harder to train and more likely to get in trouble than a worn out dog.
Is the dog given any mental stimulation?
Dogs are work and they don’t get better over night. If you and your parents are willing to put in the effort, and time into training. Then there is hope.
—Worse case if your parents don’t want to train the dog, or things are to much. Perhaps you can suggest a local dog rescue take the dog.
My dog will skin and dismember (he actually does it in that order) any tennis ball in under ten minutes, I got him a solid rubber Kong ball for random ball chewery, and one of these will last him a year or so.
If your dog likes crazy noise toys, this is great!
Babble Ball https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MNEFGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5wV3DbJCCYJ2Z
https://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Pets-Soccer-Orange-X-Large/dp/B01EMSVV4E
It's made by Jolly Pets, 99% sure this is the one.
I second the trixie puzzles. This one has always given my dog a bit of a brain workout.
I also have an Orbee-Tuff snoop treat ball, but that's probably pretty similar to kongs/puzzle feeders you have already.
However the one that tops them all for me is the Cleverpet. However, since they haven't made new ones in a long time you'll have to scour eBay for one. I use the Cleverpet usually for at least 1 meal a day, sometimes both.
Here's a video of my dog using his:
https://v.redd.it/2qfhd121emb21/DASH_9_6_M?source=fallback
I understand the struggle and I've got a few things for you to try.
First, like an other poster suggested, try playing with him before the walk starts. I have a very jumpy dog and I work with "touch" a few times before we even start walking. Touch is simple and dogs catch on super quickly. You just hide a treat in your hand, put your hand out and wait for him to sniff at it. Then reward him. Once he starts to get it, add the command before you stretch out your hand. I get mine to jump up to touch.
Second, he wears a backpack during walks so he's carrying a little extra weight and is mentally occupied with something besides scanning for cats (his other favorite pastime).
Last, as far as walks are concerned, before the stop and start method is actually effective, you have to teach him to come close to you when you're standing on the leash. So basically what you should do for about 10 minutes in the beginning of the walk is stand. And whenever he slacks up the leash or glances back at you, give him a high value reward. And THEN start walking. That way he associates the stopping with coming close to you before you start walking again. Also, I don't do the stop and start method, I do the stop and turn around and go the other direction method. And I'm very quick to reward him when he's not pulling and just before he starts to pull. So when you feel that leash start to tighten a lot, start making all kinds of interesting noises to pull your dog's attention back to you. The reason I don't stop and wait is because, well, my dog needs the walk. So when I turn around, at least I can reward him a few times before he's suddenly pulling again and slowly that stretches out from a few steps to longer. It does take awhile though. It's taken my dog about a month of solid practice to be chill when there are no distractions. When there are distractions, I bust out the hotdogs.
I did want to add that with a really anxious, high energy dog, you don't want to leave it to the walk to get all of his energy out. You should invest in some interactive toys like kongs or this treat dispensing toy so he has something extra to work at while in the house. Those are just two I use right now. I have gone through so many interactive toys but my dog seems to love those.
Anyway, good luck.
Kong toy with peanut butter inside.
Also my dog loves the squeaky tennis balls: https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Squeaker-Tennis-Balls-2-Pack/dp/B001TI0XRW
Those and nylabones are the only things she doesn't instantly destroy.
Days like today, and many days during the winter, I feed my dogs with little puzzle balls.
https://www.amazon.ca/Pet-Zone-Treat-Ball-3-Inch/dp/B00OZOQN3U/
It doesn't last forever but it's at least some stimulation when we can't do walks. I'm building a collection of them since she keeps mastering them so quickly, lol.
It's the rubber "Fetch" ball that Chuck-it makes. We have only lost these balls due to snow drifts, not teeth.
http://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Medium-2-5-Inch-2-Pack-Colors/dp/B00280MUXA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407463871&sr=8-2&keywords=fetch+chuck+it
I have this post saved from u/manatee1010 and have tried several:
I keep this list of brain toy links handy to send to friends who get dogs. It's getting pretty long...
Toys that get stuffed with food and frozen:
Kibble dispensing toys, hard material (good for carpeted areas)
Kibble dispensing toys, soft material (good for hardwood/tile/laminate)
Time-release kibble dispensing toys (good for work days)
Lastly, there are also these two that I haven’t tried yet, so I’m not positive how to classify…
ETA: If you have any others you like (or don't like) that I've left off this list, please chime in!
Jolly Pets 8" Soccer Ball, Orange, Large/X-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EMSVV4E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Mp56BbN2W8VEY
¨There are also glow in the dark balls for dogs.
https://www.amazon.com/Chuckit-Medium-Glow-2-5-Inch-1-Pack/dp/B001B4TV2W
Reviews mention a good glow for 1/2-1 hours, after which it still glows but not as strongly.
Nite Ize MTLP-08-07 MeteorLight K-9 Led dog ball, Disc-O https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC9DTU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cfC1AbYE05JP3
I know you said no balls, but one of our guys loves Chuckit balls. When he isn't just chewing on it, he'll push it around with his nose and make it fall off of the couch and down the steps then chase after it. And these things are indestructible. They make a bunch of different types, but his favorite is the original. We got the medium size and it's perfect.
If you have room for her to run, invest in the chuckit ball launcher. It makes throwing the ball so easy (and you don't have to get your hands all slobbery!)
Puzzle bowls are good. Interactive feeders are good too. like this or like this. I would spend some time (as in a couple weeks) constantly reinforcing calm behavior in the house.
One step further than the previous poster. Out of 100 meals... maybe 10 I feed from the bowl. I STRONGLY prefer to feed by hand. And I recommend this as a first step for basically anyone looking to get into training their dog.
They learn that food comes from you, not a bowl. They need to work for the food instead of getting it for free. Builds trust, drive to work with you, increases the bond between handler and dog. Just so many things that are good by hand feeding.
What do I mean by this? Depends on what you want to get out the dog. It could be as simple as having the dog lay down and rewarding for that small handful at a time until food is done. Maybe you take this a step further and working on laying down in a pet bed. If your in a hurry you can do the "find it" game... and toss kibble around the house for him to hunt down.
Of course you can use their normal food for stuff like sit, stay, paw, spin, roll over, etc. all the fun behaviors. In the very beginning of teaching your (first couple years imo) I would have food on your body almost all the time. And just reward for doing stuff you want to see. You get in the car and he lays down? Perfect I want to encourage that behavior in the future so here is a bunch of treats. Being all zoomy in the car? well... no treats for you.
Can't answer anything area specific but I'll link some toys/beds/products my dogs like.
Food Dispensing Toys
Puzzles
This is a nice bed for dogs who like to burrow/get under covers. They also like beds similar to this one.
Food is up to you. Do some research online and read through ingredients to find a good one. One of my dogs gets Orijen and the other gets Wellness.
I definitely recommend you seek out some training classes. They are also good for socialization in a controlled environment. It's a great way to bond with your dog and really fun to advance through different classes and class types.
The toys my dogs like are beanie babies and kleenex. If your dog is a chewer then don't waste money on stuffed toys.
Nope, they are tennis ball shaped and come in like 5 sizes. The rubber seems to be much softer and more flexible than a tennis ball. Usually my boy chomps on tennis balls and even the name brand ones crack within an hour, but the kong ones flex and don’t crack.
Medium is standard tennis ball size but the large is only slightly bigger and lasts much longer for us.
https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Squeaker-Tennis-Balls-2-Pack/dp/B001TI0XRW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501081336&sr=8-2&keywords=kong+squeaker+ball+large
I see the football shaped one on there too and it looks like the same ball/material, so yes! Same ball - different shape.
Disclaimer: these are different from the kong air dog regular tennis balls, which are garbage.
Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Luna Moon Dog Chew Ball, 100% Guaranteed Tough, Glow in the Dark, Made in the USA, Medium, Glow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0LZYO4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6e06AbY5HKFT8
There is an orange "Sol" ball as well. Both 4 inch in size.
Or the "Chuck it extreme" tennis size ball.
Those are the only 2 kinds of balls my girls haven't destroyed.
Antler chews are awesome too!
We got a golden retriever puppy recently. He was a playful typical puppy, but shortly after arrival we put him to work. He was now going to become my service dog. The training process has been slow and we have both struggled a lot. As we have been training him we also felt it was important to let him just be a dog sometimes too. We are still a long way from done but the thing he knows best is vest on means working, off means he just gets to be a puppy. Beyond that he can remind me to take my meds on time, step on my feet when I am shaking to ground me, and get me out of bed in the morning. We have many more tasks to go so I am not sure this counts as a happy ending, but because of the little he can do now I have better access to the real work so I will call it a happy middle. He is my savior, cuddle buddy, and motivator. This is my little guy.
I would love this light up ball to play with him at night.
Falco peregrinus
I got the soccer ball version of the Jolly Ball...it's softer and easier for dogs to pick up. We're still working on the soccer-playing, though...
For small fetch style balls my pittie loves these. They're inexpensive and he's never managed to break one. (Though we have lost a couple. :)
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00OG5QYLE?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title (AmazonSmile link so part of the purchase price can be donated to the ASPCA.)
He also has one of these for kicking around the yard. He's put teeth holes in it a number of times but it's still going strong.
https://smile.amazon.com/Jolly-Pets-Soccer-Ocean-Medium/dp/B01EMSVVAI?ref_=bl_dp_s_mw_3032404011
My dog's favorites are the Kong wobbler, Buster Cube, Omega treat ball, and a frozen Kong stuffed with a gross mixture of wet kibble and peanut butter. Personally, I like the Omega treat ball because it's soft and doesn't make a lot of noise on our hardwood floors.
We tried a few of those Ottosson dog puzzles, but my dog quickly figured out that she can flip the entire thing over and all her food falls out instead of figuring it out the "correct" way.
Don't overlook homemade toys too. I roll up kibble in newspaper, stuff the newspaper into small box, then put that box into larger box, tape it up, and let her shred it up. She loves it.
Failures were the Tug a Jug and the IQ treat ball.
Part 1: This glow dog ball is 4.93 which is the cheapest thing
Part B: Baymax is pretty scientific. I mean he is a health care companion!
Thank you for the contest!
Also I really love this treat ball. It's one of the hardest ones I've found and it takes a long time to finish and you can fit the whole meal in it.
How much dry food is she being fed? The problem with rabbits is that they like to act like they are starving even after you give them a full meal - it's important not to give them pellets whenever they 'seem' hungry. Providing they have an unlimited supply of hay, they will never go hungry, and hay won't make them fat. She only needs about an eggcup full of pellets per day along with a handful of fresh greens (avoid sugary root vegetable and fruits). Some vets even advise to cut out pellets completely for very overweight rabbits, however this should only be done if advised by your vet. If the weight won't budge I would talk to a rabbit-savvy vet and try to figure out some sort of diet plan.
Unfortunately lazy rabbits may need an extra nudge to get moving! One thing you can do is make her work for her food - rather than giving it in a bowl, make her work for it by scattering it around the room or put it in a treat ball. You can also make her environment more stimulating to make her want to move around more - provide new things like cardboard boxes, tunnels, boxes filled with hay that she can dig through, etc.
Hello there we have a pit as well. He shreds toys to peices in seconds, I went on amazon.com and found a ball that he plays with all the time. We've had the toy for close to a year now and its still in one peice. The good thing about the toy is that it smells like mint :D, its not too small or too big, easy to clean, cheap, and glows in the dark. The only down fall is that the rubber material that its made of is kinda sticky, meaning hair sticks to it, but other than that its perfect for pits :D
Hope this helps!!
Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Dog-Orbee-Tuff-Cosmos-Luna/dp/B00C0LZYO4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397943169&sr=8-1&keywords=luna+dog+balls
You can get a set of 3 Yoho balls for ~$30. The balance is lopsided due to the batteries and they are going to be uncomfortably light at first. This means when you drop them, they will scatter.
But they are the brightest juggling balls I have encountered to-date and the batteries last a damn long time. Also, since I primarily play with 3 ball tricks, having balls with very little weight means i can flow between tricks at incredible speeds.
The Fire Mecca All-Light balls have an absurd number of flashing and color-changing modes (27). They are extremely well balanced and I quite like their weight. Unfortunately, the batteries aren't rechargeable and I have had a bad habit of letting the batteries go dead before festivals. (Changing batteries in a dark tent can be a pain) The light these balls put off is easy to see from a distance, but won't compete with fire. I think they are around $13 a piece.
The Meteorlite balls are waterproof (juggling in the ocean / hot tub / group showers is amazing) and are exceptionally balanced. The weighting is my favorite of this trio. However these were meant to be dog toys, so they bounce. When you get used to that, the bounce is just enough to save a performance. The batteries last a while, but the light is never pupil-dilatingly amazing if you are looking to juggle for friends who are 'inebriated'. Those are $10 per.
Happy juggling!
If you want to entertain your pup indoors when it's just too hot to walk treat balls are awesome:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P0MK4UO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have a 2 year old red nosed pit.
none are affiliate links
My pit is obsessed with large circular balls, and she'll easily deflate a soccer ball in minutes, so I bought this rubber soccer-sized ball that doesn't deflate. I kick and throw this ball around, and all her attention is on it. She's a gnaw-er, so she try to bite through basketballs and soccer balls as quickly as she can. This ball has stayed un-deflated for weeks now: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EMSVVAI/
For fetching with smaller balls, I bought two lacrosse balls, as they are very durable. And the reason they're durable is because they're not mostly empty inside, like regular bouncy balls you'll find at Petco. My pit isn't good at dropping the ball at me, so I throw the second when she gets close enough to me with the first, and she'll drop the ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JANLLU/
Nylabone, super durable and a great chew toy: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ASNAM/
This food dispensing toy for mental stimulation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKTG/
I also have the luxury of having a co-worker who had a dog supply ecommerce website (closed shop last month) and he gave me these large deer antler(?) bones as well as several other items for free. But the antler bone is easily the best chew toy the dog has ever tried to chew on, and it was free.
I have a husky named Koda! He is four years old and a bundle of energy! I'm quite sure he thinks he's a cat as he doesn't really act like a dog. He likes to lay on the back of the couch and climb on things lol. He also purrs when you pet him (he's really growling but I call it purring). He would absolutely hate this but he gets bad mats on his hips and this would be the easiest way to get them off :(
Let's see.... the no stuffing part is kind of hard... but Koda loves these kong tennis balls he can now surgically remove the squeaker with his k-9's lol but they still get a lot of play before they finally give out. Thanks for the contest!
My dog is a chewer and a licker too! We got him one of these balls and he loved it :) Happy birthday to your pup!
Edit to add: These are great too! http://amzn.com/B000X2TCWM
My dogs love these puzzle balls. They have to learn to roll it with their nose to make the food come out.
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https://www.amazon.com/Omega-Paw-Tricky-Treat-Large/dp/B005B3LB2C/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=dog%2Bpuzzle%2Bball&qid=1557519916&s=gateway&sr=8-7&th=1
Dog bones- beef ribs - $12 for 12 bones
[link] (https://www.amazon.com/Merrick-Ranger-Beef-10-Inch-Count/dp/B007RM899S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1497619747&sr=8-2&keywords=beef+rib+bones+for+dogs)
Buster Cube - Dog Treat Puzzle - $8, large purple, used
[link] (https://www.amazon.com/Kruuse-Buster-Food-Feeder-Purple/dp/B003XLCISK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497621360&sr=8-1&keywords=buster+cube)
Power Air Fryer XL, RED not black, never used. $80 link
Kong makes a large tennis ball that squeaks.
Example Link
Find a parking lot, church, school, somewhere with zero or limited night traffic, that has lights, and play fetch there. Obviously you have to be careful with cars and all that but if you can find a good one off the beaten path it works well.
Another option depending on how much it snows, but these glow chuckits work pretty well. I know I use mine every night now that its dark by 6 pm.
Game changer for dogs - This is my personal favorite—durable, easy to load, and takes my dog about 15-20 minutes to finish. He gets so excited when he sees it.
Kong Wobbler - Another favorite for the same reasons. It's a bit easier and only takes him about minutes to finish though.
Buster Cube - They make regular ball shaped ones, but I personally prefer the cube because it doesn't roll everywhere (so I don't need to retrieve it from under the couch every 2 minutes) It takes him a good 15-20 minutes to finish but this one is annoying to load.
If you search "puzzle toys" over in r/dogs you should be able to find a lot of posts on the subject.
My dog Zoë got a babble ball a while back and she loves it. It talks to her and she loves to chase it around Pet Qwerks Talking Babble Ball Interactive Dog Toy, Wisecracks and Makes Funny Sounds When Touched https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MNEFGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JgoACbQKNM6MX her gotcha day is coming up on the 25th too! I think I'm gonna bake her some treats
We have this for our pup: StarMark Treat Dispensing Puzzle Ball Dog Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0165RNM1K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BUezDb5HGGZFX
It has 4 quadrants you put the kibble in ranging in difficulty which creates a bit of a time delay and keeps our little guy occupied awhile. It's also coated in rubber so not as loud as some of the others.
We also tried the Kong wobbler. It was a good one to start but became way to quick and easy so we upgraded to the one above.
One of these...
This
This
Or this
They’re at PetSmart, but they’re like $15, get it on Amazon for cheaper.
He likes this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07239T47Y
Also have one of the ball treat dispensers, can't find the exact one on amazon, but similar to this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074C4LCY1
Sometimes we just put a few treats in it, sometimes put part of his dinner in it, which keeps him busy for awhile
We also do a lot of trick training, and have recently started doing "find it." Started out by just tossing a treat on the ground near him and say find it. Then progress to having him sit and stay, and hide a treat somewhere just out of sight, then "okay" to release the stay and tell him find it.
We use this for our guys https://www.amazon.com/Starmark-Treat-Dispensing-Puzzle-Ball/dp/B0165RNM1K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502412718&sr=8-2&keywords=starmark+puzzle
its' pretty durable - they've gnawed on it a bit and it's mostly OK haha. It's much more sturdy than the thing you linked, which we also tried and quickly gave up because they figured out how to unscrew it. The only way the starmark ball comes apart is if a dog throws it, but only one of ours does that lol.
yooo i juggle with these at festivals. changing the batteries is a biatch but i love em. they're actually dog toys so i tell myself that means they're more durable http://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-MTLP-08-07-MeteorLight-Disc-O/dp/B001QC9DTU
This one is a cube shape, so unlikely to roll out of your pup's reach.
https://www.amazon.com/Kruuse-Buster-Food-Feeder-Purple/dp/B003XLCISK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1481556844&sr=8-4&keywords=treat+cube
Jolly Ball makes a soccer ball too, like this. I freaking love Jolly Ball anything, hands down one of my fav toy companies.
Edit: Oh, I also forgot that Jolly Balls makes eggs too. The weird shape might make it hard to grip but fun to chase!
I've got two bulldogs and these have lasted a long time. Some of it is that they tend to not go nuts about these unless I'm actively playing with them.
However, THESE and these surprisingly have lasted months now and my guys both are crazy for them - especially the orange one. Don't bother with the treat inserts after the first ones though, they pop right out and just get eaten whole.
We adopted a retired research beagle and it was really sad to see he had no idea what to do with toys. Beagles are very food motivated so we started feeding him part of his meals using this toy. That got him started.
My dog has this kibble-dispensing ball and gets most of his breakfast from it. We've had a lot of kibble-dispensing toys but this one is my favorite.
You can also give her more mental stimulation by varying your walking routes, taking longer walks, or bringing a book and a picnic blanket to the park so she can lie in the sun in a new place. Try different types/textures of kong stuffings, or have friends over if she likes meeting new folks. Learning new tricks, as other people have said- basically anything that's new and a positive experience for her.
Remember that while we tend to think of mind, body, and social stuff as all being separate, she's still using her brain for walks, sniffing stuff, and for social interactions. There's already a lot of mental stimulation in her life. Trying some new games and learning new tricks will be fun for you both but don't feel bad if she's uninterested in puzzle toys.