Our 9 month, 76.8 pounds of solid GSD is AWESOME, great smarts, from a high drive working line ...downside, the Energizer Bunny has nothing on Victor!!!

He will play and train and play and train ...training = play

But we are needing some REAL hardcore toys that he can play with to stay occupied during his time outside when we are not at home.
"Brain builders" as well as "kick around" toys.

I thought that attaching his toy tug-tire on a horse lungeline bungie to the six 4x4 post boat shed would be a great
"resistence/exercise" station. The tire hung at his chest level ...he almost pulled the shed down. I then put it on a tree, no the tree did not come down but he'd fight it non-stop (anger management issues? I don't know)

I've used a horse size Jollyball, several footballs and basketballs, the tug tire ...none survive his rough-housing.

He is let out to play 1-2 hours at a time, then crated for a nap and quiet time, then let out ...etc. until I get home from work and then "WE" play and train.

He is an only "child", 'cause the feline family members consider his sniffing advances as offensive as current TSA policy.

Any suggestions on "non people", leave in the yard play toys?

Thanks

I'll be as interested as you in the replies as nothing has been able to survive my DS.

I didn't expect much from it, and only as a little diversion here and there (not specifically what you are talking about), I ordered the large Jolly Egg. For the first two minutes I thought that it was the best $20 I ever spent.

Two seconds later, it was all over. He wrapped his mouth around it, sunk in his teeth and once that happened, the attraction of the Jolly Ball, what it was designed to accomplish, disappeared.

How well does he play with you when you do train?

What are you wanting to do with this dog in the future? (ScH, Agility, Ob, just a pet?)

If it were me, I would be wanting my pup to not get SO MUCH entrertainment from objects I have no control over and that do not include me in the game.

He is old enough now to learn how to shut on and off. I'm not saying take away all things, but bones, chews, and stuffed kongs were the only things I gave my pup "to do" that did not include me. I wanted her to know that if she wanted to play, I was the one she would have to wait for.

The everlasting treat ball is a biggie in my house. It helped keep the sanity for me and the dog all winter!

The everlasting treats aren't worth it, but the ball itself is awesome. I have had it for a year and its in perfect condition. My dog is a proven destroyer of toys.

Do you put anything in it, or what? I've been wanting one, but I'm unsure about what to actually do with it.

I put whatever I have in the house that will be hard to get out. Dog biscuits, chunks of levtover meat. All sorts of things.

The only downside about the treat ball is that once they figure it out you have to try to make it hard.

However, its almost impossible to destroy, its quiet on the floor (unlike the buster cube or tug a jug) and much more of a challenge than a kong.

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

However, its almost impossible to destroy, its quiet on the floor (unlike the buster cube or tug a jug) and much more of a challenge than a kong.

I use them too Lauren. (daily!) Koenig is working on destroying it though. Lately, I've noticed some dimples that did not used to be there in the bento ball.

Thanks for your response. Victor and I are learning the platz and fooies of Schutzhund.

Again, these are for times when my wife and I are at work and he is at home with Grandma ("he ain't the Pekingese that I'm used to")

He gets plenty of down time during the day, but a typcially work day for us is 12 hours, so he gets "good behavior time outs" Grandma just doesn't play as long as he is able to.

I'm looking for some "thing" that stimulates the "academic curiosity" of my dog ...without him digging in the yard (which he does not currently do) However it is amazing what all he can bring up out of a two acre fenced property.

Like the tug on the tree, nice thought, it worked well for a week or two. I liked the larger excercise ball that Ed and Cindy showed in their indoor facility, but I figure that without adult supervision that too will meet an ill end at the tips of pearly whites.

How about hide and seek games ...anyone found that you can hide an object just to see if your dog happens to find it? maybe several treat balls around the yard ...like Easter Eggs???

Hum, lets all think together now.

Danke likes to rip apart cardboard boxes.

 Quote: Aaron Myracle

Danke likes to rip apart cardboard boxes.

Ohhh, thats a good one! I've actually never met a high drive dog who didn't, now that I think about it.