Dog play

I'm determined to make Lola's activities outdoors as stimulating as I can, rather than just the normal walk.

I've bought her balls but she is just not interested, just waiting on a boomer ball to come from ebay. But I bought a ball on a rope with a bell in, now she loves this and likes to play tuggie with it, and today we did just that and it quite wore her out. I have seen others swing there dogs around while there mouth is attached to the tuggie, is this safe?
Does anyone else play with there dog this way?

I think it's important to stimulate their minds (old border collie owner) aswell as there bodies. I believe an active stimulated mind is less likely to become bored and create mischief, I hope haha

Sol how do you play with your dog and with what?

How old is lola? I wouldnt pick them up and swing them round when they still have puppy teeth though if she has all her normal teeth I wouldnt think she will hold on if she doesnt feel her mouth is strong enough. My dogs will play with anything, we usually just play tug with sticks, chase balls, run, climb stuff, they also like to go paddling but aren't always the best swimmers.

If lola liked playing tug she might like a flirt pole - http://www.cosmos-staffords.co.uk/Training/Flirt_Pole/flirt_pole.html

or if you have a decent sized garden or patio i like spring poles (only use thes if she is older though, over a year as people have reported cruciate ligament problems in puppys). - http://www.cosmos-staffords.co.uk/Training/Spring_pole/spring_pole.html

Totally agree with you! We don't play tuggsie outside otherwise she assumes all her toys are to play tug o war with and she never drops them! We have a frisbee which she loves and just plain old sticks which are her favourite!!

[quote="Nosipho"]How old is lola?

She's 5 months now and has all her adult teeth.

If lola liked playing tug she might like a flirt pole - http://www.cosmos-staffords.co.uk/Training/Flirt_Pole/flirt_pole.html

I love the look of this, may try it.

Again though because of her age and the fact that everything is maturing and her bones/connective tissue is still devloping be careful not to overdoe it. Jumping and landing arkwardly tends to be the cause of most ligament issues.

god i must seem paranoid, but when jake picks up a stick i freeze, he runs that fast, and has already jabbed himself in back of throat by holding it by the end instead of the middle, we mainly play with his kong ball or now we have molly his pull toys etc. bear in mind, u can never go wrong with the good old cardboard box x

I swing Taz around with his Tire its the only toy i allow tug o war with and he knows it but even with his tire i say heleave he drops it immediatly. I'v only started doing it recently now his jaw bone and muscles are allot more developed and i plan on making a swing for him once he is fully grown.