Looking for toys to interest my sheltie

S

Sophiel

Forums Novice
Hi guys,
I just got a 3 year old sheltie named Dug and I'm looking for toys that'll keep him busy. He doesn't show interest in any of the toys I bring him or in bones or almost any treats, he just wants to hang out with us, but I want stuff to keep him busy when I'm at work or just to keep him stimulated while inside. Any suggestions of toys that'll get him into playing with them? The only thing I've found so far is he likes the kong that I stuffed with peanut butter cheese and kibble, but even that he was only mildly invested in. Any other ideas?
Thank you!!! I want him to have fun :)
 
I'm probably not too much help :no:

Do you know what his background is and what he has experienced in his first 3 years ??

It may take time for him to feel safety with you and maybe therefore do not want to play.

Maybe he never tries to play with toys :confused2:

Dug has just come to you, and may be afraid you're leaving him too, but it's quite normal that Shelties always follow their people so enjoy it. :yes:
 
Benson didn't start playing with any toys for several weeks after coming here. He now empties out the toy basket.
That being said, they all want ME to be in there with them to play. I still hope to find a toy to entertain them without my involvement. Best so far has been the Starmark Bobs a Lot and JW Holee Roller treat balls. Both are puzzle balls which require *drum roll* TREATS LOL
 
Dogs don't really 'play' by themselves, even if you find a toy he likes, they generally play with their toy around humans, not alone. If you want something keep your dog occupied, esp when you are at work, I'd suggest food puzzles. Meals are such a wasted resource! Rather than giving your dog set meal times in a bowl - use the food in food puzzles that take time to get the food out. You've discovered he likes Kongs, I have 3 Kongs for each dog and use them all the time to keep them occupied. When I worked the dogs' breakfast kibble was put in a dispenser: I made my own but you can also buy some that require the dog to push it or roll it to get the kibble out. My dogs' fave was the treasure hunt - I just hid food around the house (or yard) and off they went to find it. I still do treasure hunts whenever I go out or when the weather is too awful and they are stuck in the house. The beauty of a treasure hunt is they keep going back to check if they missed anything. To teach the treasure hunt you need to show the dog you hiding the treats the first few times.
 
As Caro said, I've never had a dog in all my Shelties who plays alone, other than with a kong stuffed with food which is really, hello....food! Puzzle toys will occupy them for a few minutes, but not for very long. Shelties are very social dogs who either want a doggie pal or their human to play with. Chew toys are good for keeping them occupied, but it's not good to leave him unsupervised with them. It sounds like Dug is adapting wonderfully to you and your home, which is great! Congratulations for adopting him!
 
Of course the bestest toy you can have for your Sheltie is another Sheltie lol but barring that as others have said an interactive toy that you play with the dog with is best. My boy Piper really didn't care for any toy, only if I played with him, but he loves his tug toy and his absolutely favourite tug is a sheepskin tug...he goes crazy over this one. Of course now that I have a 1 1/2 year old Sheltie they play together with every toy (and sticks too lol). My 1 1/2 year old Finnie loves toys however and will grab a squeaky toy and play with it, especially when he's really happy...his favourite is a large (over a foot long) rubber squeaky rooster...he squeaks it and howls. Funniest thing.
 
Treat balls saved Katy after Bailey passed. When he died she stopped playing with toys. We found our first one while on vacation with her and now she and Annie will even nose dribble them across the house long after they are empty.

I think we've collected just about everyone on the market and the girls will play for hours when they come out.
 
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