INTERACTIVE DOG TOYS

I took the dogs to the local Bark Park, which is four acres of fenced and forested land. This off-leash dog park has trails that the dogs like to walk, so we went and made a few loops through the park.

Afterward, we stopped by a pet store to pick up an interactive dog toy.

Neither of the dogs play with typical dog toys, but they are very treat-motivated, so we selected something that allows them to "hunt" treats.

I tried to get Banjo to play with it first, but he wouldn't. So it was Wrigley's turn.

Wrigley was the first to really "figure it out." He was using his teeth, paws, and claws to open compartments and flip panels/lids. (Leave it to the blind dog, who is relying on a different set of senses to be the bolder canine!) 




Banjo needed a setup that was mostly open and needed a lot of encouragement, but soon started realizing how to get treats.

The funny part of Banjo's interaction with this toy is that the rescue that we adopted him from years ago told us how much he loved his toys. He has never played with a toy, with the exception of a Kong, and that is because it (once again) is treat oriented. He's not interested in a toy unless it involves treats.

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This is an intermediate level toy. The easy toy is the orange portion, when it is stationary. On this configuration, the orange section rotates like a lazy Susan and the blue level adds a slightly more difficult set of challenges.

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UPDATE: On their second turn at the toy, each dog was more comfortable with it. Wrigley was actively opening compartments and really using his paws, teeth, and muzzle to move doors and get at treats. Banjo was still a bit timid at first, but once he realized how many tiny treats he was getting, he became fully engaged and got to work.