Therrier Thursday Because We Missed Terrier Tuesday

David and I have been working on mentally challenging Mr. Jefferies. It ain't easy, I'll tell you. 

It started with hiding a toy in a wrapped-up baby blanket (used to be Abigail's -- I kid you not) which would keep him out of our hair for a while, trying to figure out how to get it out. Soon it was no challenge and he'd have it out in less than 2 seconds. Then we'd put the small blanket inside a huge fleece blanket. After a few tries, same deal. Just a few seconds, and he'd present the toy at our feet. So we've been escalating the difficulty level. 

Yesterday I wanted to keep him occupied while I did some things, so I really ramped up the challenge. 

Step 1:

Put a dog biscuit in the Kong toy (This is supposed to be a challenge for dogs and will keep them mentally stimulated and busy, while they try to chew the treat out of the center of the toy. It works pretty well, actually.)

Step 2:

Put the Kong toy avec treat inside the stuffed toy that he has long since destuffed, but he still enjoys dragging around the green fleecy thing.

Step 3:

Wrap the Kong toy avec treat inside the green fleecy dead toy thingy inside the pink baby blanket.

Step 4:

Put the pink baby blanket holding the green fleecy thing holding the Kong toy holding the treat inside this shopping bag.

Step 5:

Roll up the black shopping bag around the blanket that is around the green fleecy thing that is around the Kong toy holding the treat, throw it on the floor, and release the beast.

And voila! Mr. Jefferies' version of the LSAT. 

Well, at least I thought it was. But he had it figured out and was chomping on the cookie before I had finished writing this post. Turns out it was more challenging for me than it was for him. 

Perhaps he's the one who should be going to law school.

Next up: Duct tape around the whole kit and kaboodle! 

(including the dog)

Comments

[sandy]

ROFL! And then...you drive it to your mother's, give him a GPS, see if he can find his way there. THEN. Put it up on the roof....
heh. I could go on all day, as I am sure you are aware.
BTW: I love that dog. :D

[Carolyn]

So funny! We have a 50 lb. dog that we got from a shelter when he was just a puppy. He is super high energy and a total pain in the rear end if he is not kept mentally and physically busy. I got this toy: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751743 and put his dog food (dry) in it. Keeps him busy and out of trouble and he loves it. He literally got all his meals out of this ball when he was a puppy. It enabled me to knit and without running after him to pry whatever he had out of his mouth.

[Jenni]

My friend had a terribly smart and active dog, too. Her solution was to put a treat at the bottom of the kong, cover it with peanut butter and then suspend the kong just high enough that Cedar had to jump to get it - and maybe wouldn't quite get it on the first try. Once it came down, then it took a while to get to the treat, too.

[Sara]

LMAO. At least you can try. My cats absolutely will not be distracted. I have one that is so annoying when I am on the computer (he tries to chew the mouse cord) that I have no option but to put him in time out. Then I have to listen to him whine.

[(blogging again) a simple yarn]

Our Rocket-With-Jaws-Of-Steel has ploughed through the Kongs. Prefers my plastic plant pots...and garden hose nozzle...and the siding on the house. Now we've opted for a more durable Orka-Excessively-Durable-Blue-Rubber activity toy. He gets the treat out fairly quickly, but still, my house will be standing for a little while longer.

[gayle]

And the point of the exercise is to challenge which one of you?

[margene]

Duct tape! The perfect idea.

[Kym]

Smart AND adorable! A winning combination!

[Geri]

Mr. J rocks!

[kmkat]

Yeah, duct tape that little canine to a chair. See how long THAT holds. (I'm guessing no more than 90 seconds.) This is why we have large, slow, calm dogs. And dumb, in the case of Bear.

[Bex]

My puppy has gotten to the age where she can destroy a stuffed toy in like 5 min. I don't know what to do when she gets bored. This post made me laugh. Have you seen those dog puzzles? It is like a wooden tray that you put treats in and ... it keeps the dog busy somehow?. I might have to look into one of those before she eats the Christmas tree!

[marianne]

heeeeeeeeeeee. The fun and challenges just never cease and we all enjoy them SO very much!

[Joannah]

Mr. J, you are so smart. Have you considered taking the LSATs? A Alpha, have you tried stuffing the toy with a bisquit, smeared with peanut butter (on the inside!) and frozen? How about a kong toyed stuffed with a bisquit, smeared with peanut butter, frozen, wrapped in duct tape and hidden behind the couch? What about a buster cube?

[Mary Fran]

I think it's time for puppy DVD's, so you can park him in front of the TV and let him get obese. Oh, wait, that probably only works for kids. Sorry.

[Marcia]

Naah....he's probably got a Swiss Army Knife hidden inside that spiffy sweater. You've got yourselves a real McGiver!

[Doris]

Gotta love duct tape! But it will probably be chewed through in a matter of minutes.

[beverly]

I think Mr. J. needs a canine friend to keep him busy. Just saying.

[Sunnyknitter aka Stephanie B.]

What a smart boy! Sadly, I now have "There was an old woman who swallowed a fly" running through my head and I can't remember all the verses so guess what I'm off to Google now?

[Trista]

A good idea from Beverly- time to get a playmate for Mr. Jefferies! Just think, you'll be able to knit more dog sweaters, maybe in pink?
What a funny post. He really is a smarty pants!

[Vicki]

Yeah. I'll be waiting to see who knocks on your blog after you duct tape the dog to his toys and blanket and stuff it all inside a shopping bag! Hahahaha. ; )

[michelle in california]

all that cute and brains too...i think i'm in luvvvvvvv! '->

[Ruth]

He's a smart guy. And cute too. Do they make them in a larger size? Human size?

[Renee]

lol -- way too easy when he can scent the cookie, but definitely entertaining!!

[Sheila]

I second the treat ball thingy. We have one and it keeps Pete busy although it can be a bit noisy as he chases it around crashing into things. Amazon.com has a lot of really nice enrichment toys for dogs. Nina Ottoson makes some great ones that my daughter recommends to her clients who have dogs that are ADD. They can be pricey but are so worth it.

Good luck!

[Angie L.]

Definetely time for a second dog! That's why we adopted Nikkie, to keep Suzie busy and active. And it worked Suzie lost some weight, and keeps outta my hair when I knit. The downside? They are BOTH in my way when I'm in the kitchen. Also, very important, is to get a playmate with same energy level. Nikkie is a lot nuttier than Suzie, and likes to pounce, while Suzie just likes to fetch and hump. So when Nikkie razzes Suzie, Suzie gives me a super dirty look.

[Cookie]

He'll be doing your taxes before you know it. ;^)

[Judy]

Some canines are smarter than some people I know. Mr J has a lot of my friends beat!

[Stacy]

I can also recommend the toy Carolyn posted in the second comment. It's the only one that still keeps our nearly-4-year-old dog occupied.

[elizabeth a airhart]

mr jeffries lil ole pudding pie

human beings are not very bright

my alpha gave me a blanket from walmart

really i tore it up in 2 mintues flat

i only sleep on blankets from saks fifth

have you gone thru all ankles in your house

i scare the wits out of alphas boy friends

[Holly]

Do you think they make that Harvard sweater in Mr. Jeffries' size?

[Mary]

Congratulations, Mr Jefferies! You knew Norma was missing all that studying for the LSATs. It was good of you to provide her with a new challenge.

[Stasia]

I recently purchased a Nina Ottosson toy for our dogs... and have already ordered another, since it got such a "paws up" around here. It's really mentally challenging, and uses up that excess energy that comes from "cabin fever" with subzero temps and snow...

They BEG to play with it. It is designed by a behaviorist and is here:

http://tinyurl.com/yb3njy8

Best wishes!

[Amy]

I have JRTs - both my own and bunch of foster/rescues!

I use the KONGS and put either wet dog food or peanut butter in them and freeze it. This makes them work MUCH harder to get the food out!

I'm quite devious...and I use the black super strong Kongs so they last forever. It's amazing what I can make go into a Kong - squish it on the counter to create an oval opening instead of round and mush a piece of chicken jerky into it as far as I can make it go then break it off. To get it out, they've got to lick it till it's soft and THEN use the tongue to get it out.

I also run them through the dishwasher to keep them clean (also gets rid of the plastic smell).