Luke is a high-energy, oversized puppy who always needs something to do until he crashes. During the workday, Luke is alone, except for his nanny cams, which don’t pick up too much because he is napping, waiting for his humans to return for playtime. When we are home during the day, Luke fears missing out, so those naps become non-exciting until he crashes.
With Luke’s energy levels, we try to keep a structured schedule, but life can get in the way.
We go for walks and play outside daily; Luke gets to go to the park and meet with dog friends. We wanted to share our indoor activities and enrichment games with the fast-approaching winter. Luke is a bit too fast and excitable for indoor hide-and-seek, so this game is not on the list.
Easy no fuss activities
Luke is 50% golden retriever, so sticks and fetch are pretty high on his list for a good time.
We play red light and green light around the house. It’s a game of sit and come while we walk circles around the house. Each time we sit, it’s time for treats and love. Pretty basic, but the dogs love it.
Another simple game that keeps Luke busy and active is scavenger hunts. I wander around the house, hiding tiny treats everywhere. My first lap is to distract Luke; then, I make a second lap to cover additional hiding spots. Luke wanders around, sniffing and looking for treats. Humans get a break, and Luke has a blast.
Enrichment toys
We have many Kong toy options. These can be filled with various items to keep your dog entertained. You can even stuff them, add moisture, and freeze them.
One of Luke’s favorite toys is the Wobble Kong; just add treats or food in the middle. This toy keeps him busy until it’s empty. Sometimes, we put tennis balls in it to add an extra challenge for him.
Luke is very good at touching on command; one of the first games purchased was an automated treat dispensing system. This game requires batteries and has buttons that can be placed relatively far away from the dispenser. Each time Luke touches the button, it makes a fun sound and dispenses treats.
Enrichment feeders
Games: Luke loves his treat-dispensing automated game. Touch the button, and it dispenses his meals or treats.
We use slow feeders to help keep Luke engaged. You might find it funny when we ask Luke which one he wants off the shelf, but he almost always picks the hardest ones. He enjoys the excitement of trying to get his food.
Consistent training pays off
In the last four months, Luke has settled into his new life. He completed his adolescent dog class and enjoys meeting and playing with new friends. When Luke first arrived home, it was a challenge. We met with trainers and our vet, and everyone raised their eyebrows slightly due to his energy levels and reactiveness. We knew that Luke had made it home and needed time to adjust, but we also wanted to help him learn proper behaviors during this time.
We took Luke on several vacations this summer, and his behavior and demeanor improved each time. Being consistent and understanding with Luke is paying off. While it was not perfect and sometimes experienced regressions, we kept focusing on Luke!
Here are some items we use with Luke.
The links below are to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your local pet store will most likely have these enrichment items available as well.
Automated treat dispensers Amazon
Top dog bully sticks (Ocean State job lots tend to have good deals. Avoid the low and no odor, as most of the time chemicals are used to reduce odor.) We put Luke’s bully sticks in a holder Woof BullySafe