Help with Buster

Lunareclipse · 10-20-2010

Barb...I know how much you love research, so here it goes. I need to find something for Buster to do to really make him work. I would love to get him into pulling, but can't afford the equipment. Is there anything that I can do that I can afford that would make him work all of his energy off of him. Walking doesn't work. He doesn't play fetch that well. I need something that will physically and mentally wear his overactive butt out. I so wish I had the money for a pulling harness, but we don't. If we did, I would hoook him up to the sled and have him pull our cinder blocks around the yard.

cigwyllt · 10-20-2010

What about a back pack so that he carries extra weight when he is exercising? They can work well with Jack Russells but again it is a question of scale/cost. The bigger the dog, the more expensive the equipment.

The Nina Ottosson toys are great for mental stimulation - again, they are something that Jacks but I'm not sure they would be robust enough for Buster but if you look at her site it might give you ideas of something you could make for him. The Treat Trapper blanket is something you could make with sacking and old blankets.

Lunareclipse · 10-20-2010

We already have a backpack for Buster. Carrying it with bottles of water in it hasn't fazed him at all. Although he is calmer when he has the backpack on. But I can't keep it on him 24 hours a day.

CorkyMax · 10-20-2010

Lol, that is a tall order! Just checking out the net. May be some ideas here for starters: Creative Ways to Exercise your Dog Bring your pet to Gatlinburg!

A couple of ideas off the top of my head (Lol, so prob. not the best). If you could get a hold of a cheap treadmill--(Craig's List?) and somehow fix it so you can get him to use it--lol, dangle a carrot (treat, toy) in front of him like what is done for the donkey type thing--?? Guess a fenced-in backyard would be expensive (unless you have access to the materials--ha,ha--cut down your own trees--probably need logs for him anyway!--and install it yourself. I was thinking that if you had him enclosed--maybe set up home made agility things and train him to use them. I don't imagine you could do this without it being fenced in?

Here is another link: Dog Training - Top 10 Dog Games That Will Wear Him Out Note under headings Saddlebag and Horse and Buggy that there are homemade ideas for doing these things! Hey! How about that #11 idea--That might be a sight to see/hear!!

Don’t Turn Your Dog into a Couch Potato

Give her responsibility and an active place in the household. That responsibility might be as simple as sitting when guests enter the house or bringing in the newspaper. Use play that is mentally stimulating. Rather than the "catch-the-ball-bring-it-back" routine, add "put it into the basket". Have the dog pick up her toys and put them in her toy box. Set up a homemade agility course in the backyard.(Hey maybe my off the top of my head idea wasn't that bad after all!) Buy toys that demand a dog to think or to work in order to get the treat inside.

Hey this is a great one--Don't know why that didn't come off the top of my head!--Yogi was just telling me about his hilarious experiences he had with this---And if Buster doesn't like it--the cats will--Ask Yogi about this little gadget! ----> Have you tried a laser pointer? Both my dog and cat love it. If I really want to tire the dog out I can run him in laps around the living room with it. You have to be careful not to shine it in their eyes, but you can keep it moving fast enough so that's not a problem. I used to have one of those small cylinder shaped ones, but the button you have to continuously hold down on was small and it went through batteries so fast. I had a laser tape measure in the garage that I've been using that works so much better. The on button is larger and it uses a 9v battery that lasts forever.

Pet Chew Toy Note: Some of these ideas are kind of 'not too good' I think, but some sound okay. I sure wouldn't tie any strings on anything for one thing. You'll figure out what is not a good idea for your individual dog! If you will note in this last link (Above)--to the left of page are other topics you can click on too--one called home made--Think it shows how to make agility things too.

These are all links from that last same site. I didn't want you to miss anything so I am putting links to everything that looks interesting----But hang on as I have to go get each one individually to paste here and prob. many links coming here so will take a little time! First one:Whipwhir Attachments

http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff....treadmill.html Be sure to see page 2 and also click on the many links within these 2 pages!
http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff....g-carting.html

http://www.sonic.net/~cdlcruz/carting/pvccart.htm

Still checking it out--maybe more to come!

Lunareclipse · 10-20-2010

I will read about the homemade agility course after some sleep. I think he might actually do good at it. After I get him to listen, of course. Ryan's idea was to tie him to that pine tree we will cutting down and after several months, maybe Buster might have it pulled up for us. Ryan's only joking, but he is getting rather irritated with Buster too.

CorkyMax · 10-20-2010

Official Pit Bull Site of Diane Jessup

DogScooter.com || HOME

http://www.uberpest.com/harness.html

This link is a picture of a homemade dog exercise wheel----Lol, any carpenters in the family!? http://photos1.blogger.com/photoIncl...y-056small.jpg This would be a very good idea but I would think you'd have to make it so Buster couldn't get off it on his own--need a part that opened and could latch so he couldn't get out until you let him out!

I may add more to this post later---My computer is 'dragging/crawling' to almost a stop. Hey! Check everything out--A lot there I know but some good 'stuff!'

skivvies · 10-20-2010

Do you have access to a dog park? I don't know what it's like in your area, but a few dog parks around here have agility equipment set up in them.

I've heard of people making flirt poles for dogs (like the cat toys with the toy attached to a stick by a string...you'd have to make your own out of sturdier material). I imagine that jumping and chasing the flirt pole would burn off a lot of energy.

Yogi · 10-20-2010

I think you need to put a saddle on him and rent him out for pony rides..

At least then he would also be earning his keep.....

Lunareclipse · 10-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi

I think you need to put a saddle on him and rent him out for pony rides..

At least then he would also be earning his keep.....

Now, that would be funny.

skivvies · 10-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi

I think you need to put a saddle on him and rent him out for pony rides..

At least then he would also be earning his keep.....

Hahaha! My friend always jokes that he wants to make a saddle for his Sheltie, so my Maltese can ride on his back.

Lunareclipse · 10-21-2010

lol, No we aren't taking Buster to Gatlinburg. There are some great ideas in there though. He won't go anywhere near water unless it's to drink it, so the water ideas are out, but I like the hide and seek and the go find it ideas. And I think I have enough materials in one of our garages to make him an agility course. We don't need a fence. He stays in the yard all by himself. He does like learning new tricks. Anyone know of any neat tricks I can teach him for inside the house when it's raining out?

skivvies · 10-22-2010

Since I can post links now, here's a website I found about making flirt poles for dogs

How to make a Flirt Pole for your Dog

They also have information on building your own pulling equipment

Lunareclipse · 10-22-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by skivvies

Since I can post links now, here's a website I found about making flirt poles for dogs

How to make a Flirt Pole for your Dog

They also have information on building your own pulling equipment

I ahve a 10 ft. catfish pole. Can I tie a sock on it and use that?

Lara's mom · 10-26-2010

Actually, I think Yogi's idea has merit. You could rent him out for birthday parties for people who can't afford ponies...

Lunareclipse · 10-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Actually, I think Yogi's idea has merit. You could rent him out for birthday parties for people who can't afford ponies...

lol. I couldn't afford the doctor bills in case the "pony" decides to buck.

Lara's mom · 10-26-2010

Good point. I never thought of that...