![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Specifically, I'm looking for advice on this.
So here's the thing: Adverb is an anxious, distractable, stubborn, reasonably clever little dog. And not high-energy, thank god, but he's not completely inert, either. So I'd like to keep him entertained! I'd especially like to find good ways to keep him intellectually stimulated and entertained before I get to Minnesota, where he will be in a much, much smaller space, without constant yard access.
But... damned if I can figure out how. He gets very anxious on walks, so a quick walk is more likely to lead us all to frustration--or be aborted before we turn the first corner--than keep him happy. Sometimes he'll chase thrown toys, or play tug with me, but a great deal of the time he merely stares in bemusement as I wave his favorite plush in front of him. He finds puzzle toys fascinating for about two minutes, then gets bored because he doesn't have the treat yet, and ditches the whole enterprise. He'll chew on hooves or bones or pork chews sometimes with great enthusiasm, then stare in bored confusion five minutes later when I offer them to him. And he's just...not very treat-motivated. If I'm not eating it myself, he doesn't care much.
So what the heck do I do to burn some energy off this pup and keep him from barking constantly out of sheer boredom? He'll run up to me and put his paws up on my knees in a clear "Let's do a thing!" request, but then ignore all offer of toys, hate walks, etc. Maybe I just haven't had enough dogs. But I don't know what else I'm supposed to do to entertain a dog who gets bored with things so easily.
Dog people, help?
So here's the thing: Adverb is an anxious, distractable, stubborn, reasonably clever little dog. And not high-energy, thank god, but he's not completely inert, either. So I'd like to keep him entertained! I'd especially like to find good ways to keep him intellectually stimulated and entertained before I get to Minnesota, where he will be in a much, much smaller space, without constant yard access.
But... damned if I can figure out how. He gets very anxious on walks, so a quick walk is more likely to lead us all to frustration--or be aborted before we turn the first corner--than keep him happy. Sometimes he'll chase thrown toys, or play tug with me, but a great deal of the time he merely stares in bemusement as I wave his favorite plush in front of him. He finds puzzle toys fascinating for about two minutes, then gets bored because he doesn't have the treat yet, and ditches the whole enterprise. He'll chew on hooves or bones or pork chews sometimes with great enthusiasm, then stare in bored confusion five minutes later when I offer them to him. And he's just...not very treat-motivated. If I'm not eating it myself, he doesn't care much.
So what the heck do I do to burn some energy off this pup and keep him from barking constantly out of sheer boredom? He'll run up to me and put his paws up on my knees in a clear "Let's do a thing!" request, but then ignore all offer of toys, hate walks, etc. Maybe I just haven't had enough dogs. But I don't know what else I'm supposed to do to entertain a dog who gets bored with things so easily.
Dog people, help?