For Christmas this year I bought Sherman and Leroy a dog puzzle.
I’ve been wanting to get them a dog puzzle for quite some time to work their brains.
All the cool dogs are doing it and it’s not like we’re out prancing around on the frozen tundra like we were last year.
So we might as well work our brains before they turn into permanent puddles.
Enter in the Tornado.
It’s a dog puzzle by Nina Ottosson.
It’s probably not the one I should of picked to start the boys out with since it’s a “hard skill level” but the super easy ones seemed like they wouldn’t be Newf friendly and in my mind I want my dogs to be the smartest dogs on the planet so I took my chances.
The idea behind the Dog Tornado is for the dog to dislodge the removable bones, then turn the revolving sections in order to receive the hidden treats. You can put treats in one, several or all of compartments, depending upon the dog’s experience and enthusiasm for the game. The Tornado has many variables to increase the level of difficulty as the dog’s skill increases. The bones have a small hole to allow the scent of the treat to pass through and encourage him to use and develop his extraordinary sense of smell.
The instructions say to introduce the dog to the Tornado slowly so we opened the box on Christmas and we left it in the middle of the floor but the dogs and the kids kept tripping over it so I moved it under the desk where it sat until yesterday.
Slow and steady.
On Sunday I figured I better get a move on this so I really introduced both the boys to the Tornado.
“Sherman and Leroy, this is the Dog Tornado. It’s a puzzle for dogs. Please try to contain your excitement”
Then I gave them step by step instructions, took the plastic bones out to make it easy, put some more Cheerios in the slots and showed them what they needed to do.
“See you eat the Cheerios and then move the bone with your nose to get the other Cheerios and then you do the same thing on the next layer. It’s really quite easy.”
But they weren’t interested.
Nothin.
So I said, “But look, there’s Cheerios in here. They’re your favorite little snack.”
Still nothin.
We sat there and stared at each other for 20 minutes.
And then they both fell asleep.
They fell asleep with the puzzle in between them. Filled with Cheerios.
I think they were overwhelmed. .
OR
Perhaps they are too smart for this puzzle and they don’t want to make me feel bad by figuring it out on the first day.
That’s gotta be it.
But wait.
Before I threw in the towel I moved the Tornado into the other room and Leroy came in tow and finally became mildly interested.
Then his love of Cheerios sprang back to life and he really started to get into the puzzle so I sneaked the plastic bone back in and that’s when things started to get a little out of hand and dog puzzles and Cheerios started bouncing off of walls.
For a few minutes I sat there in amazement watching Leroy have a little freak out session and then I decided I should probably try to save the puzzle and Leroy’s brain from being permanently damaged.
Perhaps we will revisit this again when I teach Leroy some dog puzzle etiquette.
Edited 4/2018. This dog puzzle is still going strong and Sherman uses it almost daily!
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melF
Wednesday 21st of January 2015
I just realized that Jasper, Daisy, Cupcake and Maggie are the "cool dogs" in your post. LOL! I will tell them that. :)
2 Brown Dawgs
Tuesday 20th of January 2015
My guess is that when the comment disappears it is going into spam. The bloggers need to fish it out. :)
I would have the same result with brown dawgs and that puzzle, but without the disinterest. They are kind of hard on puzzles. I guess they figure force will get them the treats....lol.
Good luck with Sherman's collection. I am sure it will go well. I hope you blog on it. :) Thunder was actually collected at age 5, but there is interest in a natural breeding so that is why we had him checked out.
CATHY BENNETT
Monday 19th of January 2015
Just so you don't feel alone, dog puzzles are exactly a huge hit in Doodleville either. Harley likes the treat balls, and that's about all the work he is interested in doing to get food. Keep us posted - I will keep my fingers crossed!
Jackie Bouchard
Monday 19th of January 2015
LOL! Rita had a similar reaction to the puzzle toy I got her! A lot of staring, then a bit of success, then some destruction! :)
Dachshund Nola
Monday 19th of January 2015
*snort* LOL the photos and consequent visual are great!