Re: Games and Play with a JRT

In Reply to: Re: Games and Play with a JRT
Posted by:  Sue Zeiher
Posted on:  February 24, 2001 at 10:27:58

: : I have yet to see the subject of play addressed with these fantastic dogs! They are such a riot! Can anyone give advice on what sort of fun and games we can have with our girl? She is 2.5 years old and we don't have her as a horse dog or a hunting dog. She is simply our cherished "Phoebe Girl" and we would love some new ideas of ways to play that would bring out her natural instincts. (She loves to chase bubbles! Try it with your JRT sometime and have a camera ready loaded with fast film.)

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: Hi Linda,

: One of my dogs favorite games is chase the whip. I got the longest lunge whip I could find at the local tack shop removed the "cracker" at the end and replaced it with a strip of fleece. You stand in the middle and rotate it trying to keep the dogs from catching the fleece. Change directions frequently or you can get pretty dizzy. They also love their "fishy pool" in the summer and I have one who will dive to the bottom (OK, it's only 8 or 10 inches) to get a submerged tennis ball. My littlest bitch has taught herself to play soccer with a basket ball and she will do this until my husband and myself are too tired to kick it any longer. They constantly invent new games for us to play.

: Best,
: Sue

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That whip thing is a GREAT idea! I have friends who have tied fleece to the end of a fishing pole line and they cast it out in the yard for a little homemade "lure course."

My dogs favorite thing to do inside is "Bungy Monkey." I put a nail ad the top of the door frame in my livingroom, tied elastic cord to the nail on one end, and a stuffed monkey on the other end. The monkey is suspended about a foot and a half off the ground. They grab onto bungy monkey and whip him all over the place, chasing and jumping after him. Fun for them and amusing as heck to watch!

Kiddie pool is another great thing in the summer, and they also love their "Roll-A-Treat" which is a cheper version of the buster cube, which you put food in and they nudge it all over the house or yard, slowly getting the food out. (Also a great thing for a dog who eats too quickly.)

I've also found that my dogs like to play with empty, spring water bottles. Rowdee will throw one around and amuse himself for quite a while. I suppose I'm getting away from the natural instinct thing now, though. :o)