Mini buster cube

[Maggie Aggie]

I picked up a mini buster cube for Maggie yesterday. After being crated so long for her back problems, she'd forgotten how to play again, so I've been on the lookout for new toys that she might show interest in.

The good news is that she seems really interested in it. If I roll it around, she LOVES to run after it and gobble up the food. Her ears perk up as she waits intently for the moment when the food rolls out. She also doesn't seem afraid of it rolling around near her (which was a problem in the past with tennis balls or rubber balls before she felt comfortable playing with them).

The bad news is that she hasn't shown too much interest in pushing it around by herself. She will lick the opening and look for the food, but she won't push it around. She seems to want to start playing with it, but she's just not quite sure how yet. Since she's becoming more comfortable with the toy, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of how to teach her to roll it around herself.

Thanks,

Vicki and Maggie

[dutchman]

The buster cube can be a big motivator. It was the only toy that Aggie ever learned to play with. I can't remember how I got her started rolling it but I can tell you she eventually despite her small 9.5# size learned how to shoot it under her out between her hind legs and make it roll. The boys also enjoy it but the biggest problem we have is they they manage to push it some place where I can't find it for weeks or in one case months on end. Since Tanner really doesn't need any extra food I don't tend to look too hard.

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Dolly's Mom]

She'll get the hang of it, I'm sure. My girls don't play much but both do like the buster cube. Dolly is an expert at getting all the treats out of it. Maddie, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer (sorry Madders) will sort of roll it and if something pops out by accident, she will roll it again a little harder this time. She'll get it, but it just takes awhile.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm27.gif" border=0>

[Nicole and Baby Oscar]

My Oscar LOVES his. It took him a couple of days to realize he had to roll it and not lick it, too. I sat on the floor by him and when he'd touch it and try to lick it, I'd push the cube just a little bit (and hopefully the food would come out). After a couple of 20 minute sessions, he got the idea. Your baby will too! Just takes time to learn a new behavior.

[isobelsmom]

Something that worked for me to teach my kids was to have a handful 'o kibble and add one or two pieces of freeze-dried liver or another "soft" snacky item to the cube. The soft snacks are a bit more pungent than the kibble and was a great way to get them to really work at the cube. Once they understood, I stopped adding soft treats--well, most of the time <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm25.gif" border=0>

mary

[Maggie Aggie]

Thanks for the responses everyone. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

That's a great idea, Mary. I'll have to try that. Guess I'll also have to figure out how to get the stupid cylinder out. I feel like such an idiot, but I can't get it out. Felt a little better when one of my friends couldn't get it out either, but I'm not sure that's saying too much about either of us. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/uh-oh.gif

Vicki

[isobelsmom]

I had a problem getting that thing out too, especially after my old girl whacked it one too many times. I had to try and get all those little pieces of kibble into that little hole . . . my dogs thought I was an idiot! and were really impatient for the fun to begin <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm31.gif" border=0> It does tend to get jammed if whacked, none too gently, into walls and such.

mary

[Tina]

My girls love the cube as well. It is mostly Miss Piggy and Little Princess, that push it around and Helga, Candy and Maisie wait at some distance for the kibbles to roll out. This is partly due to the fact that Miss Piggy is quite posessive (it is definitely her favourite toy, greedy little monster)and Candy and Maisie are too respectful and Helga too clever to interfere (why do it yourself, if somebody else can do it for you, that´s Helga´s motto).