Senior dog bored? How to entertain her and get her to play with toys?

Great question! Many dogs of any age enjoy enrichment toys that are either balls that bounce unpredictably or puzzle toys that release small treats. Peanut and his friend are still pretty agile, a good game of fetch or playing "hide and seek" with a toy can be a lot fun for everyone. These websites have some good examples of enrichment toys, but plenty of puzzle toys can also be found on Amazon or in pet stores: https://www.ottoenvironmental.com/toys-3?pagenumber=5 https://www.czs.org/custom.czs/media/CenterAnimalWelfare/Orangutan-Husbandry-Manual/Enrichment/Enrichment-manufacturers-suppliers.pdf Have fun playing! :-)

Dogs love new experiences, much like humans. If your older dog Chacha isn't up for big walks, into toys or games anymore I would try some of the following; Dog parks Outdoor adventures that don't require much walking Trick or Obedience training for fun Dog play dates Some dogs even like to watch tv! Here is a great article that highlights more options! https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain

This question is a little difficult to answer since every pet is different but yes, you may want to try one of the more advanced puzzles. Keep in mind that any puzzle you purchase he will likely figure out and then learn the pattern quickly. You may try finding a group of other dog lovers and ask about rotating puzzles which will help stimulation. You may also try using a kibble dispensing ball which will keep him busy moving it around to get the kibble to come out. If you haven't tried stuffing the Kong with kibble, then smear peanut butter (xylitol free) to seal the end and then freeze it, try that. It will last a little longer. Smart dogs often benefit from daily exercise and advanced training. Here is a link with some helpful ideas to fight boredom: https://www.petcoach.co/article/10-ways-to-stimulate-your-dog-s-brain/ I hope this helps.

She is likely a very chilled dog who is more used to interacting in a calm manner with humans. If she doesnt want to play i would just let her do her own thing. She will probably appreciate a bit of fuss from you though.

I would recommend keeping toys out she can play with. Some toys allow you to hide treats and even rubber Kong’s have room for peanut butter. If you use a rubber Kong I would put freezer to make the peanut butter harder. Hope that helps

Have a few toys at home but only give 1-2 at a time. Change it out every day for a different set to prevent boredom. You can try kongs or the type of toys that are puzzles and release food every time they figure it out. Instead of bones, invest into water buffalo horns or elk antlers, they are much more durable

Puzzle toys that she has to solve in order to get a treat will keep Banba occupied while you are gone at work. They require that the dog has to use their mind to solve this puzzle, and they do get a reward at the end of it. There are some great ones available, but the best ones are by Nine Ottosson. Check out her website to see about getting some of these for Banba: http://www.nina-ottosson.com