My Labrador [Gala] is an insatiable retriever of sticks thrown into the lake. Unfortunately, I can’t throw them far enough to even get thru a single page of my book, not to mention that she sets the stick at my feet and proceeds to shake off nasty lake water. So, I’ve taken a remote control toy torpedo boat and wrapped it with sponge rubber. On top I’ve placed a proximity sensor that commands the propeller to turn. The rudder is fixed to make a generous circle.

I throw out the modified boat toy and it just floats there until Gala is nearly upon it, then it moves, just a little faster than she can manage, and stops. The trick is to set the sensor on a timer so that Gala can eventually get it.

Now I can often get thru an entire chapter before Gala finally brings it back. And sometimes she is too tired to shake off, but just slumps at my feet.

Now that’s a good girl...


(By the way, this is for lake use only. Don't throw it into a river...)

-- pluterday, Mar 13 2003

mine would leave the thing in the water and swim after the ducks.
-- po, Mar 13 2003


Dog toys that try to escape. Yes, yes, yes. Don't forget the cat version.
-- waugsqueke, Mar 13 2003


//Proximity sensor on her collar//

Or some sort of proximity device on the collar (magnet). Yes, that is definitely an improvement. Also, it allows me to even things up between Gala and my other dog Easter. (No magnet for Easter.)
-- pluterday, Mar 13 2003


*pictures pluter's dog slowly evolving into web-footed creature.
-- RayfordSteele, Mar 13 2003


pluter... ah, you got that. I thought I had just not seen it there the first read through.
-- waugsqueke, Mar 13 2003


[waugs] //cat version// Don't think you need a device. Cats are nature's dog toys that try to escape.
-- Worldgineer, Mar 13 2003


I'd imagine you could sell this for good money.
-- notme, Mar 13 2003



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