just wondered what other people do to keep their litter amused during the day when they are not sleeping.Bit too young to appreciate toys yet, although couple of balls in with them.Obviously cant sit with them all the time which keeps them quiet for a while.mum doesnt want to go in with them as they want to suckle all the time.

How old are they?  My pups are playing with balls and toys tied to the side of their playpen around three weeks of age, although theya re up on their feet as soon as their eyes open.

mine love old plastic milk bottles!

At 4 weeks old your pups are certainly old enough for some toys, I usually pop down to Toys R Us/Pet shops for some special puppy toys, if you look in the sections they have some first toys, just like for babies, usually baby pink and blue ideal for tiny pups. Ask if you can not find them.

Pups generally play with each other too at this age, having little mouthe and tumble games and usually keeping each other occupied.

Obviously the more socialising from you and your family the better, their play will get more vigourous and noisy as time goes by and then you can introduce bigger toys for them to tug and chew, but they are capable of some little play now.

By this age I would expect them to enjoy playing with anything that will move readily, unpredicatably is favourite, or make an interesting noise.  I look around for anything disposable or fairly indestructable.  Plastic bottles with a small amount of dry rice grains in, balls etc.  Some free, some attached to a pole over the top of the pen.  Are they getting out and about in the garden regularly now, exploring is an essential part of development and will also serve as interest and play.

They are 4 weeks old. They have 2 golf balls which are fluorescent colours and 2 large squeeky balls which they cant squeek yet.Plastic bottles seem like a good idea.They have not been out in the garden yet as the weather has not been too warm, however i am waiting for a play pen to arrive so they will get out very soon.

Unless it is actually raining I would have them out for short periods, they need fresh air and they need to see something of the world :)  I have had puppies of this age out enjoying snow!  You just have to make sure they are rubbed dry and placed in the warm as soon as you bring them in.

Cardboard egg trays (the large 36 egg ones) are an essential :D  

I thought dogs weren't supposed to have golf balls, Golf balls poise an additional danger because the liquid inside is often toxic; your dog can become very sick if she manages to pierce the outer coating with her teeth.

Taken from http://www.cairnrescue.com/docs/UnsafeToys.htm

My pups love cardboard boxes, egg boxes, small plastic coke bottles with a rice in (as previously mentioned)  I hang strings of play sausages from the side of the pen which they love hanging off and tugging at.

These pups are only 4 weeks old how on earth can a solid golf ball hurt a pup with tiny teeth.they cant even get their mouth around them. I have had dogs for many years and wouldnt give a golf ball to any of my adult dogs!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think I would like golf balls.  They have a painted surface so even tiny teeth might be able to remove some of that.  Any actual toys, balls etc I use would always be intended for dogs or children to ensure that they were made from safe materials.

I don't want to be alarmist, but take the golfballs away asap. They're not safe at all I'm afraid.

Good toys include rubber bones, empty 2-litre plastic pop bottles (tops removed), tennis balls, raggers, knotted socks/tea-towels and cardboard boxes.

I still have a noted pair of acrylic girls tights that were my daughters at about age 10 (she is 19 now) they just get thrown in the wash.  They ahve probably lasted this long as the breed isn't really toy orientated past puppy stage.  Tugg toys they like two, and that large rubber tug toy that looks liek a crooked bow tie shape.

I would go for a huge varity of stuff to alternate.  Pets at home stock a range of puppy toys with different textures, sounds etc.

Also add in plastic bottles, cardbord (loo roll and kitchin roll middles are great!)

With our litter we put some toy's suitable for adult size setters which one pup loved dragging around!  (Our pup when she was 8/9 weeks had a pink flemengo as big as her and she loved the too.....)

You will want to get them used to different textures and sounds aswell as sizes so a varity of toy's are a great idea :)  you can change them round on a daily basis so they have different things to entertain themselves with.

Also when your with them start calling them too you if you haven't started already.  Will make things much easier in the garden aswell.  Common thing is to call them all "puppies" and they will come charging to "puppies" :D

Common thing is to call them all "puppies" and they will come charging to "puppies"

My two 6 year olds still come charging when I shout "puppy, puppy, puppeeee" in a high voice :D

My pups loved the rubbish before it went into the recyling bin... toilet roll middles, cereal boxes (just the cardboard bit not the plastic bag) empty coke bottles, egg cartons, pot noodle tubs etc as well as the usual squeaky, tuggy, furry toys :)

toilet roll the cardboard center,coke bottles,

Oh, and a large marrowbone (scrape out the marrow if you like - it's very fatty) will keep them amused for days!

remove the golfballs they are dangerous

My pups like, cupboard boxes, squeaky toys, cuddly toys that are suitable ie not got anything they can swallow like eye etc:

They also like to play with:
empty plastic bottles, newspaper that I have just layed down after cleaning their pen out!:D my children especially my 5 year old! :D
my 5 year old is supervised all the time while with the puppies, he has learnt not to pick the puppies up, and only wait for them to come to him if they want a stroke or play with their toys with him

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/thepuppysruleoftwelve.pdf

I have found that at 4 to 5 weeks pups chafe at being too restricted and really need to spend time outdoors.  Otherwise pups just seem to e discontented/bored, no matter the toys.  Some of it is to do with wanting to toilet further away from where they sleep and live.