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Nina Ottosson started the Zoo Active Products AB in 1993, with development and design of dog-activating toys and games for dogs and dog-owners, which is to mentally activate the dog in a positive and educational manner.
The activity toys are very much appreciated and are used by dogs and other animals and their owners in many countries. The dog activity toys are also recommended by dog psychologists, veterinaries, dog-trainers and other dog-owners.
Today, the company works with product development, design, manufacturing, sales and distribution to retailers in different countries. Nina Ottosson and Hans Molin run the company together with their employees.
Nina Ottosson says:
"Brain Exercises for Dogs
I, Nina Ottosson, have nearly all my life had dogs, worked with and been interested in dogs. When I had children, this meant that I did not have the same amount of time to train and activate my dogs, the way both I and they were used to. My bad conscience made me start to think what I could do to activate my dogs in a simple, fun and varying manner indoors, and since 1990 I have worked with the development and design of dog-activating toys/games that will mentally stimulate the dog, i.e. “brain exercises” in a fun and creative way. The toys are also easy to get out and use indoors and are specially developed to match the dog’s natural movements and instincts.
Activating – Problem Solving
The dog activity toys are meant for the dog to work with problem solving in different ways, by finding hidden dog snacks, e.g. to lift blocks, push pieces, turn discs, push blocks, put blocks inside something etc.
All dogs need to use their head sometimes in order to keep healthy. Some dogs need more brain activity than others. If dogs are not provided with an outlet for its energy in the form of different types of activity or other stimulation, they can sometimes find their own “activity” which we as dog-owners often do not appreciate, like for instance chewing things to pieces, becoming aggressive or just generally over-active.
The activity toys are also very good to use when the dog for various reasons can not move about freely, e.g. when injured or limping etc.
Activating a dog can be anything from letting the dog do tracking in the woods, teaching it different tricks, obedience training or hiding a snacks in a room and let the dog find it. In the summer when the weather is good and it is not raining, the dogs normally get more stimulation, it is easier and more fun to be out and play and think of activities with your dog.
In the autumn and winter it can be boring to be out when it is raining, snowing and windy. At the same time it is often hard to vary the activities indoors and think of fun activities that are entertaining, simple and stimulating. This has inspired me to continue to develop dog-activating toys or party games for dog and dog-owner, as I sometimes call them.
Learning, Contact
Our activity toys/games are easy to get out and fun to use both for the dog and the dog-owner. While the games are being used the dog and the dog-owner will get a chance to have more contact with each other. At the same time there is a learning process of common everyday obedience during fun and positive moments, like for instance: sit, lie down, stay and wait while you are hiding the snacks in the games. Search, when the dog can start looking. Stop, stay, back up when the dog is too rough or is doing things wrong. Fetch it for lifting the blocks. Finished, when you think the dog or the exercise is finished and it is time for the dog to stop and relax.
Inactivity is just as important as activity, i.e. the dog has to learn to lie still and be able to relax when you tell it to do so.
Brain exercises with these activity toys/games are suitable for all dogs old and young, big and small. The activity time that fits most dogs is approx. 15 min/time, shorter for puppies.
The dog-activating toys are also recommended by veterinaries when the dog for various reasons is not allowed, or can not move freely due to illness etc.
Dog psychologists and instructors also use these games in their courses and training sessions."
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