My parents’ last dog did something similar, Anna, with a tennis ball (or any ball with a good bounce, really) and the stairway leading up to their second floor. Rosie would position herself above the stop step, ball in mouth. Lie down, facing the stairs. Gently place the ball between her outstretched forelegs. Tap ball with nose. (Not hard enough.) Tap ball again. Ball rolls gently over the edge, bounces on step one, step two, step three… and it’s on! Rosie took off after the ball, sometimes missing it until it ended up in the downstairs hallway, sometimes catching it on the bounce. A mid-air catch meant a victory prance around the house, ball held aloft. Then repeat.

A dog who could self-entertain!