Thursday, November 11, 2010

Give 'em Something to Chew On!

Dogs need to chew.  Chew toys should be safe, appealing, and virtually indestructible.  Here are some of my favourite things to keep your pup busy and out of trouble!

Toys such as the Kong (rubber hollow chew toy) or Goodie Ship (rubber chew toy with holes) can be filled with a mixture of wet and dry dog food or other healthy treats.  Try freezing these to make them last twice as long.  The Nylabone (solid nylon toy) can be soaked in broth to make it home attractive if your pup’s not too fond of it on its own.  One of my favourite toys on the market to keep your dog busy and out of trouble is called the Tricky Treat Ball. This is a treat dispensing ball that can be filled with kibble and /or treats (Charlee Bear treats work well) to keep your pup occupied.  Some pups need a little help figuring out just how to get the treats out but will be playing on their own in no time.  Dogs need jobs so making them work for their food keeps their minds engaged.
Bones are great if you know which ones are safe.  Natural uncooked butcher’s bones (smoked is ok but cooked are more likely to splinter) can be messy but are considered safe for most chewers.  Marrow bones are the strongest; most dogs can’t get through the actual bone just all the good stuff in it.  These can then be reused to stuff with food and/or treats and freeze much like you would do with a Kong.  Some other options are Bully Sticks (most pet stores will know what you are referring to by that name) and natural pressed rawhide sticks.  Try to stay away from bleached rawhide as well as the type with knots on the ends. 

It's always best to monitor your pup when chewing on any type of bones just in case he/she decides to bite off more then they can chew!

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