In todays world there are millions of dollars spent on pets, which toys are the most useful? Here are a few I have used and still do.
Mental stimulation tires out your dog more than running your dogs. If you have a reactive dog, an older dog, or a pup that needs mental stimulation, this is one more tool to add to the list of things to do. Of course, physical exercise is very important, but what about the times you don’t want to go out in the rain?
Interactive Toys
Nina Ottosen
These toys are great for dogs that need to think! These toys are designed to be used with supervision and come in wood or plastic. I have even had my cat use them!
Love these games for dogs that need a little more mental stimulation, especially useful for dogs that love to think, are temporarily immobile, or need bed rest. I used it for my dog when she had a cast on her leg, to keep her entertained.
Aikou ( pronounced IQ)
Great for feeding the dog, as it is primarily a food bowl, they can move the sliding parts to get their food. It can be put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Makes life interesting, and stops the dog from gulping their food down. Stimulates their hunting instincts.
http://aikiou.com/aikiou-dog-interactive-feeder/
Kong Toys
My standby for leaving the house, or to keep them busy while I do something else, is stuffing a kong with peanut butter. (They like it, some dogs don’t.)
These are only a few of the options out there. Kongs are great stuffed with food and can be frozen for more experienced problem solvers.
Food Puzzles are the Next Best Thing
Training using your dogs food is the best way to get attention and behaviours. This means using the dogs meal to train, with sits, downs, etc. Mentally stimulating and enriching your dogs minds, is the best thing you can do in addition to exercise and basic training.
