How to stuff a kong:

FUN FACT:
dogs need just as much mental stimulation as physical exercise!
Try snazzing up your dogs food puzzle by introducing novel/safe human foods! Just make sure you start with small portions so
they do not get upset tummies. 

Let's talk about chew bones...

Chewing is a normal and important activity for all dogs! 
Chewing is a primal and instinctual activity. It releases endorphins which heighten the sense of pleasure and well-being. Dogs that are both mentally and physically stimulated by chewing are less likely to engage in destructive, boredom driven, behaviours.

What chews to stay away from and why...
The rule of thumb is if you can't indent the bone/chew toy with your fingernail, then it is too hard for your dogs teeth. This includes- nylon dog bones, animal bones/marrow bones, rawhide (for multiple reasons), and all types of antlers. These types of bones/chews are too hard for the majority of dogs teeth and the risk of them fracturing their teeth is just too great to gamble with... I am speaking from first-hand experience unfortunately. 

So now you're thinking, then what IS safe for my dog...? Well, I am here to share my top aggressive chewer rec's with you! Remember though, all dogs should be supervised with any bone/chew.

1. Goughnuts 
These safe, rubber chew toys are great for aggressive chewers! Designed by a rubber chemist with 30 years of dog chew toy experience, Goughnuts heavy duty toys are made with smooth, safe, natural rubber that's safe on dog teeth and offer no weak spots that they could bite through. Plus they have a lifetime replacement! 

2. Gorilla Chews (the original)
Coffee wood is naturally soft, making it a fun and satisfying chew for dogs. Stay away from the knock-offs though, they are not the same quality as the original Gorilla Chews and I cannot vouch for their durability or safety. 

3. Natural rubber toys 
Using natural rubber toys (which are non-toxic), is a great alternative to hard chew toys. I prefer the ones with a raised texture which will help to clean your dog's teeth while stimulating their gums to reduce tartar buildup! My goldens fave rubber toy is the pineapple toy that I linked below. ​
Goughnuts

​Gorilla Chew

​Pineapple Chew Toy


Here are my top fave dog enrichment products!
​.............................................

My favorite snuffle mats:

​Hedgehog Snuffle Mat

Garden Snuffle Mat

My favorite food puzzles:
The original Kong (for wet and dry food)

​Outward Hound Puzzle by Nina Ottosson
​
​Kong Wobbler (for dry food/treats only)

Toppl Treat Puzzle Toy (for wet and dry food)

​My favorite harness and long line for SNIFFARI'S:

​​Petsafe 3 in 1 Harness

​Biothane Long Line

​My favorite treat pouch by PetSafe


cat enrichment...

Ok, lets not forget about our kitties and their needs! Cats NEED enrichment too!
Here are a few quick and easy ways to increase their mental stimulation:
CAT TV​
YouTube offers free CAT TV channels- and you may be surprised by how much your kitty enjoys watching it!
LICKY MAT
Just smoosh their wet food into the mat and enjoy watching your kitty licking it up!
​FOOD PUZZLE
Fill it up with their kibble and let them work to get their meal
BACKYARD ADVENTURES (SUPERVISED)
Train your kitty to wear a harness and take them on backyard adventures!
TEACH TRICKS
Teach sit, down, shake etc (this is also a great bonding activity)
HIDE AND SEEK
Hide treats around the house and watch them sniff em' out
My favorite food puzzles for kitties:
Catstages by Nini Ottosson​

​Lukito Licky Mat 
My kitties favorite interactive cat toys:
Potaroma Fluttering Butterfly 

​Automatic Moving Cat Ball Toy

​My favorite cat harness:
PetSafe Come with me Kitty harness 
Proudly powered by Weebly