Please remember to always read instructions, consult with your vet with any questions or concerns, and supervise at all times!
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I work from home 90% of the time and currently have three, 1 year old cats and one, 6 month old Golden Retriever. You can imagine the types of conversations and shenanigans that go on at my houseš.
Having a puppy, especially a larger one in my opinion, is hard! They have to be physically and mentally stimulated or else they’ll start getting into trouble.
This post is specifically for things I use to keep my pup occupied throughout the day. I’ll have another post on our daily schedule to give you more ideas!
Let’s get into it!
- Elk or Deer Antlers:
Although pricey, they’re worth it. They mostly go for the marrow inside but they’ll also gnaw on the outside as well. If they start to lose interest, you can soak it in broth (low/no sodium or broth designed for pets) and they’ll pick it right back up. I won’t post a link for this one – check with your local pet store! TIP – get the halved ones so you can see the marrow.
- Puzzle Trays:
These are a great way to keep your friend mentally stimulated so you can have a few minutes of peace. There are tons of puzzle trays to choose from. These are what I have tried and liked so far:- Outward Hound Level 2 Interactive Puzzle Toy Feeder
- Pros – Very sturdy and well made. Holds about 1/2 cup of large kibble
- Cons – Too easy
- Outward Hound Level 2 Brick Puzzle Toy Feeder
- Pros – A little more complicated. Lots of compartments. Also holds about 1/2 cup of large kibble
- Cons – Lids come off easily. Supervise as they may chew on lids and bone tops
- Puppy IQ Interactive Treat Food Dispenser
- Pros – Pretty good quality. Lots of compartments that are harder to slide
- Cons – Smaller, will not fit large kibble so I use for small kibble and little treats
- Outward Hound Level 2 Interactive Puzzle Toy Feeder
- Lick Mats:
Lick mats are fatastic! You can mix up so many different types of food and treats for them. My go-to’s are peanut butter, pumpkin, greek yogurt and cottage cheese. My favorite is so far is this one. They come in 2-packs with a nice scrubber and spatula. I have three, yes, I said THREE sets š. I make them for the week, throw them in the freezer and give him one a day. TIP 1 – Put a paper towel down prior to filling the sections, the suctions cups are fierce! TIP 2 – Freeze it! It takes them longer to lick. If you’re stacking them in freezer, add a piece of wax paper between the layers so they don’t stick together
- Ball Dispensers:
I love these things for two reasons. 1. It keeps them busy for a while. 2. Not only is mentally stimulating but also physically because they’re rolling it all over. The only thing I don’t like is the mess (but it gets cleaned up pretty fast š).- Amicus Treat Ball
- Pros – Large and holds a lot. Durable and the openings slide shut
- Cons – Doesn’t dispense large kibble well. You can either take a hammer to each to one to split them in half (please don’t…because I did and it was awful). Or take a drill and make the holes bigger. My husband did this for me and worked great and bonus – the sliders still worked!
- Our Pet’s Treat Ball
- Pros – Dispenses all kibble easily. Slider to close off
- Cons – A little smaller and doesn’t move as well. It’s a con for me personally because my dog will just pick it up and carry it to the couch and dump out the food. The Amicus one is too big for him to do that
- Amicus Treat Ball
- Kong:
I like Kong’s because they’re super durable and it takes a long time to finish. Just don’t overfill or pack too much at the bottom because your pup may not be able to reach. TIP – freeze it! - West Paw Toppl: This is probably one of my favorites. It’s easy enough to get all the way to the bottom but hard enough that it still takes time to finish because of the ridges inside. You can also get a different size and combine the two for a harder puzzle! TIP – freeze it!
- Snuffle Mat: I LOVE these things! Put kibble, treats, fruit or veggies in there and they go nuts!
- Nyla Bones: I’ve always had good luck with them. Tons to choose from – check check the package for age/weight.
- What about free stuff or DIY?
- ICE CUBES!!! We call them water cookies at our house š
- Take a towel and twist/turn in some kibble/treats, tie it in a knot and let them at it
- “Hide & Seek”. While they’re outside doing their duties…take kibble or treats and hide them around the house. That should keep them busy for a while!
What’s everyone else doing to keep their pups busy? Comment below!
