It is not at all uncommon for our furry friends to get bored, especially if they’re home alone all day! Ordinary dog toys might entertain them for a little while, but there is only so much you can do with a tennis ball when you’re by yourself. This is where interactive dog toys come in!
Interactive dog toys are toys that stimulate your pup’s mind and provide hours of fun which means it will take a long time for your canine to get bored!
An interactive dog toy should have a number of important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting an interactive dog toy for your dog:
What is an interactive dog toy and how does it work?
An interactive dog toy is simply a dog toy that is mentally and physically stimulating. This purpose is different from your standard tennis ball or a squeaky toy, which only encourage chewing and physical play. The key to an interactive dog toy is that it promotes your pet’s mental capabilities by providing a puzzle of some sort.
Do dogs need mental stimulation?
Just like humans, every dog needs mental stimulation. Without it, dogs can quickly become bored, which can cause them to seek their entertainment from elsewhere (and not always in an appropriate way). Often, when a canine is being destructive or particularly excitable, it is because they are bored and not had enough mental stimulation. This can be especially true for canines that are often left home alone and do not receive regular stimulation from their human companions. Just like it would be boring for us to sit at home all day by ourselves, the same can be said for our dogs.
Kong have a fantastic range of products that can easily be stuffed with loose treats such as Australian Pet treats range of 400g Chicken Trainups and 150g Lamb Trainups or any of the semi moist Beef, Chicken or Lamb products. Many consumers also stuff their Kong toys with a mixture of fresh or frozen ingredients to keep their dogs happy and occupied.
See below for some delicious options
Loose treat options:
- Chicken and Lamb Trainups
- Semi Moist Chicken
- Semi Moist Beef
- Semi Moist Lamb
Fresh stuffing options:
Ingredients: Meat based option
- 1/2 cup chicken mince
- 1/2 cup diced apples
- 1/2 cup diced/mashed sweet potato
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon Peanut butter
Ingredients: Vegetarian based option
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Carrots
- 1/2 Cup Shredded Zucchini
- 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
- 1/2 Cup Sweet Potato
- Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and stuff inside Kong toy. Any remainder can be kept on the fridge for a couple of days until required or can be frozen in portion control sizes for later use.
Frozen Options:
Ingredients:
- 12 small dog treats of your choice
- 1 sliced banana
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 cup water
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Split mixture between KONGs and freeze.
Once they’ve been slobbered on and dragged across the yard a few times, it’s safe to say most dog toys aren’t very hygienic. In fact, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria, which could be harmful for your dogs and any human family members that come into contact with them. We’d recommend washing your dog’s toys before each use to sanitize them.
Cleaning Instructions
- Soak in warm water with dish soap to loosen leftovers
- Use bottle brush or old toothbrush to remove stubborn bits inside, rinse
- Or, wash in top rack of dishwasher
Australian Pet Treat Co
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