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When we took Bailey to obedience training, the trainer stressed the importance of keeping her both mentally and physically stimulated for her optimal wellness. Dog owners know that when your dog is bored, destruction occurs…like finding a pillow de-stuffed or chewed coffee table corners. Bailey has a crate with a variety of toys and chews, but the ones listed below are some of my favorite items to keep her and the foster dogs entertained:
Himalayan Chews
The Himalayan yak chews are amazing. I buy the real Himalayan dog chewsthat are sourced from Nepal. (They have a fair-trade agreement with the farmers and are naturally sourced.) These yak chews are very hard, and dogs must soften them with their saliva before chewing a piece off. Bailey and my foster dogs will spend HOURS licking and biting little pieces off of the hard chew. I would strongly recommend these being eaten outside or on a surface that can be cleaned. What I love about Himalayan chews is that there is no waste. When a small piece remains, heat it in the microwave and it becomes a yummy yak puff.
Bully Sticks
The only penis my dog will ever nibble on… I purchase the Redbarn 7-Inch Braided Bully Sticks. I prefer the braided bully sticks since they are more difficult for the dogs to break apart. These are softer and more pliable than the Himalayan chews, but still a tasty treat to occupy Fido. I would have to say that this is Bailey’s favorite treat.
KONG Dog Toy
KONG Toys toys are multi-purpose and a great investment. I sometimes put treats inside (your dog must roll the KONG around to get the treats out), or freeze peanut butter or water for a tasty treat. You can also make mealtime interactive by placing kibble inside the KONG. I appreciate that KONG toys can be easily cleaned and are relatively inexpensive.
Tug-a-Jug
Bailey HATES this toy. She gets SO frustrated; however, my foster dogs usually LOVE the Tug-A-Jug, and often show Bailey how it’s done. Take small treats and put them in the jug. Fido’s job is to tug and manipulate the jug to get the treat. Bailey has turned this toy into a chew toy (she tries to bite through the rope), but the foster dogs are motivated to get the treat. It is a great brain teaser and keeps them mentally stimulated.
Dogit GUMI Dental Dog Toy
Bailey has been a chewer since we rescued her almost three years ago. She has chewed through things that have claimed to be “indestructible,” so I didn’t have high hopes for this toy. The Dogit GUMI Dental Dog Toy surpassed my expectations. She absolutely loved chewing the edges and ripping apart the middle section to get to the plastic part inside. (Pictured is the Floss version, I get the 360 Clean version). On the 360 Clean version, there is a treat pouch that you can freeze for teething puppies or add Fido’s favorite treats for added motivation. Besides keeping her and the foster dogs busy, the GUMI Dental Dog Toy helps floss and remove plaque from her teeth. This toy has provided hours of entertainment!
Final Thoughts
These are my top five items that have helped occupy Bailey and my foster dogs. An occupied dog is a happy dog.
What are your go-to items to keep your dog’s mentally and physically stimulated?
Namaste.
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I love that the Himalayan chews are fair trade! I’d like to give that to my pup while he’s outside. When he’s inside we have that Kong (pictured) and find that he loves it. It’s really entertaining to him and takes him a while to get the treat (unless my helpful 2 year old takes it out for him and feeds it to him, of course).
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The Himalayan chews are AWESOME. I buy the pack listed because it is the most cost effective and they last the longest amount of time. My dog is 50-55 lbs but they seem to work the best. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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Going to have to look into the Himalayan Chews! They look awesome and I’m sure my pups would love them. Thanks for sharing!
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Definitely look into the one I listed on my site, they are for dogs under 65 lbs and give a variety of shapes/sizes so see which works best for your dog. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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This is a great article. My fur boy is too fussy with chews so I got to play ball or give him a nice big bone to keep occupied.
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That’s great. Whatever works, right? If you are looking for a good bone, see my Peacebone review. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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I’ll have to try the Himalayan Dog chews. Our Saint is over 150# and WOW- the strength of those jaws!!! We are always on the look out for something that will occupy him! Great post!
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Thanks! Definitely try them – those and the bully sticks have really worked wonders for Bailey and fosters.
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I remember if we ever left our dog on his own the house would be torn to shreds!! Any way to distract them is a great idea!
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Yes! These are my top 5!
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I only feed my pup out of the tug toy and the kong. I freeze ground turkey on the outside of it so it helps keep him a bit calmer. Great list!
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That’s a great idea!
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