Dogs are loyal, they never complain, but like humans, they can become bored. Your dog needs a variety of activities to stimulate and enrich their lives, keeping them healthy and happy! While taking them outdoors to exercise and play is great, enrichment toys can be especially helpful. Here are some enrichment toys to consider according to The Dog People.
LickiMat ( Find it at Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor)
LickiMat® is a family of unique, innovative, patent-protected, trademarked products designed by vets for dogs and cats. LickiMats are made from human grade rubber (TPR) and are non-toxic. LickiMats contain no silicone or toxic substances that could poison your loved ones.
LickiMats are designed to be: enriching, soothing and anxiety-reducing, a distraction aid for grooming and so much more! Furthermore, it’s made from human grade TPR rubber, is non-toxic, microwave proof, and freezer-friendly
Kong Classic Dog Toy
Kong toys have been a favorite chew toy of furry friends for more than 30 years. The bouncy rubber toy can be stuffed with a treat like dog-safe peanut butter (and so much more.)
Whether your dog is pawing it around the house or carefully licking out every last goody, it’s bound to keep him entertained all day long. Available in multiple sizes and with special varieties for puppies, seniors, and extreme chewers.
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel
Move over hide and seek, there’s a new game in town—and it’s called hide and squeak by Outward Hound. This plush puzzle game is simple: you stuff the adorable little squeaky squirrels into the oh-so-soft tree trunk and watch your dog pull them out one by one. Then stuff ’em back in, and do it again. This interactive toy is super fun and food free for dogs on a diet.
Available in four sizes, it’s slightly less cardio-heavy than the chasing of squirrels IRL, but it keeps dogs just as entertained.
Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Puzzle Toy for Dogs
Watch out! If you let your dog spend too much time with this clever puzzle, they’ll soon outsmart you. The wooden toy requires your dog to maneuver the levers to reveal treats.
Made by the well-regarded line of Swedish puzzle toys, Nina Ottosson, it’s a great exercise in mental stimulation that keeps your dog curious.
Bob-A-Lot Interactive Pet Toy
You know those blow-up bop bags you’d punch as a kid? This treat-dispensing toy by Starmark is kind of like that, only much smaller and filled with delicious goodies. It’s a dog puzzle to be solved with face and feet, so expect some loud and ecstatic playtime.
Fill the toy with your dog’s favorite treat, or even entire dinner, then customize the opening to determine just how many calories your dog should get. As he works for it, the toy bobs and tilts on an anti-slip, weighted base. It’s like dinner and a show.
Pet Zone IQ Treat Ball Interactive Dog Toy
Like the Bob-a-Lot, the IQ Treat Ball can be filled with treats, with the opening based on the desired difficulty. Want to entertain your canine all day long? Tighten that opening. Make it easy? Open it up. A one size fits all dog puzzle toy. Toys like this are great for keeping your dog physically active while also ensuring they are staying stimulated and less likely to be destructive.
Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
Dogs love this because it’s basically their favorite game: fetch. Available in different sizes, the Tricky Treat Ball by Omega Paw is as simple as it sounds—a familiar ball shape, with tricky-to-find treats. No gimmicks here, simply load it up and watch as your dog pushes it around the house, trying to get their favorite snack out.
No bones about it, Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor is Sycamore and DeKalb’s premier pet center. Our services include: full service pet grooming, doggy daycare, dog training, self-service pet wash, treats, toys, and more. Visit our website to learn more or call us at (815) 899-3435 to make an appointment.
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