We all are preoccupied with work and many other activities and cannot always be home to play with our beloved pets. Some dogs are just fine lazing around all day waiting for their owners to return home while others may get bored, stressed, or end up wrecking the house when left alone for long. There are numerous toys available in the market that you can avail for your pet so that they can remain engaged during your unavailability. At this age, the right toys can be used to give the child mental and physical challenges to deter the problems from skyrocketing.
Food Puzzles
The food puzzle toys are also good to use because they can entertain the dog for as many hours as you want. Here, the concept is very basic – to feed your dog, he will have to solve puzzles! Feeding puzzles for dogs range from small round balls with holes for kibble to interacting devices with doors and chambers. The simplest type of toy that you can employ is the one that will give treats when your dog interacts with the toy in a specific manner; as the dog masters the toy, you should change it to a tougher one. It will benefit the dogs to do some work to get their food as this will exercise their brains and tire them out.
Kong Toys
One of the most enduring dog toys is the Kong rubber toy which should be attributed to its practical use, durability, and the fact that it helps to develop a dog’s mind. It is a toy you can fill with portions of your dog’s kibble or small treats then seal the feeder with peanut butter. The dog will be engaged for an extended period as they find the right way to lick out all the delicious items. As a bonus, you can even use broth, canned food, or pure pumpkin puree to make filling instead. To increase the duration of use of the Kong freeze it for a little more time, in case it is not empty.
Wobbler Toys
Wobbler toys such as Kong Wobbler or the IQ Treat ball are recommended for feeding the dog during times when they are left alone. Closely your dog pushes and turns the toppling toy in the room: pieces of kibble are scattered around. It therefore turns into an endearing fun of tag, which equally engages both the mind and the body. Begin by educating your dog about how to get the treats from the wobbler and then progress towards making the game challenging for your dog to solve so that it can occupy it for longer durations when you are away.
Auto-Launch Fetch Toys
If your dog enjoys playing the game of fetching the ball or other items, then this product will be perfect for it. Automatic fetch toys enable the pooch to play a game of fetch independently due to the presence of buttons that release the ball on your behalf. Among the most popular are iFetch and GoDogGo Fetch Machines – these are interactive toys that can be set to throw a tennis ball in a certain distance across the room and your dog has to chase and fetch the ball as many times as he might want. This is a great way of ensuring that they are always engaged in some form of physical activity even while they are alone.
Chew Toys
The long-lasting chews are perfectly fine as dogs have to have something to chew and bite on, other than slippers or practically socks. Selecting an appropriate rubber toy for chewing exercise helps them maintain their jaws and teeth in proper health. Search for toys with no toxicity having nylon or sturdy rubber bases and that are especially produced for aggressive chewers. Introduce the different chews in cycles so that it does not become boring for your dog and always ensure they are with you while playing with the chew toy. If the toy has already signs of degradation it is better to replace it to avoid children choking on it.
Scenting, Snuffle Mats, & Sniffing Games
The meal is an excellent way to teach your dog some scent work games! A snuffle mat is a good example of something that would imitate foraging with the snout in the wild. Just place some of the pet‘s favorite foods, including biscuits and kibble, in small portions within the holes on the mat’s fleecy or rope-like texture. It will be also quite fun to watch your dog digging to find the treats with his or her strong nose. Another thing you can do is leave snacks in different corners of a room and have your pup look for them when you get home after a walk or check out a scenting game toy from the Nina Ottosson collection.
Puzzle Toys
If you want to increase the level of mental challenge you are providing your dog, then consider using these toys for a more challenging playtime. Trixie Activity Flip Board, Outward Hound Brick, and Aikiou are some of the best examples of this kind of toy, which means that the dog has to go through several steps and complicated actions to get the treats hidden there. Each time your dog is sliding pegs, raising lids, twirling disks, and swinging rails, they will get a real exercise in brainpower! Begin by placing foods in simple locations and gradually make the task more difficult as the cat grows smarter and more curious by hiding food in more difficult-to-find places.
For Playtime Apart, interactive toys;
The contemporary world is filled with many hours, that pets spend alone sitting idly between walks, plays, and time with their human caretakers. You can ensure your loyal friend will not be bored and develop stress-induced undesirable behavior by offering him/her a range of appealing toys/activities to solve alone. In a way that would make the dog happy and keep it out of trouble all day, it is advisable to introduce self-play toys that will stimulate the dog and make it play by itself. This is the kind of furry friend that you come home to rested and happy.
