In the current world, people have tight schedules, and it is not always possible for them to be at home with their dogs. While some dogs can be left alone for several hours without a problem, others can become stressed, lonely, or worse – start to chew everything in sight. I also think that the right toys are important to ensure that your dog stays busy and does not cause havoc when you are away.
Feeding and Other Miscellaneous Puzzles and Toys
One of the most useful products for dogs left at home is treats and puzzles designed to stimulate the animal. These make your dog perform some canine chores to get the kibble or treats out, this is a way of keeping their brain engaged and busy to avoid boredom.
Kong - This is a rubber toy consisting of an outer shell with a cavity in which you can place kibble, canned food, peanut butter, or treats for your dog. This ensures that your dog is kept busy nibbling through the treats as they are varied and do not follow any pattern or rhythm.
Treat Balls – These balls have holes that can be closed and opened so that treats can be put inside to come out as the balls roll. Perfect for lovable pet dogs who are very energetic and will chase objects and push them with their snouts.
Snuffle Mats – These toys are fabric mats that have treats buried in the fur like pillows. Both dogs have to sniff and browse for all the yummy items on the table, and this would be very satisfying to their scenthound genes.
Pull & Hide Toys – These toys have doors that can be slid and lids that can be flipped whereby on opening, they reveal a treat. They stimulate his/her thinking ability and are perfect for teaching your dog new tricks.
Automated Treat Dispensers – These devices can throw the treats at the preset time to make the dog wait and thus be rewarded. This is ideal for dogs that get anxious when left on their own.
Chew Toys
Left alone too, dogs need to have something interesting to chew. Dog toys designed to be chewed aid in the removal of plaque and tartar, as well as giving the gums a good massage, and also relieving anxiety and boredom. Some great options include:
Tough Rubber Toys – There are some rubber toys designed especially for strong chewer dogs with labels of ‘non-destroyable’ from Kong company and Nylabone company. These can stand some heavy chowdering from a determined personality.
Natural Chews - Chewing bones made of pressed rawhide, pork hide or any meat product like bones are healthy and offer long-lasting chewing pleasure. Choose sizes that are suitable for your dog.
Edible Chews – Aimed at large breeds, options like bull sticks, Himalayan chews, and dried tracheas require some time to savor. The stretching and tugging actions appear to have a relaxing influence on the dog.
Interactive Toys
Some toys are designed to offer your dog exercise and a way to engage their brain by demanding that they use a certain way to get a reward of sound, movement, or treats.
Dog Toys: Treat-Dispensing Balls – As noted before, these balls make dogs push or chase them to release the treats or kibble which helps in burning energy.
Automatic Ball Launchers – These are gadgets that throw balls to distances as far as 50 feet, enabling the dog to chase the ball and come back for another round without the owner’s intervention. Suitable for dogs that enjoy playing a game of Frisbee.
Squeaky Toys – It is one of the favorite toys of many dogs because every time the toy is pressed, it lets out a shrill sound that can give dogs a feeling of happiness. Squeaky toys provide dogs with an outlet for their predatory instincts, and they’re ideal for playing alone, carrying around, and chewing.
Rope Toys – Ropes are more straightforward knots to the intricate and many forms of tug toys that are excellent for developing confidence and strength in wrestling self-play as well as chewing.
Shake Toys – Squeaky toys satisfy a dog’s predatory instinct to shake a small animal, and plush toys come in the form of small animals. Try to find other more permanent and long-lasting fabrics only as some dogs may chew through a costume and swallow fuzz and fabric.
Some important advice to follow when you are leaving the dogs at home alone.
Establish a schedule – Make sure that there are specific hours that you take the dog out, accompany them to the washroom, feed them make them, or pet them. This enables them to embrace solitude because they are prepared for it in advance.
Do Lots of Potty Trips – This is very important and if you want to avoid having your house ruined, take the dog out before leaving. Think about it as getting doggy doors, or potty pads for the house.
Minimize Objects – Child-proof areas your dog will be in and remove all objects that your dog might chew or knock over. Restrict anxious dogs to separate areas that are pet-friendly and within the size of the dog.
Well, there it is – some of the best toys that you can use to keep your dog busy and content during those long hours that they have to spend at home alone. In this way, it is good to provide mental and physical exercise so that the conductivity of bad behaviors due to boredom and anxiety is avoided. Discover what specific toys are appropriate for your dog’s character and requirements, set a schedule, restrict the usage, and you will become less stressed, as your dog will be, as well!
