Dr Katrina Warren gives us her tips to ensure playtime is both safe and fun for you and your pup.
Variety is the spice of life and this also applies to our pets! Humans get bored when we do the same thing everda, so it is understandable that our dogs do, too. The key is to create variety in the way we interact with and play with our dogs and provide them with activities when we’re not home.
Toys offer mental and physical stimulation and are useful for directing your dog’s energy to somethingappropriate. Make sure you rotate toys regularly and only offer your dog a couple of toys at a time. This will help maintain your dog’s interest in the toys when they reappear. It will also save you from constantly buying new toys! After a play session, put the toys away. Don’t leave them in an open toy box as your dog can still access them. If your pet has a favourite toy, use this one as a reward during training sessionsbut always end on a happy note and pop the toy away until next time — this will keep your dog motivated to work with this particular toy. There are a few types of toys that offer a variety of ways to play with your dog.
Toys that are safe for unsupervised play need to be made of materials that your dog can’t chew off or destroy easily and be of suitable strength and size for your dog. The KONG Classic is a favourite — it comes in a range of sizes to suit all different breeds. Remember, if you are unsure between two sizes, always upsize. The black KONG Extreme is for powerful jaws and comes in different sizes. If your dog is new to the Classic or Extreme, supervise their initial use until you’re happy they are using the toy safely and in the right way.
Toys that can be used to play games provide an opportunity for your dog to burn off excess energy and help reduce boredom. If you have a young dog, interactive playtime is a great way to tire them out and train them to play appropriately — for example, they need to learn not to jump up and to release toys from their mouth when asked. Games can include chasing a ball or fetch using a toy such as the KONG Wubba, Safestix or AirDog. Remember to put these toys away after use. They are interactive play toys, not chew toys. Toys that can store food are designed to make your dog work. It is good to mix up the type of food you place in the toy to increase the level of difficulty.
Freezing a KONG Classic or Extreme is also a great way to stretch out your dog’s playtime and exert some extra energy. The KONG Genius is another great treat puzzle toy as are the new KONG Widgets. Remember, playtime isn’t just about fun; it’s about meeting your dog’s needs so he is happy and healthy.
For more information, visit kongcompany.com
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