Canine Enrichment
More information coming soon!
Kong Dog Toys
When a majority of dog owners hear the word “Kong” they think of a traditional Kong filled with peanut butter. While there is nothing wrong with using peanut butter, there are other healthier options that could be used as well. As a pet owner, it`s very important to keep your dog`s weight in mind, over 50% of dogs are overweight in the US and this can lead to serious health problems.
Any of the food under healthy treats is safe for dogs and can be put in a Kong. We have also done a mix of plain yogurt, applesauce, canned pumpkin, baby food, plain oatmeal, mashed sweet potatoes, mashed bananas, mashed carrots, dog ice cream (see recipe below), cooked squash and a whole bunch more. You can also freeze the Kong to increase the difficulty.
Dry Dog Food Dispensing Toys
These toys are a great way to get your dogs to work for their food while also providing mental stimulation. The Kong Wobbler is our favorite, it can hold up to our malamutes chewing on it, dropping it off the bed and throwing it around. The Kong Wobbler is the ONLY one we have found that is made in the USA. Other toys like the Kong Wobbler are Busy Buddy Twist ‘N Treat, Buster Food Cube and OurPets Atomic Treat Ball.
Interactive Dog Toys
Most interactive dog toys are too small for the Malamute. A dog should never be left unattended with these types of toys. I recommend avoiding toys with smaller pieces as they are more likely to be swallowed and only using interactive dog games that are made out of plastic.
We have the Dogit Mind Games and our Malamutes really enjoy playing with it. It has 3 games in 1, spin a whirl, sliding puzzle and hide & seek. Unlike the Kong Wobbler and the other food dispensing toys listed above, you can place any kind of food in these 3 toys. Our dogs enjoy dry dog food, cheese and chicken hidden in the Dogit. Other toys like the Dogit are the Outward Hound Dog Tornado and Outward Hound Dog Hide N’ Slide.
Healthy Treats
|
Apple
Applesauce Asparagus Baby Food Bananas Blackberries Blueberries Broccoli Brussels Sprouts |
Cantaloupe
Carrots Cauliflower Cheese Chia Seeds Cucumber Eggs Flax Seeds Green Beans |
Oranges
Peanut Butter Peas Pineapple Plain Oatmeal Plain Yogurt Pumpkin (canned) Rice (cooked) Spinach |
Squash
Strawberries Sugar Snap Peas Sweet Potato Watermelon (seedless) Zucchini |
Dog Ice Cream
3 ripe bananas
2/3 cup of peanut butter
3 cups of water or plain yogurt
Blend together and freeze overnight in ice cube tray or Kong toys
Sweet Potato Rawhide
Cut sweet potato into 1/3” thick strips
Line baking sheet with parchment paper
Bake 3-4 hours (depending on thickness) at 250 degrees Fahrenheit, flip half way through baking
Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
Banana Pancakes (These are great for humans too!)
Mash 3 bananas then add 5 eggs
Preheat pan on medium heat
Cook until both sides are golden brown