The majority of dogs in this country are under-stimulated, under-exercised
and generally bored. When we have bored dogs, we then get behavior
problems. There are many things we can do to help our dogs to
lead a more fulfilled and active life.
Kongs and other food toys are one tiny little addition
that can make a big difference to your dog. They mentally stimulate
the dog by providing a challenge of working for his food. Dogs
are predators, and are genetically programmed to search and work
for their food. It satisfies them to be able to do this. Kongs
and other food puzzles (Busy Buddy “Twist & Treat”
is a great one) challenge and mentally stimulate dogs,  occupies
them to help alleviate boredom, and satisfies their need to work
for their food. Dogs need to be challenged everyday. Instead of
just putting their dry food in a boring old bowl for dinner, why
not mix it with a bit of canned food and stuff a glorious dinner
in a Kong instead!! Because dogs naturally need to sniff and search
for their food, hiding their stuffed Kong and letting them ”track
it” further satisfies their need.
Start out with stuffing a Kong loosely, so it’s
easy for the dog to get the food out and he doesn’t give
up. As he gets better at emptying the Kong over a period of days,
start making it gradually more difficult by packing tighter and/or
freezing it.
As with anything new, always watch your dog
with a new toy to ensure he doesn’t chew it to bits and
choke. Kongs are very durable, but it is still very important
that dogs are monitored. Kongs come in red and black. The red
Kongs are generally for smaller breeds that are average chewers.
The black Kongs are recommended for all
larger breeds and any size dog that are notorious chewers. The
black Kongs are made of a tougher material and withstand heavy
chewing. Always make sure you purchase a Kong that is large enough
that the dog can’t fit entire thing inside his mouth and
choke, but small enough that his tongue will reach all the way
inside.
If you are a multiple dog household, it’s
best to keep dogs in their separate areas while eating their Kong
so fights don’t break out over food. If you have a singleton
dog that guards their food from people, take the appropriate precautions.
If you need further guidance on this, please contact me.
Un-stuffing a Kong can become a bit messy,
so you may not
want to give a stuffed Kong to your dog on your good carpets.
Outdoors, in the crate, or on the kitchen floor are the usual
places.
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Behavioral Index
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Oh,
the Wonderful World of Kongs
