Tips for using Puzzle Toys for Better Behavior

Dog Training - Harrisburg, PA

Tips for Using Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys or treat-based toys are a fantastic way to satisfy your dog's need for entertainment.  Toys that are hollow and are designed to hold a treat or be filled with something yummy can also be used to feed your dog.  

Initially, some of my clients balk at the idea of their dog working for his meals.  I have heard things like, "Isn't that mean?" or "Aren't you teasing him?" or "I wouldn't like to eat like that!". 

Okay, maybe I wouldn't like to eat like that either, but I've got lots of things to keep from being bored., i.e.: TV, my computer, social media, my phone, work, going places, etc.  If you work part of the day, cook, clean, have children, go to school, or do homework, it's not likely that you would want to work for your food.  If, however, you were bored, working a puzzle might seem like fun.  You would feel more satisfied and as if you had accomplished something.  And that's just the idea with your dog! 

Dogs that solve problems, think, and are engaged in fun activities are better behaved.  Consider all of the things your dog WON'T be doing if he is working a treat-based toy.  There will be no chewing of shoes, no getting into the trash, no bugging to be pet, no digging in the yard, or any other annoying/destructive thing your dog has thought up that makes you crazy.

Helpful Tips

• Move from Easy to Difficult.  Start with a toy your dog is instantly successful at getting the goodies out.  A good starter for dry food would be the Kong Classic.  It is really great  for pup to learn that moving toys makes things fall out.  Once your dog has that one mastered you can move on to more challenging toys for the dry and use the Kong Classic for wet food.
• Fill 'em up!  When using a new toy, be sure your pooch is super successful from the get go. Put lots of kibble in there so that if your dog moves it something will come out.  Show your pup how it's done a few times if necessary.  Adding small round treats to his food in the beginning may also give your dog more incentive to work the toy.
• Prepare Ahead and Freeze.  It's just as easy to fill 3, or 4, or 5 as it is to stuff one toy.  The mess is already there.  Why not make them ahead to have on hand? Keep them in the freezer if it is loaded with wet food for when you get busy (and you always do).  That's when our dogs need them the most!
• Choose Different Stuffings.  Dogs have taste buds!  They get bored with the same food. If stuffing a Kong or a Tux, you will find lots of recipes online.  Just Google "Kong Stuffing Recipes".  My go to fav is kibble soaked in water until it's mushy with chopped meat or burger along with some diced carrots or peas.  A faster option would be to just add some water to a bit of canned food and mix in the kibble and freeze.  Done!
• Add Variety.  There are lots of treat-based toys on the market.  Some are to be used with dry food and some with wet.  For moist food, I have found the Kong Classic and Tux by West Paw to be the best.  They both come in different sizes and are very durable for most dogs. For dry kibble Kong Wobbler, Buster Cube, and Tricky Treat Ball are all great options.  I have provided the links here, but don't forget to make sure the size is appropriate for your dog.
• Supervise!  Toys for wet food are designed to be durable, but there is always the chance that your dog could be a super chewer.  Supervise until you are sure the toy is safe to leave without supervision. Treat-based toys for dry food are not for chewing.  If he is lying down with it, he is probably chewing on it.  If you do find your pup chewing on the toy, take it away for 3-5 minutes and give it back.  Do that every time you find him chewing it and show him how to get the food out.  He will learn that chewing causes him to lose the toy.

Helping your dog satisfy his need to solve problems and work using treat-based toys will make your dog's life richer, prevent behavior problems, and are a great addition to any dog training or obedience program.

Please post comments and questions below.  I'd love to hear if you've discovered any toys that your dog has found enjoyable.  Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Cheers!
Lisa