WEEK OF ENRICHMENT DAY THREE: LONG LASTING FOOD PUZZLES

Long Lasting Food Puzzles:
 
Dogs are a hunter-scavengers at their roots; they want to search, forage, and eviscerate! We want them to do this with "appropriate" items - not our throw pillows! The easiest way to provide this type of enrichment is by utilizing our dogs’ daily calorie requirements, and having them "work for their food" in mentally enriching ways.
 
Here are some ideas for feeding your dog in a smarter way. All of the "feeder toys" below can be stuffed with combination of kibble and wet dog food for one of your dog's meals (or freeze dried or pre-prepared raw food if that is what you feed!). Freeze each of these items after stuffing for a longer lasting, more satisfying puzzle or meal:

• Frozen, stuffed rubber Kong toys
  (https://www.kongcompany.com/):
  For large dogs and strong chewers, I recommend a size Large or Extra Large, and I recommend the black rubber Kong (most durable rubber). Kongs come in a wide range of sizes to accommodate smaller dogs too. You can stuff with combination of kibble and wet dog food (or freeze dried or pre-prepared raw) and freeze for long lasting puzzle/ meal.

• Frozen, stuffed Toppl toys
  (https://www.westpaw.com/dog-toys/puzzle/toppl-treat-toy):
  Similar to the rubber Kongs, you can stuff these with combination of kibble and wet dog food ((or freeze dried or pre-prepared raw) and freeze for long lasting puzzle/ meal. These toys are made by a compnay called "WestPaw" and are made out of a material called "Zogoflex." I have continually been extremely pleased with the strength and durability of toys made from this material! Toppls are very similar to rubber Kongs in that you can stuff them and freeze them, but with a wider top/ opening, they are easier to stuff, and easier to clean! It is worth noting however, that both Kongs and Toppls are top shelf dishwasher safe!

 

• Puzzle feeders like "Slow Feeder Bowls"
  (https://outwardhound.com/slow-eating-stop-bloat-dog-bowls-and-feeders.html):
  Similar to the hollow rubber toys above, you can also fill a slow feeder bowl with combination of kibble and wet dog food  (or freeze dried or pre-prepared raw) and freeze for long lasting puzzle/ meal. Remember, you can buy the same brand of wet food as what you currently use for dry food so it has similar ingredients and nutritional value.

 

• Starmark Bob-A-Lot food toy
  (https://www.amazon.com/StarMark-Bob-Lot-Interactive-Large/dp/B001JQLNB4):
  This is a very durable plastic toy with a weighted bottom that "bobs" back and forth as your dog works to get the treats or pieces of kibble inside. It is made for use with small hard treats or kibble. It can easily accommodate just under a cut of dry dog food, making it a great option for an enrichment activity where your dog works for part or all of their normal meal.

 

Things to Note:
 

• As with any new toy, it is important to supervise your dog closely when they are using the above food puzzles to make sure they aren't chewing on/ destroying/ consuming the puzzle itself. Once again, similar to the "snuffle mat" from yesterday's enrichment post, these are definitely items I put down when my dogs are actively using them, then I pick the items up and put it away and out of the dogs' reach after use!             
  
  
• If you have multiple dogs and have any concerns about resource guarding between dogs, unless you are specifically working on behavior modification with a professional trainer or behavior consultant, it is best practice to separate dogs when offering them food puzzles.

 

• Remember, if you are using components of your dog's normal daily diet to stuff them, these feeder puzzles can be their meal in lieu of a boring meal in a dish that is gone in 30 seconds.

 

• There are SO many different food enrichment and puzzle toys available for dogs - the pet supply industry is saturated with them, and sometimes the options can be overwhelming. I've listed a few of my favorites above, but this is nowhere near an exhaustive list.

 

• In general, I have a strong preference for feeder toys like the ones listed above that are a bit longer lasting. I prefer feeder toys that can be stuffed and frozen to make them a long-lasting (and therefore more mentally enriching!) project for dogs, or toys like the "Bob-A-Lot" listed above that slowly dole out pieces of food as the dog interacts with it.
  
  There are many simpler "puzzle toys" on the market that simply require your dog to flip something over and they get the food. These can be excellent choices for dogs newer to the concept of food enrichment and working out puzzles to get access to their food. You do always want to meet your dog where they are at and set them up for success! Every dog is an individual, and every dog will have a different style of interacting with enrichment items. If you need help deciding what might work for your dog, feel free to reach out and I can help steer you in the right direction.
  
  That being said, if you have a strong chewer, a very food motivated dog, or a dog who is very "puzzle savvy," in general, the longer lasting the better.

 
 
In summary, in my behavior work with clients and with my own dogs, simply getting rid of bowls for at least one meal a day, and giving dogs long lasting food enrichment projects has a tremendous effect on the overall behavioral health of the dogs in question. A reduction in destructive and anxiety-related behaviors happens in my own dogs and is reported by my clients. Try it, and tell me what differences you see! 

We will see you tomorrow for Day Four of our Week of Enrichment, where we will be talking about some cheap and easy DIY options for enrichment feeder toys.