Tips & more dog enrichment activities
Treats
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
Enrichment
My Sophie has food allergies & a sensitive tummy. Chicken is at the top of the list for causing her problems. I find that a lot of dog foods & training treats contain it in some form. It frequently appears as chicken oil somewhere in the ingredient list too.
I then end up making my own homemade dog treats using human grade food items. Yes. I have eaten some of Sophie's treats. Gemma loves them too. Sophie is happy to share her favorite recipe with you.
Here's the treat recipe made from baby food. It's modified from a recipe I found on {mylifecookbook.com}. This recipe is great for every day treats or to use as dog training treats.
Sophie's Special Dog Treats
Ingredients
1 (128 ml) jar/container baby food (I used Apples,Sweet Potato & Carrot)
3 eggs
1 (200 g) can drained Salmon
1 (227 g) box of Rice Cereal
(I used Gerber brand)
Directions
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Bake approx. 45 mins.
Mix all ingredients in order listed. Mix well til it forms a sticky dough. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread the dough onto the parchment covered sheet. Then use a piece of plastic wrap to press down the dough. I use a rolling pin & roll on top of the plastic wrap. It makes it easier to roll out til smooth & even. Remove the plastic wrap.
Pop the cookie sheet into the oven. Check it half way through baking. Poke some holes in the top with a fork. Then flip it over like a pancake & continue baking for the remainder of the time. Depending on how hot your oven gets, check to see it doesn't get burnt. It will be crusty like on the top with a soft centre.
Remove from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack. When cooled cut into small cubes. Put into a tupperware container & store in the fridge. Sophie says 'Enjoy,' to all her doggy friends.
This next treat recipe is a favorite of my Agility friends. We make big batches of homemade dog training treats to take along to Agility trials.
Tuna Fudge
(aka' Tuna Crack' by our furbabies.)
Ingredients
2 cans Tuna along with the liquid
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake approx. 20 - 30 mins.
Mix all ingredients together. Spread out flat onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Basically follow the same method as the previous treat recipe above.
Enrichment
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
Enrichment
Keeping your dog physically active is a great way to improve their well-being. Enrichment can provide both physical & mental stimulation for your dog.
Enrichment by definition is 'the action of improving or enhancing the quality or value of something, (Collins English Dictionary).
Enrichment activities engage your dog in thinking, training, & learning as well as enhancing their quality of life.
Enrichment activities are also good for poor weather indoor days, high energy pups needing things to do, for ill dogs that are recuperating, or for Senior dogs that have slowed down.
You can provide enrichment through the use of puzzle toys, games, chews, work-to-eat toys, etc.
I'll be adding more ideas & information on Enrichment.
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
I like to use the classic Kong since it's well made & nontoxic. The Kong also stands up to those 'Power Chewers' like my Gemma. I can pop it into the dishwasher too. The 'Kong', that is, not Gemma. LOL. A Kong also makes an excellent teething toy for teething puppies.
A stuffed Kong is mentally stimulating, entertains your dog, & can be calming. It can also help your dog to develop concepts like tolerance or patience, grit or' stick -to- it' - iveness.
It is best to introduce the stuffed Kong slowly to your dog. You do not want to pack it tightly & make it too difficult for the dog to start with. This is especially important to take into account for puppies, young or sensitive dogs, or those that have a low tolerance to frustration. You do not want your dog to become frustrated, give up, & walk away. So encourage your dog to play with the Kong, touch it, & move it around to get the treats out. Be sure to praise him or her for all attempts to interact with it.
If your dog is new to the use of a kong, begin with a few treat pieces, or some kibble, or kibble mixed with some peanut butter. Make sure the peanut butter is Xylitol free. This artificial sweetener is toxic to our dogs.
As your dog becomes comfortable with the stuffed Kong you can make it more challenging. The stuffing can be packed tightly or made to last longer by popping it in the freezer.
The stuffed Kong can be part of their every day food allowance. We do not want our dog to put on weight with added food & high calorie treats.
Healthy things can stuff a Kong ranging from veggies frozen in some low sodium beef broth, kibble alone or even mixed in with some berries. My 4- legged girls enjoy a challenge especially when figuring out how to get those frozen blueberries. It keeps them busy & they love working for their food.
Ever wonder what to do with those left overs? A few green beans, steamed carrots, niblets corn etc. Mix them up, add a few spoonfuls of broth & freeze in a Kong. Instead of tossing out those bits of left overs, stuff them in a Kong.
Cool Summer Treats
Enrichment Activities
Stuffed Kongs Enrichment
Thinking of FUN ways to keep your dog(s) cool & entertained during the Summer. Just add some Homemade frozen treats. This will provide some mental stimulation (figuring out how to get the treats) & entertain them on a hot summer day.
Put their meals (raw or kibble) in Kongs with added yummy extras. Then pop the Kong(s) in the freezer. Some Frozen Kong additions to mix in could be Peanut Butter (Xylitol free kind), plain yogurt, cheese, apple sauce, baby food, meat,or canned pumpkin, etc.
I whipped up some Banana Blueberry pupscicles for my girls. Making your own pup friendly popscicles is FUN! Sophie seen here is thoroughly enjoying her pupscicle.
For pupscicles add/mix plain yogurt, &/or some broth, fruit (pieces or pureed), veggies, meat, etc. together to make a cool tasty treat. Fill up your popscicle/pupscicle moulds with your mixture & add a dog cookie, celery or carrot stick for a handle. Then pop your creation in the freezer for your pup(s) to enjoy later.
Enrichment Activities
Enrichment Activities
Enrichment Activities
Gemma is searching through empty Cardboard Boxes for her breakfast kibble on the left. Sophie is foraging for breakfast kibble in her Snuffle mat.