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Dog Training Guidance

Here comes Santa Paws – what to get your best friend for Christmas

4 Dec, 2019

Dogs simply love enrichment toys and it’s thought that fifteen minutes of one of these activities is the same as an hour’s walk for your dog’s brain. Listed below are a few tried and tested toys I can recommend to keep your dog quiet and entertained through the busy Christmas period.

The Dog Activity Mat – https://amzn.to/2LeqDjf

This is the ultimate “enrichment” mat – just look at all those pockets and layers to explore. Portable and washable, this is a great one to take with you if you are visiting family.

The Trixie Snack Snake – https://amzn.to/2DEYFcm

This one is delicious when filled with wet or dry food/treats. There is a squeaker in the head of the snake for those who love to bite down on noisy toys and it’s great fun for your dog to carry/shake too!

Dog Snufflemat – https://amzn.to/2P3sloB

Snufflemats tap into the dog’s natural instinct to hunt and forage for food. Simply hide your dog’s dry food amongst the weaves of fabric and watch them methodically hunt each one out. Great for dogs who “inhale” their food. Don’t forget to lift the mat out of reach once they’re finished so it doesn’t lose it’s magic!

The Trixie Activity Game – https://amzn.to/2OGkVJ7

This toy relies on the dog pawing or moving the tubes with their nose to release the treat. The toy can easily be knocked over so it’s probably more suitable for smaller dogs, or ones who are not too “heavy-pawed” with toys.

LickiMat – https://amzn.to/37W1B21

Perfect for dogs who love to lick! Licking is soothing for dogs as it creates saliva and calming chemicals inside the brain – which is why they like chewing bones! Ensure you supervise your dog with this toy as some may choose to eat the mat once they’re finished – oops! Great with doggy safe wet foods and treats. These can be a great tool to keep your dog’s head focused when grooming/washing as well.

The Kong Wobbler – https://amzn.to/2ODPO0C

A firm favourite amongst larger dogs, this robust feeder toy is perfect for quick eaters. There are a lot of excellent toys in the Kong range however many rely on wet food; this is a great alternative if you’re feeding dry. Great for dogs who are quite rough with toys – I’ve seen this withstand a lot of “skimming” on floors!

I hope that’s given you a few ideas for Santa Paws’ list. Please note, if you decide to purchase though the links provided above, I will receive a small commission from Amazon. This will be added to my Christmas Sherry fund. Thank you.

Louise Burton IMDT
Hilton Dogs

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