One way to keep your dog entertained in a heatwave.

I’m not sure where you are at, but here in Montana, we are in the middle of a heatwave! Our heatwaves get up to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But for our dogs it is HOT! So what are we to do to entertain them? I have a few ideas to help you and your dog out!

ENRICHMENT TOYS!!! They are worth their weight in peanut butter! LOL! There are quite a few companies that offer different shaped chew toys that hold a variety of food. These toys are specifically designed to hold the food in small crevices and keep your dog entertained for a bit. At Zelda’s Dog Academy, we primarily use West Paw, Kong, and LickiMat as enrichment toys.

West Paw dog puzzle toys are “Made with zero-waste and recyclable Zogoflex material in Bozeman, Montana”. Their shapes are very unique and last a very long time. They also can be recycled! If your dog has chewed them up, you can send them back so that they can be used in making new toys! Read about it here!

Kong has a long history of enrichment toys! They have the iconic red rubber toy that they developed in 1976! They use an all-natural rubber formula for their toys. Kong even developed different formulas for the different chewing styles of dogs, from soft rubber for puppies to a more durable rubber formula for the big extreme chewing dogs.

Now that you have a toy you can stuff and freeze for your dog. What do you stuff it with?? We use Royal Canine GI wet food and an all-natural peanut butter to stuff the toys with. But there are so many recipes online that will give your dog a wide variety to choose from! West Paw has compiled a seasonal recipe page here! Kong has their own KONG CUSINE page, and definitely has a favorite for every dog!

A different kind of enrichment toy or dish is a slow feeding plate called a Lickimat. They are designed to keep your dog busy and engaged while eating their food slowly. These mats can also aid in calming an anxious dog during a stressful time. These mats are great for dog and cats. They can be filled with a wide variety of soft and wet food; they also have their own ideas of what to fill their mats with too!

West Paw, Kong, and LickiMats are available at Zelda’s Dog Academy for purchase!