In the News: Tails of Marin
By Trish King
The right stuff will keep your dog busy all day
Dogs are predators, scavengers and opportunists. They are genetically programmed to hunt for their food. Counter surfing, trash can scouring, dinner begging, garden digging and laundry stealing are all outgrowths of an opportunistic scavenger taking advantage of the environment. Often, these are considered behavior problems, when in fact, they are just evidence that your dog is being a dog. You can take advantage of this instinct and help your Fido occupy himself while you're gone.
By giving dogs problems to solve, you stimulate their brains. When you're home, you can stimulate them by playing tug of war, fetch, hide and seek, catch, Frisbee and training tricks.
All of these are great energy outlets. When you leave your dog home alone, you can use toys or bones stuffed with food. The most popular stuffing toy is a Kong, but there are now many other similar toys on the market. The stuffed toys can be used in addition to your dog's regular meals or can replace them.
If you just stuff a toy with dried cookies or kibble, your dog is likely to get through the toy quickly and turn her attention elsewhere (like to a tasty rug). If you're more creative, you'll occupy more of Fluffy's time and energy. The more creative you are, the happier your dog will be.
To get started, stuff the toy with small food items that fall out with just a tiny bit of work. Then, stuff one with some of the following ideas and see whether Fido will continue to work at the toy until all the food is out.
Mixtures such as peanut butter, cream cheese, canned cheese, mashed potatoes, canned dog food, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu or toddler food can be used to bind smaller bits of food together. You can also use Velveeta or Cheese Whiz type cheese cubes. Place them in the hole, microwave the toy until the cheese is melted, and then add cookies or cubes of Natural Balance. Cool thoroughly before giving it to your dog.
Wrapping the stuffed toy in an old clean diaper, tea towel, hand towel or T-shirt and tying the ends off will create a puzzle for your dog (increase the level of difficulty as your dog graduates). Enclosing the toy in an old oatmeal box, shoebox or margarine container increases the puzzle aspect. Hiding the stuffed toy around the house or yard tunes into dogs' hard wiring to hunt around for their food. At first, hide the toy in rather obvious places, and then gradually make your dog work harder to find it.
Harder and advanced stuffing begins with plugging the small hole with peanut butter. Then add cubed meat, cooled chicken or beef broth, cookies and freeze the toy to make a sort of popsicle.
For the Ph.D. dog in your home, layering the Kong and sealing the big end of it is really challenging and can give Fluffy hours of doggie delights. Pack these as tightly as possible. The last piece in should be a sealer piece, such as a dried apricot, cheese ravioli or tortellini.
Layer 1 is the deepest and can include anything of high value, like freeze-dried liver bits. Layer 2 could contain dog kibble, cookies, liver biscotti pieces, Cheerios cereal, peanut butter or dried banana chips. Layer 3 suggestions are baby carrot sticks cut to the appropriate size, so your dog won't choke, celery, turkey, chicken, meats, dried apples or apricots.
For dogs on a diet, substitute crumbled rice cakes, plain croutons, salt free/fat free cream cheese or peanut butter, tofu or yogurt. Have fun stuffing the toy; your dog will have fun getting it out - and won't be stealing food from the garbage.
Trish King is the director of behavior and training at the Marin Humane Society.
Tails of Marin appears every Saturday in the Home & Garden section of the Marin Independent Journal
