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EDIT: Since quarantine’s and travel bans are HUGE right now because of the coronavirus I know a lot of us are working from home (if you weren’t already remote). Taking your dog to the dog park might sound amazing and I am sure Sadie, Bella, Jack or Rowdy might REALLY enjoy that, it’s not really wise. These tips for keeping your dogs busy while you are camping can also help if you are working from home.
First, you should decide on things that fit the lifestyle. Some of us have a fridge and others do not. I don’t have a fridge so veggies, which is a healthier option doesn’t really work. I keep a variety of treats in my dog’s treat box. This way she does not get used to one particular treat and bored. Another good option is hot dogs. You can cut them into smaller pieces making an entire pack last a long time.
Second, you’ll need something to put the treats in. There are a variety of options such as toys, bones and a creative option. Read on.
I love puzzle toys. You can put bits of carrots or celery, something healthy that doesn’t put on weight like treats but that you’d have readily available since you’d be able to eat them too. You cut up the veggies (or treats) and put them into the puzzle toy. Your dog has to learn how to get the treat by completing simple tasks. My pup learned that you can destroy the toy to get the treats so that became too expensive. This lead to the discover of other options, but if you don’t have a crazy dog then this would be ideal for you.
My favorite of these options for keeping your pet busy is buying bones and filling them with peanut butter and treats. If you have a freezer then even better. If not, it still works but it doesn’t keep them occupied as long. The bone is reusable and costs less than a kong, which may not withstand your pup.
Kong is a commonly known toy and they have a few different colors, which is you do not know actually have meaning. The light blue or pink are for puppies. The red is for normal chewers. Black is for extreme chewers (mine shredded this one so I’m not sure it should be marketed as indestructible.) Purple is for senior dogs, designed to be more gentle on the aging and possible fragile teeth. Don’t just get the purple one because it’s your favorite color or matches your dogs collar if they are a heavy chewer.
The kongs have special flavored cans filled with some cheese-whiz kind of stuff you can squirt in. It doesn’t need refrigeration but you can freeze it. They have a whole line of treat toys, so you can mix and match. I, however, like peanut butter because it doesn’t have to be refrigerated.. Other filling options include cream cheese or braunschweiger.
The final option requires a little creativity and elbow grease, but if none of the others worked out, then this might be your saving grace. Rope toys! These your dog will likely chew and unravel. All you have to do is spray some water on them, let it dry, tie a knot on one end and rebraid. Then, of course, you’ll need to knot the other end after braiding. It will last a long time and keep your dog busy. The best part about this is you can add bones, other toys, or pick the type of rope from a home improvement store. Just be careful that they do not swallow any strings, or you’ll have connect-a-poops.
As always, supervise your dogs with treats until you know how they will be with them. Case and point: mine shredded and almost swallowed the black rubber from the supposedly indestructible kong. Let me know if you have other suggestions I would love to try them out.
