Statistics say that over 27% of Italian families (almost six million) have a dog at home
A clear sign of how these four-legged friends have conquered our hearts and have become part of our family unit.
The dog is a sort of child to whom we dedicate daily care and commitment and, just like a child, our best friend needs physical and mental stimuli to train his lively intelligence.
How? Through interactive dog games , also called mind activation games.
This type of activity stimulates the mind, concentration and intellectual abilities as well as entertaining and amusing our furry friends within the home.
Furthermore, if on the one hand playing helps to keep your dog active, on the other hand, by reducing his stress level, it can be a valid help in case he is agitated, hyperactive or with a tendency to bite anything he comes across and is constantly seeking attention .
In this article we will see:
- What are interactive dog toys?
- How to choose the best interactive games for your dog?
- How to Keep Your Dog Engaged at Home with DIY Interactive Games
What are interactive dog toys?
Interactive dog toys are fun activities that stimulate your furry friend's intelligence and problem-solving skills.
Let's take a practical example of a domestic game that you can propose to your dog: looking for hidden objects .
All you have to do is hide some tempting food morsels or toys in different places around the house. Fido, using his nose and his wits, will have to find the loot.
Most of the interactive dog games available on the market are based on this very logic: the animal is faced with a "problem" and when he finds the solution he receives a reward .
In addition to stimulating concentration and strengthening your feeling, his self-esteem will also benefit.
What are the benefits of interactive dog toys?
There are many reasons why you should offer your furry friend mind-activating games, here are some:
- They train mental abilities and increase self-esteem
- They stimulate problem solving skills by calling the dog to find the solution to the problem presented by the game
- They are great for relieving stress
- They help dogs distract themselves in moments of loneliness
- They are engaging and fun and therefore invaluable for dogs who are bored or a little down in the dumps.
How to choose the best interactive games for your dog?
If you decide to buy interactive games for your dog, the first thing you should pay attention to is that they are of excellent quality .
The materials must be resistant and non-toxic so as not to endanger your health .
Also pay attention to age . A puppy, for example, will have different needs in terms of hardness of the material compared to an adult dog. Also consider the size, strength and temperament of the dog .
Let's look at some of the main types of games you can find on the market.
KONG Games: Help Dogs Stay Fit by Playing
The KONG is certainly one of the most well-known and appreciated interactive dog games in the dog training field .
It was born in 1970 by Joe Markham, owner of a dog with destructive chewing habits, who found the solution to his friend's problems in a piece of resistant and bouncy rubber.
Today's KONG, in its classic version , is a container made of safe, very resistant and more or less rigid rubber, usually beehive-shaped and bouncy, inside which you can put snacks or creams that your dog is particularly fond of.
The aim of the game is for the furry one to find a way to get the food out and in the meantime, he will have a lot of fun chasing and biting the bouncing object.
Also available in a specific version for puppies , softer and more useful for relieving teething pain , in a version for avid chewers and in a "tennis ball" version.
The KONG performs many functions for the psychophysical health of your dog :
- It is an outlet for chewing, thus avoiding destructive behaviors.
- It helps to maintain weight control . In fact, you can alternate it with the bowl to administer food by filling it with its kibble. In this way, it will eat less and more slowly, while playing and exercising.
- It is a useful tool for house training . For example, by offering him the KONG to teach him how to use the crate , your dog will associate it with a positive experience.
- It allows you to release excess energy by reducing behaviors such as drooling and barking.
- It fights boredom by keeping the dog physically and mentally engaged for a long time.
- It allows the animal to overcome separation anxiety that reaches its peak in the first twenty minutes in which it is left alone. With the KONG, stuffed with tasty food, your four-legged friend will connect loneliness to a positive feeling.
- It is a way to play together . For example, you can hide it and have Fido search for it, teaching him the command "find it" or throw it for a fun game of jumps and chases.
Some tips for introducing the KONG to your furry friend :
- Present it with enthusiasm
- Stimulate his interest
- Show him the delights inside
In this regard, when choosing the filling for the KONG, you can use any type of food based on the dog's tastes. It is preferable to choose foods that are both tasty and healthy like a delicious pasta with liver . Also available in a specific version for puppies that is lighter and more easily digestible.
If you prefer a more solid and less messy alternative, you can opt for snack biscuits .
Safe Dog Toys to Chew and Muddle: Which Are the Most Durable?
Dogs are typically attracted to stuffed animals and toys that recall the animal world .
- KONG Weave Knots Elk is a cute character with a knotted rope belly. In addition to being a great solution for both interactive and solitary play for your dog , the knotted cotton rope cleans his teeth while the squeaker adds to the fun.
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KONG Camel . This soft toy's different materials satisfy the need to chew , while minimal padding reduces mess and danger.
Soft and durable at the same time, its external ropes satisfy your dog's desire to wriggle. - KONG Dynos are fun plush friends with a reinforced coating. The various textures of the game are particularly attractive to your dog and promote active play . In addition, thanks to their squeaking and the emission of a rustling sound, they will literally drive your furry friend crazy with joy.
Again, the age, size and temperament of the dog are the criteria to follow when purchasing.
Fetch and Tug of War: The Interactive Game That Will Entertain You and Your Dog!
Your dog loves to play with you ! Some of his favorite activities include fetching and tug-of-war challenges.
- Wubba Floppy Ears is a fun and interactive game ideal for chasing and fetching . Its long and soft ears are easy to pick up and throw in the air. To complete the fun, two tennis balls inside that, when squeezed, emit a squeak.
- Vinyl Rope Game with Four Sausages for Dogs is the ideal game if your dog is nervous or stressed because it allows him to challenge you in tug of war and nibble on the chewy sausages and at the same time relieve stress.
- Tugger Knots is perfect for interactive tug-of-war games thanks to the durable braided cotton rope that runs through the interior with handles at either end.
- Wubba Waves with braided rope is a cotton ball with a rubber ball inside that makes a squeaking sound while playing. The colorful braided ropes help clean your dog's teeth while playing. This toy is perfect for both throwing and tug-of-war .
- Squeezz ball with handle is perfect to take with you and suitable for both indoor and outdoor games . The handle makes it easy to throw.
These games, besides being fun, will also be useful for house training your dog .
Dog food mats and boards to win food while playing
An alternative way to use food to play.
The non-slip dog food tray made of thermoplastic rubber stimulates your dog to conquer the food through play and, at the same time, helps him to eat more slowly.
Particularly suitable therefore if your friend is a little overweight but not only, it will give him the satisfaction of having to work hard to conquer the loot. Inside the numerous compartments you can put paté, milk, yogurt.
The tablet is great to freeze to cool your dog on hot summer days but also to add more difficulty to the game.
The Snif Snif mat is a new and strategic game to hide treats from your four-legged friend, stimulating his sense of smell . To get the reward he will have to use his snout and paws. In this way, while keeping the animal busy, the mat will also prevent him from gulping down the food too quickly.
How to Keep Your Dog Engaged at Home with DIY Interactive Games
In addition to the games you find on the market, you can also have fun creating interactive games for your dog yourself with a few, cheap and simple materials.
Let's take some examples:
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The three jars
To make this game, you will need three plastic cups (or even yogurt pots) under one of which you will place a snack. Your dog, with his sense of smell, will have to guess where the reward is and discover the jar to enjoy it . -
The rotating bottle
Take a common plastic bottle and make two holes on the sides where you can insert a pin (a wooden stick or a straw, for example). Then create a support where you can turn the pin and, consequently, the bottle inside which you will put some treats.
Your friend will have to rotate the bottle with his paw until the kibble comes out . -
The piñata
Take a paper bag and fill it with succulent treats and scraps of paper or old newspapers to add volume. Hang it at a height that is suitable for your dog who will get a lot of physical exercise, as well as mental, to be able to discover the contents .
These are just examples but don't limit your imagination. Your faithful friend will have a lot of fun and so will you.
We have seen how the use of interactive games for dogs is fundamental for the correct psychophysical development of your pet .
There are many ideas that you can do yourself to involve Fido in stimulating and engaging activities.
If you want to give your dog some fun and colorful toys, turn your choice to a reliable retailer that can offer only quality products.
This is essential to protect the animal's health by avoiding toxic or poorly resistant materials and the related consequences that would derive from them.
In the Millstore pet shop you will find only the best brands for your dog . In addition to a wide assortment of games that you can choose based on the specific characteristics of the animal, you will find everything you need : food, bowls, clothes, kennels, health and hygiene products, pillows and everything you can think of to make your best friend strong, healthy and happy .
