MENTAL STIMULATION

KONG Stuffing Ideas

Classic KONG toys are a great way to make meal time last longer, while stimulating your dog's mind. When introducing your dog to the Kong for the first time, use loosely packed tasty fillings that are easy to extract, this will make sure that your dog realises just how fun and rewarding KONG meals can be. As he learns to extract the entire meal more quickly and easily, start increasing the difficulty. This can be done by using sticky ingredients to bind the filling, packing the stuffing more firmly and even freezing the stuffed  KONG overnight. Always use an appropriate sized KONG for your dog.
Stuffing Ingredient Ideas
  • Apple
  • ​Banana
  • Beef (cooked)
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Broth
  • Brown Rice
  • Canned Dog Food
  • Carrot
  • Chicken (cooked)
  • Dried Dog Food (dry or soaked)
  • Eggs (cooked)
  • Goats Milk Cheese
  • Honey
  • Lamb (cooked)
  • Liver (dried)
  • Mashed Potato
  • Mashed Pumpkin
  • Mashed Sweet Potato
  • Oats
  • Pasta (cooked)
  • Peanut Butter (with no artificial sweeteners)
  • Plain Yoghurt (with no sweeteners or flavours added)
  • Treats
  • Vegemite

Cooling Off

Samoyeds are well known for their love of the cold and snow, but in warmer climates, like here in Australia, many Samoyeds don't often get to experience the joy of fresh powder. So here are some ideas to help keep your Samoyed cool and their mind active.
Clam Shell Pools filled with water or beach sand, put in the shade, are a great way to keep your dog cool in summer and keep your dog busy. Add some toys to the water or hide treats in the sand, your dog will love this beach like experience.
Frozen Ice Blocks are perfect for hot summers days. Fill a large container with water, add toys and treats and then freeze. Once completely frozen, run a little warm water over the sides of the container to loosen the ice block and turn out onto the ground. Your dog will have plenty of fun chewing, licking and playing with the ice block, and the toys and treats will keep him interested right until the end. The bigger the container, the longer the fun! If the ice isn't enticing enough for your dog, you can add a small amount of stock for a savoury flavour or plain unsweetened yoghurt for a creamy flavour.
Ice Block Ingredient Ideas
  • Dry Dog Food
  • Dog Treats
  • Fruit (banana, red apple [no seeds], blueberries)
  • Vegetables (carrot, broccoli, parsley)
  • Stuffed KONG toys

Puzzles & Interactive Toys

There are a range of puzzles and interactive toys on the market. Popular choices include puzzles from Outward Hound and Kyjen, the Bob-a-Lot, the KONG Wobbler, and the new and more advanced Foobler. They range from the simple, for the beginner, to challenging, for the more advanced pooches. These offer a great alternative to feeding your dog in a bowl and they help prevent boredom by drawing out meal times while exercising your dogs mind. Remember to never leave your dog unattended with puzzles and remove once play is complete.

Treasure Hunts

Instead of feeding your dog the traditional way, ditch the bowl and make a treasure hunt for your furry companion. Start off easy, perhaps hiding the food while your dog walks around after you eating it, then progress to hiding the food while your dog watches and finally, hiding the food without your dog seeing where you have hidden it. Your can use a range of different food options to hide, as long as your dog locates the food in an appropriate amount of time so it doesn't spoil and make your dog ill.

​Props can also be used. Hiding food in their sand pit encourages digging in their own designated area and a juicy brisket bone, hidden in a cardboard box that is wrapped in paper will make a fun and entertaining surprise for your dog on your favourite holiday or their birthday.