Pet Product Review » Training

The Kong Dog Toy

demik3 — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:02:08 +0000

If you ask a dog owner what a Kong * is, most likely they will reply that it is a toy for dogs, not an over-sized Gorilla who wreaks havoc on Manhattan. The Kong has become one of the most well known dog toy and for good reason. Made of hard rubber, it is very durable. They even make a line for aggressive chewers (note: this does not mean it is indestructible. As with any toy it should be inspected regularly for any damage and discarded when no longer safe).

The Kong is also a great interactive toy for dogs. The center is hollow, making a great place to put food and treats for your dog to work on getting out. Most people know to insert biscuits, but many dogs quickly learn how to get them out in the shortest amount of time. I like to take my dogs’ dry food and soak it in water. Sometimes I mix in other foods (the picture at the top has macaroni & cheese mixed in). Once it is soft, I stuff it in the Kong and freeze. I will also layer kibble and cheese and microwave for a few seconds to melt the cheese (let this cool before offering it to your dog). This keeps my dogs occupied for a little bit. You can find more great recipes to try at Kong Company . Just click on Tips and Advice for the recipe page.

This is one toy I recommend for every dog owner. It’s durability is great for the dog that likes to chew. Its erratic bouncing, keeps the dog who loves to fetch moving and its stuffability provides that mental stimulation that many dogs need.

Amazon*

Only Natural Pet Store*

Share:

Simon and Huey’s Soft Training Treats

demik3 — Thu, 10 May 2007 16:59:17 +0000

I am not too picky when it comes to choosing treats for my dogs. I only have 2 criteria for my ideal dog treat- they be healthy and they be small, about the size of a pea. Of course, my main reason for wanting my treats to be healthy is because I care about my pets’ health and I do feel that nutrition plays a big part in their overall health. Yes, I do occasionally give them treats that I consider junk food (after all, I am one of the biggest junk food junkies!), but the majority of their treats are healthy. I like my treats to be small because 3 of my dogs are small, from 15 to 28 pounds. Those calories add up if you are giving several treats a day and because I use treats for training we can easily go through a 1/2 cup in a training session.

Simon and Huey’s Soft Training Treats fit both my criteria and then some. They are small, about 7/16ths of an inch. They are healthy- no sugar added and they make them without corn, wheat or soy so are great for dogs with those food allergies. They come in 7 flavors and my dogs love them all (okay, they don’t turn their noses up at to much, but they really get excited when they see the Simon & Huey container coming out!) The flavors include – Kickin™ Chicken, Liver Mesquite, Salmon Dill, Peanut Butter Molasses, Garlic Dill, White Cheddar and Wild Ginger.

I like the soft treats for training because they go down easier (who wants to take time to do a lot of chewing when they are having fun).Â Even though they are soft, they don’t break into pieces in my hands while training and they throw nice if you need to reward your dog from a distance. Honestly, I can’t find a bad thing to say about Simon & Huey’s Soft Training Treats. Next we will have to try their Bites, a crunchy treats about the same size. I don’t think my dogs will complain about the taste testing.

I found that the original makers of Simon and Hueys treats went out of business, but that Paws Gourmet purschased the recipes and is now making 4 flavors- Kickin’ Chicken, Liver Mesquite,Peanut Butter Molasses and White Cheddar.

Share:

Cardboard Cat Scratcher

demik3 — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:47:08 +0000

My cat with a cardboard cat scratcher.

In an effort to spare my furniture and wall moldings from damage, I offer my cats several different types of cat scratchers. They have a floor to ceiling cat tree with 3 shelves on it, great for sleeping on. They also have a 2 level cat condo, also a great place to hang out and sleep. Then there is their favorite, a cardboard cat scratcher*. Okay, so it’s not trend-setting and it doesn’t match my decor, but you can’t beat the price!

There are a couple different styles of cardboard cat scratchers. My cats have no interest in the cardboard scratchers that hang from door knobs, but really tackle the ones that come in the slanted cardboard holder. Basically, these cat scratcher have a cardboard frame, usually the outside is decorated. The ones I have seen also have a small hole on each side where a cat can reach inside to play with a little toy hanging inside the frame (none of my cats have shown any interest in the toy or the holes). The part the cat scratches is made up of pieces of cardboard bonded together.

Cats like to be able to really stretch and scratch and with this even my biggest cat can stand on it and use it. Inexpensive when compared to other scratching posts, the cardboard cat scratcher has inserts that can be turned over so both sides can be used. Once that insert is worn, replacement inserts can be purchased. To get your cats interested or to keep them interested, you can rub some dry catnip or use a catnip spray on the insert. My cats will use it without catnip, but I occasionally put some on it to give them some excitement!

Likes:

The cost- very inexpensive, especially when compared to other scratching posts.

Replacement inserts- very easy to replace. When my carpeted cat scratchers get trashed, there is not much you can do to revive them (unless you have some basic DIY skills, which I don’t). Since the insert is the part that gets destroyed, you can have it like new it just a few seconds.

My cats like it- A cat scratching post is worthless if a cat won’t use it.

Dislikes:

Appearance- it would be nice if someone could design a nice frame something that would look better when company comes over

Looking for a cardboard cat scratching post?

Only Natural Pet Store*
Amazon*

Share: