Product Review: Kongs Kongs are the closest item dogs have to a baby pacifier. Similarly, when used at the right time, Kongs make for a much-needed soothing toy that'll help take a lot of pressure off of you, as they will help relax and mellow your dog's brain towards a nap. The misconception There's a common misconception when it comes to Kongs, that I often experience firsthand when pet parents describe how they use theirs. The misconception with Kongs is that they act as a puzzle/mental enrichment outlet which may be right if you have an 8 or 9-week-old puppy, but past that age, Kong-like toys, or really any chewing and licking toys won't provide much of a mental challenge. Why I recommend Kongs The main reason I resort to and recommend using Kongs is that they can make a big difference, by helping your dog's stimulated brain go from feeling aroused, restless and excited to feeling mellow and relaxed through licking, gnawing and spending time getting each piece of food. "A friend (of the creator Joe Markham) commented that the toy looked like an earplug for King Kong —hence its name." – Kong Company When you should use it The best time to bring out your dog's Kong for him or her to use is after you've done some fun physical, and above all mental enrichment activities! Taking your dog to new places and meeting new people and dogs also counts as engaging activities you can do with your dog, which should then be followed by a calming Kong session to help your dog relax from all of that excitement. If the answer to the question "Is my dog feeling tired and mellow enough to take a nap now?" is yes, then it's the perfect time to bring out a stuffed and frozen Kong. If and when your dog isn't using it, your best bet is to put it back in the freezer (or in the sink to be washed), instead of leaving it out. Making it so your dog's Kong comes out at the right time and when it's going to be used the most is key, to maintain that engaging association towards it. What you should put inside the Kong This purely depends on two things, your dog's diet (as recommended by your vet) and your dog's taste. There's no one size fits all solution when it comes to feeding or treats, and this applies to Kong. A general rule is that if your dog's diet allows for variety in flavours, you will not only be able to find what your dog likes inside his Kong the most but also keep him engaged if you're not always using the same food. Reach out to your vet today and have them recommend the right proteins and flavours so that you can start experimenting and finding out what your dog enjoys best. Freezing their Kong with the right food or treat is a win-win for you both! Recap ✔️ Uses a little bit of energy remaining energy ✔️ Relaxes/soothes an overexcited/tired dog ✔️ Encourages time alone The best time to provide a puppy or dog with a frozen/stuffed kong is when they're tired from physically and mentally stimulating activities. A Kong may provide a bit of a fun challenge to a very young puppy, but it won't do the job of a puzzle or snuffle mat or an even more mentally engaging activity you can do with your dog (this is a common misconception with most pet parents). And so Kongs are most useful when used to help your dog relax when he has little energy left, by licking, gnawing, and chewing on it. Have a few stuffed and frozen in your freezer on rotation so you're never caught unprepared! You can freeze your dog's kibble, apple or banana puree, and more (double check with your vet.). Recommended 10/10 Got any feedback, questions, or concerns about this blog post, or interested to learn more? Send me an email at info@dignofurther.com!

✔️ Helps prevent boredom ✔️ Slows down eating ✔️ Burns mental energy Similar to other food puzzles, but a bit more advanced as it contains an optional added level of difficulty that allows you to lock the little drawers your dog will need to open to get the treats out. This food puzzle will require that your dog uses both his nose and paws to unlock and open each drawer. Supervised play is recommended. If your dog resorts to chewing, switch to a more physical game/activity before trying again. Strongly recommend it! 10/10

✔️ Helps prevent boredom ✔️ Slows down eating ✔️ Burns mental energy This food puzzle makes for an excellent outlet for your dog's mental energy on a daily basis! The Twister Food Puzzle is one of the most challenging puzzles, however, you can make it easier for your dog by not locking the sides at first. Supervised play is recommended. If your dog resorts to chewing, switch to a more physical game/activity before trying again. Strongly recommend it! 10/10

✔️ Helps burn physical energy ✔️ Strengthens your bond with your dog ✔️ Provides different textures to chew on Strengthen your bond with your dog by playing tug-and-pull-like games using these rope toys! Physical games don't encourage aggression or any unwanted behaviour. These types of games are normal and common for dogs, as they help strengthen your trust and comfort with each other while ensuring your dog gets to scratch their need to play using their entire body. Games like these only become a problem when puppies or dogs don't know when/how to end and relax. Help them do just that by providing them with a snuffle mat and a frozen Kong once you can tell that they're feeling tired before they start feeling overtired (which is where they can get more nippy and rough). Please do make sure that you keep in mind your dog's play style, especially while they're really young, so as to not scare or overwhelm them. While their adult teeth aren't grown in yet, please make sure you opt for rope toys that aren't too hard, similar to how Kongs come in different levels depending on your puppy's age. Recommended! 9.8/10

✔️ Builds on you & your dog's existing bond ✔️ Useful both indoors & outdoors Got a really smart and energetic dog? Agility equipment is one of the easiest ways to turn your home or backyard into the most fun and engaging environment for you and your dog! You can keep the exercises light and easy, as you and your dog learn to work together to accomplish your goals, while further strengthening your bond and focus together. Definitely recommend! 10/10

✔️ Helps your dog cool off during warm weather or after physical games and exercises ✔️ Feeling cool will allow your dog to more easily be able to rest/sleep Place the cooling mat inside your freezer and bring it out whenever you think your dog might be feeling a bit too warm, especially during summer, and particularly if you have a medium/long-haired breed. Most useful for highly active dogs, and medium and long-haired breeds. 9.5/10

✔️ Serves as an additional treat and reward that you provide for your dog ✔️ Provides you with an extra opportunity to engage with your dog while monitoring their water intake There are never too many instances where you can take a moment to reconnect with your dog and share a treat together. This treat in this instance is water and if you have a puppy, you can use this water bottle to keep track of their daily intake, to better prevent unwanted potty training accidents. Must-have! 10/10

✔️ Darkens crate area & minimizes noise, helping your dog sleep better/for longer ✔️ Similar to a den-like environment Crate covers are amazing for dogs to be able to have their own den-like room that will encourage better and longer sleep! Puppies will have an easier time sleeping in a setup that is darker and cooler, so a crate cover can be a great tool to help encourage your puppy to want to spend time in it! Must-have! 10/10

✔️ Allows you to reward calm behaviour at a distance ✔️ Allows you to supervise your dog as you create distance The Furbo Dog Camera can definitely be an asset when first training and preventing separation anxiety. Mainly because it allows you to see what and how your dog is reacting to their environment while you're away. Being able to respond early and fast enough can help you prevent unwanted behaviours. Useful for households with dogs staying alone for long periods of time! 8.5/10

Try this food puzzle to prevent their brain and mind from looking for something else to do, as well as redirect them to do something more productive instead! Food puzzles are amazing for puppies and dogs of any age, breed, and size. Their main purpose is to provide dogs with a fun meal-time outlet for their mental energy, which then helps them feel more at ease and relaxed, thus reducing the likelihood that your dog will 'get into trouble'. Our belief, and based on our experience, most dogs do things we don't like due to daily boredom, and/or simply not knowing what else to do instead with their time and energy. When to provide a food puzzle? The best time to provide a food puzzle is after you've done some physically stimulating exercises with your dog. Such as going for a walk or run, playing tug & pull, fetch, a fun game of wrestle, or even some agility training. The very first time you're introducing your dog to food puzzles, it's best to make it as easy as possible and let them find high-value (aka tasty!) treats inside it. Pro tip: To avoid having to purchase multiple puzzles of different levels, start with an intermediate or advanced puzzle as it's not generally tough to make them super easy for your dog at first. From then on, a good habit is to not only supervise your dog's usage of their puzzles, mainly so that you can put it away once they've figured it out and/or when they're done eating their meal. You also want to watch for how they're going about figuring out their puzzle. If they start chewing it out of frustration or overexcitement, it would be best to redirect them to an easier activity like a snuffle mat . This is also why it's best to use puzzles and most mental enrichment toys after your dog has had a chance to let go of some pent-up physical energy. For an extremely confident and capable dog, you can combine a calming mask (be sure to socialize them to it first and that they're feeling 110% comfortable wearing it) with the activity of a puzzle or snuffle mat so that your dog relies purely on their nose, and less on his eyes.