Last but not least, you’ll want to stock up on treats and chew toys to aid with training.
TREATS FOR TRAINING
Not all omnivores are alike. Dogs, for example, are carnivore/omnivores, at the super meaty end of the spectrum. In positive reinforcement training, you’re going to need plenty of enticing treats. They should be soft, tiny, and primarily made out of pure meat with very little filler, if any. High protein, low calorie. Larger training treats are only okay if you can very easily tear them into tiny pieces with your hands.
TREAT POUCH
Trainable moments can happen anytime, anywhere. Having a treat pouch (also called a bait bag) on your hip and filled with training treats means you’re always prepared to seize that moment. We recommend the ones with a hinged or magnetic closure; we dislike the drawstring option as it causes too much fumbling. A resealable plastic baggie also works, but a treat pouch gives you maximum speed and convenience.
TREATS FOR CHEWING
Avoid rawhide. Rawhide poses numerous health and safety risks to puppies and dogs and should always be avoided. Thankfully, there are some wonderful safe alternatives to rawhide on the market. You can also use a wide range of other natural chews such as trachea, bully sticks, pig ears, tendons, dried sweet potato wedges, and hard cheese chews. While naturally shed antlers are also a good option, for puppies stick to split antlers, not whole ones. For puppies, the rule for chews is that they should all be fully digestible; rawhide is not. Around four months of age, when your puppy starts losing their puppy teeth, they’ll need to stick to softer chews such as tendons and sweet potatoes. No split antler, bully sticks, or hard cheese chews. Don’t leave your puppy unsupervised with these chews until you know their habits well. Watch them and make sure they’re chewing and playing safely with them, predictably so, before you leave them alone with a given type of chew.
CHEW TOYS AND TUGS
There are tons of fun toys and tugs out there, made from all kinds of materials. Just avoid anything that shreds, splinters, or has little plastic pieces that can break off. There’s nothing wrong with stuffed toys as long as you understand that your puppy might destroy them. If that notion has you seeing visions of dollar bills tumbling into a fire pit, avoid toys with stuffing or stick to ones designed for strong chewers. If it will amuse you to watch them have a blast ripping the innards out of a cute little stuffed animal, go for it. Chewing is extra important for puppies because they are teething. Teething happens when the adult teeth are pushing through the gums, and it’s the gum irritation that makes them want to chew, chew, chew. This teething period typically happens between three and five months of age. During this time, stick to toys labeled “good for teething.” Remember, don’t leave your puppy alone with chew toys until you’ve seen firsthand that they play safely with them.
PUZZLE TOYS
At the Zoom Room, puzzle toys are one of our absolute favorite things to provide to puppy and dog owners. We are huge fans of mental stimulation, and a good puzzle toy does wonders for a curious puppy or adult dog. Dogs can be creative, imaginative problem solvers, and a puzzle toy allows them to exercise their brains in a fun fashion, with the reward built right in. Puzzle toys come in many different designs, but all possess some aspect of secreting treats inside, and your puppy must identify the trick to getting at them. Some puzzle toys are incredibly simple: nothing more than a hollow center that you can stuff with treats or a combination of treats, peanut butter, and dog food. Others are bona fide games in which you can adjust the difficulty level. One of our favorite tips for our clients is to use puzzle toys to give your dog their entire meal. Used in this fashion, puzzle toys have all the same benefits as a slow bowl. Many puzzles involve rolling the toy around, which provides some exercise for your puppy as well. And since puppies require a lot of exercise, it’s beneficial to get that extra romp. As with the other toys and chews mentioned, don’t leave your puppy unsupervised with a puzzle toy until you’ve witnessed firsthand that they are using it safely.
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