Special Toys for Special Purposes for Your Sunday Dog

Like many terriers, our Westie Poppy is a strong chewer. That means we don't leave her alone with something she might be able to destroy and chew into a choking hazard. Kong Extreme toys have been our answer.

Even as a tiny pup, Poppy could destroy a regular Kong in a sitting. Here she was in her exercise pen with her Kong Extreme chew.

To address the separation anxiety she had as a pup, we stuffed a Kong with goat cheese and put it in the crate with her when we left her alone. To this day, she only gets this toy when she’s in her crate and she loves it each time she's offered one. Even when we return, she grabs it and runs happily around the place tossing and bouncing it. Now she runs to her crate when we hold up a Kong.

Poppy also loves squeaky toys but when she was young, she only had access to those under supervision.

There are a number of comfort toys on the market to help puppies adjust to their new homes, address separation anxiety, or comfort a dog in a strange setting. Our first dog Sassy came to us with three knotted hand towels that had been slept on, played with, and generally embedded with the scent of her mother and littermates.

This worked so well that we've used the same trick over the years for both rescue dogs and our own pups.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubin- Updated and adapted for BostonZest from previously published material.
Photos: ©2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

Related articles

Happy Birthday to Poppy as She Turns Three

Irish Setter Theo Is a Typical Puppy

What's Your Sunday Dog's Hobby?