A lot of us dog-lovers have been through it. You come home from a hard days' work only to find the trash overturned or see that your dog thought part of your carpet was a flowerbed meant for digging. Or, like me, you work at home and your dog is bugging you to play every half hour. It's enough to drive your crazy and with me, it's a pretty short drive!
The very best way to keep a dog busy is with food. They're always ready to eat! But how can you do that without turning him into a basketball with legs and fur?
Chewing
Most dogs love to chew but rawhide is been frowned upon by veterinarians. It's hard to digest and upsets the stomach, kind of like us enjoying a wonderful spicy dish then having to deal with heartburn. The answer? Bullysticks!
Bullysticks, let's face it, are rather disgusting. For those of you who aren't familiar with them, bullysticks are dried bull's penises. Wait, before you gross out and refuse to consider this wonderful treat, read on. These treats are all natural, completely digestible, full of vitamins and protein and low calorie. It take a long time to go through one and it will keep your dog happy for hours, depending on his chewing strength. They smell really bad, which is probably why dogs love them so much! They're available at some major pet stores but you can get them much cheaper through the internet.
Scavenging
Dogs are natural hunters, they love to dig and the excitement of finding hidden treats sends them into fits of joy. So another great and healthy way to keep your dog busy is with a Kong or other toy that you can hide things in. You can keep your little guy or girl busy for a long time by filling the toy with a layered mixture of yogurt, dry dog food, bits of banana and broccoli or other things your dog likes from the table. Freeze it overnight and watch your dog spend at least an hour using his tongue and paws to dig it all out! Wait, I forgot, we're supposed to be working while the dog is busy!
A Happy Dog, A Happy You
You get your work done, your dog is kept busy, the mess is minimal and everyone is happy. Let's face it, you can make ten times as much as the treat costs in an hour of work so it's well worth the small investment.
Now, get out there and get your dog one of these treats-and get to work!
