The Best Toys to Entertain Your Dog While You Have a New Baby
Oh boy, life has changed. I’m caring for a new baby around the clock! One day, I caught myself plastered to the couch, staring off during one of the baby’s naps, and saw my dog just sitting there, bored amidst the constant chaos. I felt guilty and knew I needed to find a solution. My dog required some constructive, interactive toys to keep him mentally stimulated while I had my hands full. I tell my dog training clients that it is necessary to provide their dogs with mental and physical stimulation.
Physical stimulation includes running, playing, retrieving, dog-playing with other dogs, or exercising. Those are all beautiful outlets that make for a tired dog. Still, the majority of dogs will rebound relatively quickly. It could even start to build endurance to be satisfied consistently. Also, you don’t have the time or energy to provide those outlets as a new mom.
Mental stimulation is when we challenge the dog by using their mind and senses. Think about if I were to sit you down and make you study calculus or if you had to work on a complex problem-solving exercise. Mental exercise burns your dog’s energy levels, challenges them, stimulates their mind, and satisfies them completely. All of that is especially important when you have less time than you used to for balancing walks and play.
When you think of dog toys, you probably imagine the toy aisle at your local pet store and gravitate toward all the soft, squeaky ones. Your dog might play with them for a short time but then quickly lose interest when you cannot interact with them and want the dog to play by themselves. Balls, tugs, and stuffed animals all need human help to make the toys appear “alive.” The engagement is where the thought behind interactive dog toys began.
KONG is the founder of the interactive toy.
This company understands the value of why this works for dogs and how this product can solve so many other behavior issues for dogs. Dogs can suffer from boredom, separation anxiety, chewing, digging, barking, and weight management. As a new mom, I couldn’t give my dog what he needed to feel satisfied, and these toys helped bridge the gap between the most challenging seasons of motherhood. Because of them, I could finally provide the dog with the outlets he needed and be there for my newborn.
New moms should only bring home their newborn after having a collection of these KONG interactive toys for their dog. In between incorporating your dog’s obedience into your new life with the baby, here are five genius inventions from the KONG company that all moms should have:
Top Five Dog Toys for Busy Moms
KONG CLASSIC
I am an old-school girl, and this is my favorite!
The KONG Classic is the gold standard of dog toys and has become a staple for dogs worldwide for over forty years. It offers enrichment by helping satisfy dogs’ instinctual needs. The KONG Classic’s unique natural red rubber formula is ultra-durable with an erratic bounce, ideal for dogs that like to chew. It also fulfills a dog’s need to play.
I would use the KONG Classic during my newborn’s nap hours. I would put some dog treats in the middle and close the ends with yogurt or peanut butter. I would freeze it for a few hours and give it to my dog while the baby was asleep. He would be busy for hours, and then I could also get some rest (or do laundry and clean!) without feeling like my dog was jaded.
CLICKS STICK
KONG CLICKS is more of an engagement toy for your dog. It is a mentally stimulating treat-dispensing puzzle with versatility in difficulty levels, so it keeps even the smartest of the dogs engaged. I liked this toy when my daughter started eating in the high chair. I would cut up a few carrots and put them inside. That way, my dog was not just vacuuming all the crumbs under the high chair!
DURATREAT BONE
KONG Duratreat was how I taught my dog the difference between his toy box and my daughters! Dogs want to explore the toys you are interacting with your babies; it also doesn’t help that dogs and babies’ toys look alike. Anytime my dog would grab something that was the baby’s, I would go over and show him his toy box. It wasn’t working, and that is when I found the KONG Duratreat. I started putting a treat in this toy, and then when my dog was not around, I would put it into his toy box. A high-value reward inside would lure him to his box and then reward him for playing with this toy. It was a double win for Mama because I taught my dog that his toys were in his box and that what he found would keep him engaged.
REWARDS BALL
This ball is a fun toy that rolls and bounces as it randomly dispenses the dog’s kibble. I would use this ball sometimes to feed my dog his meals. Instead of using the traditional boring food bowl, I would challenge him to earn his meals! It kept him busy and was also instant entertainment for my daughter. She would laugh away as he played with it.
THE WOBBLER
This KONG-shaped toy is another food dispensing product. I like this one for smaller spaces because it sits upright, and until the dog nuzzles it or uses their paw to knock it over, then the treats come out. My favorite part about this toy is the cleaning. The top unscrews and makes it super easy to sanitize!
Make It Easier for Your New Baby and Dog to Co-Exist
Obedience will always be your number one tool for mentally stimulating your dog. Follow the Dogs to Diapers YouTube Page for more ideas on obedience exercises to incorporate around your new babyDogs to Diapers YouTube Page.
The newborn stage is tough for everybody in the house (well, not your perfect angel that eats and sleeps). Still, you can help your dog to adjust and evolve with the changing environment and routine.
Where To Buy
*Too busy to run to the pet store? No problem! Here is a link to KONG
