Best Interactive Treat Ball: Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball
Do you have a dog who wolfs down its food in seconds flat?
Then the Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball may be a good crate toy choice for your pup.
Just fill this toy with food and your canine can roll it around to get at its treats.
This forces your pup to eat its meals at a much slower rate and should provide your canine some entertainment while it is crated.
To get kibble or other small treats in this ball, I would suggest using a water bottle with the bottom cut off to create your own funnel. Then you can insert the mouth of the bottle into the toy and pour in the treats from the wider cut-open bottom.
The Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is crafted from a rubber-like material that is durable enough to stand up to very powerful chewers.
But because the material is soft, it’s also easy on your pup’s teeth.
Outside of the crate, this Starmark toy can be used in the same manner as a traditional ball for a good game of fetch.
This lightweight ball can float, so it can even be used as a water toy.
What to put in a crate with a puppy
Since puppies are more likely to chew on and potentially swallow anything you put in the crate with them, safety comes first here.
Avoid using blankets, towels, or sheets for your puppy’s crate bedding. She might chew on these materials, which will not only be messy but if she ends up swallowing pieces, it could lead to a life-threatening internal blockage and an emergency trip to the vets.
It’s best to go for durable, easy-to-clean materials while she’s still in the puppy stages.
A good crate bedding for your pup is Frisco Quilted Fleece Pet Bed & Crate Mat. This is widely-used in kennels and vets and comes highly recommended for its resistance to chewers. It is made of a very durable fabric, but it is also comfortable for your pooch to lie on.
What’s more, it’s warm and insulating, non-allergenic, and has unique drainage properties, so that in the event of any accident, your puppy will stay dry and cozy. If you live in a cold climate check out this review of best dog house heaters and heated dog houses.
Another type of durable crate bedding is the K9 Ballistics TUFF Crate Pad, recommended for light to moderate chewers. It’s made of super tough Ripstop Ballistic Nylon and comes without zippers or Velcro.
It also resists water, hair, dirt, and odors, so it’s easy to clean and stays smelling and looking fresh. Plus it has a polyester-fill base to help your pup feel comfy and snug. It’s not a good option for heavy chewers, however, as it can still be destroyed by these more determined teeth.
If your pup falls under the “aggressive chewer” category, an extra durable bed made from PVC, such as these from Frisco, may be in order. As well as the huge advantage of being chew proof, they are also designed to be cooling and easy to clean.
Of course, once your puppy has proven she can be trusted not to chew, you can switch to a bedding of your choice. I advise you to begin by using a durable crate pad such as the ones above until that day comes, however.
While this may sound pricier, it’s certainly worth it in the long run – who knows how many beds you might have to throw out and replace due to those persistent little teeth?
Not to mention paying out for vet bills if she swallows shredded pieces of bedding.
Some of the more destructive puppers out there have been known to destroy dog crate floors, too. If your dog is chewing or digging at the plastic crate tray, a good alternative is to invest in a chew proof metal one instead.
Leaving toys in the crate with your pup can have many advantages, but, as with bedding, the same goes for toys – durable is best!
You should never leave soft, stuffed toys or squeaky toys with your puppy, as she is likely to chew up and destroy them, and could potentially ingest pieces of them.
There are quite a few “indestructible” dog toys on the market now which are suitable toys for dogs in crates, but the one I think a great to use with a puppy is the classic rubber Kong toy.*
These are not only extremely tough but also hollow, so you can also stuff them with food so that your pup stays occupied trying to get out the tasty treat.
Giving your pup toys to play with in her crate has many benefits:
*Make sure it’s the right size for your puppy’s mouth.
As Preventive Vets dog behavior expert and lead trainer at Pupstanding Academy, Cathy focuses on helping humans and their pets build a strong relationship based on trust, clear communication, and the use of positive reinforcement and force-free methods. With over 13 years of experience, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of dogs on a wide variety of training and behavior issues. Beyond her one-on-one consultations through Pupstanding Academy, she also teaches group dog training classes at Seattle Humane. Her specialties include dog aggression, resource guarding, separation anxiety, and puppy socialization.
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When shes not geeking out about dogs, you can find her reading, hiking with her two Cardigan Welsh Corgis, or paddleboarding.
Cathy is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, holding both the CPDT-KA and CBCC-KA designations. Cathy is a Fear Free Certified Certified Professional, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the Pet Professional Guild, and the Dog Writers Association of America.
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