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How To Introduce A New Chew Safely
Chewing is one of the most enjoyable and natural activities for dogs. New chews can be exciting, especially long-lasting natural chews that offer flavour, texture, and mental stimulation. However, it’s important to introduce them with care to ensure your dog enjoys the experience safely and makes the most of their chew time. This article covers how to introduce your dog to a new chew safely. Supervise No matter what type of chew you want to offer your dog, supervision is key. Every dog has their own chewing style. Some nibble slowly, savouring the flavour, while others are enthusiastic chewers who get through a chew quickly. By watching your dog, you can make sure they chew safely, take breaks when needed, and enjoy the experience without rushing. This is particularly important the first time they try a new chew as it’s helpful to understand how they interact with it. However, supervision isn’t just for the first session, it’s a simple way to make every chew enjoyable and worry-free. Offer fresh water nearby As is the case with any chew or treat, when introducing a new chew, it’s important to keep fresh water nearby. Some chews can be more dense or flavourful than your dog is used to, and chewing enthusiastically, even for a short time, can make them thirsty. As you supervise your dog, look out for signs they may need a break for water, such as stepping away from the chew, panting, or pausing frequently. Guiding them to drink ensures they stay comfortably hydrated and helps make their first experience with their new chew safe and enjoyable. Limit initial chew time Even if your dog seems eager, it’s a good idea to limit the first few chew sessions with a new type of chew. Short initial sessions allow your dog to adjust to the new texture and flavour without becoming overly focused or frustrated. Gradually introducing the chew in smaller sessions also gives their digestive system time to adapt, reducing the chance of any discomfort. As they become more accustomed to the chew, you can gradually extend the duration of each session. This approach helps your dog enjoy their new chew safely. Provide a positive & relaxed environment The way you set up chew time can have a big impact on how your dog experiences a new chew. Creating a calm, relaxed environment helps your dog focus on enjoying their tasty treat without feeling rushed or distracted. Choose a quiet spot where they feel comfortable and speak in a gentle, encouraging tone. Offering praise for calm chewing can reinforce positive behaviour. By keeping the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable, chew time becomes a simple way to strengthen the bond between you and your pooch. Final thoughts With some supervision and consideration, you can ensure your dog enjoys their new chews safely and comfortably. Taking the time to watch how your dog interacts with each chew, offering water breaks, and pacing their sessions helps create a positive experience. Encouraging calm chewing, offering praise, and maintaining a relaxed environment turns treat time into an enjoyable routine that your dog can look forward to.
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5 Simple Ways to Make Walks More Fun for Your Dog
Did you know that walks can offer your dog a lot more than just a form of exercise? In fact, they’re an important part of your dog’s happiness and wellbeing. Adding a little variety can turn an ordinary stroll into a stimulating and entertaining experience for your pooch. This article covers five simple ways to make walks more fun for your dog. 1. Switch up your routes While there’s nothing wrong with having a favourite route, adding in some variety at least a few times per week can be very beneficial. Variation makes each walk less monotonous for both yourself and your canine companion. Exploring new paths or simply taking a familiar route in reverse keeps things mentally engaging, as different sights, sounds, and smells stimulate your dog’s curiosity. When they don’t know exactly what to expect or where they’re going next, the walk becomes exciting and adventurous rather than predictable. Your bond with your pooch can also strengthen when you try our new hiking trails, parks, or even city walking routes (if they are comfortable with it) together. 2. Include training along the way In addition to offering fresh air and exercise, you can use walks as a chance to practice training and commands like recall, sit, or loose-lead walking. This keeps your dog mentally engaged as well as physically active. It also improves their ability to follow commands and exhibit positive behaviours. Additionally, training that involves rewards (like training treats) and praise can help strengthen your bond with your dog. This may be particularly beneficial for dogs who need extra practice to pick up on new commands or tend to become bored on standard walks without stimulating challenges. 3. Embrace sniff time Sniffing is how dogs explore and process the world, so allowing them to pause and investigate enriches their walk. While it seems a little gross to us, sniffing the urine of other dogs gives them a chance to gather information about the surrounding canine community. Additionally, sniffing helps meet some key sensory needs as it is a natural behaviour. While they may end up being a little shorter, walks with regular sniff stops can be as physically tiring for your dog as any other walk thanks to the dual cognitive and respiratory engagement they entail. If you want to take this option a step further, you could try taking your pooch on “sniffari” walks where exploring with their nose is the main goal and they get to lead the way. This is a great method for keeping it interesting, boosting their confidence, and reducing stress. 4. Add some play If your walks tend to only involve walking, you could try adding some excitement with the addition of outdoor playtime. Try going to a safe off-lead area during your walk, and bring a ball or tug toy along that your dog enjoys playing with. Whether it’s fetch, tug of war, or even hiding treats for them to find, playtime with you will make it all the more special and exciting for them. It also helps burn extra energy and makes the walk more mentally and physically engaging. This option is particularly ideal for playful dogs with lots of energy who thrive on variety and interactivity. 5. Walk with a friend Dogs who enjoy company can benefit from walking alongside a canine buddy. This change to their routine offers a chance for socialisation and extra mental stimulation. If you have a friend or family member with a dog that your pooch gets along with, walking with them can add excitement and happiness to your dog’s day. The extra company can also make walks more enjoyable for you, too. This option is especially beneficial for dogs who enjoy the company of canines but don’t live with other dogs at home. If your dog is more into people than dogs, inviting their favourite person (excluding you, of course) along on your walks can also add some pep to their step. Final thoughts A few simple changes to your usual walk routine can make a big difference to your dog’s enjoyment. By mixing up routes, encouraging sniffing, incorporating play or training, and adding some canine and/or human companions, you’ll turn walks into a daily adventure. For most dogs, walks are the highlight of their day, so it’s worth going the extra mile to make sure they’re as stimulating, enjoyable, and exciting as possible.
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What Your Dog’s Chewing Habits Might Reveal About Their Mood
Chewing is a very natural behaviour for dogs, but how they chew can be surprisingly telling. Patterns like hoarding, shredding, or speed-chewing may reflect their mood, energy levels, and preferences. This article covers five common chewing styles that could help indicate how your pooch is feeling. 1. The Fast Chewer This type of chewer tends to devour everything quickly. So, if your pooch always finishes their treats in seconds, they probably fit within this category. Here’s what this behaviour could mean: Fast chewing could indicate that your dog is feeling high levels of excitement or has a lot of pent up energy. This could also mean your dog is very food motivated and is therefore enthusiastic about the special treats and chews you offer to supplement their regular diet. If your dog seems at all stressed while gobbling down their goodies, it could be a mild case of resource guarding to prevent their chew from being taken away. This is more likely if other dogs or people are around. Tips for supporting your fast chewer: Use longer lasting, sturdier chews like tendons and antlers to help slow them down. Give your dog a safe, calm space to enjoy their chew to reduce resource guarding. Use a chew holder or grip to encourage slower chewing and reduce gulping. 2. The Slow and Steady Chewer In contrast to the fast chewer, the slow and steady chewer takes their time with each chew, savouring every last nibble. If your dog takes a long time or multiple chew sessions to get through their chews, this is likely their category. Here’s what this behaviour could mean: Chewing slowly can indicate that your dog is feeling calm and content while enjoying their chew. If your dog is particularly slow with certain types of chews, they may be picky or selective about which flavours and textures they enjoy. Slow chewers also tend to be less food motivated, and are therefore not in a hurry to devour everything in sight like other types of chewers. Tips to support your slow and steady chewer: Choose flavourful chews with a strong scent to help keep them engaged, like trachea, for example. Pay attention to their preferences and stick to chews with their favourite flavours and textures. Offer chews during safe, calm, and relaxed moments, as their slower chewing style may reflect a need or desire for peace and quiet. 3. The Hoarder Instead of chewing straight away, some dogs like to stash their chews away. If you often find your dog’s chews stashed in their bed, behind furniture, or under cushions, they likely fit into the hoarder category. Here’s what this behaviour could mean: Your dog’s hoarding behaviour may be caused by their natural resource preservation instincts, and they likely see the chew as high value and something to protect. While not always the case, hoarding can indicate feelings of anxiety or uncertainty. If the environment where you give them the chew is busy or overstimulating, they may be saving it for later when they feel more comfortable. Tips for supporting your hoarder: Offer chews on a consistent schedule to help build trust that more will always come, as this can reduce their urge to build a stash. Try offering what they consider to be lower-value chews during busy times so they’re more likely to chew immediately rather than hoard. Create a safe, quiet space for chewing to help them feel relaxed and undisturbed, as this can help make them comfortable enough to settle down to enjoy it instead of hiding it away. 4. The Shredder Some dogs find it fun to rip and shred their chews into little pieces. They may then eat all of it, or just some if they’re more interested in the ripping aspect. If your dog’s chews tend to look like they’ve been through a shredder, this is their category. Here’s what this behaviour could mean: If your dog’s chews get completely obliterated, this can reflect high energy levels or strong prey drive, both of which may be related to their breed. Some dogs have a natural urge to “dissect” and destroy rather than consume. Your dog could be chewing (or shredding) as a form of stress release, and it may just be their way of self-soothing or decompressing. Tips for supporting your shredder: Choose textured, tough chews that can withstand tearing, such buffalo horns and cow hooves, to give them something to really work at (you could also fill these chews with peanut butter to encourage chewing and licking while reducing shredding). Supervise closely and remove small shredded bits to prevent accidental swallowing or choking on pieces that seem unsafe to eat. Offer chews after exercise or during downtime when they’re more likely to focus, as shredding can be a sign of built-up tension, so timing matters. 5. The Carry-Around Chewer Some dogs show a lot of interest in the chew you’re offering, only to pick it up and carry it around without really chewing. If your dog likes to carry their chew around like an accessory, this is their category. Here’s what this behaviour could mean: In the same way that some dogs like to carry around their favourite toy or blanket to feel safe, your dog may be using the chew like a comfort object. Their unwillingness to settle and chew could indicate that they’re feeling slightly uncertain, overstimulated, or anxious. Similarly to the hoarder mindset, your dog may be carrying it around in an effort to keep it safe, especially if it’s a chew they view as high value. Tips for supporting your carry-around chewer: Try offering a soft toy they can carry around instead, something safe and comforting that satisfies the urge to “hold” something. Once they have another object they like to hold instead, encourage actual chewing by giving flavour-rich chews during quiet, calm moments. Strong-scented options like pig ears are more likely to help redirect their attention back to chewing than odourless chews. Final Thoughts Did you find your dog’s chew style in this article, or do they do something different? Every dog has their quirks, and no chewing style is inherently good or bad. Additionally, you may notice these patterns can shift depending on their age, environment, or mood. Try to explore different chew types to see what your dog prefers, and in watching them enjoy their goodies, you might learn something new about them!
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