Chewing, chewing, all day long chewing

Chewing is instinctive to our dogs, it’s not something we can ever take away from them.  There are a few reasons why they feel the need to chew; teething being the first, if you are bringing home a new puppy remember they bring brand new teeth that will need help breaking the gums.  Dogs explore the world with their mouths, they don’t have fingers to touch with like we do.  Chewing also keeps the jaw mussels strong and helps keep the teeth clean.  Some dogs will also chew when they are bored or to help cope when they are upset. 

So it’s up to us to find a safe way for dogs to indulge in their habit. When looking for things for your dogs to chew on avoid the over-processed treats, like Rawhide and smoked bones that are overly common in the pet store. When it comes to Rawhide it depends on the source you read, some claim the product is full of harsh chemicals, glues and dyes oh my, while other states that as long as it’s made in North America it should be fine. (Pro; https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/are-rawhide-chews-dangerous-for-dog/ Con;https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/rawhide-dangerous-for-dogs/ ). I say; a little too complicated. When picking any treat for my dog, I like to keep it simple. 

Pizzle sticks or bully sticks are another common chew that people give to their dog. Many people however also wretch when they find out a pizzle stick is a dried bull’s penis. That doesn’t seem like a bad idea for your pet as it is mostly protein. It is actually full of calories however so be careful how many and how often you use this to pacify your dog. 

Instead of these risky options try instead, a whole raw carrot with the greens cut off, remember though that carrots have a lot of vitamin A so be careful about how often you give this treat.

Does your dog laugh at vegetables like mine does? Take a trip to the butcher and pick up a marrow bone for the pupp. Make sure it is long enough that the dogs bottom jaw can’t slip through, or ask the butcher to cut the bone along the length the avoid any mishaps

Don’t forget about your Kong!! Having the right strength and size Kong for your dog is always the best. Find what your dog likes best and keep switching it up! When you find a few combos your dog likes, don’t be afraid to be creative; Radar’s favorite is apple and tuna with the crumbs from her treat bags sprinkled on top, freeze it. Freezing your fillings will help it last longer and change the flavour to your dog and has the added bonus of helping to keep cool in the summer! Make sure you always fully supervise your dog the first time you give them something to chew, particularly if you don’t know his or her chew strength and style yet.

One or two of these chewing options paired with a long walk before leaving the house will help protect your base boards and keep your dog-o relaxed.

Bogert park has two parking lots and a back entrance. It shares its property with an indoor arena and a basketball court and has two Jungle Jim’s connected by a bridge, a splash pad and wide open fields. 

This park is a little more popular though so you do have to be on the lookout for other dogs on and off leash. If you’re in the back corner you’ll have to be extra careful as there is a fourth hidden entrance that comes out of the brush so dogs can come from out of nowhere off-leash.