We are experimenting with a chew that will keep Brody entertained for car trips. Car trips he cries and howls when he is not occupied. Initially tried these raw hide type chews which keep him occupied for a good period but worried about them being a choking hazard. We are experimenting with Kongs at the moment so wondering if that is a better solution. Wondered what you guys think? Cheers Stu
Should add was put off by Kongs due to the mess it could make in the back of the car. Should add he is in the boot with dog guard and dividers.
Kongs are definitely the safest option and I don't find them messy at all. We have Labradors after all You may wish to use less smelly fillings for car trips. The thought of being in a small space with a dog and a sardine kong isn't pleasant!
I agree I am also weary of the risks of choking and internal blockages from swallowing big chunks of rawhide. I've decided that is depends on the product. I don't like the folded, rolled or pressed rawhide chews at all (like those in a bone shape etc). Just too thick, and I see a big risk in swallowing a big chunk. But I've had a year of trouble free enjoyment of the Hi-Life Dental Chews (spearmint flavour or regular) (uk). Pretty cheap too. I wasn't sure Gemma would go for the spearmint but really there is nothing she won't eat given the chance and we get minty breath as a bonus I like those because they are just big, flat strips of a rawhide. I guess nothing is risk free, but they just don't worry me the same as other products might, because even if she pulls off a big piece, it's a flat, already well moistened and softened piece rather than a huge chunk.
Bully sticks are a pretty safe chew. They don't exactly smell like roses though. And they won't last as long as rawhide. As far as rawhide goes if you can get pig skin rawhide it's far better than cow skin. The cow skin is not very digestible (not broken down much or else very slowly) whereas the pig skin ones are pretty much completely digested and broken down. There's been research on this showing the above. If you freeze beef mince in a Kong I bet that'd be a winner. Safe and non smelly and it'd last for a while into the trip.
We bought them without thinking, as I remember family friend dogs having them with no issues. Now that we are introducing Kongs, think i really answered my own question as it might be the safer option. We have large rawhide chews and smaller and both of seem to think the other is better! I guess if i have doubts, i have answered my question Snow bunny - Your right about the mess. Car is supposed to be the "dog car" yet i am still in vain hope that it might remain clean ... what an idiot! this was demonstrated yesterday with our first lake trip John - Will google those chews as not sure i have seen over here in Germany, so might need to shop online. Of course, only doing it for the minty breath as a better alternative than puppy breath Thanks for the replies!
Hi Stu, if you can't source the Hi-Life chews in Germany I am reasonably sure you will find an identical product under a different brand. I was watching a US dog training DVD just last week and they whipped out an identical chew. Nothing flash, fancy just simple flat, thin strips of rawhide. That's about as basic as it gets and I bet they turn up everywhere under one name or another. Oberon that's very interesting re cow vs pig, thanks for sharing. I just checked the label of the hi-life jar and it doesn't say Ingredients: Rawhide 100% humph. But still, the thickness of them (or lack of) keeps me at ease.
I was going to say bully sticks, but my concern in this context is that it's for in the car. If you hit a bump or had to slam on the brakes etc with something like that in his mouth, it could cause damage. I'd stick to kongs for the car and save the raw hide and bully sticks etc for when you're at home.
Stu, I live in Germany too and found Kalbsziemer (like bully sticks, but made from calf and thus more easily chewed and digestible) very good for puppies and young dogs. You can order them online, or find them in good pet stores.
Thanks all for the replies. Will take a look for the Hi-life (found them on amazon and we are back in the UK in July), and Karen the Kalbsziemer. We have a Fressnapf (our German pet store) all over the place so will take a look in them for both. Might see how he chews them both to see how they end up. It is an interesting discussion, as you walk into the pet store and these things are all over the place but no warnings or anything on the packaging. I like the fact it keeps him occupied and at the moment, more so than the Kong. Largely i think down to his age and losing interest as the Kong is harder to get the contents out. The Kong he literally tears his play pen and crate apart, vet beds are all over the place and its chaos. He also needs some encouragement (even thawed ones) to really try and get the last of the contents out. I am playing with freezing and thawing to get a balance and give him something he can achieve at, if that makes sense. Frozen just seems to difficult at the moment. Tried the Kong today for the short drive (10min) to the park and wasn't a great success. Actually rolled to the other compartment of the divider On the way home was better, as empty some of the contents out. Removing these holes is an easy fix, and need to keep trying it. Funnily enough the Breeder told us to go with Cow hide rather than Pig as it was less fatty! In the end i would just like some choices with Kongs and chews and make sure we are giving him safe items to chew. Its a great discussion and love the replies. Cheers.
Can I put a bid in for the Antos chewy hedgehogs? Come in toothbrush or crocodile styles too but hedgehogs are our favourite. Good for dental hygeine too. May be worth considering but will add up cost wise if you are using them regularly. I buy a whole box of the large ones and they work out around £1.50 each including P&P (UK) http://malamutematters.co.uk/product/edwards-vegetable-hedgehog-box-30-large/ They are quite widely available, and do vary a bit in price. They also come in small med and large - different prices. We favour the large Hedgehogs can also be stuffed and frozen to make them last longer. And they don't smell like pizzles
When my dog was a pup, I had to work a little bit to get him "addicted" to kongs - but I managed it. And it's been a god send. I started with super smelly stuff in small kongs (so his tongue could reach the end). Largish bits of chicken and sardine (very messy ). Only once he was super keen did I move on to more boring stuff, then more boring stuff that was frozen. Now, I can stretch a tiny bit of kibble and stock to 5 or 6 kongs. It's great. Helps with all sorts of situations that could otherwise generate behaviour problems.
Jac those are quite amazing things! I like those! Julie this is what i slowly finding out that the Kong needs to have High Value in it. Yesterday was a frozen Banana and Chicken Kong and he finished it all. First time the contents were empty. I am planning the same trip to the park with him today, and will give this "super" kong a go
Ha ha tell me about it.... was reading some of the stuffed Kong recipes thinking WHAT?? You want to eat what??? ... Still debating whether to do Sardines as cant stand the smell of fish!
Hi Guys Do you just mash up a banana and put in kong then freeze it for few hours .Can puppy have this ?? Cheers
Lots of people do - mash fruit up with yoghurt and things like that. I think dogs love it. Although, I don't quite "get" feeding dogs fruit and so on - why would you feed a dog banana? It's just not something I would do. All that fruit sugar... Anyway, these days I use my dog's normal food in his kongs, although it's good to start off with exciting stuff - smelly meaty stuff, and save the boring not so smelly stuff until after they are well and truly addicted to kongs...
Hey Marie. I give him a very small piece of Banana, maybe a third into the puppy kong. I have just cut it up in to small chunks, and use with a portion of his kibble. I put some spoonfuls of yoghurt in and make sure some banana is sticking out so he has something to like, and freeze it. Hey Julie. For me i was looking at the recipes in the stuffed kong section to find something to stuff with a bit variety. I had tried with kibble and yoghurt, and he loses interest in the Kong. For the banana, he stays focused and finishes it. For me at least he goes crazy for Banana and reason i have used it to get him addicted to Kongs.
