All thanks to Chewy and PetSmart, they have helped me prevent Beau from destroying my apartment! With Chewy’s fast shipping service, and PetSmart’s price matching products, we are very happy when purchasing new chews, treats and toys.
Beau is an extremely tough chewer, meaning he can destroy that cute plush toy in 10 seconds. He is also very picky in texture, and does not like tough, rubber toys. So, how do we manage to keep him occupied?! see below for his current favorites that have lasted more for weeks!
Himalayan Dog Chew
During my first couple of weeks with Beau, I realized he would scarf down level 2-4 chews at an unsafe pace. An employee from PetSmart recommended Himalayan Dog Chews since her own Australian Shepherd loves them. These are AMAZING! Since Beau was growing rather quickly, I started buying the 45 lbs. bag at 5 months. Now that he is 7 months old, he can make the 65 lb. bag last for a month. Once he gets the chew down to an ice cube size, I plop the cube in a cup of water for 10 minutes, microwave it on high for 45 seconds, and voila! It’s another puff chew for him to enjoy. I would highly recommend these if you need an edible chew to keep your fur baby busy for hours. The price varies on size and quantity, but Chewy always has the best bargains!
Deer Antler Chew
Beau’s second favorite chew is the medium-sized deer antler. He loves the marrow of the antler, and will chew on this for HOURS. This lasts longer than the Himalayan chews, and takes quite some time to get to the core. One trick I use for really chewed antlers is slabbing on some peanut butter in the center, freeze it for an hour or two, and it’s interesting again! This chew will cost more depending on the brand and size, but will last a lot longer than plush or rubber toys.
KONG
This brand is very popular for durability and brain stimulation. Although Beau does not like rubber toys, he will enjoy his KONG if there’s an incentive inside. I usually like to cut up apples and put them in the kong on the left. It typically last 15 minutes, but could last longer if I freeze blueberries with yogurt or bits of kibble with peanut butter. The second kong to the right is perfect for feeding time, or freezing yogurt or other kinds of mixed recipes in the open ridges. There are a ton of recipes you can make depending on your dog’s dietary needs, I will post some in the Kong Recipes tab to check out!
At the end of the day, I have learned that copious amounts of exercise and playtime reduces Beau’s anxiety and need to chew. Referring back to his introduction, as an Australian Shepherd and Cattle Mix, he has double the energy. Beau has gone through so many toys but these will remain his true favorites for now. If you have any other chews or toys that your fur baby enjoys, let me know in the comments below!
Cindy Ramirez 