How to keep your dog busy and decrease anxiety.

Below is a list of easy do it yourself interactive toys and games :):

1.Put treats or kibble in the bottom of a cupcake or muffin pan. Then cover the muffin space with a tennis ball.

2.Take a big beach towel down and wrap treats in the middle of it and wrap them up so that the dog has to unfold the towel to get to them.

3.Take a paper towel or TP roles, punch holes in them, then fold the ends closed with some tape and let the pup work to get the kibble or treat out.

4.Have the pup search for the stuffed food toy - Kong, Bento Ball, etc

5.Take a shaggy bath matt and hide kibble treats in it creating a game similar to the snuffle mat.

6.Recycling is great to use for a buried treasure box. Take an old cereal box, cut holes in it, throw some treat in and tape it shut. Let your dog work to get the treats out.

7.Or find a box in the recycling and add crumbled paper to it filling it full. Then hide the kibble and treats underneath.

8.The Find it game. Just scatter kibble, let them sniff and find each bit. Slowly hide the treats or kibble in more challenging locations.

9.T-shirt wrapped an empty water bottle. Dogs love the crinkle. Milk jugs work great too.

10.Make a rope tug toy from old socks by braiding them together.

11.Take an old towel and make a knot out of it for a tug toy or one to toss and retrieve.

12.Take a butter dish or small to medium bowl/dish of recycling. Flip it over so that the inside of the bowl/dish is upside down. Put a treat underneath for your pup to try to get too.

13.Make some pupsicles. If you have a popsicle tray, fill them with water. Then drop treats and kibble into the water to freeze altogether. You can even put a bully stick in the popsicle for the handle. And if you don’t have a popsicle tray, use a small cup or mug or tupperware tray. Be sure to supervise large pieces of ice as dogs can damage their teeth.

14.Empty peanut butter jars are a great way to keep your dog entertained without even having to stuff a Kong.

15.Make an obstacle course for the pup to have to figure out how to walk through for a treat reward. The obstacles can be made from furniture, laundry pins, couch cushions, etc.

16.Play a game of Hide and Seek.

17.Play the Three Cup or Shell Game with your dog.

18.Make your own adventure box. Take a large cardboard box and cut several holes in it. Stuff another box with pre-cut holes inside it that contains a high value smelly chewy or treat.