Top Treat Toys for Dogs

Kong

The Kong ball is probably one of the most popular treat toys out there. You can stuff pretty much anything in there, and in summer, you can freeze the fillings to help cool your pup down too. Try stuffing the Kong ball with some scrambled egg and cheese or yoghurt and fruit bits. Minced meat and even raw meat work well too. The ideas here are endless.

Snoop and Nook Balls

The Snoop and Nook ball combo is one of our all-time favourite interactive treat-dispensing toys. It’s a heck of a challenge for dogs to separate the two balls from each other, so fill the big ball with something your furry friend really loves. This will give them the enthusiasm to dig the little Nook ball out of the Snoop ball. The balls can also be used separately. The Snoop ball is excellent for larger treats and kibbles, while the Nook is suitable for soft stuffing like peanut butter or yoghurt.

Flavorit Bones

We love the range from Petqwerks! But the brand is famous for more than just their Flip Sticks. They also make Flavorit Bones, which are great for dogs with powerful jaws. Try spreading some peanut butter over the indents of the toy to keep your pup entertained for hours on end.

Bionic Ball

Outward Hound is a brand synonymous with hours of fun for dogs. The Bionic Ball is one of the best treat toys out there since it’s ideal for soft fillings. These balls come available in various sizes, so there’s one for every jaw size out there. We like the Bionic because it’s quick and easy to get ready and doubles up as a regular toy once your pup has enjoyed the filling.

K9 Connectables

We’ve been raving about K9 Connectables since 2019 and can honestly say that it’s still one of our absolute favourite. It’s also one of the most challenging toys on the market, so if you own a smarty paws, this is an ideal fit! These toys are cleverly designed, probing your dog to use its instincts to hunt and work for food. As your dog unlocks and disconnects the pieces of these toys, they gain access to hidden treats! The Connectables come available in various options, catering for treat,  dental, and mental stimulation needs.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of innovative treat toys on the market to keep your pet entertained while having their munchy needs met as well. Go ahead and spoil your pet with any one of these goodies to ensure they’re staying warm and engaged throughout the chilly season!

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How to pick the right dog treats

Giving your dog a treat is one of the best ways to keep them encouraged during training. Here’s a summary of what to keep in mind when you hit the shops to buy some tasty treats for your dog:

Choose fast-eating treats

Dogs have super short attention spans. This means you need dog treats that’ll spike your fluff ball’s interest. On average, you’ll train your dog for 10-15 minutes at a time, during which time you’ll offer numerous rewards. Pick something your dog can wolf down quickly to avoid interrupting the training session.

And keep them small

Small treats are ideal if you want to keep the training flowing and moving along without interruptions. If your dog adores large biscuits, break them up into smaller pieces before training starts. By keeping the treats small, you’re also ensuring that your pup isn’t consuming too many calories.

Pick the soft and smelly ones

Soft (moist) treats are great for training because they’re easy to eat and often have a more alluring smell for dogs. You might not be impressed by the scent of “duck flavoured bites”, but Fido sure will be. Dog treats with more pungent smells are also great if you’re training your dog in a loud environment or distracting location as they’ll keep your dog focused and interested.

Offer some variety

Dogs, just like humans, get bored of the same thing. If you see your dog’s motivation dwindling, try changing things up. Try using a mix of three or four different treats during training sessions to help keep things interesting.

Final thoughts

If you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place after trying every store-bought treat out there without luck, we recommend giving Nandi Treats a shot. These treats are made with South African dogs in mind and contain only top-quality ingredients that’ll keep your dog interested and nourished throughout training sessions!

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A pet bowl for every taste and budget

You basically have to decide between 6 options when setting out to purchase a bow for fido, which includes plastic, stainless steel and elevated models. Here’s a rundown of what each is good for and which pet it’ll suit best.

The plastic pet bowl

Plastic bowls are cheap and generally quite rugged. But by rugged, we only mean that they won’t easily break if they’re dropped. If you have a dog that loves chewing and scratching, however, this might not be the ideal option.

Stainless steel bowls

When it comes to hygiene and durability, stainless steel dog bowls almost always take the crown. As long as you invest in a bowl that comes with a silicone “skid-free” base, your dog also shouldn’t be able to paw the bowl around too much. The stainless steel pet bowl is more expensive than the plastic option, but it definitely provides great value for money.

Elevated bowls

Elevated dog bowls stand raised off the floor and might be handy for pets that have digestive issues since it allows them to eat slower and swallow their food more easily. These bowls are also great for large breeds since it provides them with a more comfortable dining option, but of course, this isn’t the cheapest dog bowl out there.

Slow feeding dog bowls

Slow feeders are great for greedy pets since it allows them to slow down their munching madness. Dogs that eat too fast are prone to digestive problems and bloating, and if you’ve got a greedy little pup, this might be the ideal pet bowl to invest in.

The interactive pet bowl

Who knew that pet bowls could actually provide your furry friend with some entertainment? The Rogz Tumbler, for example, is a great way to stimulate your dog’s intellect while filling his tummy at the same time. The Rogz Tumbler comes with 3 different release setting for different levels of feeding and learning and acts as a slow feeder to prevent your dog from eating too fast.

Anti-bug bowls

If you’re tired of seeing your dog’s bowl filled with creepy crawlies and ants, it might be wise to invest in an anti-bug pet bowl with an anti-bu moat. The moat around the bowl is filled with water to effectively keep the bugs at bay and prevent the idea of your pet sharing his or her food with household pests.

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Because not all dogs are the same, you have to be very careful when choosing a walking aid, something that benefits you and your four-legged companion. Some of these dog walking products will make sense to your dog while others might a complete waste of time or perhaps even have detrimental effects.

We’re not about to tell you how to train your dog. We’re simply pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of some lead systems out there. So without putting it off any longer, let’s dive right into it!

Options for dog walking products

1. The basic collar and lead

Perhaps this is the most conventional of all the dog walking products and it also has a bunch of advantages. The collar and lead system is widely available, convenient and super cost-effective. Rogz, for instance, offers a wide variety of colours and sizes, plus it’s a proudly South African organisation.

The downside of this option is the injury it can potentially place on your dog’s neck if it isn’t used correctly. This becomes even more dangerous if you’ve got a dog that loves pulling on the lead.

2. Dog harness systems

Dog harnesses work well for a lot of dogs because the pressure isn’t placed on the neck but is instead placed across the back or around the chest. We like these dog walking products because they allow for a bit more control over particularly excitable dogs that love pulling on the lead.

The cons of these products are that the amount of control you have is limited and won’t help or dogs with behavioural issues. Also, using harnesses on smaller breeds are tricky and not always the best idea.

Halti Head Harness System

Halti Head Collars were designed by Dr Robert Mugford to assist in the training and management of dogs that pull too hard on their leashes and pooches that are a little more difficult to control. These collars look a lot like the ones you use to lead a horse around, and yes, some people still confuse it with a muzzle, but it’s definitely not a muzzle. Halti head collars provide better control around your dog’s head because it reduces pulling. It’s almost like “power steering”, but just for your dog.

Of course, like with all things man-made, there are some drawbacks to this product. Getting the collar fitted correctly can be a battle in itself and it’ll take a while for your dog to get used to it.

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We’ve tried and tested dozens of dog beds to identify the best in the business.

While most pet beds are either comfy or stylish, the Hills Dream Maker Pillow range is everything your pooch could ever need. It looks great, feels great, and offers optimal comfort for your dog during nap time.

About the Hills Dream Maker Pillow

These pet beds come available in different sizes and three gorgeous colours to match any home interior. The material used to manufacture the product is durable plus the cover is fitted with a zip, so bonus points for easy on-off when you have to wash it! We love these pillows because they’re even big enough to accommodate two dogs at the same time.

Why this is a great dog pillow

We love the Dream Maker pillow, and if you’re not sure if you will, here are some of the things that really stand out about this pillow.

• Comes available in small and large sizes
• Available in three amazing colour options
• Looks stylish while also offering optimal comfort for your dog
• Comes with a zip for easy on-and-off on laundry day
• Made with durable yet breathable material, making it ideal for summer and winter
• The large bed is ideal for bigger dogs that love stretching out before and after a nap

Where to find it

The Hills Dream Maker Pillow can be bought from any good vet in South Africa, but each year, Hills runs a campaign that lets you score one for free when purchasing any two big bags (9.5 to 13kgs) of Hills Canine Food including Science Plan, Ideal Balance and Prescription Diet. The promotion usually runs during the months of July and August, while stocks last.

To find out where your nearest stockist is located, pop a mail over to infoza@hillspet.com or visit their website for details.

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What is K9 Connectables?

Well, this part is actually cool. These toys are cleverly designed, probing your dog to use its natural instincts to hunt and work for food. As your dog unlocks and disconnects the pieces of these toys, they gain access to hidden treats! These interactive toys can be stuffed with treats or smeared with peanut butter, and if your pooch has the brain power required, it can unlock the hidden yummies inside.

Unboxing

One of the first things we noticed when we opened our pack of K9 Connectables was quality and durability. Obviously, dog toys are not indestructible, but these feel pretty strong and will most likely endure a lot of rough and tumble from an active dog. It also helps that the toys come available in funky colours, which make them more visually appealing.

‘The Original’ K9 Connectables looks like to interconnected balls that are easy to throw. There’s also ‘The Dentist’ which are a bit bigger than the original and work hard to maintain dental health. We also checked out ‘The Tech Bone’, which is a bone-shaped toy that connects to both of the other versions we just mentioned.

Product in action

Even though we have pretty clever dogs (we’re sure we’re not being bias here), our furry friends really had to think about what to do with the Connectables. Each unit has its own level of difficulty, but it’s up to you. While you’re assembling the toys, you can click them in once for an easy puzzle, twice for medium, and three times for hard. The Tech Bone has four settings, but we thought it was a little too much for even the smartest of beagles to handle.

We love the K9 Connectables because they offer something that most other interactive toys don’t: they keep your dog focused on the prize. Plus, even on the easy setting, it’s still a challenge for dogs, which is exactly what you want and need. We’d recommend them any day for their great ability to stimulate dogs on a mental and physical level.

These toys are made from a material called TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), which is a very soft kind of plastic that happens to be super durable. The other good thing is that they’re nontoxic and BPA free, so they tick all the right boxes.

Although they don’t come cheap, we reckon the K9 Connectables offer great value for money and a mental challenge you won’t be able to put a price on!

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