Keeping your CKCS busy is essential for effective training. It facilitates easier crate training, lessens destructive behaviors like chewing on shoes & furniture, eases teething discomfort, and provides a distraction from nipping or barking. It's best to have a toolkit of options on hand when training a puppy and then switching things up to keep things interesting.

This may seem like a big list, but it will likely take some trial and error to determine which methods will work for your puppy. Something they didn't love? Donate any stuff your puppy doesn't use or love to your neighborhood animal shelter so they can be given to puppies in need.

Here is the list of supplies we keep on hand::

CRATE TRAINING - Making the crate or pen somewhere your puppy likes to go is vital to crate training. It should be a safe area and provide some stimulation to cut down on boredom, barking, and whining. Feeding your puppy in the crate, while also offering stimulating treats, is one simple method to make that happen. Look for durable items that can be offered unattended when shopping for crate training items. Avoid anything that could choke your puppy (for example puzzle pieces or small toys), and never utilize rawhide (inside our outside of the crate). Here are our best recommendations on Amazon:

• STUFFED KONG – The Kong is a popular crate training chew toy. Although it can get messy, we prefer to fill them with different appetizing objects to have the puppy work for their food and amuse themselves in the crate. The size Kong you choose will depend on the size puppy. With Cavaliers, you should always start with the puppy size and only move up in size once your puppy has mastered or outgrown that size. The Kong Basic Puppy, Kong Puppy Tire & Kong Puppy Binkie are some of our favorite puppy Kongs. Again, all of these are stuffable. We'll share some of our favorite Kong stuffing recipes in a future post. 
• WEST PAW TOYS - West Paw is the manufacturer of two of our favorite toys. The first is Qwizl, which we adore for crate training (size small for this breed). Put some carrot sticks, apple slices, or use peanut butter (in small doses) to stick kibble inside. Toppl is another great option. Start with a single piece and then work to combining two pieces to create a great puppy puzzle for the crate. See more below.
• NYLABONE: This brand offers a range of items. Buying the softer puppy version is crucial for small-breed puppies. This puppy variety pack appeals to us because it enables you to determine your pooch's preferred flavor and style. Please be aware that one of these is an edible bone, and we only use it under supervision.
• LICK MATS – Lick mats are intended to calm dogs who use licking to relieve anxiety and to serve as a challenge for dogs to obtain food. Some of our dogs adore them, while others hardly care. We've discovered that freezing them and looking for healthier items to spread on them while crate training works best because a dog's stomach being full of sugary peanut butter is not a wonderful decision for a puppy in a crate because digestive problems may arise. We will provide a few lick-mat recipes related to Kong stuffing in the post. When we aren't home, we don't leave these in the crate because we've read that some dogs try to rip apart or eat the real toy (although our dogs have never tried that).

GENERAL CHEWING – Dogs chew for various reasons, such as boredom and teething. Determining the cause of your dog's chewing may assist you in selecting the ideal toy or item to reduce or eliminate the need to chew personal items. Additionally, increasing activity and mental stimulation through training is always the greatest remedy if your dog is just bored. These are a few of our preferred options for cerebral stimulation and teething:

• YAK CHEWS – These all-natural chews, which are actually hard cheese, are relatively new to the world of dog treats. If you are fortunate enough to have a dog who likes these, a single chew will frequently keep a puppy occupied for days and days. They are completely digestable, odorless, and carpet-safe. But you must keep an eye on your puppy while using them and take them away when they get too little. But don't worry; once the chew is small and poses a choking risk, you can soak them in water for a few hours, microwave them for a minute (or till it puffs up) and feed the resulting treat to your dog (once cooled).  
• BULLY STICKS – Bully sticks are a favorite among our dogs and young puppies. While giving your puppy bully sticks, you should always keep an eye on him or her, but this particular brand is sure to be a hit. Have a stick available for each dog in the house to avoid conflicts and resource guarding. Some individuals use stick holders to prolong the life of bully sticks and lessen the risk of choking. We do not leave bully sticks unattended in crates due to choking hazards. 
• TUG-A-JUG – This won't help with teething, but will aid with boredom and stimulation. The puppies will amuse themselves for hours in order to obtain a few treats. Puppies may beed to watch an older dog to get the hang of it, but if you have an only dog, help your puppy get a few goodies and they'll quickly figure it out.  Small kibble pieces or single ingredient treats are best to start with because they are simpler for novices to get out.
• ​TOPPL – Mentioned above, this is West Paw Toys' second product that we adore. We like using it as a snack and then as a puzzle. Get the tiny one for a puppy, then if they like it, go for the large one to make a treat puzzle for an older dog. Some fantastic usage examples are provided on their Amazon page for this toy!
• EARTH ANIMAL NO HIDES – Our dogs absolutely adore this healthy, digestible rawhide substitute that we found in our neighborhood pet store. For a quick treat, we use a single stick, and for extended chewing, we use a 4"size stick. Sadly, the local price is quite high, so we looked on Amazon and are currently purchasing in large quantities. In bulk buying, you can purchase 4" chews for less than $5 each and single sticks for less than $1 each. We'll always update this blog post with the most affordable bulk choice for our two favorite tastes (salmon & chicken). The other flavors- peanut butter, beef, & venison are also delicious, but we mostly use peanut butter for a lot of other goodies (like stuffing for Kong toys and lick mats), and we've discovered that beef may leave stains on carpet & animal fur. Check the following links:

• ​Best bulk for single sticks (chicken)Best bulk for single stick (salmon) (not currently a great price)
• Best bulk for 4" chews (chicken)
• Best bulk for 4" chews (salmon) (best bulk price)

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TRAINING TREATS – Training your puppy is fantastic because it stimulates the mind and helps control undesirable behaviors, but also strengthens the bond between you and the puppy. The secret to successful training is to determine a reward that's meaningful to your puppy. For most pups. that's treats. Many dog treats include unhealthy substances and other items that could hurt your puppy, so please only train with high quality (preferably single ingredient) treats. 
 
Try several of these treats to find one your puppy truly appreciates. Here are some of our much-loved treats, but don't be shy about trying other homemade goodies like deli meat, ground beef, etc.
 

• Sojo's Freeze Dried Meat Treats – These treats have just one ingredient and are easy to break up for little puppies. To determine your dog's preference, try a sample pack. Due to their size & basic ingredients (which don't go bad if left open), these are our "go-to" training goodies. Having said that, we also need variety; thus, the others listed below are also advised.
  
  
• Zuke's Mini Natural Dog Treats – These wholesome ingredients have great size and won't break in your pocket or training pouch. The only drawback is that they smell a little, but maybe that's why our dogs adore them so much! We advise purchasing the sample pack of multiple flavors to determine your puppy's preferred flavor

 

• ​Stella & Chewy Treats – You may test out a variety of single-ingredient treats from this renowned manufacturer on your puppy for training purposes. Our older dogs adore the Carnivore Crunch, but because of their size, they might be trickier to train.

 

• Little Jacks Small Dog Training Treats –  These are the least nutritious of the goodies we provide, yet they are still superior to many commercial treats. Given that, these are excellent for hiding medicines, providing potty training, etc. We do not use these when we want to give out several treats.

Although the focus of this post has been on pups, we use every product here for our adult dogs too — we just size up on some Kong-style toys and don't cut the goodies in half! Best wishes on keeping your dog busy.

WANT TO LEARN MORE - See our other post related to this topic on WORKING FOR FOOD.

We like using the Kong to train and entertain puppies. Read more about Kongs and training here.

Some of our puppy owners are unsure of how to utilize the Kong and specifically pique a puppy's interest in playing with it. We also hope to avoid owners using the unhealthy options for Kong stuffing offered in pet stores.

Here are a few basic tips and recipes to get you started on Kong stuffing, and to give you the confidence to start developing your own recipes.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS:

• Begin by using your pet's own food in the Kong. When the dog is hungry and eager to work for his or her food, provide the Kong BEFORE any meal. This aids with the puppy's conceptualization. You might want to start with high-quality kibble in the Kong if you feed soft food.

• Once your puppy has a basic understanding of the idea of struggling to retrieve his or her food from the Kong, make it more challenging by inserting an edible plug for them to figure out before getting the food. Depending on the size of your Kong, you might want to try a blueberry, some peanut butter, some cheese, or even a reward that you can shape, like Little Jacks Dog Training Treats. 

• Once your puppy has mastered the fundamentals of a Kong, you may start getting more inventive. Use the following to maintain your dog's interest:

• Place soft food, kibble, a reward, and a plug, such as a peanut butter, in layers on the Kong.
• To make your dog work even harder to release the food, think about freezing the Kong. Try using a freezable plug and loading it with loose kibble if your dog appears to be frustrated (check the recipes below).
• To persuade your dog to work to release the treat, place their favorite treat at the bottom of the Kong.

SHOPPING LIST:

• A Kong – We suggest the Kong Puppy Binkie for new puppies because they are smaller & softer for puppy teeth. We recommend a typical Small Kong for dogs up to 20 lbs. and a Medium Kong for dogs over 20 lbs. or for those intending to utilize this as a meal replacement for adult Cavaliers.
• Have a look at your leftovers to see whether they could be used to create a tasty-filled Kong for tomorrow.
• You don't need all of these items, but you'll want a mix of dry goods and healthy foods that are "mashable" to layer your Kong:
  • High Quality Kibble - See our post on PawTree Kibble or what to feed your dog.
  • Soft Food - Examples such as homemade puppy loaf, Ollie fresh delivery or even a high quality (low sugar) baby food can work here. 
  • Single ingredient treats
  • Other mashable stuffings based on your dog's preferences. Greek yogurt is the best, but any food that is deemed suitable for dogs will do. Natural peanut butter is a good option (look for low sugar & avoid any sugar substitutes, which can be harmful to dogs), as are non-processed cheese, bananas, eggs, blueberries, bone broth & non-pasteurized cheese.

 
RECIPES: 

1. Beginner - Plug the Kong's bottom hole if necessary. Put dry kibble inside. Add a small spoonful of any of the following to the top: mashed sweet potato, mashed banana, mashed yogurt mixed with peanut butter, or a few small blueberries. Freeze to make it more difficult.
2. Intermediate or Advanced - If necessary, plug the Kong's bottom hole. Fill with any of the following:
   1. Carrot and/or zucchini shreds. Combine with sweet potato mash. Add peanut butter or peanut butter and yogurt as a garnish. Increase the difficulty by freezing.
   2. Put a few of your favorite snacks in the Kong's bottom. Add mixed dry and wet kibble on top. Add peanut butter or banana mashed up to fill the plug. Increase the difficulty by freezing.
   3. Combine fresh fruit, such as strawberries or blueberries, with yogurt. Fill the Kong's bottom and edges. Add more kibble to the empty slot. To stick kibble, roll it. Increase the difficulty by freezing.
   4. Fill the bottom of the Kong with shredded chicken or turkey, then add pumpkin (not pie filling) and plug it with a soft goodie. Combine frozen beef and pumpkin for a more difficult challenge.
   5. Firmly fill the Kong's bottom. Bone broth and kibble should be added. Freeze. Another liquid choice is raw goat milk.

These are only a few suggestions to assist you in Kong stuffing.  Don't be scared to try out several recipes to identify a few personal favorites for your CKCS. Just be mindful of the extra calories and sugar, and think about giving your dog's stuffed Kong when ensuring they have a balanced diet.

Have a preferred Kong recipe? Please share it with us in the comments!

If you're having trouble with crate training, dealing with an overactive pup, or simply trying to alleviate puppy boredom, this blog post is a must-read!

Keeping dogs mentally stimulated is a key to their overall well-being and trainability, and making them work for food is an easy way to provide this stimulation! By replacing the traditional food bowl and introducing food dispensing toys, you can give your puppy a fun and engaging challenge. This approach is especially helpful for fast eaters, puppies with separation anxiety, and those who need in-crate entertainment. 

Oh, and these are fantastic for retreating to your room in peace for a long enough period of time if you haven't had any "intimate time" since getting your dog… (sorry, it had to be mentioned).

EASY AMUSEMENT: SNUFFLE MATS & SLOW FEEDERS

Snuffle mats are common tools used by breeders to facilitate weaning and playtime for puppies. Work up to serving a full dinner by beginning by concealing some top-value treats in this mat. High-quality kibble can be placed on the mat to limit your dog's eating, keep them occupied in a crate or pen and teach your puppy or dog to hunt for food. The majority of LierChonPoo dogs & puppies have experienced one of these possibilities:

Small Snuffle Mat: This mat is portable and reasonably priced. Both puppies and adults can use it.

Medium Snuffle and Play Mat: We adore this medium mat since it has several areas to hide meals and treats for larger breeds, households with multiple little dogs, or an entire litter. We also appreciate the simple washing and suggest doing so once a week.

Slow feeders: Although similar to snuffle mats, slow feeders are intended to slow down a rapid eater and do not provide the same stimulation level. You can maximize the slow feeder's fun value by combining your kibble with top-quality wet food that takes a lot longer to consume when distributed on the feeder's walls.

LEVEL 2: SNOOPS

Snoops are marketed as an interactive treat dispensers, but we frequently use them as bowls to feed & occupy puppies by filling them with a combination of kibble and other food. Due to their simpler manipulation by the puppy, we start snoops before feeding in Kongs. You can buy the smiley face insert to make it more challenging, but we've found it's simpler to stuff food and bulkier parts into the hole to increase the difficulty. To introduce these, we will combine a little kibble with a few high-value treats. Once the dog is familiar, we'll switch out the rewards for chunkier bits of cooked chicken or jerky that are harder to get to. The difficulty can be raised by filling the Hole in the bottom with treats or kibble or adding items like peanut butter or plain yogurt inside. We appreciate that Snoops are covered in mint oil to help keep breath fresh and that they can be put in the dishwasher on the top rack. Our young dogs will play with these for twenty to thirty minutes, providing us with times as we tidy up around them, run errands, etc.

Level 3: KONGS 

Possibly the Kong is the most well-liked "work for food" toy available. In order to keep pups clean & stuff, you should start them off with the little binkie Kong and purchase the multi-pack. Go up to the medium as your puppy develops and matures (or to feed complete meals). We have written a full blog post HERE about stuffing the Kong from the simplest to the most complex. We will reiterate that the Kong is an excellent tool for rewarding and entertaining puppies in crates, as well as for making them work for their food.

Level 4: PUZZLES & INTERACTIVE TOYS

It is uncommon for us to serve an entire meal in one of theses toys or puzzles, but it is possible if you give your dog a high-calorie kibble like PawTree.

Although our dogs love the Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy & the Tug-A-Jug, we utilize them sparingly because they can be challenging to clean and are truly only appropriate for kibble or treats. Depending on how the dog learns to give the treats, they may also be noisy.
Again, if you use these frequently, ensure you only use top-quality treats with one component and account for these calories to prevent your puppy or dog from becoming overweight.

Puzzle Toys are entertaining as well, but with certain cautions. With these kinds of toys, you MUST watch over dogs & puppies because the majority of them feature bits that, if handled carelessly, can be chewed and even eaten. They can be challenging to clean as well.

Lick Mats: Our pups and dogs also love these well-liked lick mats. Typically, we only use these on occasions when we want to treat and amuse the dogs for a while. If you're going to use these mats effectively, you must discover a mixture to distribute on the mat that is nutritious and tempting to your dog. Various ideas are covered in the Kong stuffing section also apply here.

For our dogs, we take it a step further and store these fully prepared in the freezer: natural peanut butter combined with plain greek yogurt, pureed pumpkin mixed with peanut butter or yogurt, Ollie dog food spread & re-frozen, or Ollie mixed with yogurt.

We hope you found this post helpful and will let us know what is effective and what doesn't.
Remember that any toy or bowl that doesn't support your pet's entertainment can be donated to your neighborhood shelter for a needy dog, so trying new things is never a waste. Please also check out our post on keeping your pup occupied!

We were thrilled to discover that Brandon - star of the show Lucky Dog and author of Lucky Dog Sessions: Train Your Pooches in 7 Days, now teaches his own dog-training class on MasterClass. If you're unaware of MasterClass, it's a fantastic service where you can take courses on various subjects. Serena Williams taught us how to play tennis, and Gordon Ramsey taught us how to cook. Both classes were excellent, but the opportunity to witness Brandon McMillan teach his dogs LIVE was fantastic. Brandon explains his straightforward and efficient training method to help you build confidence and control with your dog in fifteen video lessons that last about three hours together.

MasterClass has a 30-day money-back policy and charges $15 per month. We simply can't suggest this enough for all new puppy owners wondering how to raise the ideal companion. If you decide to give it a shot, we'd love to hear your thoughts.