This post is sponsored by Petmate® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about Petmate’s JW Hol-ee Gourmet™ line of interactive dog toys, but Tamara (Like) Camera only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Petmate™ is not responsible for the content of this article.
I was surprised to learn that about our own boisterous yet mellow girl, Athena. During fall and spring, I’m MUCH better about getting her out for her daily walks and hikes at our local dog park. There’s an excitement she gets even from me walking down the stairs from my office. She knows what it means! It means time with other dogs and nature. When we’re traveling or when it’s particularly hot and humid here, as well as icy (dangerous for the hikes, although I have gotten ice shoes), if too much time passes between these big walks/hikes, she gives up. She gives me a certain look on those mornings.
Now, don’t worry. Athena is plenty stimulated on non-park days. We have four acres, 11 chickens, a playful cat, and two kids. That said, during the school year, she gets lost in the shuffle. We obviously don’t want her roaming the four acres alone, although she’s plenty happy to do that (yikes), and she does get bummed when Cassidy leaves for work and I drop the kids at school. The cat tends to nap a lot during the day, the chickens don’t come out of their coop, and I work a lot.
That said, it’s up to me to make sure she’s happy and I take that seriously. Truth is, no matter how often we go to the dog park, there are going to be days we won’t go. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it snows, and sometimes the heat index is too much for both of us. Sometimes the car is in the shop or I’m waiting at home for a lens shipment. And sometimes, the dog park is closed for maintenance or goat landscaping (I kid you not) and it’s best to keep Athena home. During those days, I have found five ways to beat her boredom and make her happy! Ready to hear our dog boredom busters? Of course you are!
1 – The best one and Athena’s favorite – Enrich your dog’s life with the Petmate® JW® Hol-ee Gourmet™ line of interactive dog treat toys. How cool are these? (pictured above) Hol-ee Gourmet is pretty awesome – it’s a durable, rubber, two-in-one treat toy that encourages interactive and rewarding play. Also, it makes treats last longer! It’s available in three different fun designs – a turkey leg, a steak, and a peanut. They’re made with rubber and nylon. What you do is fill the outer Hol-ee shell with larger treats and you can also smear soft, spreadable treats (like peanut butter) on the inner nylon “bone.”
The dog toys are available in two sizes, and are high-quality and durable. They are intelligently designed to entertain your dog, stimulate his or her mind, and also withstand dog chewing. My dog can chew for hours without stopping!
2 – Play tug of war with your dog! This is one of my dog’s favorite activities. The best part is that you can attach a rope to your Petmate® Hol-ee Gourmet™ line of interactive dog treat toys. They are so versatile!
3 – Hide treats around the house or in your hands/pockets. This can be played anywhere too. They love “Guess Which Hand”.
4 – Change up your walking routine. The same route can get mundane. I like to take different trails, or reverse directions.
5 – Arrange a play date for your dog. My dog actually has a best friend!
Want to connect more? Of course you do! Follow JW Pet on Facebook and Twitter. Also follow Petmate on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube! I make all of my rounds for exciting products, news, giveaways, and much more.
Make sure you check out the amazing Hol-ee Gourmet page on Petmate.com. Right now you can use the coupon code: BLOGPAWS to get 15% off your purchase of any Hol-ee Gourmet toys. Make sure you take advantage of that awesome 15% off offer on your next trip to PetSmart, and pick up some dog toys!
Another wonderful opportunity right now is a giveaway on Petmate’s Facebook page here. Do not forget to enter that contest! Again, the link is right HERE. The winner will be picked September 15th!
Now, how do you beat boredom in your dog?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PetMate. The opinions and text are all mine.
Aw, I wish we could arrange a playdate for Elsa and Athena as I think they would get along just perfectly. But still love your tips and advice on how to beat boredom for dogs and will try a few of these for Elsa, too now 🙂
I wish that too! And now with Astro. They’d all sleep well that night!
I may have to give this a try to Bentley and Ella. Bentley likes chewing on EVERYTHING, so he would love this. As for #5, maybe you can bring Athena when you visit Colorado and we can have playdates.
Astro chews on everything and he’s only three months old but I’m not sure I can do years of it!
I feel like you can never be bored when you are such a cutie! These toys are awesome though!
I so want to set up a playdate for my pup! We play fetch everyday but I know he would love playing with these Petmate toys!
Those look like fun dog toys!
What cool toys. As you know, I only have cats. But I try to play with them. When they’ll let me.
Shakespeare has never met a toy that he couldn’t chew his way through, even when it states its impossible on the packaging, so I will have to get one of these for him and test it out. Athena is so cute 🙂
Could your dog be any cuter? I think Athena and Eddie would get along smashingly! Great ideas 🙂
We love this product and have them for our dog. He is chewing on one now and has a blast with it indoors. I like how sturdy it is, too. Your dog is adorable!