The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there … – “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, 1779 – 1863
Happy Holidays, friends!
I hope this finds you and yours well. Here on the wild, wild West Coast we are dodging wildfires, doing our best to stay safe and sane, helping a senior cat recover from a recent seizure, and remembering to laugh at life. More on all of that in another post 😉 …
Today I wanna talk about some positive things that we can all relate to: eating delicious goodies, de-stressing, and family fun!
Ok, that sounds really cheesy, but hear me out.
The holidays can be hectic in most homes. Families have freak-outs. Pets get stressed. We all need emotional and physical releases, right? So why not eat goodies, have fun, and de-stress all at the same time … Together?!?
That’s what we do in our dojo.
This short post serves to show you how to do just that! I know I can get wordy, but don’t worry; this will be a short post. There are some fun videos in here, so grab your pup, parrot, pussycat, or piglet and get ready to try something new!
“Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone.”
― Shannon L. Alder
We see them everywhere. Those plush, adorable, colorful stocking stuffers. They seem to be literally everywhere we look this time of year.
I have to admit; they are hard to pass up. We used to give our canine companion all kinds of stuffed toys for Christmas. Most of my clients and family offer them to their pups as well. There’s nothing inherently wrong with it, but it can pose a danger. No matter how adorable that stuffed dog toy is, chances are, some part of it will wind up inside your dog. Hopefully it will make it’s way out the other end.
But sometimes it doesn’t make it out.
Skip the Usual Stuffing.
I have a suggestion. This holiday season, instead of offering them the usual stuffed toy, consider offering your companion animals something REAL. -Something they would choose over and over again, if given the choice. Consider offering your animal companion something more natural, and more to their liking.
Stuff their stockings with a new treat this year!
The safest and healthiest option is to offer what your omnivore or carnivore really wants: Stuffed Body Parts.
You read that correctly. We offer body parts to our pets. 😉
Hear me out, before you get totally grossed out. Body Parts are Natural Chews. You can view some of the ones we use here: BODY PARTS (aka Natural Chews) . As they state, it’s nothing but the good stuff! No preservatives, salt, wheat, corn, or sugar! Nothing that has ever been on the continent of Asia. No rawhide. They are easily digestible and safe for all ages. And the animals absolutely love them!
But we don’t just offer those natural chews, willy nilly. We stuff and freeze them. It makes them last much longer, and it’s a tool that we use to modify behavior, prevent problem behaviors, and tap into their innate instinct to CHEW!
You can watch me quickly create one of these stuffed chew toys here:
- Prep time: 2 minutes
- Total time to make: 3 minutes
- Freeze time: 2 hours
- Time it takes most pups to eat it: 45 min – hour
- Win-win for everyone in our home and neighborhood 😉
If that video was too fast for you to see how to create these stuffed chews, here is another video of me making one, but with a Kong.
If you still have to get gifts or stocking stuffers for the animal companions in your life, consider skipping the toys filled with cotton stuffing. They are quickly and easily “disemboweled”. They often end up going in one end of the dog and end up (hopefully!) coming out the other.
In the pic below is one example of me coming home to see that Hocus Pocus had disemboweled her stuffed toys, beds, and other items when she was a wee lass. (a very common result from boredom and frustration). And of course, King Albert was there on standby watching the storm.
Now we know better, so we do better. 😉
“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. Eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway
Instead of offering toys filled with cotton or polyester stuffing, consider gifting them REAL, natural goodies such as organic raw bones, yummy natural high-protein treats, and stimulating puzzle toys and Kongs! They last much longer than the usual stuffed toy, and they encourage natural canine chewing and foraging behaviors.
The same goes for your feline family members. Cats are predators. Period. Portions of their natural diet consists of hard bones. Those lizards, birds, snakes, and frogs aren’t filled with air, folks. Even if your cat lives indoors, he/she still craves these things.
And they are healthy tools!
Bones clean tartar and help to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Since most indoor cats don’t have access to bones, veterinarians recommend them as a treat. But, be careful not to give your cat pork, chicken or fish bones. These could splinter and cause severe internal injures. Raw bones are also better than cooked ones, since they are less likely to splinter.
- Clearly this is an exaggeration, but cats DO love bones!
Tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to heart, kidney, and other serious chronic illnesses in cats. Many cats do not show obvious signs of discomfort until they’re in considerable pain. Don’t wait until your cat shows signs of distress to have his teeth checked out. Start now by offering them healthy, safe chew items. Always consult your feline veterinarian.
You can view Knox Zydeco enjoying a natural chew “toy” here:
You can also view Knox enjoying a raw bone in this video (here)!
Real Meat is Required.
I get it; the idea seems gross to most. Being a borderline vegan-vegetarian, I understand. But I used to be a zookeeper, so I am well desensitized to all of this. – Crocodiles, lions, tigers, komodos, and jaguars ate whole carcasses! It’s natural. Our feline family members may chill on our couches, but they are not far removed from their wild ancestors; they need these items in their diet. If you don’t believe me, check out what the experts have to say.
Tap Into Natural Behaviors!
If you are completely incapable of even considering the idea of offering stuffed body parts to your pets, at least consider offering them toys that tap into their natural instincts! I have written about this topic at great length before; cats need to have outlets to express their natural behaviors! If there’s a cat on your Christmas gift list, go for toys that stimulate his hunting instincts! Or how about a new stimulating scratching surface? You can also consider a toy that allows you to interact with him and gives him some exercise at the same time, like a laser beam toy (that always ends with a food reward) or a feather teaser like Da Bird.
Consider toys that stimulate their natural instincts!
Offer a toy that allows your kitty or ferret to chase and hunt! Offer a new “approved” scratching surface, window seat, or cat tower! Consider getting your cat a toy that allows you to interact with him or her, while giving your feline friend some exercise at the same time. If you need some ideas, HausPanther has a new 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Cats and their people!
This holiday season is an opportunity for you to give them this gift!
Feathered Friends!
Let’s not forget our feathered friends this holiday season! But don’t let those flirtatious faces and colorful feathers fool you. Parrots are not domesticated animals. Cats, dogs, and horses have been selectively bred for qualities that enable them to live more harmoniously among humans. Parrots are exotic, and by definition, are not a species indigenous to the U.S. Companion parrots have the same instinctual needs as their wild counterparts. Your parrot may live in a cage at home with you, but his mind and body are just as wild as the green-winged macaw that’s flying free in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Parrots bred in captivity have the same instinctive physical and behavioral needs of parrots living in the wild. Offering natural chews helps them to better adapt to life in captivity!
For the feathered family member, consider these “real” stocking suffers from our friends and colleagues at The Leather Elves:
Interactive Toys Are a Necessity!
For companion animals, and all exotic animals in captivity, toys are not a luxury, but a necessity. Interactive Toys are vital to their well-being. They prevent boredom and frustration when you have to leave your companion alone at home. They provide comfort when they need it. They are a great outlet for excessive energy! Toys can even help prevent your pup, pussycat, parrot, pig, or poison dart from from developing unwanted/unhealthy “problem” behaviors. If there’s a feline, canine, parrot or ferret on your holiday gift list, get real and go natural this year!
Safety First!
Regardless of what natural item you offer as a gift this year, remember that we need to be particularly careful when monitoring playtime to prevent any “unauthorized” activities and to ensure safety. Always monitor the animal when they are exploring, eating, or playing with these new items.
- Must Read: An easy but extensive list of Holiday Dos and
- Don’ts for Dogs and Cats —> check out this important link!
Let’s Get Real.
As I have stated before:
So as you are out and about this holiday season, consider how you can offer a unique experience for you and your animal family members. Think outside the box! Create fun and long-lasting memories that will enrich everyone’s lives!
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Recommended Related Reading!
- Dog Toys: How to Pick the Best and Safest
- Dog Toys – Things to Consider for your Canine:
- Foreign Body Ingestion Threatens Pets
- X-ray images of items dogs (and snakes) swallowed
- Symptoms of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
Conscious Companion® 
Another amazing article!! Thank you.
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Awe, thank you!
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