The Only Dog Toy That Tires My Dogs Out Every Day

Enrichment should be an integral element of every dog's life. Regular enrichment lets them be happier, better behaved and ultimately also healthier!
The enrichment toy I am sharing in this video has been a recent find that I REALLY like. It entertains my dogs for so long!
Please note: I am not affiliated with any dog toy company and do NOT receive commissions for showing this toy. The only reason I am sharing it is that I want other dogs to benefit as much from it as my dogs did!

[@nataliafletcher7868]

We just got ours in! I started him with just dry kibble and bits of chicken so he could easily learn how to spin and find all the food layers. Next I'll try freezing sections of wet food. He kept busy and had fun!! Thank you for these tips

[@spiritdogtraining]

Let us know how it goes :)

[@tallshiprocky]

Thank you Steffi! You always share the best information!

[@spiritdogtraining]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@user-cw7ks7cr8n]

I love the enrichment toys and saw the blue ball that isn't explained but I cut up strips of cloth and stuffed them in treats in a ball like this since I had it handy. It didn't last but a few minutes but our pup had a great time pulling out all the cloth to reach the treats. Thanks for the suggestion even though it wasn't explained in this video!

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, I'm glad you enjoyed! We actually have a KZbin Short on our page about that activity if you go take a look :) But it sounds like you mostly figured it out anyways!

[@user-gm5xs4gv6w]

We were thinking about snagging one of these and are sold now! Thanks Steffi!

[@spiritdogtraining]

You can also check out the Nina Ottosson one by Outward Hound- it's almost identical and may still be in stock!

[@rdskr1095]

Wow!!! What a wonderful video!! This has always been an issue for us, as the standard lickie mats last about 10 minutes!!! Amazon, here I come!! And, you instructions and tips are fabulous!! Thank you!!

[@spiritdogtraining]

I'm so glad you enjoyed! This definitely has beat out normal lickmats for us!

[@danahidalgoneira5119]

Very cool im excited to look into this a little more

[@spiritdogtraining]

It's definitely one of our new favourites!

[@andreamarkarian2074]

This looks great! It will definitely give my beagles something to entertain them that isn't my couch blanket lol

[@spiritdogtraining]

Yes, one of our trainers has a beagle and she loves these different puzzles to keep her busy :)

[@andreamarkarian2074]

My lick towers are filled and in the freezer for dinner tonight. I'm excited to try them out and so are my pups!

[@spiritdogtraining]

@@andreamarkarian2074 Hopefully they lasted you a while!

[@sontology]

I am definitely getting one of these! While we don't get long winter nights where we are, we do get long, hot summer days when it is too hot to go out while the sun is up. Our dog Pepper generally works out puzzles and the like very quickly, so this looks ideal.

[@spiritdogtraining]

They're super fun! Give it a try and let us know how it goes :)

[@lineturner8024]

Just received it!!

[@spiritdogtraining]

That's great! Let us know how it goes :)

[@jonpertwee811]

I've just ordered one of these. I know licking calms the dog, so if I can get her calm for the evening and it takes her time to eat instead of gobbling everything down, I'll be very happy :)

[@spiritdogtraining]

Let us know how you like it!

[@jonpertwee811]

@@spiritdogtraining LoL... I'm not planning to serve my own supper on it. ;) But if my dog is calmer, and perhaps kept busy for more than a few seconds, I'll be very happy. It's due to arrive today, let's see. I'll report back here with her comments. :D

[@jonpertwee811]

@@spiritdogtraining Well, we tried this last night for the first time. It took my dog (A labrador) 40 mins to finish her food, which is a record. This morning we tried it without freezing the meat, and it's so far taken 15 mins, so it's certainly slowing her down (normally it takes 3 mins start to finish), so I think it's good for her, the longer it takes to eat, the more she thinks she's eaten. :) I will say two things that could be improved. The size is quite small, my dog's normal meals only "just" fit in, with maybe a third of the kibble sitting on the top, and the holes could be a little deeper, the kibble doesn't really fit, and the meat is difficult to spread into it. But with a world record for how long it took her to finish a meal, overall, we're both happy, but I'm glad I don't have a bigger dog.

[@spiritdogtraining]

@@jonpertwee811 Yes, I think it's best for a medium to smaller-large-breed dogs, otherwise it would be too big or too small. It would be nice if they could make some other sizes of it! I'm glad it helped slow things down a little though! All the feedback so far is that it's been great for slowing everyone's pups down!

[@user-rk6jf7wh8b]

How well can they clean the knooks and crevices? Most licky matts leave too much in between hard to get.

[@spiritdogtraining]

My dog's have done very well clearing them out, and the pieces come apart for easy cleaning!

[@user-zy8fo6sr8s]

I saw that on one of your earlier videos and have been using it for Buddy’s meals. It takes him over 10 minutes for dinner instead of 30 seconds! Didn’t think to freeze it so thanks!! What do you think about cream cheese once in a while in a Kong? Just about only a tablespoon?

[@spiritdogtraining]

I'm glad we were able to give you some new ideas! One of our trainers does give very very small amounts of cream cheese to her dogs once in a while usually with other things added in, however, or she'll add it to some warm water and mix it, then soak kibble in it to make the kibble more appealing. Definitely not an all the time treat, though!

[@meganwhitmore3009]

Do you have a direct link for the one you use? I didn't see it in the description

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We used this one: a.co/d/3hSlda3 But Nina Ottosson also makes a similar one through the brand Outward Hound :)

[@sams1520]

What’s the name of the enrichment feeder? (Sorry if I missed it?)

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We used this one: a.co/d/3hSlda3 But Nina Ottosson also makes a similar one through the brand Outward Hound :)

[@faithduffy4743]

what do you for impatient pups? Our dog usually likes to bite at lickimats, and we don't give frozen anymore because he gets really impatient and it seems more frustrating than relaxing and enriching

[@spiritdogtraining]

Thanks for reaching out! I know this can be a hard one for a lot of our pups- especially our food motivated ones. I might actually start by doing only a portion of his meal at first and have it easier for him to get out, then gradually increase the portion size and difficulty over a few uses (Maybe only a little on the bottom frozen at first so it's started to thaw by the time he gets to it and a little bit at the top that's not frozen at all since the layers can be done separately) so that you're gradually increasing his patience and problem solving skills, rather than allowing frustration to build up.

[@AmazingGracieDog]

I saw a suggestion to freeze only one of the layers and not the other two. perhaps that would help?

[@ayushicelly2618]

Where can I find link to this item?

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We used this one: a.co/d/3hSlda3 But Nina Ottosson also makes a similar one through the brand Outward Hound :)

[@dianmctaggart4691]

What is the name of the food toy you used in the video?

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We got it here: a.co/d/3hSlda3

[@jessicasilverstein298]

I am taking your tackling reactivity course and am wondering if I should slowly introduce this to my dog similar to the sniffing method ? She is not very patient so curious for tips

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There! Thanks for reaching out! Are you worried about your pup giving up? Or more that she may try to chew the lick tower up in frustration?

[@jessicasilverstein298]

@@spiritdogtraining giving up!

[@spiritdogtraining]

@@jessicasilverstein298 I might actually start by doing only a portion of her meal at first and have it easier for her to get out, then gradually increase the portion size and difficulty over a few uses (Maybe only a little on the bottom frozen at first so it's started to thaw by the time he gets to it and a little bit at the top that's not frozen at all since the layers can be done separately) so that you're gradually increasing her patience and problem solving skills, rather than allowing frustration to build up!

[@annbielan8534]

My dog normally eats dry dog food every day. Will introducing these foods upset her stomach?

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, You can try soaking the kibble in water and mashing it and spreading it in the lick mat if your dog has a sensitive stomach. As well most kibbles have a wet food option you can use instead, or you can rehydrate some freeze dried raw and spread it in the trays and these should all be easier on the stomach!

[@caitlinsprang9885]

Do you have food recommendations for picky dogs? Mine won’t eat pumpkin or yogurt.. :( He loves most vegetables. Other than that, it is hard to find something that he consistently eats.

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, Does he eat his normal food? What do you usually feed him? Could you maybe steam and puree some of the vegetables he likes?

[@terryschultz2094]

Can you try sweet potatoes, how about a frosty paw recipe? Or soak kibble in water and puree. Or don't use it as a full meal, just a stimulating treat.

[@nashiv9864]

Whats the name of the stackable maze feeder?

[@astridkavanagh3752]

Lickin’ Layers from what I can Google 😊

[@nashiv9864]

Thx! Now I found it. "Nina Ottosson: Lickin' Layers"

[@user-cw7ks7cr8n]

Anything Nina Ottosson is great! We have several of her enrichment toys, it is pouring rain and I'm about to go get out one of them!@@nashiv9864

[@spiritdogtraining]

@@nashiv9864 Yes, there is the Nina Ottosson one that is available in the USA and Canada (and I believe a few other places) the one we use is actually slightly different: a.co/d/3hSlda3

[@Pamela-mn6ky]

0:19 Where can I find/ get one?

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We used this one: a.co/d/3hSlda3 But Nina Ottosson also makes a similar one through the brand Outward Hound :)

[@J9cat]

How do I order?

[@spiritdogtraining]

Hi There, We used this one: a.co/d/3hSlda3 But Nina Ottosson also makes a similar one through the brand Outward Hound :)