Tag: calming toys

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Enrichment Tips & Toys for a Happy, Healthy Big Cat

healthy big cat playing with enrichment toy

Keeping lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and other big cats emotionally and physically healthy has always been a challenge.

healthy big catStudies and experience prove habitat enrichment is an effective antidote to stress, nipping, and boredom. When the habitat is sufficiently enriched with items the cats like, you’ll see less pacing and prolonged sleeping behavior. 

The Aussie Dog Big Cat Bungee is perfect for enclosures with limited height.

For instance, the bungie has a D-ring for easy attachment. The soft tail and blue color keep lions and tigers interested and occupied in a temporary pen or permanent enclosure. Smaller and young cats will love the Aussie Dog Small Cat Sam. 

It’s no secret cats like to roll and bite a ball.

But big cats need a large, tough ball that is fun and durable. Our 31” Polyethylene ball is designed to be clawed, rolled, and bit by your cats. The ball is available in a variety of wall thicknesses and color options. Tough enough for all weather play. 

Big cats require a variety of enrichment items to satisfy curiosity and prevent stereotypic captive behavior. The Otto 46” box is made of sturdy polyethylene and can be modified to hold meat treats and olfactory stimulants. In addition, it even floats in water. We also offer a 48″ x 20″ x 8″ box that is easy to modify for your cat’s habitat. The boxes are available in many colors and wall thickness options. 

Tigers enjoy the water, especially in summertime. Keep your cats active with the floating rectangular 47” box.

And it’s easy to bite and carry around, even in the water. The Otto 22” box makes a great “throne” for your cats. It provides a comfortable resting place in the shade or in a temporary enclosure. The Otto Cylinder can be used anywhere but really shines in the water. The hollow polyethylene cylinder has safe, smooth edges. It can be rolled, tackled, and bit in the water and on land. Cylinders are available in several sizes for large and small cats. 

Experience shows that effective enrichment devices result in natural behavior. The Lion Sam 2 Bungie Toy is hung from a tree or other overhead mount. Tigers, lions, and other cats love to bat and bite the ball and tail. They’ll tug and pull the Lion Sam bungie as it “fights back”, stimulating hunting behavior. 

The Jingle Ball is a favorite at zoos because it provides big cats with auditory stimulation in addition to the challenge of rolling and biting the ball. The bells are safely sealed inside the tough polyethylene ball.  Visitors will enjoy seeing and hearing the cats playing with the Jingle Ball. The Jingle Ball is available in 18-36” diameter and comes in a variety of colors including bright blue and translucent. 

The key to successful big cat habitat enrichment is to experiment with a variety of enrichment tools. For example, an Ocelot may like one toy while a panther will prefer a different color or shape. Try several products to find out what your cats like. 

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Keeping Your Pigs Happy and Healthy Through Habitat Enrichment

happy healthy pigs

Keeping Your Pigs Happy and Healthy Through Habitat Enrichment

Swine are naturally curious and thrive in social groups. Pigs spend about 75% of their time exploring their surroundings by rooting, biting, pushing and sniffing objects in their environment. If their living space is not interesting, the pigs become bored. This leads to undesirable behavior like biting, tail nipping and fighting. Habitat enrichment solves the problem of boredom and unsafe behavior. Enriching your pig’s enclosure is easy with these time-tested swine enrichment products. 

The EasyFix Luna 142  has been tested at universities and swine environments throughout the world. The Luna 142 consists of 12 food-grade rubber spikes. Pigs can safely chew the spikes and push the LUNA around the piggery or play area. Four sizes are available for piglets, weaners, finishers, and sows. 

Pigs like objects that that can be chewed, licked, and pushed with the snout.

The Pig Bite Ball on a Spring  is designed to be mounted on the floor or wall. Pigs love to bite the plastic ball, but there’s more! The spring provides a challenge by “fighting back” when the pig pulls and pushes the ball.  

If you want to hang chewable balls above your pigs, our Biting Balls are the perfect solution. Made from tough polyurethane, Biting Balls stand up to the roughest play. Installation is easy. Biting Balls have a stainless-steel connecting pin making it simple to attach to a chain or rope. Biting Balls are available in 2” and 3.3” diameter sizes. 

Stop tail nipping with the Bite Block. Designed to be suspended from a chain, the Bite Block allows pigs to bite at “tail level” instead of nipping at their pen mates.  

Research shows pigs fare better when their environment is enriched with objects pigs enjoy exploring. The Animal Farm is a wall-mounted entertainment center packed with sights, sounds and textures for pigs to explore. It rattles, rolls, bounces, and even has a refillable treat dispenser.  

Finishers, sows, and other hooved animals benefit from suspended toys, like our EasyFix Astro 200. Hang the Astro 200 at eye level. Hooved animals will bite and pull the rubber legs instead of neighbor’s ears and sides. 

Enrichment Products Should be Swapped Out Periodically

Enrichment products should be periodically swapped out to prevent boredom. For example, The Pig Bite Moon  and Pig Bite Star provide interesting shapes that enrich any hooved animal environment. Designed to be hung from the stainless-steel chain, the Pig Bite Moon makes it easy to keep your animals entertained. These are great additions to the Animal Farm. 

Happier Pigs Eat More

Happy pigs have better feed conversion, so be prepared for hungry piglets. The Easy Pan Feeder dispenses starter food. The circular design, sturdy materials and easy use make it the favorite feeder around the world. 

Our enrichment devices are proven to keep pigs occupied and entertained. This translates into improved mental and physical health. Whether your animals are living in a lab enclosure, zoo enclosure or farm, our enrichment devices will improve your pig’s environment and result in less aggression and a healthy social environment. 

 

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Customer Favorite: Kong Quest Wishbone

dog excited by kong quest wishbone

Like most animals, dogs need to play. It is how they socialize, explore their environment and burn off excess energy.

A good game of fetch or tug-of-war can be great fun for you and your pup, but there are also a few games that only dogs can play alone – like the Kong Quest Wishbone.  

kong quest wishboneDogs that don’t have the opportunity to play with different toys or people can get bored quickly and begin to exhibit problem behaviors, like anxiety, chewing, digging, jumping up, biting, and even depression. As with all animals, it’s essential to have a variety of dog toys.  

Dog toys like the Kong Quest Wishbone have different functions, and to get the most fun out of your dog toys, you can also stuff them and freeze them for your pup and keep some other toys hidden away for later on.  

Dog toy trunks come in handy for this, especially if you’re like us and enjoy perusing the pet product sections, whether for dogs, horses, cats, or livestock. 

The Kong Quest Wishbone is an excellent toy for dogs that like to chew. It’s crafted from non-toxic, durable rubber and has a hollow center that you can fill with treats as a tasty reward. The Kong Quest Wishbone is also great for interactive playtime. You can hold one end of the toy while your dog chews on the other or use it to play tug-of-war. 

The Kong Quest Wishbone is available in two sizes: small and large, and is crafted in a few colors like purple (large breeds) and orange (small size).  

Kong toys are known for their durability and quality, and the Kong Quest Wishbone is no exception. It is made from high-quality materials and is built to last. It’s also dishwasher proof for an easy wash!  

If you are looking for a fun pet toy that will keep your dog entertained and mentally stimulated, the Kong Quest Wishbone is a good chew interactive dog toy. Here’s the takeaway: 

The Wishbone is a treat dispensing toy with loads of personality! 

  • Features a unique design to challenge and engage 
  • Cleans teeth and helps with teething 
  • Allows for high-value treats and kibble insertion for fun, interactive play. 
  • Crafted in assorted colors 
  • Suitable for all breeds and life stages 

Fill the Kong Quest Wishbone with your dog’s favorite treats or kibble, and watch them have a blast trying to get to the goodies inside. Not only is the Kong Quest Wishbone a great way to keep your dog mentally and physically stimulated, but it also helps to clean their teeth and massage their gums.  

The takeaway with this interactive dog toy is that it keeps your pup entertained while also being suitable for their health! The Kong Quest can be helpful for the following: 

  • Separation anxiety 
  • Puppy teething 
  • Boredom 
  • Canine depression 
  • Excessive barking 
  • Noise sensitivity 
  • Minimize destructive behaviors 
  • Anxious behaviors 
  • Mental stimulation 
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder 
  • Recouping from surgery 
  • Suitable for rescues and shelters to ease boredom and stress 

All-in-all, remember that dogs feel a bunch of emotions just like us. From boredom, sadness, anxiety, and stress to excitement and a need for play, our interaction with our dogs via interactive dog toys allows for further bonding and a deeper understanding of our dogs.  

Ultimately, interactive dog toys like the Kong Quest Wishbone help to create a well-rounded dog that is happy and healthy. Also, they are less likely to develop problem behaviors when combined with positive training, dog sports, pet vacays, and more.