To be honest, I thought blogging was going to be easy. I mean really, what’s so hard about writing every couple of days about something you love? Truth is, it’s hard. Between work, agility classes, and helping my boyfriend study for the Bar exam so that he can become a lawyer, blogging fell to the bottom of my things to do. Poor Ripley, he was so excited about it too.
So now that things have eased up a bit, I will attempt to pick up blogging again, and provide you all with some updated information, especially the 5 of you who make it here every day (I see you!). If you’re one of those 5 people, I’m sorry! I will make it up to you, I promise.
The Kong Genius is a treat dispensing toy designed by the Kong Company to keep our dogs thinking and entertained. Mental exercise is important for keeping your dog healthy and builds intelligence. Dogs are extremely bright animals, and in the wild, dogs hunt for their food and use their intelligence when figuring out how and where to get their next meal. Dogs in the 21st century don’t have to worry about such archaic hunting methods because their food appears in a bowl like clockwork at 8:00am and 8:00pm. Dog behavior research has found that dogs thrive when they are asked to “earn” their dinner (for example, having them sit before giving them their food). This is known as the “Nothing in Life is Free” method, and it teaches dogs discipline, respect, and self control. Sitting for a meal is too easy.
If you really want to challenge your dog and get the gears in their head turning, the Kong Genius is a great choice. It provides them with a “hunt” (the treats are on the inside of this contraption, and they have to hunt it out), and a reward, since they are rewarded when they actually achieve their goal. Additionally, the Kong Genius can be therapeutic for dogs suffering from separation anxiety by providing them with both a distraction and an outlet for their stress. These types of activities are extremely important for your dog. By giving them a sense of purpose, your dog will be a more “balanced” member of your pack, as Cesar Milan would say. Thinking is also a form of exercise, so after 30 minutes of playing with this thing, he’ll be too tired to chew on the leg of your dining room chair.
Anyway, on to the actual product itself. The Kong Genius comes in three sizes: small, large, and extra large, and in two different shapes. The first shape is a hollow tube that has slits on either end where you can insert food or treats (this is the one shown in the video). The second is more vase shaped and offers a different challenge. These shapes can be interconnected, so if your dog is really smart, you can buy a couple and give him something to really think about. They are made of non-toxic, FDA approved material, and are recommended for average chewers. Ripley (my Shetland Sheepdog in the video) is not a very aggressive chewer, and as you can see he picks up the toy pretty gently and drops it to get the food out. Because of this, I use smaller pieces of dog food (sometimes I put his half his meal in there so he has to work for it). Larger pieces present more of a challenge, but make sure you don’t put food in the toy that is too hard to retrieve or your pup might get frustrated. Even though Ripley hasn’t put the Kong Genius through the ringer, this thing feels sturdy, so an average chewer most likely won’t destroy it. I wouldn’t recommend this toy for dogs that are rough on their toys and chew them aggressively, simply because they could accidentally swallow a piece of the toy itself. So, if your dog typically chews on the black colored Kong (the toughest one they make), he might just chomp it in half and get the food out the easy way. The best part is that this toy is made in the USA and is dishwasher safe.
Overall: A+
Good For: Average Chewers
Cost: approximately $8.50 for the small, $13.50 for large, and $16.99 for extra large. However, they have them for about %30 off at www.Dog.com
Dogs and owners enjoying a taste of Coral Gables history
Venetian pool is one of Miami’s most historic landmarks. The pool was created in 1924 out of an old rock quarry and is currently the largest freshwater pool in the United States. This place is huge, and needless to say, it’s pretty awesome. A few years back they started opening up the pool to dogs for a few hours on the last day they were opened before closing for the winter. Apparently the events were so popular, they are now opening the pool for one day in September from 10am to 5pm. I went last year, and it was a BLAST. There were dogs everywhere! The water used in this pool is freshwater that is circulated daily through Florida’s aquifer so it is gentle on your dogs coat (unlike everyday chlorinated pool water). For dogs that aren’t that into swimming, there is a sandy “beach” area where dogs can run and dig to their heart’s content. If you’re from the South Florida area, this is definitely an event you won’t want to miss!
Event Details:
Location: Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
Date: Sunday, September 26th, 2010
Time: Session 1 (for small dogs up to 30 lbs) 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Session 2 (for dogs over 30 lbs) 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Cost: $5.00 per dog, $2.00 per human. Venetian pool (according to their phone recording) accepts cash, check, Visa or MasterCard.
What to bring: Your well behaved dog, proof of rabies vaccination, a bowl for fresh drinking water (there are human water fountains on-site), towels, a toy that floats, doggy bags for picking up any unexpected surprises, and some treats in case they need some convincing.
The Ripley Report is run by me, an everyday dog owner that just wants the best for their dog. Here you will find product reviews and recommendations that should hopefully make your life easier. I hope you have fun exploring all the great products and activities out there for dog ... Continue reading →
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