If ‘mischief’ is your pet’s middle name, then you know how hard it can be to keep them safe from their own curiosity and exuberance.
These are often the pets with extra energy or an endless sense of adventure. Maybe it’s because they’re young or it’s simply in their nature to seek out a little bit of trouble — and dive in snout first.
To ensure these pets are protected from themselves and whatever they’re yearning to get into, we have some recommendations that can keep them in line, occupied, and/or entertained when you can’t take them for that seventh trip to the dog park or play a 10th round of chase-the-laser-pointer.
Quite often physical exercise is the answer to satisfying an energetic, mischievous pet’s penchant for mayhem.
That’s said, it’s these same pets who often struggle with recall. When you’re out in the park, hiking through the woods, or strolling along the beach an extra long or retractable leash allows pets to decide (to a degree that remains safe) on their own route.
Not only can they run ahead on the path while you remain in control, they can also pause at points of interest for an extra moment to sniff and do nose work, which is both physically and intellectually stimulating. A long leash gives your pet the freedom to roam, while still remaining tethered to you.
Additionally, some pet parents choose to microchip their animal. Others might opt for at-your-fingertips information on where a missing, lost, or escaped pet might be, via Bluetooth and GPS tracking devices, typically worn on the collar.
Setting boundaries when you’re inside the home you share with your pet is also important.
Perhaps you’ve got a pet who likes to make mischief in the kitchen, interrupts work hours in your home office or tears apart slippers when you’re out of the house.
Crate training keeps your pet safe while you’re working or engaged in activities outside the home.
Pet gates give your pet a little more freedom but within a limited area of your home.
Finally, pet enclosures are another option for keeping your pet contained while still giving them space to play and expend some energy.
Whether they’re in their crate or have the run of your home, toys that intellectually stimulate your pet can be powerful tools for keeping them out of trouble.
There are several categories of toys at Pet Valu that are designed to entertain your pet over a period of time:
Chew toys: these are for the pets with an inkling to make mischief but a much stronger desire to give their teeth a workout. The right chew toy can keep a destructive pet occupied and your furniture legs safe from vandalism at the same time.
Toys that challenge your pet: these toys often combine chewing with a bit of chasing and pawing (sometimes promising a reward for the pet who can tame the toy for long enough to get to the treat it conceals). These range from simple classic designs to high-tech electronic toys that keep your pet chasing them down until nap time rolls around.
Snuffle toys: these products are great for pups with a desire to sniff out every corner they come across. Treats are concealed and require pets to sniff out their rewards slowly and systematically.
Puzzle toys and interactive feeders: if you’ve got a pet that’s both mischievous and a genius, you may need to up the level of challenges you’re presenting them with. That’s where puzzle toys come in. These products challenge your pet to understand a pattern in order to access their reward. These toys may frustrate or confuse some animals but are the best way to occupy pets who seem to outsmart their parents at every turn.
From everyday life to emergencies: How to keep your pet protected
Here’s how you can put your beloved pet’s safety and health first and foremost, as well as keep them out trouble
How to handle pet emergencies
A vet shares tips for what to include in an at-home pet emergency kit, talks about some common emergencies and shares some accident or illness prevention insight.
Ways to keep track of your pet
An overview of pet trackers ranging from Bluetooth to GPS enabled options, as well as pet tags.
