Smart Dog U really helped me deal with my first puppy and help me grow her (Etta) into a sweet little girl. Without that training from SDU this would have been a tough journey.
Ingrid CopelandWe did in-home training and group classes which helped us welcome Ember into our family. Her understanding of both dogs and busy families made the training easy and guilt-free.
Beth SchillaciThank goodness I discovered Smart Dog University! Laurie’s methods quickly made me realize that I was the one in need of training. The end result: A well behaved pup (Kasey) who is a true companion!
Matt ChurchLaurie is someone Your Dog’s Friend depends on for good information on dog behavior and training presented in an engaging, understandable way. She has done free workshops for us; we have used her articles in our newsletter; and she is a trainer whom I can refer people to with total confidence.
Debra Ekman, Your Dog’s FriendLaurie is a very knowledgeable and experienced trainer. She does a wonderful job with both the dog and owner. She is easily approachable and genuinely wants to make sure you and your dog are getting the most out of her classes.
Suzie Brown
This is great – 2 things I love: Kongs and organization! At our house we do 12 Kongs at a time. Dirty Kongs go in the dishwasher. Clean Kongs go in a big wooden bowl in the corner of our counter top. For stuffing, I put Kongs upright in a long, low plasticware food storage container. 6 Kongs fit in each one. The container catches any drips, and keeping the Kongs upright let me use runnier fillings (like yogurt and applesauce) in addition to my dog’s regular foods. Once the Kongs are stuffed, they slide right into the freezer, and can even be stacked to save space.
An awesome trick from my days of having a little dog: Smaller Kongs fit wonderfully in an ice cube tray! When I was stuffing Kongs for Amelia, I bought a cheap ice cube tray, and could fit 6-8 of her little Kongs upright in the tray, with the tiny end wedged into the little ice cube boxes. Super convenient!
Yes, I forgot to mention washing the Kongs occasionally. I put mine in the top rack, turn the heat dry off, and let ’em go through the entire cycle. I do try to get them out of the dishwasher before they’re dry (even with the heat dry off). I don’t know if my dog’s notice the cleanliness, but I sure do appreciate it! Great idea about the ice tray for the smaller Kongs, that wouldn’t have crossed my mind because we have the big dogs here. Thanks for the good ideas, Steph!
Great ideas Laurie! We don’t have room under our sink so we store our kongs in a fabric bag that hangs in the pantry. In the freezer we have them piled in a large Tupperware container to control the mess. I’ll have to try the plastic bag idea!
Yes, great idea, Emily! Just about anywhere is good, as long as they’re out of the way and easy to get to. The Tupperware container works just as well as a plastic bag, I’m sure.
I just wanted to let you know that this post and video inspired me to start pre-stuffing my dogs’ Kongs on a regular basis! My eldest dog, Tessie, hates frozen Kongs so I never got in the habit of freezing them. But my younger three all seem to enjoy the challenge of a frozen Kong. Thanks again!
Katherine, thanks for stopping in. I do love the frozen Kongs — mostly because my dogs love ’em so much! I’m glad you found the post helpful. I couldn’t live without the Kongs (frozen or not) and keep all the dogs happy at the same time.