Dog Crate Lick Toy Benefits: Calm Your Dog, Easy Solution!

Okay, so my puppy, Buster, he's a total sweetheart, but the little guy gets super anxious when I leave him in his crate. He'd whine and bark, and I felt terrible. I heard about these "lick toys" that you can put inside the crate to keep them occupied, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

First, I went to the pet store. There were a TON of options, it was kind of overwhelming. I grabbed a couple that looked interesting – one was a rubber bone thing with grooves, and the other was like a flat mat with little nubs.

Then came the fun part: figuring out what to put in them. I tried a few different things:

• Peanut butter: Classic, right? Buster loved it, but it got messy real fast.
• Yogurt: I froze some plain yogurt in the bone toy. That worked pretty well, kept him busy for a good while.
• Pumpkin puree: This was surprisingly a big hit! I mixed it with a little bit of his kibble and spread it on the mat.
• Cream cheese:The last choice,it's not bad!

My Experiment Process

The yogurt and pumpkin were definitely the winners. They were less messy than the peanut butter, and Buster seemed to enjoy them just as much. I'd prep the toys the night before, pop them in the freezer, and then give them to him when I left for work.

It's made a HUGE difference. He's way calmer now when I leave. He still fusses a little, but he settles down pretty quickly and starts licking away at his toy. It's been a lifesaver, honestly. I don't feel nearly as guilty leaving him now, knowing he's got something to keep him entertained.

So yeah, that's my experience with dog crate lick toys. Total game-changer. If you've got a pup who struggles with crate anxiety, I definitely recommend trying them out!