Safe Licking Toys for Dogs: What to Look For?

Alright folks, lemme tell ya 'bout my weekend project: makin' lickable toys for my dog, Buster. He's a chewer, a licker, a total goofball, so I thought, "Why not combine his two favorite things?"

Step 1: The Idea Hit Me

So, I was watchin' TV, right? And Buster's there, relentlessly lickin' the sofa. That's when it clicked. He loves lickin', and I hate him wreckin' the furniture. Lickable toys it is!

Step 2: Gatherin' Supplies

• Silicone Molds: I grabbed some cheap silicone molds off Amazon. Star shapes, bone shapes, the whole shebang.
• Dog-Friendly Fillings: This is crucial! I went with unsweetened applesauce (Buster's a fan), plain yogurt (good for his gut), and some pumpkin puree (for that extra fall flavor, even though it's May). Make sure whatever you use is safe for dogs – no chocolate, grapes, or onions!
• Freezer: Obvious, but ya gotta have a freezer.

Step 3: The Mixology Begins!

I kept it real simple. Just spooned the applesauce, yogurt, and pumpkin into separate bowls. No fancy recipes here. Then, I started fillin' the molds. I did some with just applesauce, some with yogurt, and some I even layered! Felt like I was makin' frozen doggy desserts.

Step 4: Freeze Time!

Popped those bad boys into the freezer for a good 4-5 hours. Wanted 'em solid. You could probably do it overnight if you're not impatient like me.

Step 5: The Big Reveal (and the Lick Test)

This was the moment of truth. I pulled out a frozen apple sauce star, popped it outta the mold, and presented it to Buster. He sniffed it, gave me this look like, "What is this sorcery?" Then, BAM! He went to town. Lickin', gnawin', the whole nine yards. Success!

Step 6: Learnings and Next Time Ideas

Okay, so a few things I learned:

• Smaller Molds Are Better: The bigger molds took him a while to get through, and they kinda melted and got messy. Small, bite-sized lickable treats are the way to go.
• Layering is Fun: Buster seemed to dig the layered ones more. Next time, I'm gonna experiment with more flavors and textures.
• Cleanup is Key: Freezing messy stuff always leads to a sticky freezer. Gotta keep it clean, folks!

So yeah, that's how I made lickable toys for my dog. It was cheap, easy, and Buster loves 'em. Plus, he left the sofa alone for a whole afternoon! Total win in my book.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I gotta go refill the molds. Later!