One of my goals is to reduce the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis.
It’s truly astounding to look around your house and see just how much stuff comes in or is made from plastic. A handful of swaps were crazy easy: Target sells their own brand of coconut oil in glass instead of plastic, for instance. I also switched from a deodorant in a plastic tube to one in a tiny glass pot. We swapped our shower gel for a bar of soap (wrapped in paper!) and started buying bulk coffee in a reusable paper bag.
For the pets, it’s been a bit easier in most areas: Cat food tins are easily recyclable. Cooper’s specialty food comes in a cardboard box with, yes, a plastic bag inside, but luckily it’s recyclable, too.
In other areas it’s been much tougher.
Actually, one area.
Toys.
Even if they’re not made of or with plastic, which most are, many come with plastic tags or in plastic wrap. And, for a long while, I thought there was no escaping it, especially when it came to stuffable food puzzles. He has a bunch of interactive puzzles we’ve accumulated over the years, but recently I took a good look at his stuffable Kongs, Tux, and so on, and I thought… Can we do better?
Yes, yes, we can.
{{That said, I’m NOT getting rid of any plastic toys just to replace with non-plastic. Waste not, want not. I’ll continue to use everything until it’s beyond repair and then figure out the best way to recycle, send back, etc. And, as of this update in 2024, that Tux toy that we got for Lucas back in maybe 2014 has gone through him and Emmett, Cooper, and now Penny. Worth every cent AND it’s a way smaller eco-impact than other plastic toys.}}
I’ve been experimenting with making my own food puzzles, so here are two ways to DIY plastic-free food puzzles for dogs
DIY Apple Food Puzzle
Core an apple. Any apple will do, but if you have a great, big dog, avoid tiny apples (choking hazard).
Grab a spoon, and stuff the core with your filling of choice. Obvious options include peanut butter and cheese. If your dog eats a gloopy food like The Honest Kitchen, you can use that, too. Or, if your pup eats kibble, you can soak some in warm water, mash with a fork, and stuff.
Hand the apple food puzzle to your pup, and watch him attack it with glee!
DIY Frozen Pear Food Puzzle
Repeat the steps above but with a pear! 🙂 OK, in all seriousness, with a pear food puzzle, if you have a dog who snarfs his food or destroys his toys–Cooper–freeze it after it’s stuffed because the pear is so soft. However, if you love a senior who has sensitive teeth or a dog who’s missing some chompers, a soft pear with a soft stuffing could be a fun treat!
Of course, with any dog toy, food-stuffed or otherwise, supervise play!
Honestly, this DIY is so easy I almost hate to call it a DIY, but there it is! Best part? No plastic!
Have you tried anything like this before? How did it work out for your pup? If you haven’t, do you think your dog would enjoy a plastic-free, tasty, stuffed food puzzle? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
To be honest, I hadn’t even thought of it since we still have most of our toys, stuffable or otherwise, but I’m thinking that a stuffed apple may be a welcome addition to the line up.
Let me know if you give it a whirl!! It’s so simple and so inexpensive!
I purchased a Kong for my 6 month old puppy & fill it with peanut butter. He loves it but i unthinkingly linked my finger that had peanut butter from the Kong on it. I was horrified that it tasted like the very strong smell the rubber Kong emits. How can that be good for your dogs health especially a puppy. I tried putting peanut butter in a very small mason jar & for about a week he used it like a Kong but the last 2 days he’s not interested. I’m excited to try your apple & pear idea. He loves apples & pears.
My last dog developed a cancer on the bridge of his nose & I wonder about all the environmental pollutants in our environment.
I also try to avoid plastic although it is very difficult. So Thank you for this clever healthy food puzzle.!
Chris Petrozz
Such a fun and environmentally friendly idea! Love it!
Thank you so much, Denise! Cooper loves it, too! 🙂
I’m on the same reduce plastics campaign and find the bulk section of my grocery store invaluable! I even buy my spices and herbs in bulk. Toys are a tough one for sure. Wood toys are available for children but don’t seem entirely safe for dogs (mine like to chew sticks if I’m not watching). I like your suggestions! Also I’m curious which deodorant comes in a glass pot?
Hi, Eliza! I’m so sorry for the delayed response. OK, so here’s my thing about these deodorants… every body is different. I sweat a LOT. But I wanted to get away from antiperspirants, so I started researching, and I came across this woman who explained the armpit ecosystem (seriously). She basically said to clean your pits with a swipe of rubbing alcohol to get rid of any bacteria that causes odor and follow it up with a natural deodorant. I did it. It worked BUT it took several weeks to balance out, so I was having to do multiple swipes/reapplies those first few weeks. Now I do the rubbing alcohol once or twice a day and deodorant and it works well. All that is to say: If you use like Secret or Degree, you won’t get the same effects if you switch to one of these natural options. My fave is Primal Pit Paste (http://amzn.to/2FbFDJq) and it lasts forever because you only use a pea-sized bit each time. Hope that helps!! (Prob way too much info! Sorry!)
Not too much information at all- thank you! I already go the Toms of Maine route but have never encountered plastic packaging free deodorant so thanks for taking the time to respond! Love your blog!
I love this idea! My dogs don’t know that they like apples. I’ve tried to give them slices and they turn up their noses. But if I stuff one with peanut butter, I will have their FULL attention! I’m going to give this a try. Thanks for the idea. We’re also choosing less plastic and this fits right in.
HAH! I love how you said that: They don’t know that they like apples. 🙂 This one is a big hit for Cooper, though he did already like apples. They might like the pear option better? Or, really, any fruit you can core! Let me know how it goes over!
Are apples safe for dogs?
They sure are! 🙂 Healthy and safe. A favorite treat around here!
Thanks for this idea! I’ve been searching for DIY enrichment toys but most everything I’ve found uses plastic or cardboard and unfortunately my dogs tend to eat everything, including the non-edible parts. Even though I do supervise them, they are quick and usually manage to get some of it down before I can take it away. I don’t want them eating things that can hurt them so I love that this entire treat is safe and edible, all while giving them some mental stimulation!
I found this article to be very informative. This is a different way of have your dog figure out how to get the treat. I would have never thought of that idea. I have always used rubber toys for my Akita to eat slowly and make them work for their food.