Sources and additional reading
We only use credible, science=based sources for our Discovery Kits, so you can rest assured that you and your dog are in good hands.
Here are a list of sources for the Naughty by Nature Discovery Kits:
Canine Enrichment for the Real World: Making It a Part of Your Dog's Daily Life by Allie Bender, CDBC and Emily Strong, CDBC
Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet by John Bradshaw
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See Smell, and Know by Alexandra Horowitz. This is a perennial Dogby favorite.
Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You by Clive DL Wynne
Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd
How Does a Carnivore Guild Utilise a Substantial but Unpredictable Anthropogenic Food Source? Scavenging on Hunter-Shot Ungulate Carcasses by Wild Dogs/Dingoes, Red Foxes and Feral Cats in South-Eastern Australia Revealed by Camera Traps by Forsyth, David M., et al. in Plos One
Chewing behaviour in dogs – A survey-based exploratory study by Arhant, Christine, et al. in Applied Animal Behavior Science
Product sourcing, care, cleaning, and cautions
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The Pool aka The Digging Pit
Learn moreDetails: A 25" diameter packable pool made from polyester with a waterproof coating from DOOG, Sydney, Australia.
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Care & Cautions: This pool won't hold up to powerful digging from larger dogs. If you have a strong digger, use this pool in a way that encourages snuffling and check out the instructions below to make a stronger outdoor digging pit.
Always dry before storage to prevent mold growth.
Visit the "Learn more" link below to see a video with folding instructions.
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Cleaning: Hand wash or spot clean with mild detergent.
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The Snoop
Learn moreDetails: A food puzzle made in the U.S.A. from BPA, lead, and phthalate-free TPE material and infused with mint oil from Outward Hound, Centennial, CO.
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Care & Cautions: This toy is meant to be rolled, bounced, and licked, not chewed. If your dog is chewing on it, either add more small, treats to make it easier for them to solve or take it away.
Remove and store out of your dog's reach when they finish using it to prevent chewing.
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Cleaning: Hand wash and leave open to dry. We recommend not using canned dog food in it, because it will accumulate in small cracks and crevices over time.
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The Waterless Shampoo
Learn moreDetails: Hypoallergenic waterless shampoo made from water, ethyl alcohol, hydrolized wheat protein, coconut water, and oat kernel extract from Tropiclean, St. Peters, MO.
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Care & Cautions: For topical use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use on open wounds.
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The Shreddable Stuffed Animal
Learn moreDetails: 12" tall polyester stuffed animal with a plastic squeaker from Multipet, East Rutherford, NJ.
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Care & Cautions: Do not give to dogs with a history of ingesting foreign objects.
Watch your dog carefully as they shred the stuffed animal to ensure they don't swallow any pieces.
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Cleaning: Hand wash in mild detergent.
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The No Hide Strip
Learn moreDetails: Alternative to rawhide made from humanely raised beef, brown rice flour, agar-agar (a plant-based gelatin), olive oil, eggs, banana powder, and pineapple stem designed to be safe for dogs of all sizes from Earth Animal, Westport, CT.
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Care & Cautions: Intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Always supply plenty of fresh water.
The Snoop and The No Hide Strip
Food puzzle and chew toy safety
Food puzzles and chew toys can bring out aggressive, possessive behavior in even the friendliest of dogs. It's a normal aspect of their behavior as the descendants of scavengers.
Follow these guidelines to keep your family safe:
- Use physical barriers like doors and baby gates to keep kids and other pets away while your dog is solving their food puzzle.
- Some dogs want complete privacy while solving a food puzzles, others will want you to in the room for companionship. Even so, avoid approaching them head on, getting between them and the puzzle, or touching it.
- Always pick up the puzzle and any uneaten food and treats when your dog finishes and before you let others back into the space.
- Never take a puzzle from your dog. Wait for them to walk away or offer them a trade by tossing a better treat a 4-6 feet away and seeing if they voluntarily give up the puzzle to go get it.
- If your dog gives you a stink eye, freezes, growls, or bares, their teeth while they have their puzzle, back up and give them space.
- Reach out to Dogby or a certified dog trainer in your area for help if you are concerned about your dog's behavior around food puzzles.
All about food puzzles
If you are new to food puzzles and want to learn more about them, this article can get you started.
The Digging Pit
If you realize that your dog could use a tougher outdoor digging pit, you can assemble one easily, even if you don't have much DIY experience.
Supplies
4 pieces of 2x6 pressure treated wood
Enough sand or soil to fill your pit
A shovel
Instructions
1. Pick a mostly flat location for your digging pit, mark the corners with stakes (or even just toys or rocks), and measure it. Think about where and why your dog digs to choose the best spot and decide how deep your pit should be (we recommend 3-9 inches).
2. Calculate how much wood and sand or soil you need. You'll want to leave the top 3 inches of the the pit empty to prevent soil and sand from spilling out. Tip: If using sand, plan to dig a deeper pit to prevent the existing soil from mixing with the sand as your dog digs.
3. Buy your supplies at your local home improvement store. While you're there, ask them to cut the wood to size for you.
3. Along the edge of your digging pit, shovel out any existing plants or large rocks and flatten any high or low spots. The top 3 inches of your digging pit will be above your current ground level. If you want your pit to be deeper than 3 inches, dig down as deep as you need to go.
4. Fill your pit with sand or soil. Then bury a few of your dogs favorite food puzzles, chew toys, or toys.
5. Let your dog at it! Praise any exploration of the area or any digging. If they need help, go over and dig in the pit with them, helping them excavate a toy or treat.
6. Redirect any attempts to dig in other places in your yard to the pit.