I Finally Found a Way to Keep My Dogs Busy — and Support Their Dental Health Too

Dogs can be peculiar creatures. I should know; my two five-year-old cavapoo littermates could not be more different. There’s the 20-pound Charlie, who is a loving sweetheart, and the 11-pound Bosley, who is a rambunctious diva. Partly because they are so tiny and littermates, they exude a shocking amount of energy and frequently feed off one another. Yet, as littermates, they are only interested in engaging with one another. Bosley gets very protective, ruining any opportunity for either to make friends, and both dogs tend to slaughter any toy my family places in front of them, which only increases their untamed vigor. Sometimes, it feels like my dogs are missing some much-needed external stimulation.

Enrichment is vital for any dog’s well-being. Whether sensory, cognitive, or physical, enrichment can, according to Highland Park Animal Hospital, keep dogs active and engaged–which can reduce stress and anxiety, improve cognitive function, enhance physical health, and reduce potentially problematic behavior. The Animal Humane Society goes on to say that dogs without proper enrichment can get frustrated or bored. Pet enrichment toys help ensure your dog stays active and come in many forms. From treat-dispensing options to snuffle mats, these toys help stimulate your dog's mind and instincts by evoking their natural senses. 

In fact, an article in the American Kennel Club, “Do Dogs Get Tired of Eating the Same Food Every Day?”, noted that a dog can be bored with their food because they are bored with their life. The solution is clear: combining tasty treats with purposeful play. The same goes for dogs who eat too quickly; enrichment toys can help slow them down and give them benefits you may not have known were missing

The Humane Society listed chewing as a good enrichment activity, and Project Hive’s new Hive Dental Enrichment Set makes enrichment and treat time easy. The bundle—available on Project Hive and Chewy—includes one package of the Hive Chew Sticks and one Hive Chew Toy, and comes in two sizes: small for small to medium sized dogs, and large for medium to large dogs. 

The Hive Dental Enrichment Set focuses on chewing. Set-up is simple: just insert the Hive Chew Stick into the Hive Chew Toy and watch your pup try to devour it. Because the treat fits snugly inside the toy cavity, it takes my dogs longer to eat it as they puzzle over how to get it out. Since my dogs are 20 and 11 pounds, respectively, I use the Hive Chew Toy in the small/medium size, which weighs 2.8 ounces and is 2 ½ inches tall with a 2-inch diameter, making it small enough that Bosley and Charlie can fit it in their mouth, yet big enough that they won’t choke on it. 

The first time I gave them the Hive Chew Stick with the Hive Chew Toy, they didn’t want to put it down—even after they had finished the treat. Finally, they engaged with something other than each other, batting the Hive Chew Toy around, doing the dog-play pose, and kept digging, ensuring they got every last crumb–and one of the few things that lasted for more than 20 minutes! 

My dogs adore the set, and I appreciate how high-quality it is. The Hive Chew Sticks are not only tasty, but are also dental chews. The sticks have textured ridges that help clean teeth and freshen breath as they chew, making it easier for me to prioritize my dogs' oral hygiene. 

The treats are also vegetarian. Adding vegetarian options to your dog’s diet can help improve your dog's digestion and provide them with vitamins and nutrients they could be lacking. Made from honey and peanuts—or pumpkin and honey if you opt for the large size with pumpkin flavor—both flavor options contain no wheat, corn, soy, artificial colors or flavors, and are easy to digest for dogs with sensitive tummies; plus, they have a human-friendly aroma. 

And just as the treat is easy on a dog’s teeth, the toy is easy on parents. The Hive Chew Toy is easy to clean because it is open on both ends, and it’s dishwasher safe—all a pet parent has to do is pop it in the top shelf. The toy also floats, and the beehive shape makes it bounce erratically. The Hive Chew Toy can also be a fetch toy; and while my dogs don’t quite know how to fetch, they love chasing the bouncing toy around. And because the Hive Chew Toy is gentle on teeth and gums, non-toxic, BPA-free, latex-free, phthalate-free, and FDA-compliant, I don’t have to worry about letting them use it. 

Project Hive’s signature unscented yellow hive toy is aesthetically pleasing to both humans and dogs, as it comes in the color dogs see best: yellow. But the hive chew toy also comes in scented options in both large and small sizes, offering a lavender-scented toy in purple, a vanilla toy in blue, and a wild berry toy in pink. These options can help with sensory enrichment.

But the products are not only good for pets but also for the planet. Project Hive is a member of 1% for the planet and is B Corp-certified, a credential that highlights companies with responsible business practices dedicated to helping people and the planet. All products are made in the USA, and the toys are made of 100% recyclable material. Project Hive also donates a percentage of all sales to plant wildflowers, restoring bees’ habitats while supporting a healthier planet.

Here’s the link to the Chewy bundles: small and large–both with savings of about 20% compared to buying them individually! And here’s another friend’s dog that couldn’t get enough of this dental enrichment set–she was playing with it for three hours!