Ways to entertain a dog without food?

I have had the same problem, used to live on a island and the only way to get off was a 5 day ferry, owned 2 dogs/5 cats and kittens at the time.

Toys that you can use could be rubber so Kota wouldn't be eating anything, just chewing. Rope also helps, but it would be shredded by the time the ride was over if he likes to chew.

Not much else i can think of, but if you have the time... take a stroll through a pet store, like Pet Zoo, Petco, or Pet Smart and get some that he has a interest in, of course if hes a sociable dog.

You could use tranq.based medication, but be aware, some dogs 'fight' this, and it could well be he does this, and zonks out once the travelling is over. And to be honest, I prefer not to tranq. dogs when they travel because if they do become sleepy and then the effects wear off too soon, they can panic.

Although I appreciate your thinking, I'd not leave them to chew anything that they might swallow during the trip - unless you are able to keep an eye on them. I'd be worried about choking, especially with the marrow-bones! And that includes pigs ears too. I never left my hounds unattended with bones etc. Hopefully the motion of the boat will lull them into dozing during the trip - make sure they've had a good run before you go on board, which should help.

Hope it's not too rough!!

Drugging a dog isn't so bad.

I have a dog that gets motion sickness (drooling, vomiting, restlesness) and I give her Benadryl before traveling.

I makes her tired, so she'll just sleep most of the trip, instead of being sick.

She's fared 14 hr car rides (with breaks every 3 hours or so) with no problems on benadryl.

It just makes everything a lot less stressful.

Perhaps a nylabone? A couple unstuffed animals to tear up? Josie's only happy when she's making a mess or digging treats out of her kong.

All I can say is, thank heavens for stuffed kongs when it comes to keeping my dogs busy. Sorry I can't help much more than that!

How about some raw butchers bones, they may have a small amounts of flesh left but the work they have to put in chewing and gnawing at the bone is really stimulating.

The turning point of letting Benn (our 2.5 year old Boxer) out of his crate while we weren't at home for a few hours, was when he had a bone with every meal to keep him occupied/stimulated.

You can use the pills that the vet gave you,. but they do wear off, make sure how long they last, but not over give them to the dog please.

Also, take the dogs kong and put Creamy smooth peanut butter in it, not a lot, enough to fill about half way only.

You see, Peanut butter coats the tummy, and make sure you buy the creamy smooth, not crunchy and make sure it is the one that says less sodium on it.

Bo, my Newfie use to get car sick when I first got him, my vet said, use peanut buttter in his kong, do not feed while traveling at all, the peanut butter will coat his stomach and he will not get sick.

I thought okay I will try it.

Then I remembered, I am a diabetic and when I got sick really bad to my stomach and was ill, my Internal Medicine doctor told me to get smooth peanut butter on saltine crackers and it stopped my upset stomach, I still use it if my blood sugar gets low and I get sick to my stomach, peanut butter and it always works...why I do not know.

So, our first trip back to Montana with Bo, a long drive, I used the Kong with Peanut butter, gave it to him about 30 mins after we hit the road, he lick and licked on it for a couple of hours...then it was gone...then 4 hrs later, I gave him more and more..then we were in Montana...he never once vomited or got sick......finally he did not get car sick.....and he could eat and be normal, but I always took his kong and peanut butter with us everywhere...it did work.

good luck

And I hope your baby does not get sick on the trip at all

Happy Thanksgiving

Now, this may not work for your dog, but it did for my dog.

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idk if they make it for dogs but they do for cats and its ok for dogs to use. they are little mice toys that have cat nip in them to keep them chewing, but the food is secured so they cant get to it. my dog is entertained for hours trying to destroy this mouse. maybe u can get ur dog a pig ear. its kinda like a bone