I love easter. It’s a family based holiday, and that means I’m involving my dogs.
My woofs all get a little raw (varying amounts depending on who) but when easter or any other holiday (like Christmas!) comes around, you can bet that my dogs are getting extra special treats. These are the recipes we used this easter so I figured I’d share them with you for a little inspiration.
Whether you want your toppl ready for entertaining your dog whilst the kiddos do an easter egg hunt, whilst you eat a wonderful family dinner together, or even just whilst you enjoy company! Toppls are a fantastic tool to stimulate your dogs brain and give them a wonderful treat.
That’s what these recipes are designed for after all, a treat!
Most of this is widely available from raw feeding suppliers, or, indeed, some of it can be found at your local super market. The other place I love getting treats from right now is Real Dog Box and even sometimes on amazon.
If you aren’t a raw feeder? You can totally use these as a treat, or a change in addition to their normal diet, or you can replace any meat with a mix of Kibble, peanut butter, yoghurt and honey, or other things from the list over on How To Use A Kong.
What Is A Toppl?
A toppl is a relatively new alternative to a kong, it’s easier to wash, it’s easier to fill, and it allows for more open engagement, so for a lazy dog? These can prevent them from getting disinterested.
They’re probably my favourite enrichment toy at the moment because they’re super flexible for what you want to use them for. They’re also widely available on amazon, chewy or on West paw’s own site.
Please note that this is enrichment only, not a full and balanced meal.
Novelty Bunny toppl
With ground chicken and bone mix, this one is a little more friendly for families, I find, also a lot easier for non-raw feeders because ground chicken is something you can find at most stores!
I fill the main cavity with the meat and offal, shape the ears out of the carrots and add a little hot-dog snoot! Cute as a button.
Easter Friday Toppl
Traditionally Easter friday is meant to be a meat-free day, so most of the time it’s a fish day! This recipe is fun (but not totally meat-free because of the liver). I like using poached fish typically for this as I find it works better in the toppl and doesn’t grind well.
I layer the haddock and liver, then top with salmon crunchies and then tuck the dried fish skin in.
It’s not a cheap toppl? But it works.
Easter Bunny Toppl
This one may not be one for you if you are a household with kiddos – or maybe just name it something different?
I like to fill the toppl with a layer of ground rabbit, then top with the ground dried liver (I use stuff from real dog box) and then top with a pair of adorable dried rabbit ears! This one is really cute and my dogs (particularly Shelby!) are the biggest fans of rabbit ears.
We get our rabbit ears on amazon at the moment, but if I find a local supplier I’ll let you know.
Easter Egg Toppl
This toppl is perfect for Easter Sunday!
A Naturally dyed raw egg, milk bone, strip of dried beef liver, rabbit mince (chicken is fine!) and a little treat of peanut butter in the hole of the toppl – what a gorgeous little Easter treat with a three course meal to boot.
Any suggestions?
What about you? What do you do? Send me your recipes for easter, and I’ll include them here for people to use. Contact me and drop me your ideas!
Happy Easter!
Enrichment activities like Toppls are wonderful – particularly because you can arrange this ahead of time, and you can leave it to the side. Meaning when you need it? It’s there. Having one prepared for your dog is so perfect for the season and a great opportunity to use some slightly more exotic or unusual meants.
For More Enrichment Ideas why not look at our other enrichment posts?
Author, Ali Smith
Ali Smith is a professional, qualified, and multi-award winning trainer is the founder of rebarkable. She has always believed animals deserve kindness and champions force free methods. Believing that dog guardians will all choose the kindest options if proper information is provided, she aims to help all dog guardians who need it and make dog training as accessible as possible
Ali lives win Maryland, US with her husband and her three dogs.
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