Not too long ago I someone sent me an email that went: "Help, I feel bad leaving my dog home all day, what can I do?"

I get emails like this all the time. Most people have busy lives and have to leave their dogs at home while they go off to work for eight to ten hours. Dogs do have options that they did not have just ten years ago.

Day daycare and pet walkers have become very popular. There are also many different dog toys on the market to day that can keep your dog occupied when you are not there. One of my favorites is the Buster Cube.

Mental stimulation is important for dogs. Dogs were bred to do many different tasks. Within the last seventy five years most dogs don't do the things they were bred for. Most herding dogs don't get the chance to herd, a lot of hunting dogs belong to people that don't hunt. Since the role of dogs has changed we need to make sure that we provide our dogs with some mental activities.

Dogs spend a lot of time without their owners. As we go off to work, our dogs spend the day waiting for us to come home. Buster cubes are great because you can keep your dog busy doing an enjoyable activity when you are not there. I like to put my dog's breakfast in the cube when I am going to have a busy day.

The Buster Cube has a hole on one side. Pour your dog's food into the cube and shake it up. This way the food filters throughout the cube. You can set the cube to make it easy or difficult for your dog to get the food. Start off with an easy setting.

Put the cube on the floor for your dog. Your dog will smell the food in the cube and start to paw at it and push it with his nose. As your dog starts to push the cube, some of the food will come out. This will keep your dog interested in the cube.

Once your dog understands the Buster Cube, you can make the setting a little more difficult. This way your dog will be busy for longer and longer times.

When your dog is physically and mentally exercised it is much easier for your dog to live with you and for you to live with your dog.