There are many dog toys available. So many, in fact, that it can be confusing to know how best to invest your money. When buying toys, it is important to understand what the toy was intended for. Toys are created to play (throw, scoop, catch, etc.) or to chew on.
Chew Toys – Dogs need to chew. Chewing activity is a natural way for dogs to relieve boredom, stress, teething pain, and anxiety. Training your dog to chew on the appropriate objects is up to you. The key way to do this is to provide suitable chew toys and make them interesting to your dog. Chew toys are designed to be strong and durable. It is worth investing in buying a number of good chew toys. Your dog will appreciate variety, so buy toys in different scents, sizes, and shapes. Help keep your dog’s interest in toys by rotating access to them. Leave two or three toys for a couple of days, then pick them up and put two or three different ones. Initially, you may need to help your dog develop an interest in his chew toys. Do this by playing or “teasing” your dog with the toy. Move the toy with quick and jerky movements in front of the dog, give it to him for a moment, remove it and repeat. Make your dog believe that this is something he should be interested in. Don’t just take it home, open it up and throw it on the floor. Also keep toys clean by hand washing or placing them on the top rack of the dishwasher.
Recommended chew toys:
Nylabone®: they are very durable. They are scented and flavored. In general, dogs seem to prefer the more irregular shapes rather than just the bone shape. However, once the bone has been chewed, it appears to be more desirable to your dog. Those with “bumps” or uneven texture are generally well accepted. I have found that many dogs like the shapes of dinosaurs.
Gumabone® – They are slightly softer than Nylabone and are generally preferred by puppies. They are not designed for heavy adult chewing. Once again, irregular shapes are the most popular.
Kong®: they are made of very hard rubber and have a shape similar to that of a snowman. The hollow center allows you to put peanut butter or other treats inside to create a great pacifier for dogs. You can also plug the smaller hole, in chicken broth or water and freeze. This is great for teething pain, but give your dog the Kong on an easy-to-clean floor.
Rag bones or dental floss – These offer your dog a softer texture to chew on. They can be put in a washing machine for easy cleaning.
In general, chew toys should be hard and difficult to destroy or break. Make sure you buy a size that is appropriate for your dog. A toy that is too small can be dangerous. Rawhide, pig ears, hooves, and other animal products are not chew toys. Carefully consider giving these items to your dog. These are animal products; therefore, they smell very similar to leather products in your home that you may not want your dog to chew on. If you own leather bags, shoes, briefcases, or furniture, you may want to reconsider allowing your dog to chew on raw hides, etc. In addition, there is currently no regulation on the manufacture of these items. Most of these are created from scraps that fall to the slaughterhouse floor, are shipped and dried, without any sterilization process. Later, they are placed in large containers at pet stores, where a multitude of other dogs and people may have handled them before you buy one. Dogs can experience digestive disorders when ingesting these products.
PLAY TOYS: Play toys are more interactive. They are designed to throw, catch, pounce, etc., and bring your dog the most joy if you are involved. These are not designed to withstand strong and vigorous chewing activity. Therefore, many of these toys are best picked up and put away after play.
Recommended play toys
Balls – Balls are made from a variety of materials and come in many sizes. Choose balls that your dog cannot easily destroy, such as hard rubber ones. Tennis balls are great for playing, but don’t let your dog chew on them. The hairy green stuff gets caught in your teeth and can be swallowed. Many dogs like to play with Jolly Balls, which are larger and designed to roll and pounce.
Discs – Discs also come in a variety of sizes and materials. I think it is better to choose a disk made of softer materials, such as the Floppy Disk. Catching a hard drive could damage your teeth.
Stuffed Toys – The options are many when it comes to stuffed toys. Many come with a squeak inside, which can stimulate the dog to dissect it. If your dog does this, you may want to find a stuffed toy without the noisemaker. For your dog’s safety, choose button-type eyeless toys or cut them out.
Latex and vinyl toys – once again, many options. These are often very inexpensive and many are very cheap. This is because the construction is generally poor. These toys can be easily ripped, ripped, and crushed and therefore can be swallowed. If you give these types of toys to your dog, it is generally best to supervise the play and pick them up when you are done.
Every time a toy breaks, it’s time to throw it away. Always think about the safety of your dog. Clean toys from time to time with a mild dishwashing liquid. To help organize the mess, consider creating a toy box for your dog. Teach your dog where to find his toys and even how to help pick them up!
PLAY TIME: When playing with your dog, keep in mind that you don’t want to encourage negative activities. It’s easy to get your dog overly excited and he may start jumping on you or start to play bite. If your dog’s teeth touch you at any time, stop playing immediately and abruptly. Wait a few minutes and then resume playback. Your dog will get the message that the fun stops if his teeth touch you.