Right Kind of Toys for Dogs

The right kind of toy for dogs

Dogs love to play, either with their owners or alone. The game is an important opportunity to exercise, enjoy mental stimulation and bond with you! So make sure you have the right kind of dog toys that are necessary for their fun and safety.

Safety first

Make sure that the toys given to your dog are the right size; toys that are too small can be swallowed and cause choking or pose a risk to the stomach and intestines. Likewise, be careful with twine, ribbons or elastic bands; these may be of interest to a curious dog but are never appropriate toys.

Any toy with parts that can come out of the chewing gum (such as plastic eyes on a teddy bear) should be avoided. The golden rule with ANY toy is that when it starts to wear out it should be replaced.

Catch it!

A tennis ball is a classic choice for a dog toy. It bounces, provides an interesting texture for chewing and can be easily thrown away. Frisbee is also fantastic if your dog likes to play catch. When buying a frisbee look for one made of soft rubber or fabric. It may not fly as far but it is kinder to the dog's mouth and teeth.

An even more interesting flying game would be one that bounces irregularly. Because your dog can not predict where they will go next, they become a lot of fun. Solid rubber balls and balls with thick rope tails bounce and roll irregularly.

In general, thick rubber toys are a good choice as they can be thrown, chewed or rolled around. A great way to keep your dog busy for a while is to put pieces of dog treats in a hollow toy. He has to push, roll and chew the toy before he can get the cake out. This can be a very interesting activity for your dog and it offers great fun to you!

Squeak, squeak!

Noise-making toys are also fun for dogs. Most dogs are satisfied with just biting the toy and making it whistle, but some want to take out the whistle, so make sure the whistle is securely locked inside. As always, if the toy starts to wear out it will need to be replaced.

Some dogs prefer plush toys. They will take care of them like babies, they will carry them around, they will rush them, they will sit on them and they will suck them. Someone who can be washed in the washing machine would be ideal. The best teddy bears are the ones you can find in the pet shop or at the vet.

You will keep the toys longer if you do not take them all out at once. Take a few at a time and alternate them after two weeks. This way, the toys always look new to your dog. Hiding toys so that your dog is looking to find them is another great way to surprise him and keep him interested in them.