Choosingplaytoysforyourdog-third

Choosing Play Toys for Your Dog

All dogs, especially puppies, thrive on stimulation and enjoy

playing. Although it’s great to play with your dog, it’s not

always practical or possible to do so all the time. That’s

where specialized dog toys come in – they can help keep your

dog busy and ensure his mind is occupied. But what types of

toys are right for your dog and how do you go about choosing

a toy for your furry friend?

These days, there are a range of toys available to suit all

preferences and tastes. Some dogs love chasing things, so

balls that can be thrown are ideal, whilst others thrive on

huge amounts of chewing or time spent puzzling over a strange

looking toy. Finding out what would be best for your dog may

be a case of trial and error. If you notice, for example, that

he seems fond of chewing your slippers, then a toy to chew

would be a good starting point. If you’re not sure, buy a

selection of different toys and try them out one by one. It

may be that he appreciates the variety and enjoys them all,

or you may find one in particular appeals more.

Ensuring you purchase a safe toy that won’t harm your dog is

just as essential as making sure toys bought for young

children are safe. Each year many dogs suffer accidental

injuries that can be nasty and painful as a result of

swallowing small pieces of toys, broken off pieces of sticks

or even the squeaky parts from inside novelty squeaky balls.

So before you buy, make sure that the toy is well made,

sturdy and doesn’t have any parts that might come off and

end up injuring your pet.

Some of the common types of dog toys include toys that can

be tugged, chewed, thrown or offer some form of puzzle or

novelty factor. Find out more about them below.

Toys to tug

Dogs that love to play tugging games are bound to enjoy tug

toys! These come in various forms, such as rubber rings or

hoops, and are generally designed to be held by a human on

one side and by a dog on the other. A good quality, durable

tug toy should last for ages, despite plenty of tugging activity,

so remember to look for a well made option. When you’re not

there to aid in the tugging, they can often double up as great

chewing toys.

Toys to chew

Whilst dogs would be happy to chew your slippers, furniture

or anything tasty looking that comes into view, it’s not

always so great for owners to have anything and everything

chewed to threads! That’s where toys to chew come in and can

be an absolute joy to your beloved pet. Toys designed to be

chewed are usually made of strong, hard rubber, so that they

last for ages and give your dog plenty of amusement.

Toys to throw

Many dogs traditionally love having a stick thrown for them

to chase after, but sticks can pose a danger if bits break

off and get stuck in the mouth or throat. If your dog enjoys

toys that are thrown, choose alternative options such as

balls or rubber objects that can be safely thrown and chased.

Standard tennis balls are great, but you can also get

specialised balls designed with attachments. As well as being

great exercise for your dog, this type of play doubles up as

good exercise for you, too!

Novelty toys

A quick peek in a good pet shop or online store will reveal

a huge selection of novelty dog toys on offer, from things

that squeak and make noises, to furry toys and strange toys

to give dogs something to puzzle over. If your dog responds

well to noises, then squeaky toys could provide hours of fun,

plus they’re good to chew. Do take care to ensure the squeaky

part doesn’t come loose easily though, as they’re not

designed to be swallowed. Toys that are puzzling are ideal

for dogs that like quieter, drawn-out entertainment and those

that are happy playing on their own.

As a whole, dog toys can provide hours of fun and enjoyment,

and help your dog develop into a playful animal, so why not

treat your pet today?