Choosing the Right Dog Toys

Dogs love to play with their owner, other animals or alone. Games are very important as physical activity, stimulation of brain activity and strengthening relationships between group members. Choosing the right toys makes play safe and fun.

Safety first of all

Make sure that all the toys you give your dog are the correct size. Toys that are too small can be swallowed by a dog, leading to suffocation, or problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to a foreign body. You also need to be careful with ropes, ribbons, elastic bands – they can be interesting for a curious dog, but they are unlikely to become good toys.

Toys with small details should be avoided (for example, plastic eyes on soft toys). Golden rule: as soon as the toy starts to deteriorate, it is replaced.

Aport!

A classic example of a suitable dog toy is a tennis ball. It bounces, has a chewable texture, and is comfortable to throw. Frisbee is also a good choice. When buying a Frisbee, opt for soft rubber or textile plates. They don’t fly that far, but are better for the dog’s teeth.

An even better toy for catch-and-fetch games would be an object that can bounce around in unpredictable ways. Such toys will be of particular interest to the dog, since he cannot predict where they will move in the next second. Elastic rubber balls or balls wrapped with a thick rope bounce well and move randomly.

Thick rubber toys are also a good choice, as they are easy to throw, chew on, and roll around. An excellent way to keep your dog busy for a while is to put treats inside the hollow toy. She will have to roll and chew on the toy before getting a treat out of it. This can be a lot of fun for your dog and fun for you!

Toys with squeakers

Toys with squeakers can bring great joy to your dog. Most dogs will simply nibble on the toy to produce the desired sound, but some will want to take the squeaker out, so make sure it is securely attached inside the toy. As always, if a toy starts to deteriorate, it should be replaced.

You can extend the life of your toys by not laying them all out at once. Choose a few toys and change them every two weeks. Then the toys will always be new to the dog. Another way to surprise your pet and keep him interested is to hide toys and let him find them.