What toy to choose for a dog?

«My dog ​​enjoys playing with street sticks and rolling a children’s ball. She doesn’t need special toys!”, – such a statement can be heard from the novice owner. But experienced dog breeders and specialists from the zoosphere will answer in unison that you need to buy only toys from pet stores and only from trusted manufacturers.

• Children’s toys and other items not intended for playing with a dog are dangerous for her health. 

• Sticks from the street can be contaminated with parasites, infectious agents and contain reagents. 

• Balls, for example, are coated with paint and made of a material that should never be bitten or swallowed. 

• Many items that are not intended for playing with a dog break under the pressure of teeth into sharp parts and injure the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. 

• Stuffing soft toys and various small parts can be easily swallowed by a dog, and this can lead to digestive disorders and intestinal obstruction.

• Toxins and paint cause allergic reactions and poisoning. 

That’s why you need to go to a pet store for a dog toy and choose professional global brands (KONG, Petstages, Zogoflex).

In the production of professional toys, the slightest nuances are taken into account to ensure the safety of the pet.

In pet stores you will find toys for independent play of the dog and joint games with the owner. It is better to buy a few, for all occasions. They will definitely come in handy.

Life hack: so that the dog does not get bored with its toys, they need to be alternated regularly. They played with one toy for several days, then hid it and got a new one. This helps to keep the dog interested in the game.

How to choose a dog toy? Be guided not by your own sympathy, but by the characteristics of the model. Here are the main points to consider.

• Suitable size

For small, medium and large dogs, toys of the appropriate size are available. A toy that is too small can be swallowed by a dog. And too large models put excessive stress on the jaw.

• Optimal shape

Some pets like to drive and gnaw balls, chew textile toys, others prefer to calmly and without haste get treats from toys, and still others prefer to play tug with the owner. Observe the dog, determine what she likes best.

• High quality and safe material

Choose toys made from safe materials. It must be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the dog’s teeth, and at the same time plastic, so as not to injure the oral cavity. Petstages Orka toys are made from the same material as baby teethers.

• Compliance with the strength of the jaws

Look for manufacturers that categorize toys by dog ​​jaw strength. Pay attention to this feature. Durable dog toys with strong jaws are made from safe non-toxic material. It does not split or crumble under the influence of teeth (heavy-duty toys Kong, Zogoflex, Petstages toys with natural ingredients Deerhorn, Dogwood, BeyondBone).

Especially for terminator dogs that quickly deal with toys, some manufacturers produce (for example, black Kong Extreme), with a replacement guarantee in case of their destruction.

• Easy to wash

Some toys can be “washed” directly in the dishwasher, others are enough to wipe with a damp cloth. And the third requires almost professional dry cleaning. If you are looking for long-term use and the look of the toy is important to you, get models that are easy to clean.  

• Additional functions

What tasks should the toy perform? Develop intelligence, maintain healthy teeth, improve physical fitness or something else? Pay attention to dental, waterfowl, intellectual, etc. toys. The choice is very large, and one toy can cover several needs of the dog at once.

What toys do your pets like the most?