Pet Toys: Choosing the Right Toy

How can you resist an adorable, soft, plushy stuffed pet toy for your puppy? "He'll love it!" you think to yourself, but some toys can be fatal to your dog. Choosing the right toy for your canine friend takes a lot of trial and error, and more importantly, supervision.  Remember, a busy dog is a good dog.  I am sure you will agree that it is better to have numerous dog toys as opposed to buying new furniture!

Before I discuss a bit about dog toys, humor me for a moment. Why would you give any dog your sock, or a toy that looks like a shoe, slipper or newspaper to play with? Dog owners actually DO this! All you are teaching your dog to do is chew your socks, shoes, slippers, and newspapers!  Your dog cannot differentiate your good slipper, from his fake slipper toy. Do yourself a favor and make sure that his pet toys do not resemble your real possessions!

Soft plushy toys are great for some dogs. Many dogs just like to carry their toys around, sleep and cuddle with them. Think of dog toys in "toughness" levels, from weak stuffed toys, to the ones that claim to be indestructible. It is easy to assume that certain breeds destroy their toys more than others do. That is true to a certain extent, but you should never underestimate the power of a mad Chihuahua! Little dogs can rip toys apart just as easily as big dogs. Some just like to spread the stuffing all over your floor. While that may be somewhat cute, the reality is that the stuffing can lead to choking and in some cases death. If you want to try giving your dog a soft toy, make sure that the only time he has the toy is when you are home and can supervise. Leave him alone with his toy, and then check on him. Do not leave him crated with a soft toy. See how it goes, maybe you got lucky!

Any toy that squeaks can be a potential risk to your dog for obvious reasons. If your dog destroys his toy, the next step is to eat the squeaker. If you have already "soft toy tested" your dog, then these should b fine. (Though find you will find that your dog will choose the most inopportune time to squeak continuously!)

Nylabones are terrific toys and come in different shapes, sizes, flavors and materials. There are "edibles" (which I do not recommend). Your dog really does not need to ingest more calories other than his food and some treats. In addition, many dogs get sick from these digestible bones.  There are also soft and hard nylabones.  Soft ones are great for puppies, and this will teach them to chew Nylabones early on.  The harder bones are for dogs with more aggressive chewing habits. If your dog is chewing apart the soft bone, step it up to the harder one.  Even the harder ones will wear down, and your dog can swallow pieces of the hard plastic. Make sure you keep an eye on his Nylabone, and replace it with a new one when necessary. There are dental Nylabones available as well. My Boston takes her hard dental dinosaur Nylabone everywhere!  Check out this link for more information Nylabone

Kongs are a dog owner's lifesaver. These are hard rubber toys that you can fill with treats, and keep your dog busy for hours. The Kong is the best toys to put in your dog's crate as you are leaving the house. It will keep him focused on getting the treats out, and not the fact that you are departing. You can stuff Kongs with some treats, and stick peanut butter as well, to make their task more challenging. The Kong is perfect for "working" dog breeds. Log on to Kong Company for great recipe ideas!

Then, there are Tuffies! These virtually indestructible toys are awesome for big dogs and aggressive chewers. Tuffies are not chew toys like the Kong or Nylabone, but rather a play toy perfect for dogs that love their soft toys, but destroy them. Tuffies are made of industrial grade nylon with one soft fleece layer, and then stitched seven times! They are extremely durable, and come in a variety of animal shapes, sizes and colors, though they are pricey.  Some Tuffies do have squeakers, but it is virtually impossible to get them out. Though I have seen a Mastiff chew through one of these toys, proving no dog toy is 100% indestructible! Find out more about Tuffies here. VIP Products

Make sure that you always buy the right size toy for your dog. Any toy that is too small for your dog can be a choking hazard. Tennis balls and hard Frisbees are terrific for fetching, and rope toys can be wonderful, just STAY away from big fringes on the ends (or cut them). The knot is fine; you just do not want them swallowing the fringy threads.  Use your judgment, keep an eye on your dog, and always have a toy handy if your dog picks up something that he should not be chewing. Say a firm "No!" and immediately put his toy in his mouth. He will eventually realize that the only thing that he should be chewing on is his toys. Finally, do not go crazy trying to figure out why he likes one toy and wants nothing to do with another. Just think, you wear your favorite shoes all the time, while others sit dormant in your closet!