Toys are one of the essential things your dog needs for exercise and entertainment. They can also strengthen the bond between you and your dog. I will be showing you some of the best toys to buy and some to shy away from. These will vary from breed to breed and dog to dog, so some of these might not be the right for your dog specifically. Hopefully your dogs can enjoy a new toy to play with!
KONG Rubber Dog Chew Toy
Referred to as “The KONG”, it is a incredibly versatile and sturdy dog toy. One of the main problems with toys is that they are chewed apart within the first couple days and then have to be thrown away. The KONG stands sturdy and is almost impossible to get chewed through. The most beneficial trait it carries however, is its versatility. You can use it for fetch, as it bounces unpredictably and presents a challenge to your dog. You can also fill it with treats and have your dog try to bounce it around to try to fish them out. This is very funny to watch and the dogs also love it! If your dog needs a snack, you can fill the KONG with peanut butter and freeze it, letting your dog chew and lick it for hours. This is a great thing to give them if your going to be gone for a couple hours, and need to keep them entertained.
Frisbee
A frisbee is the classic toy for dogs, but is it the toy for your dog. Some dogs love the frisbee and can spend hours a day chasing it back and forth. Some dogs on the other hand, don’t like them and won’t chase them. A frisbee is a hit or miss item, your dog will either love it, or won’t give any interest to it. I would recommend trying out a friends frisbee, or seeing how it reacts some other way. If you do decide to purchase one, make sure it is rubber and sturdy. If it is plastic, it can break in your dogs mouth hurting and possibly killing your dog.
Mammoth Flossy Chews Cottonblend Color 3-Knot Rope Tug
This is the most interesting toy on the list so far. It is very versatile, and also gives health benefits to your dog. Your dog will love to chew on it, play tug of war, and fetch it all day long. Not only that, it has fibers in it that floss your dogs teeth. So while your dog is playing, it can get naturally flossed! It comes in various sizes so you don’t have to worry about getting one too big or too small, and it is extremely sturdy.
Avoid these!
This pig toy and many other toys are made of latex, which is not good for your dog. Your dog can have a allergic reaction to the material and also swallow it and choke. In my experience with this toy, it often ends up getting broken and thrown away in the first hour of use.
Stuffed Animals
There are many reasons not to give your dog a stuffed animal. First of all, it will get shredded easily on use. Which will require a heavy cleanup and can even put your pup in danger! Dogs will often swallow the stuffing and it can get lodged in the throat and choked on, or get lodged in the intestines preventing digestive pathways. It is best to avoid stuffed animals when choosing toys for your dog.
Squeaky Toys
It might surprise you that the incredibly popular squeaky toy is on this list. But they contain a squeaker inside of them that dogs will rip out, and this presents a large choking hazard for dogs. This is incredibly overlooked and happens very frequently, especially in puppies. Stay away from squeaky toys!
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