Choosing Correct Dog Toys & How To Use Them

Choosing Safe Dog Toys

There are a great many factors that factor in to the safety or inherent danger of a dog toy. Many selection factors are dependent upon your dog's size, breed, activity level and playtime style. We cannot guarantee your dog's level of playtime engagement or his safety with any specific dog toy, but we can help you make more informed decisions with the following dog toy selection guidelines.

Dog Toy Safety Tips & Tricks

You will find as many other dog owners already know, that the things your pup wishes most to play with are generally the poorest of choices for safe and interactive playtime. Dog proofing your dog's environment for hazardous items like... string, ribbons, rubber bands, holiday tinsel, children's toys, pantyhose and anything else that could be ingested such as unsafe house plants and other toxins. Your dog's toys should be selected appropriately for your dog's current size and changed as he grows. Balls and other dog toys that are too small and can be easily swallowed or become lodged in your dog's mouth or throat is a very serious consideration. Skip over dog toys that are  not dog choking safe or simply make them safe by removing ribbons, strings, button eyes and other parts that could be chewed off and choked on or ingested. Frequently check your dog's toys for damage and wear which can create hazards, then get rid of any toys that have been worn or chewed in to a choking or ingestion danger.

It is always a good idea to ask your vet about the safety of chew type dog toys such as bones, animal hooves, pigs ears and especially rawhide chew toys. Hard rubber toys are safest chew toy choice for your dog and will last longer as well. Carefully evaluate any dog toy which contains a squeaker, rattle or bell inside of it. These type of toys will require ongoing evaluation for damage causing hazards as your dog will often be driven to must find and destroy the noise making source and could then ingest it. We advise that such toys with hidden noisemakers be only used under supervision to prevent injury to your dog. Many times dog and children toys can be filled with unsafe fibers which can create a hazard of ingestion, poisoning or choking. Some potentially dangerous fillings include nutshells, gel or polystyrene beads (like a Beanie Baby). Keep in mind that even a toy stuffing deemed as safe or non-toxic is still not digestible. Soft toys are not indestructible and should be checked frequently for wear, however some are sturdier than others and will provide better value. All soft dog toys should be machine washable to help maintain a clean playtime for your dog.

Types of Dog Toy Functions

Active Play Dog Toys

Hard rubber toys, like Kong Dog Toys are available in a wide variety of engaging shapes and sizes that are both fun for chewing and interactive play. Rope dog toys make great tugging toys and can engage a chronic chewer for many hours. Tennis balls are the time tested pup favorites and make great fetch toys, but some watch the quality of these balls as dogs can chew off and ingest broken pieces.

Diversion Dog Toys

Dog toys which can be filled with dog treats or a small amount of peanut butter will keep your dog engaged and on task. The right treat hidden in a toy can keep a puppy or dog busy and out of trouble for hours. Check with your vet before giving peanut butter to your dog. These types of dog toys should be large enough that your dog cannot get his mouth around it to accidentally ingest it.

Comforting Alone Time Toys

Soft stuffed dog toys are great comforting toys, but are not right for all dogs or breeds. Some dogs will want the stuffed or plush dog toy to be small enough to carry around and toss. Other dogs that want to vigorously shake or kill the toy, in which case you will want that toy to be prey sized. The size of the prey is directly related to your dog's size, for example mouse sized for toy and small breeds, rabbit sized for medium breeds or duck sized for larger breeds. If your dog is very destructive, then stuffed toys are really not a proper choice. Comfort your puppy at night with a shirt, towel or pillow that smells like you and they will feel safe and secure. Additionally, dog toys with a heartbeat or other soothing sounds can be very comforting for small puppies at night or while you are out. All stuffed toys for any dog will require frequent maintenance and checking for choking or ingestion hazards created by continuous play.

Tug of War - Pull Type Dog Toys

Tog of war or pulling games with dog toys can be a very rewarding playtime experience for both you and your dog. However, it is necessary to take a few additional precautions and set some rules to keep it both fun and of course safe.

Choose a single pulling type toy that will be only be used for tug of war playtime. Singling out a toy for this type of play will help prevent your dog from grabbing and tugging anything you may have in your hand during non-playtime.

• Never allow your dog to initiate tug of war on his own, you start the game with a signal or word that indicates that it is playtime.
• Teach your dog to always release the pull toy by offering a treat or better toy in exchange and using a constant phrase to set the behavior. Do not restart the tug of war until he is properly releasing the pull toy to you on command.

If your dog does wish not give up the toy on your command, stop the game immediately to initiate the proper behavioral response. to seal this deal, simply wait until he gets interested in some other toy or activity and then put away the toy for another time. We do not recommend you allow small children to initiate tog of war with your dog.

If your dog has shown any signs of aggression towards you or extremely rough play, tug of war is not a game we recommend.

Dog Toy Best Practices

Rotate your dog's toy selection by putting some away and keeping some out, this will keep him interested and his playtime fresh and engaging. Keep your dog's toys in a very accessible and consistent location, he should be able to get his toys on his own. Keep all of your dog's toys clean and well maintained, remember damage can cause hazards and he will outgrow certain toys... Be aware and be prepared for every phase of your dog's lifetime of play.