We, dog owners, only want what’s best for our dogs. That includes giving them what they need and want. We also want them happy and entertained all the time. This is why playtime with our beloved furry friends is always a good idea.
There are loads of games that dogs absolutely love. There’s the classic tug of war, tag, hide and seek, and a whole lot more. But then again, it’s not all fun and games when they start chewing on your best pair of shoes. You can prevent this from happening if you buy them a new toy. That way can still have heaps of fun without wreaking havoc inside the house.
Now in choosing the right kind of toy for your dog, there are a few considerations. With the wide variety of dog toys available in the market, how can you find the most suited dog toy for your fur baby?
Consider The Size
When shopping or looking for a dog toy to bring home, make sure you know your dog’s size by heart. When you have a puppy, be mindful, and look for a toy that is good in developing the puppy’s teeth. Bonus points would be the toy’s help in training. If you have the larger breeds, you can give them exciting ones such as the interactive tug ring. Make sure to give the large dogs big toys as well. If you give them small ones, they might end up ripping them apart- the small materials some possible choking hazard.
Consider Your Dog’s Dental Health
Dogs are notorious machines. They will (and believe me) chew almost anything they can get their teeth into. They choose nothing: clothes, furniture, books, shoes– name it, they can chew it. We can be forgiving, but the whole point of this chewing problem is our concern for their dental health. All these chewing can most definitely damage their teeth. If you are one of those concerned dog parents, and you worry much about their dental health, you opt to pick dog toys that will not damage their chompers. There are a lot of dog toys available that are dog teeth friendly. Some are even meat flavored, for more dog chewing pleasure!
Consider Your Dog’s Cognitive Development
Apart from the fun these dog toys bring forth, we also wish for the mental and cognitive development of our beloved dogs. Some special dog toys available in the market today level up the learning experience of our beloved pets. There are toys that serve as great aid in training and teaching dogs for they encourage the improvement of their cognitive skills. Some of these toys are even considered as game changers because they are known to help dogs in improving their search skills.
Consider Your Dog’s Play Preferences
Different dogs, different personalities—hence, different play preferences. There are dogs who are contented with the confides of their owner’s humble abode. There are dogs who are big adventurers and prefer the outdoors. Think of their play preferences when you buy them their toys. Outdoorsy dogs can enjoy balls that are catch friendly. Indoor dogs will truly love stuffed or plush animals that they can carry with them wherever inside the house.
Play preferences: Most dogs love to play, but not all dogs are super active. Think about your dog’s play preferences and how they use their dog toys. Do they love the great outdoors? Opt for a ball that’s catch-friendly. If your dog is more of a homebody, consider a squeaky plush animal they can carry around indoors.
Consider Safety
The most important consideration of them all: when buying a dog toy, don’t forget to pose this question: “Is this toy safe for my dog?” If the answer is yes, and you think that toy will bring him or her immense happiness, then go ahead, buy it. Your dog will love your playtime even more!
