Why Do Dogs Need Toys?

Most of dog lovers know how important it is to play with their dogs and to keep their pets entertained. Playing with your dog can positively affect your dog’s well-being, both mental and physical.

Dogs not only need their dose of exercises but also mental stimulation. If you cannot provide those two things, you are asking for trouble. Bored pup who is full of energy will look for a way to release it. I can guarantee it’s not a way that you would approve.

Usually lack of attention ends with your dog destroying your belongings or redecorating your home. But keeping your stuff safe is not the only reason why you should play with your dog. Playtime is a great bonding experience for both of you.

How to Choose the Right Toy For Your Dog

There’s plenty of pet toys designed to help you entertain your dog. You may wonder how to choose the right toy for your dog. In this post I will go over different types of toys you can get for your pet.

There is no ‘right toy’ that will suit every dog. To choose the best toy for your dog, you need to consider your pet’s habits, size, breed and temperament.

Sidenote: If you are not sure if specific type of dog toys would suit your dog’s needs, but you want to try this activity, you can try it out and if it is not a good fit, donate it or gift it to your dog friends.

Types of Dog Toys

Chew toys – dogs have a strong natural instinct to chew and by giving them appropriate chew toys you can minimize the risk of your belongings getting destroyed. Chew toys are suitable both for puppies and adult dogs.

Chew toys come in handy especially when your puppy is teething and trying to bite into anything on their way. You can redirect biting onto the chew toys and teach your dog from early days some of the rules that they need to follow.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t leave your dog unsupervised with their toys to prevent them from swallowing pieces of it in case they manage to destroy it. This rule of supervised play is especially important with puppies are more prone to checking if things are edible or dogs who carried this habit into adulthood.

Tug toys – tug-of-war is a great bonding game for you and your dog. Some dogs like to play it crazy and you can hype them up even more with making sounds. Other dogs still enjoy the tug-of-war game but are more gentle.

Consider either fleece dog tug toy or rope tug toy. Both are durable and usually easy to clean after playtime.

Comfort toys 🧸 – plush toys may help to soothe and bring a sense of security to some dogs, especially those who suffer from separation anxiety or are going through major changes in their lives, such as moving.

Many breeders use comfort toys as a way to make separation from the mother easier for the puppy. Scent of the nest helps puppy to calm down while experiencing environment change.

Adult dogs can also benefit from having a comfort toy.

Interactive toys – such as sniffing mats, puzzle toys or interactive dog feeders are a great mental exercise that stimulates and teaches your dog how to solve problems.

Interactive dog toys are great, especially if you look for a way to entertain your dog inside. You may be surprised how tiring they can be.

Fetch dog toys – and other playtime toys are probably the most popular type of a dog toy. There are many variations of these toys on the market, starting with simple tennis balls, balls on a rope, ball launchers for more intense playtime, etc.

How to Choose the Right Dog Toy Based On Material It Is Made Out Of

When choosing the best toy for your dog you should not only consider the type of a dog toy but also material it is made out of. It is important to make sure that it is safe for your pet. In this post I shared how I pick materials for my handmade dog toys made out of fabrics and yarn.

You want to avoid toys made out of flimsy plastic that may break easily and be swallowed – or even worse – break into sharp pieces. Dog toys you choose should be durable enough for their purpose.

Rotate Your Dog’s Toys

Most dogs love new toys. To keep your dog’s toys ‘fresh’, you can hide some of the toys out of reach and bring them out after couple days. This way every playtime will be more exciting for your pet.

Trying to choose the right toy for your dog can feel overwhelming with so many products available on the market, especially if you are looking for toys for a new puppy or a dog that you don’t know very well. I can assure you that it gets easier when you learn your dog’s habits and preferences.

Don’t get discouraged if your dog doesn’t seem to be interested in the toy you got for her/him. Sometimes it can take more time. Sometimes it takes changing the toys purpose.

Ask Boris. He’ll fetch anything 🙈