'More Toys, Please'

BY JEFF CAMPBELL, My Best Friend Obedience

Toys are one of the first things that every new puppy owner is told that they need to have a well-adjusted member of the family.  These are the items that will keep Bingo’s teeth off of the antique table, the favorite pair of shoes, and even the kid’s hands.  But, how do you know what toys are interesting, durable, and safe for your dog?

Chew toys come in many different forms from squeaky balls, stuffed animals, plastic bones, puzzle toys, ropes and natural chew items.  All of these toys should be available in some fashion for your pup to mess around with.  Before we discuss these different objects, there is one caveat I have for everyone, don’t assume that every toy is safe with every dog.  All dogs chew on items differently so for your dogs safety please make sure your dog is safe with each type of toy by watching how they play with the toy.  If they are too destructive then throw that toy away and go get something more durable.

Okay, on to the fun stuff.  I tend to have about three times the amount of toys than I think my dogs will need.  That way I can rotate the toys periodically so that no one gets bored.  After all, how exciting can a squeaky soccer ball be day in and day out.  When buying stuffed animals and squeaky toys make sure they are well built and durable.  I have found that the original Vermont chewman are fairly tough for stuffed animals.  Plastic bone type toys are important because dogs like the hardness and flavoring of certain Nylabones or Gumabones.  The Galileo is a very hard bone that both of my dogs love to mess with.  This however is probably not the best if you have hardwood floors and a pup that likes to throw his toys around.   Booda has also made great strides with digestible bones such as their Velvets.  There are also the Nylabone Pop-Pups, which are made of anything from cheese, potatoes, carrots, and even spinach.

When you are looking at the natural chew toys, you may be taken aback a little because they are what they say they are: Cow Hooves, Pig Ears, Pig Snouts, Cow Ears, And Bully Sticks.  These are good but I try not to make them a staple with my dogs because they tend to be a little fatty and if eaten on a regular basis can lead to loose stools.  If you have multiple dogs in the household you may want to separate them these chew toys.  Dogs may not show any type of food aggression and guarding issues except when something this inviting is presented.  As always, be safe and watch your dogs when introducing these items.

As of late, the manufacturers of dog toys have realized the need to give dogs a job while left alone.  Remember that your dog will chew on things, it just depends on if what you are giving them is more interesting than your personal objects.  That is why the puzzle toys are so much fun.  When introducing the puzzles, make them easy to figure out for your dog so they don’t get frustrated and discouraged.  My favorite is the Kong Toy.  The Kong is a molded rubber toy that is hollow with a large opening on one end and small opening on the other.  The trick with this toy is to find things your dog loves i.e. cheese, peanut butter, meat, biscuits, wet food etc., and stuff these inside the Kong.  As your dog gets better at emptying the Kong you can stuff it more tightly or even freeze it.  

Other puzzles include Buster Cubes, Activity Balls, and the Nylabone Crazy Ball.  The latter has a plastic inner ball with bone shape cutouts surrounded by a plastic mesh ball.  Treats or food are inserted into the inner ball and as the is rolled around, treats fall out and your dog gets rewarded.  All of these puzzle toy can provide anywhere between minutes and hours of enjoyment depending on your pooch.  These are just a few of the cool toys available now for your dog.  Get yourself  a wide variety  to alleviate boredom and keep your dogs teeth where they are supposed to be, in his mouth and off your items.