(5/7) Every dog loves to play, which means they need lots of toys, from a bully stick to chew to a ball they chase. However, not all toys are made equal. Some provide more physical fun, others focus on mental stimulation, and others just bring comfort.
The Best Toys for Your Furry Friend
Below are a few types of toys you should consider getting your dog. Be aware, though, that each dog is different, so yours may not enjoy some toys while refusing to let go of others. Don't be afraid to experiment to find the best toys for your dog.
Chew Toys
Dogs need to chew stuff. It does a lot of good for them, from keeping their jaw strong and teeth clean to relieving stress, anxiety or even frustration. However, not all chews are made the same, and every dog chews differently. While all dogs need chew toys, you need to be pretty selective as to which ones you offer. This will vary wildly based on how your dog chews things.
If they do so purely to destroy and don't swallow what they chew, you'll have a few more options than if your dog happily swallows the small shards they chew off. Failing to bear this in mind could put your dog at risk of something they swallow blocking their intestines and causing a medical emergency.
Once you understand how and why your dog chews, it's time to pick up a few different options and lay them out for your dog to explore. The first thing to do is determine whether your dog wants to chew on something hard like a bone or piece of wood or something soft like rubber or even a plushie. From there, you just have to make sure you get toys durable enough to handle the pressure while also being too large to swallow.
Soft options are everywhere and ways to get your hands on. For those whose dogs prefer hard chews, you can usually find bones specifically made to be chewed or ask a local butcher for unwanted bones to give your pooch. Just make sure to always supervise your dogs with these toys to avoid medical emergencies.
Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys come in many different varieties and offer many benefits to pets, from alleviating stress to staving off boredom. Each one focuses on a different form of stimulation and provides rewards accordingly. For example, one type of toy is a ball or similar object that holds food or a treat inside.
The dog must then work out how to maneuver the toy so the food falls out. Others hide food in little cubbies blocked by little doors that must be opened. There are even puzzle toys for dogs who aren't interested in food or treats as much. Sniffing, chewing, or even burrowing puzzle toys exist for these dogs.
Of course, these toys can also be used for other purposes. For example, if you have a dog who eats too quickly and chokes on their food as a result, consider getting a simple puzzle toy to put their food into. The goal here isn't necessarily mental stimulation; it's increasing the time it takes them to eat their meals.
Which toys you use to do this will vary based on your dog's personality, but you need to make sure you have multiple that you can switch between, or the puzzle will lose its effectiveness as your dog learns how to solve it as quickly as possible and the problem reemerges.
Bonding Toys
Bonding toys are probably the easiest type of toys to get a hold of because they're synonymous with dogs. Balls or frisbees for fetch, ropes for tug-of-war, and more are all bonding toys. While dogs can play with them solo, they work better when others are involved.
You could throw the frisbee for example and watch as your dog either catches it or picks it up once it lands and returns it to you so you can do it again. Gently tugging on the rope with your dog will allow you to play tug of war together.
Getting Only The Best For Your Furry Friend
These are just a few examples of how you can bond with your dog through play, but these toys can also do the same when two dogs play with them. Tug of war is obvious, but balls may be less so. Dogs could hide it for the other to find, roll it back and forth, etc. You'll want to have plenty of bonding toys available so you're ready when your dog wants to play with you.
