Toys for Dogs
The world has come a long way from the time when dogs simply had sticks to fetch and balls to chase. Dogs today have all manner of toys to keep them entertained. Choosing the best toys for your dog can be a daunting experience in this age of interactive games for dogs. Here are some best picks.
Most dogs like some of the old favorites such as frisbees, Kongs, rope chews and toys that squeak. There are few caveats with these toys. If you get a flying disc your dog will probably enjoy it more if you spend time throwing it for him. Otherwise they tend to lie in the yard and they don’t do much. Your dog may spend time chewing on it which isn’t exactly what it was designed to do. Kongs of various sizes are a favorite with many dogs. They usually work best if you spend some effort thinking about treats to put inside so your dog can enjoy trying to get the treat out. Some people put small dog cookies inside; others put peanut butter inside or even cheez whiz. If you put a soft treat inside the Kong you may want to freeze it to make it last longer and make it a little more challenging for your dog to get it out. Rope chews are usually fun for dogs and they tend to last. Lots of dogs like to play tug with them, especially if they have another dog friend. Squeaky toys can have a short lifespan, especially if they are made of soft rubber. Many dogs will shred them to quickly get to the squeaker and kill it so supervise your dog and take away any small parts so your dog can’t swallow them.
Lots of dogs also like soft cuddly toys, such as the Vermont fleecy toys. Stuffed animals have a varying lifespan with different dogs. Some dogs are good with stuffies and like to carry them around and cuddle with them while other dogs can rip their faces off in a minute flat as soon as they get the toy. You’ll have to see how your dog likes his stuffies. If your dog likes his stuffies “de-stuffed” you may want to think about getting them from Good Will. Here you can buy them for about 50 cents each, used. Just remove the eyes (which your dog could swallow) and this can be a constant source of inexpensive stuffy toys for your dog.
Interactive toys are very popular right now. These toys are more challenging for dogs and can keep them entertained for a long time. If you have a very smart dog a toy like the Buster Cube can be fun. Put treats inside and your dog has to make the cube roll to get the treats to come out.
The Talk To Me Laser ball and other similar toys are also fun for dogs. You can record your own personal message with the ball. It has motion-activated lights and the ball randomly dispenses treats while your dog plays with it. The manufacturer claims that the ball is “durable,” but your mileage may vary depending on your particular dog.
Bubble Buddy is another interactive toy that your dog may enjoy. Bubble Buddy consists of a small machine that blows bubbles which come in different scents such as bacon. Dogs have a blast chasing the bubbles and trying to bite them. Of course, some dogs may figure out that the bubbles are coming from the machine and then, who knows what may happen to the machine?
There are other interactive games for dogs that require the owner to play with the dog. Toy designer Nina Ottoson has created a number of these nice games such as the Dog Brick Game. These games are both stimulating and fun for dogs. They require the dog to think and they reinforce the dog’s relationship with the owner. The games are built like board games and have unique mechanisms that require mental and physical dexterity to work through the challenges and reveal the hidden food rewards. You can set the games to different levels of complexity as your dog gets better at solving the puzzles. If your dog becomes very good at solving the beginning level you can make it a little harder for him to keep him interested.
These interactive games are designed for you and your dog to have fun together. You shouldn’t leave your dog unsupervised with them since they have small moving parts and your dog could swallow them.
You can read more about Nina Ottoson and her interactive dog games in this Whole-Dog-Journal article: Interactive Dog Toys, by Pat Miller.
If your dog does have a large selection of toys you may want to get him a toy box. Some owners have toy boxes for inside toys and another box outside for the “outside” toys. Those are the toys that are usually too grubby and grimy to be brought into the house. That also means that you may have to catch your dog before he carries a nice toy outside to drop it in a mud puddle. It’s a good thing that most toys are washable and stuffies can be tossed in the washing machine. You don’t have to throw de-fleeced stuffies away either. In many cases you can simply push the stuffing back in and sew them back up. Your dog won’t mind.
If your dog does have a toy box you can go ahead and keep it open or keep the lid off. Let your dog pick and choose which toys he wants to play with. Some dogs can be taught to put toys back in the box (unlike kids).
Of course, the best games are still the ones that you and your dog play together and those can be as simple as a game of fetch. Just spending time with your dog doing things that he enjoys is enough to make him happy. If you’ve ever thrown a ball for a Retriever then you know just how happy it can make a dog! Find what your dog likes to do and make a game out of it. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or require a lot of tools or accessories. As long as you and your dog are spending time together and doing something fun your dog will consider it play time. That beats all of the expensive dog toys in the world.
