Choosing toys for your four-legged companion can be quite challenging, especially when you consider the sheer number of different products on the market. The options are endless, and the whole process can become overwhelming. And the worst thing is that even if you manage to purchase an exciting new toy for your canine companion, there is no guarantee that he won’t get bored of it after only a couple of days.
How to Choose the Right Size Dog Toys
Before everything else, the owner needs to learn how to select a product of the right size. Purchasing a toy of a wrong size can lead to all kinds of injuries, such as choking. Another thing to keep in mind is that the owner has to adjust the size of the toys as his pet is growing up.
Whether you have a huge Saint Bernard or a tiny Chihuahua, you have to buy a toy of the right size for your dog. This is particularly easy if you have a puppy – you’ll just have to find the smallest version of the toy you’re looking for. Toys that are too large won’t be exciting to your puppy – he’ll get bored of them fairly quickly. In the same manner, small toys are quite dull to large dogs, and also pose a dangerous choking hazard.
If you’re an owner of a puppy, try to find a product that’s small enough for him to carry in his mouth but also large enough not to pose a choking hazard. They need to be large enough not to fit in the back of the pup’s mouth. Another essential thing to consider is the small parts and pieces, but more on that later. If you own a Labrador Puppy, read more about his favorite toys!
Pick the Right Type Toy
Finding the right type of a toy, on the other hand, is quite simple. You’ll only have to provide Buster with a number of different toys and let him show you which his favorites are. Some canines like just the fetch type, such as the Frisbee, while others find only the stuffed toys exciting.
Although dogs don’t mature in the same way as humans do, their age is an essential factor to keep in mind. A three-week-old puppy, for example, has baby teeth and will probably like to play with plush and rubber toys. He will start teething between three and nine months of age, which is when you should avoid hard rubber and provide him with a variety of softer chew toys instead.
Once his teething phase is over, his jaw will be strong enough for the hard-rubber products. By age seven, on the other hand, his jaw and teeth won’t be as strong as before, and that’s when you should switch back to the softer chew toys. That’s also the time when you should play more with him and encourage him to stay active – old canines that don’t move much are prone to all kinds of illnesses.
A small Yorkshire Terrier can’t chew as harshly as the German Shepherds do, which means that he’ll need a toy that’s more forgiving when it’s clenched inside his smaller jaw. But no matter which gadget you choose, it’s important to remember to replace it once it starts to show signs of damage. A broken toy won’t only be boring to your pet but it can also present a risk to his health.
Ultimately, the choice should depend on which type of a toy your furry friend likes the best. In the following paragraphs, we’ll be taking a look at a few important considerations, as well as at some popular types of dog toys.
- Indoors or Outdoors Toys?
The type of a toy you should buy for your pooch will largely depend on whether he’s playing out in the yard or inside the house. Things like the use and the durability of the toy should depend on the environment; buying a football ball doesn’t make sense if your pup spends most of his time in the house, for instance.
Owners with dogs that spend an equal amount of time inside and outside the house should look for a wide array of toys. They need to have toys for both situations – whether they need to entertain the pooch in the park or when he’s inside the living room.
If your pet spends a lot of time in the yard, investing in a quality invisible dog fence would be a wise decision. It’s one of those inventions that removes the stress and makes everything much more convenient. It is, essentially, an invisible wall that will keep your pooch in place and prevent him from going out on the road where he could get hurt or even killed. It can cover a large area and are it’s easy to setup and customize.
Recommended to Read: Best Outdoor Toys for Pups
- Active Dog Toys for Dogs with High Energy
As far as we’re concerned, balls are the best possible toys for dogs with high energy that just can’t stop running around. There are plush balls, foam balls, rubber balls, tennis balls, squeaker balls, and a lot more. Each of them bounces in a different way, with some of them being capable to float in water or to even glow in darkness. It is a classic option and something that’s almost guaranteed to keep your active pooch busy at all times.
Once you find the right-sized ball for the pet, ensure that it’s made from durable material and that it can’t be chewed into small pieces. A great thing about balls is that they encourage pet parents to play, too – getting involved in a game of fetch is something your active pet will surely appreciate.
If you’re not that much into playing fetch with your pup but would still like to provide him with pleasures of this game, investing into an automatic ball launcher is a good idea. The iFetch ball thrower is the most popular option, and it has earned many awards for its ease of operation, durability, great throwing range, and an outstanding battery life.
- Pick an Indestructible Toy
If your pooch is a chewer, you’ll have to pick a toy that’s hard to destroy and which can easily withstand hours of chewing and tossing around. Fortunately, there are dozens of such toys on today’s market, with some of them being manufactured by reputable companies and being held in high regard by the pet owners.
Even though almost anything can serve as a chew toy, one should purchase only the toys that were made with that specific purpose in mind. They are typically built from materials such as hard rubber and nylon and are built to last a long time. Some of them can even be filled with treats and thus provide the pet with a hidden reward and long-lasting entertainment.
When selecting a toy for your pooch that likes chewing, try to find a toy that’s durable enough to withstand prolonged chewing sessions but still soft enough not to present a risk of breaking and becoming a choking hazard. If you’re an owner of a Pit Bull who likes to chew a lot, take a look at our list of the best indestructible toys for Pit Bulls.
- Keep an Eye on Small Parts and Pieces
Unfortunately, no dog toy is entirely indestructible. For that matter, it is of paramount importance to select a toy of the right size and which is made out of high-quality materials that don’t break easily.
Stuffed toys are especially risky since they usually have tiny plastic pieces (like the “eyes”) that are easy to rip off. They can become lodged in the dog’s digestive tract or, even worse, stuck inside his throat. If you notice that your pet is shredding a particular toy, throw it out immediately. It’s better to be safe than sorry, since shredding causes small pieces to fall off – some could end up in the pup’s throat.
With these tips in mind, selecting the perfect toy for your canine friend should no longer be a problem. Once you determine your pup’s size, lifestyle, and playstyle, you’ll be able to choose a toy that will keep him busy and entertained for a long time. Good luck!
My Bernese Mountain Dog has her own toys for inside and outside. I found out that this was a smart thing to do after a wet, muddy toy came into my house. Whoops! 🙂