Content
- Benefits of Dog Toys
- toys to pull
- search toys
- intelligence games
- Biting Toys
- Food Dispensing Toys
- Choose the perfect toy
In addition to taking walks with your dog in which he plays, runs, chases each other and throws himself on the grass with him, we can buy toys that add to the fun and break the routine. In addition, it is very positive that you play at home with some of these toys when we are away to avoid suffering from anxiety or stress.
Therefore, in this article by PeritoAnimal, we are going to know the types of toys for dogs that they are there to know which ones to play alone, which ones to play with, and which ones they can play with only if we are watching.
Benefits of Dog Toys
The game is a fundamental factor for the correct development of our puppy and to keep it healthy and strong. Not taking care of our dog's fun can result in the appearance of disorders such as anxiety, stress or even depression. Besides, we're only going to get a dull, bored, and most likely sad dog.
Thus, toys bring multiple benefits to our dog that go beyond simple fun. For puppies it is a great relief and helps them to withstand the pain that causes teeth to appear. It allows us to strengthen the bond with the adult dog, control the bites and develop its mind. And for the elderly dog they are a great help in delaying cognitive deterioration.
If our puppy spends many hours alone at home, toys help us to provide him with the entertainment and company that they need in our absence. But which toy should we choose? You should know that there are different types of toys, each with a different function and characteristics, which we will have to choose, mainly, according to their age and size.
toys to pull
When we talk about pulling toys we are talking about wind-up toys, where the dog pulls on one side and us on the other. As we are the rational being we have to play carefully, that is, pulling to a certain point, letting him win sometimes and sometimes not, as well as setting rules in the game to avoid getting hurt. For example, if you bite beyond a point, you can stop the game. These toys are also good for two puppies to play with each other, although you should always be around to make sure they don't go overboard.
These kinds of toys for puppies are specially made for us to play with them and to create a greater bond with our dog. With these toys we can practice "quiet" orders and also allow us to teach them that there are times of play and times when it is better to stop.
search toys
These types of toys also allow us to strengthen the bond with our dog and start practicing more advanced training, as we must teach them so much to go get the toy how to bring it. Within this category of toys, we distinguish two major types:
- balls: it is essential to distinguish the balls to get the teethers. So, to teach our dog to bring the ball, we should use balls made of soft or soft materials, so that when picking them up from the ground or while running, they don't hurt their teeth. They can be rubber, fabric, silicone or even tennis balls that don't weigh too much and are flexible. If your dog tends to bite toys or spoil them, this type is not the best option.
- UFOs: They must be made of rubber, as plastic is harmful to your teeth. Flying saucers are a good hobby for both the dog and us. These discs are only for when we are with them, we cannot leave them alone with these toys because they can get hurt.
intelligence games
Intelligence toys increase our puppy's ability to concentrate, keep him entertained while speed up your mind and stimulate it. They allow you to carry out tasks that help you learn to make decisions and improve creativity.
They are usually boards where there are several tokens that cover a reward, the dog has to remove the tokens until he finds out where his prize is. We must be present in these types of games, to make sure that you can get the chips without a problem and that you don't get frustrated, as it's supposed to be fun and not a problem. It should be there to help you the first few times you play with this game, until you see that they take the prize and do it alone without our help, but in our presence. Remember that some breeds are smarter than others, so it's important not to be nervous if you see that your dog takes longer to find the reward.
Biting Toys
Biting toys are usually made of high strength hard rubber, virtually unbreakable. They are made for the dog to play alone with them, discharge its energy and generate serotonin to keep itself happy and, above all, calm. For all those dogs that like to destroy all the furniture in the house, these types of toys are ideal. As they are very difficult to break, you will never get tired of playing with them.
Furthermore, they are also perfect for puppies for many reasons. Most importantly, they help us to teach them to control their bites, what they can bite or not, and to alleviate the pain they feel due to tooth development. However, it is suitable for all ages and races.
We usually find these weight-shaped toys, but increasingly they are manufactured with different designs, such as ball, oval, etc.
Food Dispensing Toys
These toys are ideal for our dog. play alone at home, without our presence. They are perfect for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety, who are not used to spending long moments alone or when they are puppies, as it keeps them entertained and allows them to escape their lonely state.
The best ones for this are the food dispenser toys, among which we can find different modalities like these:
- Kong: the Kong in its origin is a snowman-shaped toy that inside can contain some kind of special treat for dogs, kibble or other type of dog food, in order to make the dog touch it and bite to get your prize out. Also, in the summer you can put it in the fridge to keep it cool and for your dog to enjoy it even more. It's very easy to wash and we don't have to worry about leaving it alone with it. They are usually made of a material that is highly resistant to bites, so they are perfect for all types of puppies.
- Kong bone: From the original Kong, several variants were made with a bone shape, but the idea is the same, an object with one shape or another from which food comes out if you bite or move it.
- dispensing ball: it intends the same as the previous toys, although it is more recommended for short periods and not long absences at home, since our puppy will get tired before this system. On the other hand, it is quiet and easy to wash.
Choose the perfect toy
When choosing one or several toys for our dog, we must bear in mind several factors: purpose of the toy, dog's age and size.
What do we want the toy for?
If we want to provide our puppy with a toy to replace our presence and keep him entertained while we are away, as we mentioned the perfect toy is a food dispenser. While if what we want is to strengthen the bond with our dog, have fun with him and teach him new orders, pull and search toys are ideal. Finally, we should resort to chewing toys to treat behavior problems such as furniture destruction or providing the dog with entertainment while we do other tasks at home.
toys for puppies
As mentioned, the most recommended for puppies are biting toys. However, if our little dog is smart to learn basic orders, we can provide him with search toys and start teaching him how to bring the ball.
Toys for small dogs
Keep in mind that the jaw of a small breed dog, such as a Chihuahua, is not the same as that of a large breed. Starting from this base, we should look for toys that adapt to it, that is, small ones. On the other hand, as small breeds tend to accumulate a large amount of tartar on their teeth, in addition to toys, the most appropriate thing for them is to acquire pressed bones so that they can chew them and reduce plaque.
Toys for medium and large dogs
We must also adapt the size of the toy to that of its dentures, to prevent a large breed dog from swallowing a small toy or a medium breed dog not being able to handle it because it is too big. Also, weight is also important. Toys made with hard rubber, very heavy, are ideal for dogs of large and giant breeds because they can play with them freely and have fun without breaking them.
Medium breed puppies but considered hunters, such as the Beagle or Podenco, although having a smaller size, also have good dentures to bite. So we can provide them with toys a little heavier, always adapted to their size. On the contrary, for the calmer medium dogs, it is better to opt for pull toys or search toys.
The importance of understanding your dog
Although we should look for toys that adapt to the dog's age and size, it is essential to understand its personality and behavior. Although our puppy is a small breed, if we see that he has a high need for biting, we should provide them with biting toys. It is essential not to forget these topics and give our dog the toy he needs.