Toys are an essential part of having a dog. It’s what helps dogs with their mental and physical stimulation from puppyhood to the senior years. Dogs play with them, express their instinctual behaviors through “shaking” the toy, and release stress or comfort themselves by having a favorite (comfort) toy.
Safety should be first, but we also have to pay attention to the toys’ durability and price. There is a variety of toys on the market today, and not all of them fit into the safe group. Some pose a choking hazard while others might be toxic.
Safety Tips
Making sure the toys our dogs play with are safe is the most important thing. Depending on the dog’s size and their chewing habits, some toys pose a great choking hazard. Here are some tips to make sure your dog has a safe playtime:
- Avoid too-small toys
- Avoid plastic toys. These toys contain plastic softeners called phthalates which are toxic to dogs. The phthalates seep out of the plastic toy when it gets damaged. The more your dog chews on it the higher the chances of phthalates seeping through.
- Squeaky toys can be a problem if a dog chews the toy to get to the squeaky part. Throw away damaged squeaky toys to avoid the dog swallowing the squeaky parts.
- Don’t give your dog children’s toys.
- “Baby-proof” the house by removing ribbons, hair ties, or any other small indelible materials that a dog can find. Dogs are like children, they are attracted the most to something they shouldn’t touch.
- Remove broken or damaged toys.
- Pay attention to small parts on a big toy, like attached eyes or buttons. Remove them as they pose a great choking hazard or they can get stuck in a dog’s digestive system.
Avoid Rawhide
There are safety and moral reasons not to use rawhide as a dog toy. Rawhide is made of dried animal skin. Depending on where it was made and what process was used, some rawhide chewing toys are less safe than others. This means not everyone has the same safety procedures to ensure the animal skin they use is free of microorganisms or decayed.
Another reason to think twice before giving rawhide chewable toys to your dog is the possibility of a dog ingesting small pieces of it. Most dogs can’t digest rawhide. This means the piece will have to pass as a whole throughout your dog’s digestive system. This can cause pain, discomfort, painful defecation, and other issues. If a piece is too big, it can even get stuck and cause much more serious health issues.
So, if you want to give rawhide to your dog, it is highly recommended not to leave your dog unsupervised. Also, choose a thick rawhide so that a dog can’t easily damage the toy.
And the moral issue is how they get the skin. Once again, not everyone, but there are still a lot of manufacturers that get animal skin through cruel international fur and skin trade. Buying a rawhide toy for your dog from these manufacturers/sellers means approving and helping them to continue the animal cruelty.
Recommended Dog Toys
A good and durable toy that is not too expensive is the key. Dogs don’t really care about the price. As long as it’s fun and safe for your dog, it is OK. What toys you are going to use depends on your dog’s size, health, and age. Here are some examples.
Rubber Toys
You will find all kinds of rubber toys on the market. If made of thick rubber, they can be used for strong chewers too. Large dog breeds, especially guard dogs or working dogs such as Cane Corso or English Mastiff, can benefit from these toys. They won’t chew them right away. Just remember to discard the toy when it gets broken or damaged.
An example of a very durable dog toy is a rubber ring toy. The reviews are great, but there is one fault which is to be expected – it doesn’t float. If you plan on throwing it into the river for your dog to retrieve, be prepared to lose the toy forever because it will sink.
Tennis Balls And Frisbees
A great way to spend some quality time with your dog is playing fetch using a tennis ball or a Frisbee. It’s simple, dogs get to run around, and we spend time with our dogs bonding even more. However, don’t overplay the game. If you only do this for half an hour, your dog won’t be the happiest. Unless he really likes to catch the balls.
Change the game a bit. Throw it, then run with it so that a dog can chase you, or you playfully chase the dog. Don’t just stand or sit, looking at your phone. And remember, anything that’s damaged or broken goes to the recycling bin to avoid the choking hazard.
Rope Toys
If you have one of the high-energy dogs, such as a Weimaraner or a Basenji, that require more than just a walk but don’t have a lot of time on your hands that day, use a rope toy. It’s like playing tug of war with your dog. Choose the size according to your dog’s size.
If you have a big dog, the knot dog rope toy is a great choice. Just keep in mind this is a very big toy. Choose something smaller for smaller dogs.
Toys With Treats
The best way to entertain your dog is to use one of the so-called interactive dog toys with treats inside. They are called interactive because they require a dog to work around the obstacles to get to the treat. The most popular toy of this kind is KongⓇ. These toys are durable and can be filled with all kinds of treats.
You can also put some healthy snacks inside, such as fruits safe for dogs to eat (apples, bananas, etc.), and freeze them all together. A frozen toy with a delicious treat inside will keep your pet occupied and will cool the dog during hot summer days.
Plush Toys
A lot of dogs have their favorite soft toy. They use it to play with it, sleep with it, or carry it around as a comfort toy. Choose a plush toy according to your dog’s needs. If a dog likes to play “hunting” or shake the toy, you need to find a bigger one without many small pieces. A durable plush toy would be great too, but unfortunately, that is not always possible, especially if your dog loves to play rough with them.
There are a lot of plush toys without stuffing and with no squeaker parts inside. However, they are not good for the biggest chewers. It is easy for them to rip the toy apart. But, if your dog is not the most aggressive chewer, then a silent toy with no stuffing is a good choice. Still, be very cautious. Dogs can rip a piece of the toy and swallow it in a second!
Scented Toys
If you have a dog that has eye problems (e.g. PRA), you can use scented toys. They are normal toys with added scent a dog loves. Whatever your dog loves, you can just smear it all over the toy. Your dog relies on his sense of smell anyway, but dogs with eyesight problems rely on it even more.
You don’t have to give these toys just to dogs with eye problems. You can use one of these toys to play a fun game with any dog. Hide the toy and let your dog find it. This is extremely fun for scent hounds, but I’m sure all other dogs will love the game too.
To make it more fun, don’t hide the toy in the same spot every time you play the game. Change the places, and also change the scents you use.
Teething Toys For Puppies
And, finally, teething toys – a necessity for all of us who’ve had a puppy (or puppies). The teething period can be quite frustrating for dogs and owners. Puppies need something to chew to relieve the itchiness or discomfort of the teething process, and if they don’t have a proper toy they will chew on your shoes, cables, and anything else they find suitable.
So, a good teething toy is absolutely recommended. Choose the size according to the size of your puppy. You won’t get the same toy for a Chihuahua and a Bullmastiff puppy. The photo below shows a toy suitable for small dogs, such as the mentioned Chihuahua puppy. This toy is also phthalates-free.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right toy is important to our dog’s safety. We need to make sure the toys are durable and if they are not, we have to be sure there are no small parts that a dog can inhale or choke on. Rubber toys, treat toys, or rope toys are a great choice even for the strongest chewers.
If you have a puppy, then a teething toy is something you will need. Puppies need to chew, and it is better to give them toys than to let them destroy your furniture or shoes. Also, choosing the right toy gives your dog the necessary mental and physical stimulation. This is especially important for high-energy dogs. Toys like the mentioned Kong or an interactive puzzle toy will keep your dog occupied and relieve stress or anxiety, as well as help with boredom.
Just keep in mind to avoid plastic toys or toys that contain phthalates. The phthalates are toxic and can cause health issues. Remove any small parts, pay attention to squeakers inside squeaky toys, and don’t leave your dog unsupervised with squeaky or plush toys if you know they are big chewers.
