Often I come across people who ask what are the best toys for their dogs? What kinds of toys can I leave with my dog during the day? What toys are best for keeping dogs busy? Mental stimulation? Below are descriptions and reviews of some great toys for your dog. Supervision is key with almost every toy your dog will play with and especially so for aggressive chewers. Read on and have fun with your dog!
Chew Toys For Dogs
Chew toys are great for providing mental stimulation, satisfying a dog's need to chew, exercises the gums and teeth and can provide an outlet for energy. When selecting chew toys for your dog be sure to choose the right chew toy based on size, energy level, and level of chewing. Many chew toys indicate whether they are for light chewers or aggressive chewers. Always supervise with any chew toys that can be broken or chewed apart and swallowed.
Rawhide
Rawhides are made of animal hides that have been dried and processed. They come in various sizes, in compressed and knotted varieties and also come flavored. When selecting rawhides be aware that many are processed with chemicals that are harmful to pets so always read labels. When buying rawhide choose one that appears too large for your dog so they cannot chew and swallow it in a short period of time. Remove the rawhide from your dog when it is small enough to fit in your dog's mouth. Compressed rawhide as opposed to shredded rawhide lasts longer. Rawhides can break teeth and cause intestinal blockage if large pieces are swallowed so always supervise your pet when you give them rawhide.
Sterilized Bones
These are hard beef bones that are hollow in the middle. Some are sold with stuffing in the middle such as peanut butter or liver flavored stuffing while others are sold hollow. These can be given to your dog to chew and busy them and can be stuffed with many things such as peanut butter, various types of cheeses, or dog food. They are a wonderful alternative to rawhide as they cannot be ingested, however, with aggressive chewers they can tend to wear down and/or crack teeth. Dogs should be supervised with these if they are aggressive chewers for this reason.They come in a variety of sizes for all sizes of dogs. To increase your dogs interest in sterilized bones you can soak them in chicken or beef broth.
Edible Bones
Edible bones are bones like Booda bones, Greenies and Edible Nylabones. They can help clean dogs' teeth and gums when chewed. They're a great alternative to rawhides and other chews like pigs ears. They don't last as long as other chews and are not for aggressive chewers as they should not be ingested quickly.
Nylabone
Nylabones are some of my favorites. The gummy nylabones are good for light chewers and the harder nylabones are fantastic for aggressive chewers. They come in every size, in a variety of flavors, are long lasting and safe. An aggressive chewer should never be given the flexible gumabones as they can chew them to pieces and swallow them causing intestinal blockage or choking.
Cow Hooves
Cow hooves are sold in most pet stores and can be stuffed with your dog's favorite filling. As with other chew toys it is important to supervise your pet when chewing on cow hooves as there is possibility to break teeth, be chewed into sharp pieces and cause damage to the mouth, teeth and digestive tracts.
Cow Ears, Pigs Ears
Cow/pig ears are made from cartilage and fat and may be smoked or dried. Cow ears have lower fat content than pigs ears. They can be chewed and eaten quickly so are not for aggressive chewers who can swallow big whole pieces and cause digestive upset/blockage. These products CAN contain salmonella so it is important to wash your hands after handling them.
Interactive Toys for Dogs
KONG Toys
KONGs are another favorite of mine. They are bouncy, can be soaked in broth or put into kibble storage bins/bags to pick up the flavor and scent. They are stuffable and can be stuffed with cheese, peanut butter, cream cheese, canned food/kibble, banana or KONG stuffing sold specifically for kongs. They can be stuffed and frozen to provide more time for your dog to get what's inside. They come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and textures for every dog. They can't splinter, puncture, are non-toxic and the safest and most useful of all toys in my opinion. It is, one of the only toys I would recommend as safe to leave with dogs unsupervised.
Buster Cubes & treat dispensing toys
Treat dispensing toys like the Buster Cube, everlasting treat ball and others are interactive toys that can be filled with treats or kibble. Enticed by what's inside your dog noses and pushes the cube around to get the treats. These are great toys to leave with dogs who are alone for several hours a day. Buster Cubes stimulate a dog’s natural instinct to hunt and provides mental stimulation which in turn can help with behavioral problems and busy a dog who is by himself for several hours. Not recommended, however for aggressive chewers who may actually chew the toy and ingest pieces of it.
Play Toys
Different dogs like different toys so choose based on what stimulates your pet. If you find you have a pet who isn't interested in toys, you may want to create games to play with your dog that involve toys which provides a positive association with toys and encourages your dog to play.
Balls
Tennis balls & rubber balls are great for fetch but should never be given unsupervised for dogs can chew and ingest the pieces causing digestive upset or blockage. Hard plastic balls should not be used for fetch as they can chip and break dog's teeth. Tennis and rubber balls can also be used with a great tool called The Chuckit! Ball Launcher which is a tool used to pick up and throw a ball for your dog to fetch. Keeps you safe from drool and mud covered tennis balls!
Rope Toys
Rope toys are enticing to some dogs and not to others. They're a great chew toy and can be soaked and frozen for teething puppies but should not be given to aggressive chewers as they can rip, tear and swallow the rope which can cause problems with digestion. Always supervise with these toys.
Squeaky Rubber & Stuffed Toys
Squeaky toys are great for getting your dogs attention during play or even training! Most dogs love the sound of the squeaker but as many are familiar with, many also like to chew them apart just to get to the squeaker. These toys are not meant to be chew toys and dogs should be supervised when playing with them and should be taken away if they begin to chew pieces off.
Here are links to some of our favorite toys!
Chuckit! Ball Launcher
Busy Buddy Kibble Nibble
Busy Buddy Bouncy Bone
Tug - A - Jug
Nylabone Products
KONG Products
Everlasting Treat Ball
Everlasting Fun Ball
JW Amaze-A-Ball
Buster Cube
