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"Safe" Toys
There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a toy.
Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your dog’s
size, activity level and personal preference. Another factor to be considered
is the environment in which your dog spends his time. Although we can’t
guarantee your dog’s enthusiasm or his safety with any specific toy, we
can offer the following guidelines.
Be Cautious
The things that are usually the most attractive to dogs are often the
very things that are the most dangerous. Dog-proof your home by checking
for: string, ribbon, rubber bands, children’s toys, pantyhose and anything
else that could be ingested.
Toys should be appropriate for your dog’s current size.
Balls and other toys that are too small can easily be swallowed or become
lodged in your dog’s mouth or throat.
Avoid or alter any toys that aren’t "dog-proof" by removing
ribbons, strings, eyes or other parts that could be chewed and/or ingested.
Avoid any toy that starts to break into pieces or have pieces torn off.
You should also avoid "tug-of-war" toys, unless they’ll be used between
dogs, not between people and dogs.
Ask your veterinarian about which rawhide toys are safe
and which aren’t. Unless your veterinarian says otherwise, "chewies" like
hooves, pig’s ears and rawhides, should be supervision-only goodies. Very
hard rubber toys are safer and last longer.
Take note of any toy that contains a "squeaker" buried
in its center. Your dog may feel that he must find and destroy the squeak-source
and could ingest it, in which case squeaking objects should be "supervision
only" toys.
Check labels for child safety, as a stuffed toy that’s
labeled as safe for children under three years old, doesn’t contain dangerous
fillings. Problem fillings include things like nutshells and polystyrene
beads, however, even a "safe" stuffing isn’t truly digestible.
Remember that soft toys are not indestructible, but some
are sturdier than others. Soft toys should be machine washable.
Toys We Recommend
Active Toys:
- Very hard rubber toys, like Nylabone-type products
and Kong-type products. These are available in a variety of shapes and
sizes and are fun for chewing and for carrying around.
- "Rope" toys that are usually available in a "bone"
shape with knotted ends.
- Tennis balls make great dog toys, but keep an eye out
for any that could be chewed through and discard them.
Distraction Toys:
- Kong-type toys, especially when filled with broken-up
treats or, even better, a mixture of broken-up treats and peanut butter.
The right size Kong can keep a puppy or dog busy for hours. Only by
chewing diligently can your dog access the treats, and then only in
small bits - very rewarding! Double-check with your veterinarian about
whether or not you should give peanut butter to your dog.
- "Busy-box" toys are large rubber cubes with hiding
places for treats. Only by moving the cube around with his nose, mouth
and paws, can your dog access the goodies.
Comfort Toys:
- Soft stuffed toys are good for several purposes, but
aren’t appropriate for all dogs. For some dogs, the stuffed toy should
be small enough to carry around. For dogs that want to shake or "kill"
the toy, it should be the size that "prey" would be for that size dog
(mouse-size, rabbit-size or duck-size).
- Dirty laundry, like an old t-shirt, pillowcase, towel
or blanket, can be very comforting to a dog, especially if it smells
like you! Be forewarned that the item could be destroyed by industrious
fluffing, carrying and nosing.
Get The Most Out Of Toys!
- Rotate your dog’s toys weekly by making only four or
five toys available at a time. Keep a variety of types easily accessible.
If your dog has a huge favorite, like a soft "baby," you should probably
leave it out all the time, or risk the wrath of your dog!
- Provide toys that offer a variety of uses - at least
one toy to carry, one to "kill", one to roll and one to "baby."
- "Hide and Seek" is a fun game for dogs to play. "Found"
toys are often much more attractive than a toy which is blatantly introduced.
Making an interactive game out of finding toys or treats is a good "rainy-day"
activity for your dog, using up energy without the need for a lot of
space.
- Many of your dog’s toys should be interactive. Interactive
play is very important for your dog because he needs active "people
time." By focusing on a specific task, like repeatedly returning a ball,
Kong or Frisbee, or playing "hide-and-seek" with treats or toys, your
dog can expel pent-up mental and physical energy in a limited amount
of time and space. This greatly reduces stress due to confinement, isolation
and/or boredom. For young, high-energy and untrained dogs, interactive
play also offers an opportunity for socialization and helps them learn
about appropriate and inappropriate behavior with people and with other
animals, like jumping up or being mouthy.
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