Toys for dogs: types and choices

All dog breeders sooner or later face the question of which toys are best for their four-legged friend. Such attributes are truly necessary for dogs of all breeds. Usually they are presented in pet stores in a fairly wide variety, so the owners often can not make the right choice. In order not to make a mistake with the purchase, it is necessary to take into account various criteria, as well as the compatibility of the toy with a specific pet and its main purpose.

How to correctly identify all these signs and choose the right accessory for playing with your dog will be described in detail in this article.

The game is an integral part of the life of any dog. It can take place in various forms, at different locations, and have special difficulty levels. But in any case, this process involves the motor activity of the pet and is very useful for its health.

Many owners, especially owners of large breeds, use game accessories to train a pet. Teaching teams in the open air or even in an apartment becomes more diverse and easier if toys come to the rescue.

However, in addition to professional and amateur training, toys are also useful for dogs that are active in the absence of the owner. Such dogs, without having their own toys, can use slippers or curtains in their games, as a result of which property is often damaged. Game accessories will attract such fidget dogs much more than the owner's things, and will bring double benefits.

For puppies, toys should also be selected. From an early age, they are necessary for the pet, because some of them contribute to the physical development of babies. An example would be the need for a puppy to try everything on the tooth, and some toys will appeal to the little inhabitant of your house.

In a number of breeds, for example, husky dogs, the need for outdoor activities is extremely high. On a walk they need extra activity. In this case, appropriate toys come to the rescue, allowing the dogs to splash out energy in full and increase the productivity of walking.

Toys for dogs are presented in a large assortment in stores for animals. These accessories are classified according to several criteria. The first of these is size.

• Large accessories for games are usually chosen for dogs of large breeds. They are not cheap and are often used for training.
• Small analogues are much cheaper, but when playing with them, you should carefully monitor that the dog does not make attempts to swallow the toy.

Another determining factor is the size of the dog itself and its needs.

• To develop the bite of a large dog correctly, you should pay attention to the devices designed for pulling, for example, a special rope.

• If the dog likes to bite toys, it is worth choosing models whose material is resistant to the effects of teeth. An example of such a toy for small dogs is a chicken made from latex.

• For training, it is worth purchasing accessories that are aporting. In addition, various throwing devices, such as a ball, are popular. There are also plates that dogs can catch on the fly.

• It is easy for puppies or small dogs to lose their play equipment in the dark. To make finding your favorite toy easier, choose models with built-in luminous elements or a squeaker.

If we consider balls as a separate type of toy for dogs, it is worth mentioning that the purpose of using such accessories may be different. In the case of small dogs or puppies, balls are needed so that the dog independently pushes them with its paws and then catches up.

Large pets on a walk or training often like to bring the ball thrown by the owner. Among such toys, it is worth noting such a ball, which is made in the shape of an egg from durable material. This option is anti-vandal, because thanks to the material and its construction it is almost impossible to damage with teeth, which provides not only benefits for the pet, but also durability in use.

So that the dog can play with the ball on its own, you can purchase automatic designs that throw the ball into the air in the mode you set. Such devices operate on batteries or from the mains. The dog itself puts the ball into the top hole of the structure, and after a short period of time from the other hole, this ball flies out, contributing to the exciting gameplay.

Some owners are given such a goal as the development of dog thinking at an early age. Great helpers in this educational types of toys. They represent a mechanism inside which a treat is placed, for example, dog food. To open access to food, the dog needs to be smart by turning the mechanism in a certain way.

Sometimes in such toys there are dampers, pulling out which the dog can feast on.

A special kind is edible toys, most often presented in the form of sticks, rings or bones made from rawhide, as well as natural veins in dried form. They are indispensable in order to maintain the health of the pet’s oral cavity. When a dog nibbles such sticks, the animal’s teeth are cleaned.

A separate variety are soft toys. Some pets use them for active games or sleep with them. In the first case, the risk that the soft toy will become worthless is large enough, therefore it needs to be replaced periodically.

The variety of game accessories for four-legged pets also explains the large selection of materials from which the toys are made. Each material has its own characteristics and strength indicators. Raw materials for dog toys can be classified.

• Rubber products characterized by a fairly high strength and at the same time inexpensive cost. Such products, especially those created for chewing, help dogs brush away plaque from the teeth during the game, as well as massage the gums.

• Another durable material for making dog toys is silicone. It, like rubber, has a beneficial effect on the gums and teeth, and also facilitates the process of changing milk teeth. Silicone products will not cause serious harm to the pet’s body, even if it bites the structure and swallows it. Naturally, the toy will come out of the dog’s body.

• Latex Game Accessories considered as safe as possible. They are made of environmentally friendly material that is not able to harm the health of your pet. Also, such toys, which, like the two previous types, are used mainly for chewing by a dog, have an equally elastic, but at the same time softer texture. This is beneficial for dogs whose gums are sensitive.

• Soft toys can be made from fleece or felt. Some elements of some models are sometimes made of strong rope. Despite the low level of strength in general, such models have a very interesting design, most often repeating the appearance of wild animals, such as ducks or foxes, for which certain dog breeds were used.

• If game designs are made plastic, such as educational toys, their longevity will depend on how the dog acts on the product. There is always a risk that the plastic will crack, but in some cases it lasts long enough.

• Also in demand wooden toys for dogs. One of the most common is a stick-shaped toy, which in addition to natural wood also includes synthetic materials.

• Electronic modelsAs a rule, they imply the use of batteries so that the dog can independently interact with the mechanism.The principle of operation can be aimed at moving the ball and its emission in a random order from the upper opening of the housing into the lower.

Having familiarized themselves with all the materials and designs of gaming devices for a four-legged friend in more detail, many owners still cannot figure out how to choose the right toy that will be perfect for their dog. When choosing a similar accessory, pay attention to the selection criteria.

• Pet size is important since for larger breeds you should choose more durable and dimensional toys than for small ones. Inconsistency of the parameters will create a risk that large dogs may swallow the toy, while small ones may be inconvenient to use the product. Relatively safe will be those models that are placed in the jaws of your dog, but not small enough to allow them to swallow.
• Dog age determines the complexity of the gaming equipment. For very young individuals, emphasis is placed on development, for young ones, on the possibility of splashing out energy and strengthening a muscle corset, and for adult dogs, it is worth choosing toys that will allow them to maintain activity to the best of their ability.
• Consider pet characterchoosing material for a toy. If the dog is calm, even products made of soft materials are suitable for her. But for those dogs who like to nibble their toys, it is better to choose anti-vandal models or products made from durable raw materials.
• When choosing chewing toys, pay attention to the condition of your dog’s teeth and gums. If they have increased sensitivity, pick up toys that will not be too stiff for the dog.
• Pay attention to the price. Depending on the complexity of the design of gaming accessories and their purpose, the cost varies. Interactive options as well as battery-powered designs are more expensive. Also, the price of some developing products can be high. Well, accessories such as balls, ropes and rubber tweeters are much cheaper.
• Please note that for a balanced activity, you should not be limited to only one toy. The dog will be much more interesting if the devices for games will alternate.

So that your four-legged friend’s life is truly full and interesting, you can not do without gaming devices. Given the safety standards, individual characteristics of the pet, the dog’s age, her need for activity and character, you can choose the perfect model of the toy that will bring a lot of pleasant things to the life of the dog and the owner.

Watch a review of dog toys in the next video.