Selecting Dog Toys for Your Canine

When purchasing a dog toy, you must first make sure that the toy won't harm your dog. A good toy will offer many hours of safe fun for your canine. What should you look for when selecting a toy for your dog?

Toys that squeak are a favorite of many dogs. But, your dog could chew up a soft plastic toy and choke on the squeaker. Make sure that any dog squeaky toys are made of hard rubber.

Some dogs enjoy chasing and maybe even retrieving balls and frisbees. Again, hard rubber items are best so your dog doesn't get injured from chewing. Tennis balls are cheap and are often constructed better than the balls offered as dog toys.

Dog rope toys offer safe chewing and tugging fun. The rope actually helps to floss your dog's teeth as an added bonus. But, you may not want to use the rope toys for tugging, as some dogs may get more aggressive from this type of play and you may not want the dog to play tug when your favorite sock is in their mouth.

Bones help satisfy your dog's instinct to chew, and some also offer dental health benefits. Rawhide is not a good choice because it can cause digestive problems or even death. Many rubber bones and other hard rubber dog chew toys are available or some vegetable-based bones can work well.

Hard rubber chew toys that have compartments for treats or peanut butter will keep your dog occupied for long periods. Don't buy plastic chew toys that your dog could tear into small pieces and choke on.

An old sock that is knotted can be a great toy for your dog. But, your dog may not be able to distinguish between "his" sock and your socks.

Try purchasing several types of toys and see which ones your dog prefers. Every dog is different, but most will gravitate toward at least one type of toy.

By choosing wisely, you can find fun dog toys that aren't harmful for your pet.