Dogs Toys in General
Newest Review: ... different personalities as well as different preferences when it comes to toys. While all of them go nuts for soft, squeeky toys, only my... more
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Dogs Toys in General
Member Name: FourPaws
Product:
Dogs Toys in General
Date: 06/09/07
Rating:
Advantages: Keeps dogs from becoming bored, good for exercise, dogs love them.
Disadvantages: Normally none.. apart from some can be dangerous if not used properly
I have two dogs who are the best of friends but also very different in different ways. Firstly I have Benson, who is a 2yr old Bernese Mountain Dog, everything Benson does must involve toys or he just isn't happy, I can tell he is going to be one of these dogs who will never grow up and think he is a puppy for the rest of his life. And then theres Ruby, a Cavailer King Charles Spaniel who is nearly 13, although she will join in the occasional game of fetch or tug with Benson she much prefers to laze around with her beloved 'Ellie', a teddy bear I brought for her when I rescued her 7 years ago!
My dogs have a little box literally overflowing with thier toys, they enjoy most of them but their favourites deffinatly seem to be..
--Kongs--
Benson always makes sure that wherever he is, his Kong isn't too far away. It comes on our walks, in the car, to the vets, out in the garden and just about everywhere else. These toys are great for strong, large and playful dogs like Benson as they come in different sizes and strenghts for all breeds and are tough, durable and able to withstand hours of chewing from even the strongest of dogs. They can also be stuffed with treats, or used as fetch toys (just make sure they don't hit anyone as they are really heavy!).
--''Ellie''--
Ellie is Rubys little pink teddy that I got for her when I rescued her from the animal shelter 7 years ago. Ellie is Rubys version of Bensons Kong, it goes everywhere with her and although its looking a little bit worse for wear now I don't have the heart to chuck it away! Soft toys should only really be provided for dogs which don't have a habit of chewing as they can be easy to rip open and the stuffing can be harmful if swallowed.
--Tennis Balls--
Like I mentioned before, Ruby does like to join in the occasional game of fetch with Benson and tennis balls are always popular with both of the dogs, as they are soft to catch and easy to pick up and carry. I like them too as they are cheap, easy to throw long distances and are just the right size for both the dogs to pick up. You should make sure your dog doesn't chew on tennis balls as they aren't very strong and could be swallowed whole by larger dogs.
--Squeaky Toys--
When Benson was a puppy he loved squeaky toys and would generally always carry one around the house with him. Thankfully his love of squeaky toys faded as he grew older.. and now he doesn't have much intrest in them apart from one squeaky carrot which he likes to play with every now and then. Dogs should always be supervised when playing with squeaky toys as they aren't very strong and are normally chewed to bits in minutes.
--Rope Tugger--
This is a favourite with both Ruby and Benson, they each grab an end and have a good game of tug of war until Ruby gets in a sulk because Benson has tugged the toy right off her! They have had this toy since Benson was a puppy so it has lasted them pretty well, although its started to get a bit frayed so will probally have to be replaced soon.
--Nylabone--
Ruby doesn't normally like hard toys, but she has took a shine to the Nylabone I originally brought for Benson. As it is the extra large she can't really do much with it, she just likes to carry it around the house with her and tease Benson with it, waiting till he gets right close then shoots off down the garden or up the stairs. Both the dogs have had the occasional chew on it and its still in excellent condition, they are extremely tough and would be suitable for any dog no matter how strong, providing you buy the right size.
--Frisbee--
Benson seems to have a never ending supply of energy, and I've found playing frisbee is one of the best ways to try and burn some of it off! I usually only let him take a frisbee on his walk if we are going to the beach as there is plently of space to run and no trees or other things to run in to. Jumping up to catch the frisbee is great exercise just make sure you start your dog off lightly if he hasn't played frisbee before, you don't want him to pull a muscle when he jumps up or brake a bone if he lands awkwardly. Frisbees specially made for dogs are best as they are softer to catch and won't crack. I reccomend the Kong Flyer.
Whatever toy you dog likes best, just make sure they are suitable for his age, breed and size and always supervise toy usage until you are confident they can be used alone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
-TOYS FOR PUPPIES-
I didn't have Ruby when she was a puppy as she was a rescue dog however when Benson was little he was just as toy mad as he is now. But puppies need very different toys to adult dogs as their teeth are often brittle and their gums sore. During Bensons puppyhood I found the Puppy Kong a priceless piece of equipment, it provided something suitable for him to chew on and distracted him away from the furniture or shoes. It could also be placed in the fridge to cool down so it helped soothed sore gums whilst teething and when Benson had to be left alone I could fill it with tasty treats to prevent him from becoming bored. An old (clean!) sock stuffed with newspaper then tied at the top also proved to be a big hit with Benson which was cheap and easy to make, he loved to drag it around behind him and then stop and try to shake it to death!
Whatever dog you have regardless of age, size or breed they are all going to need toys, so happy playing and remember..a bored dog is a destructive dog!
My dogs have a little box literally overflowing with thier toys, they enjoy most of them but their favourites deffinatly seem to be..
--Kongs--
Benson always makes sure that wherever he is, his Kong isn't too far away. It comes on our walks, in the car, to the vets, out in the garden and just about everywhere else. These toys are great for strong, large and playful dogs like Benson as they come in different sizes and strenghts for all breeds and are tough, durable and able to withstand hours of chewing from even the strongest of dogs. They can also be stuffed with treats, or used as fetch toys (just make sure they don't hit anyone as they are really heavy!).
--''Ellie''--
Ellie is Rubys little pink teddy that I got for her when I rescued her from the animal shelter 7 years ago. Ellie is Rubys version of Bensons Kong, it goes everywhere with her and although its looking a little bit worse for wear now I don't have the heart to chuck it away! Soft toys should only really be provided for dogs which don't have a habit of chewing as they can be easy to rip open and the stuffing can be harmful if swallowed.
--Tennis Balls--
Like I mentioned before, Ruby does like to join in the occasional game of fetch with Benson and tennis balls are always popular with both of the dogs, as they are soft to catch and easy to pick up and carry. I like them too as they are cheap, easy to throw long distances and are just the right size for both the dogs to pick up. You should make sure your dog doesn't chew on tennis balls as they aren't very strong and could be swallowed whole by larger dogs.
--Squeaky Toys--
When Benson was a puppy he loved squeaky toys and would generally always carry one around the house with him. Thankfully his love of squeaky toys faded as he grew older.. and now he doesn't have much intrest in them apart from one squeaky carrot which he likes to play with every now and then. Dogs should always be supervised when playing with squeaky toys as they aren't very strong and are normally chewed to bits in minutes.
--Rope Tugger--
This is a favourite with both Ruby and Benson, they each grab an end and have a good game of tug of war until Ruby gets in a sulk because Benson has tugged the toy right off her! They have had this toy since Benson was a puppy so it has lasted them pretty well, although its started to get a bit frayed so will probally have to be replaced soon.
--Nylabone--
Ruby doesn't normally like hard toys, but she has took a shine to the Nylabone I originally brought for Benson. As it is the extra large she can't really do much with it, she just likes to carry it around the house with her and tease Benson with it, waiting till he gets right close then shoots off down the garden or up the stairs. Both the dogs have had the occasional chew on it and its still in excellent condition, they are extremely tough and would be suitable for any dog no matter how strong, providing you buy the right size.
--Frisbee--
Benson seems to have a never ending supply of energy, and I've found playing frisbee is one of the best ways to try and burn some of it off! I usually only let him take a frisbee on his walk if we are going to the beach as there is plently of space to run and no trees or other things to run in to. Jumping up to catch the frisbee is great exercise just make sure you start your dog off lightly if he hasn't played frisbee before, you don't want him to pull a muscle when he jumps up or brake a bone if he lands awkwardly. Frisbees specially made for dogs are best as they are softer to catch and won't crack. I reccomend the Kong Flyer.
Whatever toy you dog likes best, just make sure they are suitable for his age, breed and size and always supervise toy usage until you are confident they can be used alone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
-TOYS FOR PUPPIES-
I didn't have Ruby when she was a puppy as she was a rescue dog however when Benson was little he was just as toy mad as he is now. But puppies need very different toys to adult dogs as their teeth are often brittle and their gums sore. During Bensons puppyhood I found the Puppy Kong a priceless piece of equipment, it provided something suitable for him to chew on and distracted him away from the furniture or shoes. It could also be placed in the fridge to cool down so it helped soothed sore gums whilst teething and when Benson had to be left alone I could fill it with tasty treats to prevent him from becoming bored. An old (clean!) sock stuffed with newspaper then tied at the top also proved to be a big hit with Benson which was cheap and easy to make, he loved to drag it around behind him and then stop and try to shake it to death!
Whatever dog you have regardless of age, size or breed they are all going to need toys, so happy playing and remember..a bored dog is a destructive dog!
Summary: Everydog needs a toy!
