A common question we are asked is what we recommend for puppies to play with and chew on.
Dogs love and need to chew. However, you don’t want your leather shoes or fancy furniture to be the victim of your dog’s natural chewing instincts. Chew toys are a great way to prevent destructive chewing. If you can redirect them to toys meant to be chewed on, they can reap all of the benefits without damaging any of your shoes!
We love natural chews for our dogs such as antlers, horns, cow hooves and bully sticks. We also like durable chew toys such as benebones, kongs, and playology bones. These chews offer an excellent way for your dog to release pent up energy and relieve boredom and anxiety. We do not recommend rawhide. Generally speaking, rawhides are not easily digested, which is why large chunks that break off and are swallowed whole can cause intestinal obstructions in dogs.
Dogs need to get enough exercise to keep them physically and mentally well. Toys such as balls that can be thrown and caught are great for keeping dogs active, and also for making exercise fun for both you and your pet. Playology and Wunderballs are favorites of ours, and are virtually indestructible!
Dog squeak toys are enjoyed by most dogs, especially dogs that like to bite and shake their toys. Squeak toys activate your dog’s predatory instinct and provide an appropriate outlet for the behaviour. We like sqeaky toys that do not have any stuffing. Puppies and dogs love those soft floppy toys!
Durable and washable plush toys are a popular choice for dogs of all ages. Soft plush toys are wonderful for young puppies because they provide them with a sense of comfort, especially after separation from their mother and littermates. Plush toys are not suitable for heavy chewers. Stuffing is not digestible and can get stuck in a dog’s teeth or throat. Most dogs can safely pass polyester filling. But should it get stuck, it can stop the digestive process, leading to complete intestinal blockages. For this same reason we do not recommend rope toys for heavy chewers or destructive dogs. Even if your dog only eats small pieces of rope at a time, the strands can slowly create an obstruction. The strands from a rope toy can cause your dog’s intestines to bunch up, or even saw through them like ribbon.
Puzzle toys that allow treats to be placed inside are a lot of fun! They provide mental stimulation, physical exercise and help to alleviate boredom. These toys vary in their degree of difficulty with those classified as being easy best for young puppies and older dogs. As your dog gets better at solving these toys, you can introduce more challenging varieties to keep them on their toes.
Something we love to get is a the “bark box” for our dogs. It’s a subscription that comes once a month and includes safe toys, chews & treats. I don’t know who enjoys it more, us or our dogs!
Dogs love and need to chew. However, you don’t want your leather shoes or fancy furniture to be the victim of your dog’s natural chewing instincts. Chew toys are a great way to prevent destructive chewing. If you can redirect them to toys meant to be chewed on, they can reap all of the benefits without damaging any of your shoes!
We love natural chews for our dogs such as antlers, horns, cow hooves and bully sticks. We also like durable chew toys such as benebones, kongs, and playology bones. These chews offer an excellent way for your dog to release pent up energy and relieve boredom and anxiety. We do not recommend rawhide. Generally speaking, rawhides are not easily digested, which is why large chunks that break off and are swallowed whole can cause intestinal obstructions in dogs.
Dogs need to get enough exercise to keep them physically and mentally well. Toys such as balls that can be thrown and caught are great for keeping dogs active, and also for making exercise fun for both you and your pet. Playology and Wunderballs are favorites of ours, and are virtually indestructible!
Dog squeak toys are enjoyed by most dogs, especially dogs that like to bite and shake their toys. Squeak toys activate your dog’s predatory instinct and provide an appropriate outlet for the behaviour. We like sqeaky toys that do not have any stuffing. Puppies and dogs love those soft floppy toys!
Durable and washable plush toys are a popular choice for dogs of all ages. Soft plush toys are wonderful for young puppies because they provide them with a sense of comfort, especially after separation from their mother and littermates. Plush toys are not suitable for heavy chewers. Stuffing is not digestible and can get stuck in a dog’s teeth or throat. Most dogs can safely pass polyester filling. But should it get stuck, it can stop the digestive process, leading to complete intestinal blockages. For this same reason we do not recommend rope toys for heavy chewers or destructive dogs. Even if your dog only eats small pieces of rope at a time, the strands can slowly create an obstruction. The strands from a rope toy can cause your dog’s intestines to bunch up, or even saw through them like ribbon.
Puzzle toys that allow treats to be placed inside are a lot of fun! They provide mental stimulation, physical exercise and help to alleviate boredom. These toys vary in their degree of difficulty with those classified as being easy best for young puppies and older dogs. As your dog gets better at solving these toys, you can introduce more challenging varieties to keep them on their toes.
Something we love to get is a the “bark box” for our dogs. It’s a subscription that comes once a month and includes safe toys, chews & treats. I don’t know who enjoys it more, us or our dogs!