Dog Toys

Your dogs need to play. Your dogs love to play. Heck, you wouldn't have dogs if you didn't love all that tail-wagging, tongue-hanging, yard-running playtime! Now, unless you plan on rasslin' with your pooches all day, every day (which could lead to a lot of aggression on their part and grass stains on your parts), you'd better get them some toys to occupy their time. None of these toys have to break the bank, but favorites will have to be replaced when they get too chewed up and gross. Better to do that than keep around an unidentifiable plastic mass that your puppy used to love. No one loves a choking hazard.

Top Ten Dog Toys

from About.com.

Jolly Pet Romp-n-Roll Dog Toys  Floating, rolling, and non-deflating for all sorts of fun.	Jolly Pet Teaser Balls  The smaller ball stuck inside the larger one will entice your dog to explore it for hours.	Mammoth Pet Tire Biter Dog Toys  Because these tires are made from flossing nylon and rubber, they help your dogs' teeth.	Pet Plush Rainbow Dog Toys  A myriad of shapes and characters come in plush rainbow, some with squeakers buried inside.	Sun Pet Toys Fetch & Glow Dog Toys  Super durable rubber balls can stand up to play during the day or in the dark.

Holiday Pet Stocking  For hanging from the mantle with the rest of the family's stockings.	Premier Fleece Pet Toys with Squeakers  Perfect for your dog to cuddle when you're not in the mood.	Coastal Pet John Deere Plush Dog Toy Tractor  A squeaky plush tractor lets dogs get back to their roots on the farm.	JW Pet Double Invincible Chains 6" Large  Interlocking chains can withstand all the tugging your dog can muster.	Pet Toys Storage Box  Easy to clean and a great place to keep all the toys

What Makes Something a Dog Toy?

Essentially, if your dog wants to play with it, it's a dog toy. (If you also wanted to wear it to a formal dinner, it's a unfortunate case of mistaken identities as well.) You dogs will need many types of toys to keep them occupied, so you'd better acquire a collection of sorts (so Rover doesn't move on to your shoe collection).

However, if you do not want your dog chewing on specific objects, then do not buy toys that resemble those objects. For instance, if you do not want your dog to munch on your daughter's dolls, then refrain from buying toys that resemble dolls. Your dog will not understand why it is OK to chew on one doll and not another. To reduce the amount of destroyed items in your home, the dog needs to know that some items are for sinking its teeth into, while others are not.

Small dogs have special toy needs. Small dogs have smaller mouths, and they're just not as strong as big dog mouths. Small dogs are more likely to react to louder noises, too. Tiny mouths want light, tiny toys with softer squeakers.

Materials Nylon  Plastic  Plush  Rawhide  Rope  Rubber  Latex  is great for gentle dogs only. Shape Animals  Food  Geometric Shapes  Household Objects  Sports Toys

Action Bounce  Flash  Flavor  Float  Fly  Some companies make ball picker-uppers  so that you can play catch without having to handle a slimy ball. Hide Other Toys  Hold Treats  Glow  Jingle  Roll  Snuggle  Squeak  Some toys squeak in a range only audible to dogs.

Questions and Tips

• Do you want this to be durable and hold up against gnawing or do you want it be a favorite for shredding?
• Will it leave shreds of rubber? Plush stuffing? Rope strings?
• Is the animal-shaped toy for predatory play or for carrying around?
• Keep your dogs from playing with your stuff by getting them their own toys. Keep strings, cords, shoes, rubber bands, and all other enticing items away from your dog.
• Generally, don't throw your dog a bone -- if swallowed, bits of bone can cause problems on the way back out. Instead, get a chew toy, which are usually made to look like bones anyway.
• Look for flavored  chews for puppies and dental care  chews for dogs of all ages.
• Make sure the toys are the right size. Tiny dogs don't need giant rawhide  bones and giant dogs shouldn't get little latex squeak toys.
• Squeaking toys should be used under supervision only, lest the dogs find the squeakers, ingest them, and get sick.
• Plush dolls should be washable.

Classic Toys

Frisbees  and Tennis Balls	Plush Toys	Chew Bones	Rope Toys	Kong Toy  (stuffed with treats)

External Links

• Humane Society -- Why dog toys are important and what to look out for.