You love to see your puppy play, don’t you?
Play is very important in a dog’s life because:
– In the puppy stage, a toy is a relief during teething.
– In adulthood, it serves to strengthen the bond with its owner, in addition to helping develop its intelligence and control its biting instinct.
– In the senior years, play is a great help in delaying cognitive deterioration.
Our best friends love toys, but beware, not all toys are suitable for all small dogs. The importance of choosing one or the other is not only that the toy can break quickly or that the animal does not enjoy it as much as we would like, but that if it breaks or breaks, the dog could swallow part of it causing an obstruction of the trachea or intestine.
Investing in dog toys is an investment in safety. The materials and padding of toys and stuffed animals are designed to be durable and dog-friendly. Similarly, puppy toys are sized to fit the dog’s mouth. Always look for them to not reach the molars when biting, but to have a larger size that protrudes to avoid choking.
Also, these toys created for puppies’ use are free of small parts that can break and cause choking. Since in this discovery phase, puppies are prone to swallowing anything that comes their way. A button, a piece of plastic or any other fragment can cause serious gastrointestinal problems.
In short, not everything is good for entertaining your pet, always opt for items and objects designed for them. There are a wide variety of toys that are perfect for your puppy. Here are some fun options for these little friends:
Soft Toys
Depending on the breed, the teething phase can occur between 3 and 9 months. During this time, the dog will lose his baby teeth and his permanent teeth will grow in, so it’s ideal to use soft materials like sponges or rubbers. It’s best to use soft materials, such as sponges or rubbers that your puppy can gnaw on without any problems and without hurting his little teeth.
Teething Toys
Teething toys are great for strengthening jaw muscles and keeping gums stimulated and teeth strong. In addition, biting is something that dogs are born with and having something to chew on helps them relax and fight stress and boredom. In this category, there are different materials, choose the one that suits the dog’s jaw and age.
Cords
Once the teeth are out, you can play tug-of-war more quietly. Some owners think this game encourages aggression, but this is not true. Dogs know they are playing and this is their way of expressing themselves. This is the perfect time to teach your first positive training lessons. An extra tip: don’t lift your puppy off the ground while playing tug-of-war, or leave him hanging in the air, you can damage his neck, jaws and teeth.
Fill-in-the-Blank Toys
Ideal if you want to keep the puppy entertained for a long time and give you a break from housework. These toys have cavities to fill with snacks or pies, so the puppy will be occupied until the prize is released or the food is long gone. Remember, treats should only make up 10% of the total diet.
In conclusion, your dog will clearly express his preferences and you’ll soon know what his favorite toys are: teething toys, stuffed animals, balls and French fries, kong toys… In any case, you should always remove in time the toys that, for their use, are torn or very worn out before breaking completely. Did you start buying some toys for your puppy? Let us know how you’ve chosen and leave the tips you have in the comments below.
