As a dog owner, you're certainly well aware of how excited your dog becomes when they hear the name of their favourite dog toy. Or how much quicker their tail can wag when you bring home a new toy for them to play with. It may also bring us delight to observe how happy our pets are.
Dog toys, particularly natural dog toys, are vital for a variety of reasons. Finally, they create a sense of canine enrichment, i.e., dog toys should prevent canines from chewing your favourite pillows (or shoes in our family!). They give mental and physical stimulation, and depending on the toy, they can distract them long enough for you to get on with other tasks!
Dogs and their toys
We're a dog-loving country! According to studies, we Brits spend an average of £1,150 each year on our furry pals, with the UK as a whole spending about £10 billion per year on our dogs!
This may appear to be a bit excessive, yet it is very common for animal lovers everywhere. How often have we heard that a dog is a "man's best friend"? and it's true! Our dogs become an important part of our family, and as such, they receive the usual birthday presents, Christmas presents from Santa, boredom-busting toys, and more!
A plush dog toy or chewing toy is essential for both them and their owners!
Dog toys give both physical and mental pleasure, as well as reducing destructive behaviour and encouraging rest. When dogs are nervous, playing with a new toy or snuggling with an old toy can help keep them quiet, calm, and preoccupied.
The Importance of Play
Dogs should have access to a diverse selection of appropriate dog toys. Not simply to show how spoilt they are, but also because it can assist with behaviour. Toys are frequently utilised in training as a reward mechanism for excellent listening and obeying orders. This is a fantastic strategy for puppies when we begin to train them to sit and stay, for example, by using the toy as a reward that they then get to chew on and play with after a job well done.
This also helps to keep dogs busy. Dogs must use all of their energy. Of course, nothing beats a nice relaxing stroll, but dogs also like playing with their owners. It's fascinating to play with a rubber dog toy that squeaks every time they eat it in the correct position, for example!
Dog toys also serve to keep dogs entertained and busy. This is useful if your dogs are left alone throughout the day while you are at work, or even if you work from home. They require something to play with, pursue, chew, follow, and so on. Otherwise, boredom can set in, and the alternative is for them to gnaw on something they shouldn't, fling your favourite shoe around the house, or worse!
This is why toys, particularly treat-dispensing dog toys (which we and our dog adore! ), may be effective boredom relievers. The design of these toys focuses on offering mental stimulation and a mechanism to relieve boredom, which (hopefully) decreases the likelihood of harmful behaviour!
With a variety of treat-dispensing toys available, you can mix and match to find the right one for your pet, giving them with endless hours of entertainment and keeping their minds busy and engaged!
Every dog, whether a puppy or an adult, enjoys soft and fuzzy toys at some point in their lives.
When they're puppies, it's crucial to introduce a soft toy to help them cope with being separated from their mother and litter. A cosy toy that kids can snuggle up with and feel safe and secure with. This toy will certainly become their favourite comforter since it retains their scent, and when they are feeling down or unwell, they have their comfort toy to resort to. (It's similar to how kids have comforters when they're young, a favourite blanket or teddy that they use to help them settle and feel protected.)
Your dog will know what they like and dislike. Dogs, like us, know what they enjoy and what they don't. Furthermore, no two dogs are the same. Every dog has their own personality, their own distinct characteristics; whether they are the same breed or brothers and sisters, they are as unique as we are.
For some, having a plush toy to cuddle up to, lick constantly, and care for as if it were their own pet is the finest toy in the world. For others, having something to chew on, something to shred into a thousand little pieces every time they play with it (we have a dog like this, can you tell?!) is the best, most thrilling thing in the world to play with. It's all about getting to know our dogs and experimenting with different toys to find which ones they enjoy the most!
Dogs' energy levels will also differ, influencing the toys they favour.
Again, for others, having something as simple as a noisy rubber duck might provide all of the entertainment they want. For those dogs that are bouncing off the walls, you really can't go wrong with an exciting, entertaining, vividly coloured tennis ball (we really enjoy our natural pink monster tennis ball roller - excellent for Halloween (not that our dog is pampered)!
A little bit of toy ingenuity can go a long way.
We're all having significantly shorter days now that the dark mornings and nights have set in, so we need to keep our dogs busy to avoid boredom and unpleasant behaviour!
Some of the finest dog-friendly games you can play with your dog and their toys are:
Naming their favourite toy
After naming a couple of their favourite toys, you can establish a game by shouting out the item's name and ordering your dog to go retrieve "snowy" from their toy box. This form of play and activity is also fantastic for teaching, and your dog will place value on the toy, making it far more valuable than the others in their box.
Playing hide and seek
Dogs adore this game, which is also highly interactive. Hiding their favourite toy and creating a game out of discovering it can be thrilling and entertaining for everyone – even the kids! It not only keeps your dog engaged, but it also helps you and your dog develop a stronger relationship as you play and interact together.
A tug of war
A dog's all-time favourite. Playing tug of war with a rope pull or unstuffed dog toys is a terrific option for dogs with weak teeth!
Making your own agility course
You may utilise their toys to build an obstacle course in your own home, which is ideal for the most daring dogs in our families. Having them collect and return, jump over ropes, weave in and out of cuddly toys, and slither underneath dining room chairs is not only amazing agility, but also terrific exercise and cerebral stimulation!
Which hand is it in?
Our dog enjoys playing this game with us! It's not only a terrific game for using their brain, but it's also a lot of fun. Hiding your hands behind your back with their favourite toy or even a nutritious treat. Make your dog sit as motionless as possible until you pick a hand. Then gently move your hands around to the front so they may select which hand they believe their treat is in. As the enthusiasm rises, their tails will wag faster!
The three-cup game
Often known as 'find the sweets.' Hide a nutritious dog treat beneath a cup, then mix all three cups together so they're no longer in the same location. Your dog must then chose which cup to select. After finding the correct cup, they are rewarded with a scrumptious, delectable gift!
Natural Dog Toys
Environmentally friendly dog toys are not only good for the environment, but they are also long-lasting for dog owners. Natural dog toys are durable and enjoyable, produced from eco-friendly materials; they are inexpensive, and your pet will enjoy them!
Allowing your dog to make the decision
If your dog is more energetic and sprightly throughout the day, and if you're honest, you might get exhausted simply watching him jump about joyfully because it's the morning and he hasn't seen you all night, then you need to find a method to burn off some of that surplus energy. You can't go wrong with the Air Kong Squeaker Dumbbell for some bouncy fun. This toy floats in water and has a non-abrasive felt that is gentler on your dog's teeth. Plus, with a squeaker inside, playing has never been more entertaining!
You need a toy that motivates dogs to get active if they want to lie around all day, following the sun inside the home! Providing them with a diversion Squeaky toys, such as our cheeky pigs can fly latex dog toy, are ideal. This quirky and amusing toy is robust and features a built-in squeaker to tempt them out of their slump. However, nothing gets a dog going quicker than the prospect of a reward. Kong balls are an excellent method to relieve boredom and provide both physical and mental activity to even the most sedentary pets.
Puzzle toys are ideal for highly bright dogs who not only learn rapidly but also strive to deceive their masters.
