Homemade Puppies' Dog Toy Guide

Around the Holidays, many people include their pets in the joy of gift giving.  This week Katie shares with us popular toys for pets and their pros and cons.

Here is Katie's list of various types of toys and their pros and cons: 

Rawhide/Chews/Consumables

I'm going to start right off with rawhide. Don't give rawhides! For many dogs it's hard to digest, and poses a choking hazard. Those cute little rawhide candy canes and wreaths might look like a good gift for your dog but they can be dangerous. Instead, buy your dog Bully Sticks, Beef Cheek rolls, Antlers, Horns, or Himalayan Chews. These are all great alternatives to rawhide. Unlike rawhide, which is often bleached and contains harmful processing chemicals, these alternatives are natural and safe for your dog to consume. Of course you want to be aware of what size is safe for your dog and your dog's chewing habits. Many of the safe alternatives come in various sizes. Be sure to pick one that is large enough for your dog. Always monitor your dog when they have a chew and take it away when it gets too small. I have found the longest lasting chew that is my very favorite is the antlers and horns. Antlers can be too hard for some dogs though and could pose a risk of broken teeth. Bones can be given to dogs and make a great chew, but NEVER cooked bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause digestive problems. There are bones on the market that are safe for your dog, but again please monitor your dog with any chew or toy they are given. 

Activity Toys

This is my next favorite category of toys. These toys are designed to keep your dog active with his mind as well as his body. Most of these toys work in conjunction with treats. There are balls that have holes, that you fill with treats, as your dog pushes and plays with the ball, the treats randomly fall out. The Kong Wobbler is a toy shaped like a Kong (a cone shaped toy). It is plastic and weighted on the bottom. You fill it with treats or dog kibble and your dog has to push it and tip it to make the treats fall out. Puzzle toys are very popular too. There are many options on the market. They often have pockets or compartments that hide treats and your dog has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can make your own puzzle treat toy using a muffin tin and tennis balls. Fill the muffin tin with a few treats in each hole and place a tennis ball on top. Your dog will have to figure out how to move the tennis balls to get the treats. These toys are a great way to feed your dog his meals. 

Play Toys 

In this category I'm including balls, tugs and frisbees. These are all interactive toys that you can play with your dog. All are great ways to keep your dog active. They might include a little bit of training to teach your dog to chase and bring back the toy. When playing with a ball with your dog, make sure it's not too small. A dog can choke on a ball that goes too far into its mouth because it was too small. There are a large variety of balls, tugs and frisbees on the market. There are also devices that launch balls that can help save your throwing arm. These toys are great because they exercise your dog and build the bond between you and your dog. 

Chew toys 

I'm placing these toys separate from the chews and consumables. These are toys that are meant for your dog to chew but not consume. Kong, Nylabone and Busy Buddy are name brands but there are many other brands that are great toys for chewers. They are often made of a durable rubberized or hard plastic-like material. They satisfy your dog's instinctual need to chew. Chew toys come in all shapes and sizes. Again, it's important to select the correct size for your dog and monitor them to be sure they don't chew off and swallow any pieces. Replace any toy that gets too small or too damaged to be safely chewed by your dog. 

Stuffed Toys

Many dogs and especially puppies like the soft texture of stuffed toys. Stuffed toys come in a wide variety. Some stuffed toys have squeakers, some make other sounds that appeal to dogs. There are extra durable stuffed toys for dogs that are tougher chewers but still like the soft texture. There are even "stuffed" toys without the stuffing! 

There is a toy out there for all types of dogs. Finding what toy your dog likes best is one of the biggest joys of dog ownership. Sometimes your dog will give you clues into what type of toy they would like. For example, if your dog is chewing the legs of your dinner table, they would probably like a hard chew toy. If your dog is chewing up your couch pillows, they would probably enjoy a stuffed toy. If your dog is barking at you and zooming all over the house they would probably enjoy an active/ interactive toy.  With such a wide variety of toys available it shouldn't be too difficult to find some your dog enjoys. The more toys you have the more occupied and out of trouble your dog will be. 

❤ Katie Watterson

Do you have a question for Katie? Submit your question(s) to info@homemadepuppies.com.

Looking for a puppy? We have a large variety of puppies from pure-bred to mixed breed and large to small. Check out the in-home raised puppies we offer at www.homemadepuppies.com. The puppy's information such as location, description, price, breeder's contact information will be listed on the puppy's page. As always puppies advertised on Homemade Puppies are always 100% raised in-home...never a kennel or barn, etc. No Puppy Mills, ever. We promise.

Do you have a litter of in-home raised puppies that you would like to advertise on www.homemadepuppies.com? Email info@homemadepuppies.com for more information on how to get started!

Thank you!

Don't forget to catch Katie's blog from last week: https://www.homemadepuppies.com/5-holiday-pet-safety-tips

*As always Katie's advice is on this blog are only meant to be used as tips and should never replace your veterinarian's advice. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your dog's health.