It’s no secret that puppies love to play! They seem to have boundless energy and are on the constant lookout for something fun to play with. Toys are a great way to help you play with your puppy, or to distract them while you take a little break.
Here are a few types of puppy toys for learning to consider buying for your puppy to distract, train, and just have fun:
Stuffed Toys
You’ll find many stuffed toys that are shaped in all sorts of amusing critters and objects. These are great play toys especially for puppy because they are soft and give puppy something to sink those tiny little baby teeth into while offering a cuddly factor. Be aware of broken seams and stuffing coming out. Do not give them children”s stuffed toys, especially ones with plastic eyes. Sooner or later a child’s toy will be claimed by a puppy but be careful. Hunting dogs especially will rip regular stuffed animals apart and they especially like the eyes, which can be dangerous if swallowed. Dog stuffed toys are better made and designed to be chewed.
Squeaky Toys
Some puppies love to get a reaction from their toys and squeaky toys are perfect for that. If your puppy has a hunting lineage, you may notice there will be a ‘kill’ in the making with this sort of toy. Once the toy is ‘killed’ (the squeaker removed) the puppy may lose interest in the toy. The constant squeaking may be a bit disturbing since puppies don’t really care what you’re doing when they’re ready to play. If puppy is very young, do pay attention as the squeaking device may be small enough to swallow if they should happen to get it out.
Chew Toys
Buy hard plastic ‘bones’ and real rawhide, or other bones and toys for puppy to chew on. Be sure to limit the amount of time puppy chews on the real rawhide as it is difficult to digest and you want to avoid letting them break off and swallow large chunks. A big supply of good chew toys and bones are a necessary investment. Buying bones specially made to hold up for a long time will help the budget. While more expensive, chunks of antler are actually your best chew toys for dogs. They are practically indestructible and they are good for your dog.
Balls
Puppies love chasing balls. Your puppy will bat a ball around and keep entertained without any help from you. However, the real joy your puppy will have is playing fetch with you. Make sure the ball is large enough so it doesn’t pose a choking hazard. Also, make sure the ball is solid enough not to be chewed up easily. Tennis balls are a favorite choice for many dog owners.
Ropes
Tugging on a rope and carrying it around is always fun. You can buy thick, strong ropes at the pet store just for this purpose. Be sure not to get too aggressive with this play. You are probably quite a big bigger than your dog, and certainly your puppy, and you can tug too hard and hurt your puppy’s jaw, neck, or teeth. Keep the play more about chasing the puppy while he runs with the rope than about tugging it away from him or her.
Frisbees
Puppy toys for learning that fly far are perfect for playing fetch. This is an opportunity for you to teach puppy to retrieve and return. Find a safe, wide open field and your puppy will run off a lot of energy. The exercise is great for both of you. Try to get a good weight frisbee. Cheaper frisbees will crumble and possible result in sharp chunks.
When choosing the puppy toys for learning for your furry friend, be sure to keep some safety and training issues in mind. Here are a few:
Watch for choking hazards – The easiest way to avoid buying toys that may present chocking hazards for puppies is to buy them from a good pet store. Pet stores have a big selection of puppy-safe toys to choose from. If you do get puppy toys that you’re not sure about, check them over for objects that are sewn or glued on that won’t hold up to your puppy’s chewing. Just cut them off before giving to your puppy.
Only keep a few toys out – If you’ve bought your puppy a lot of toys, don’t present them all at once. One or two toys at a time will excite your puppy; any more than that will just be overwhelming and your puppy may ignore them all. Then, as old toys get destroyed or no longer useful, introduce one new toy at a time.
Keep toys in a bin nearby – To keep your own sanity you’ll probably want to have a bin or toy box for the puppy toys. This is a place where puppy can always find them and you can show him where they go when finished. That way, when puppy wants to play he knows exactly where to go to find the toys. You will also be able to quickly grab something to distract puppy when needed.
Puppy fun time is one of the great joys of being a puppy, and a puppy parent. Make sure you take the time to get your puppy the best toys for the hard work of playing. Be sure you also get in all the playtime you can with your puppy. Time flies quickly, and your puppy won’t be little for long!