The Best Toys For Puppies Animal Blog from Animal Friends Pet Insurance
Providing lots of different types of toys for your puppy is not just spoiling them or being soppy - it's a great idea to get them started on the concept of chewing only what you want them to chew. As many of our dog insurance customers will already know, puppies can be a lot like toddlers in some ways; they certainly have their own personal preferences when it comes to toys. Some puppies like balls, some like soft toys, hard toys or toys that make noise. What type of toy they have is not nearly as important as (1) how it is made (and what from), and (2) how much your puppy enjoys chewing on it.
The most important consideration is to choose only toys that are made specifically for dogs. Don't use toys made for children - they will be too easy for a dog (even a puppy) to pull apart, and then they could potentially choke on the small pieces. Hard rubber toys such as Kongs, Nylabones or other durable toys are the best option as they are virtually indestructible, even for the most energetic needle-fanged chewers!
The next important consideration is to select the right size of toy. The toy should not be too large for the puppy to be able to get into his or her mouth and play with, or you'll find they quickly abandon it. On the other hand, it should not be too small, or it can be swallowed and cause a serious and potentially life-threatening obstruction in the mouth, throat or digestive system. Perhaps rubber balls may seem the perfect size toy for a puppy but if any toy can push past the hinge point of the jaw, it can become wedged and choke the dog. Squeezy balls are especially dangerous, as they may squash smaller, go beyond the jaw hinge, then open out to full size - and being round in shape they can completely close off the throat and choke the puppy.
Finally, avoid rawhide or similar such types of chews or toys unless you are going to be present when the puppy is gnawing on them, and even those should only be made from shredded, pressed hide. Natural rawhide becomes a sodden lump that cannot be digested by the puppy, again posing the possibility of blockages and serious health concerns.
For more tips and advice, check out our other puppy care pages, or use the search tool at the top of the page to search all Animal Friends Insurance blog posts.
