All dog breeders sooner or later face the question of which toys are best to buy for their four-legged friend. Such attributes are truly necessary for dogs of all breeds. Usually they are represented in pet stores in a fairly wide variety, so the owners often can not make the right choice. In order not to be mistaken with the purchase, it is necessary to take into account various criteria, as well as the compatibility of the toy with a particular pet and its main purpose.
How to correctly identify all these signs and choose the right accessory to play your dog will be described in detail in this article.
Purpose
The game is an integral part of the life of any dog. It can take place in various forms, at different locations, to have special levels of complexity. But in any case, this process involves the physical activity of the pet and is very useful for its health.
Toys are necessary to make games with the dog more interesting for both the pet and the owner, and they also contribute to the development of certain qualities of the dog.
Many owners, especially owners of large breeds, use game accessories for pet training. Training for teams in the open air or even in apartment conditions becomes more diverse and easy if toys come to the rescue.
However, in addition to professional and amateur dog training, toys will also be useful for dogs that are active in the absence of the owner. Such dogs, without having their own toys, can use slippers or curtains in their games, as a result of which property is often damaged. Game accessories will attract these fidget dogs much more than the master's items, and will bring double benefit.
For puppies should also pick up toys. From an early age, they are necessary for the pet, because some of them contribute to the physical development of babies. An example would be a puppy's need to try everything on a tooth, and some toys will appeal to a little inhabitant of your home.
In a number of breeds, for example, in husky dogs, the need for active rest is extremely high. For a walk, they need additional activity. In this case, the appropriate toys come to the rescue, allowing the dogs to throw out energy to the fullest extent and increase the productivity of the walk.
Kinds
Toys for dogs are presented in a large assortment in stores for animals. These accessories are classified according to several criteria. The first is the size.
- Large accessories for games are usually chosen for large breed dogs. They are expensive and are often used for dog training.
- Small counterparts are much cheaper, but when playing with them, you should be careful that the dog does not attempt to swallow the toy.
Another determining factor is the size of the dog itself and its needs.
- In order to develop the bite of a large dog correctly, one should pay attention to tugging devices, for example, a special rope.
- If the dog likes to bite toys, it is worth picking up such models whose material is resistant to the effects of teeth. An example of such a toy for small dogs is a chicken made of latex.
Remarkable is the interesting design of such a toy, as well as its quite affordable price in the region of 150 rubles.
- For training, you should purchase accessories that are aportable. In addition, various devices for throwing are popular, for example, a ball. There are also plates that dogs can catch right on the fly.
- Puppies or small dogs can easily lose their playing gear in the dark. To search for your favorite toy was easier, choose models with built-in luminous elements or squeaker.
If we consider the balls as a separate type of toys for dogs, it is worth mentioning that The purpose of using such accessories may be different. In the case of small dogs or puppies, the balls are needed so that the dog independently pushes them with its paws and then catches up.
Large pets for a walk or a training often like to bring a ball thrown by the owner. Among such toys it is worth noting such a ball, which is made in the shape of an egg from durable material. This option is anti-vandal, because, thanks to the material and its construction, it is almost impossible to damage it with your teeth, which provides not only pet benefits, but also durability in use.
To the dog could play with the ball, you can buy automatic constructions who throw the ball into the air in the mode you set. Such devices operate on batteries or from the mains. The dog itself puts the ball in the upper hole of the structure, and after a short period of time from another hole, this ball flies out, contributing to an exciting gameplay.
These devices, thanks to alternative power supply methods, can be used both indoors and outdoors, the ball's range can be set independently.
Some owners are given such a goal, as the development of thinking dogs at an early age. In this great helpers will be developing types of toys. They represent the mechanism in which the treat is placed, for example, dog food. To open access to food, the dog needs to be quick-witted by turning the mechanism in a certain way.
Sometimes in these toys there are flaps, pulling out that the dog can eat.
It is best to use these gaming accessories under the supervision of the owner during the puppy's young age, when his psyche is in the stage of active formation.
A special type are edible toys, most often presented in the form of sticks, rings or bones, made from rawhide, as well as natural veins in a dried form. They are indispensable in order to maintain the health of the pet's oral cavity. When the dog nibbles on these sticks, the teeth of the animal are cleaned.
A separate kind are soft toys. Some pets use them for active games or sleep with them. In the first case, the risk that a soft toy will become unusable is large enough, therefore it must be replaced periodically.
Some owners even make toys for their dogs on their own from a simple sock and soft filler.
Materials
The variety of types of gaming accessories for four-legged pets also explains the large selection of materials from which toys are made. Each material has its own characteristics and strength indicators. Raw materials for dog toys can be classified.
- Rubber products characterized by relatively high strength and at the same time inexpensive cost. Such products, especially those made for chewing, help dogs to clean plaque from their teeth during the game, as well as to massage the gums.
Among the disadvantages of such products can be noted the lack of versatility - they are suitable mainly for small or medium dogs, while large breeds will quickly lead products into disrepair.
- Another durable material for making dog toys is silicone. He, like rubber, has a beneficial effect on the gums and teeth, and also facilitates the process of changing milk teeth. Silicone products will not bring serious harm to the pet's body, even if it crumbles the structure and swallows it. In a natural way, the toy will come out of the dog's body.
In comparison with the previous version, it is worth noting that silicone toys are more durable, but their price is more expensive than rubber ones. However, for large dogs, these products are also undesirable.
- Latex gaming accessories considered as safe as possible. They are made from environmentally friendly material that can not harm the health of your pet. Also similar toys, which, like the two previous types, are used mainly for chewing by a dog, have an equally flexible, but at the same time softer texture. This is beneficial for dogs whose gums are sensitive.
- Stuffed toys can be made from fleece or felt. Some elements of some models are sometimes made of strong rope. Despite the low level of strength in general, such models have a very interesting design, often repeating the appearance of wild animals, such as ducks or foxes, for which certain breeds of dogs were used for hunting.
Some believe that to pick up a game accessory of this type should be based on the temperament of the pet.
- If game designs are made from plastic, such as educational toys, their durability will depend on how the dog acts on the product. There is always a risk that the plastic will crack, but in some cases it lasts long enough.
- Are in demand also wooden toys for dogs. One of the most common is a toy in the shape of a stick, which, in addition to natural wood, also contains synthetic materials.
Strength combined with ease - the main advantage of such gaming accessories. They can be used as aportable items.
- Electronic modelsAs a rule, they imply the use of batteries so that the dog can independently interact with the mechanism. The principle of operation can be directed to moving the ball and throwing it out at random from the top of the housing to the bottom.
Recommendations for choosing
After reviewing all the materials and designs of gaming devices for a four-legged friend in more detail, many owners still cannot understand how to choose the right toy that will be ideally suited for their dog. Selecting a similar accessory, pay attention to the selection criteria.
- Pet size is important since for large breeds it is necessary to choose more durable and overall toys than for small ones. The inconsistency of the parameters will create the risk that large dogs may swallow a toy, and small ones may be inconvenient to use the product. Relatively safe will be those models that are placed in the mouth of your dog, but not small enough for her to swallow them.
- Age of dog determines the complexity of gaming accessories. For very young individuals, emphasis is placed on development, for young ones - on the possibility of throwing out energy and strengthening the muscular corset, and for adult dogs it is worth choosing toys that will allow them to moderately maintain activity.
- Keep in mind pet character, choosing material for toys. If the dog is calm, then it will fit even products made of soft materials. But for those dogs who love to bite their toys, it is better to choose anti-vandal models or products from durable raw materials.
- When choosing chewing toys, pay attention to the condition of your dog's teeth and gums. If they have an increased sensitivity, pick up toys that are not too harsh for a dog.
- Pay attention to the price. Depending on the complexity of the designs of gaming accessories and their purpose, the cost varies.Interactive options, as well as battery-based designs are more expensive. Also, the price of some educational products may be high. Well, accessories such as balls, ropes and rubber tweeters are much cheaper.
- Keep in mind that for balanced activity you should not be limited to just one toy. The dog will be much more interesting if the devices for the games will alternate.
So that the life of your four-legged friend was truly valuable and interesting, can not do without gaming accessories. Taking into account the safety standards, the individual characteristics of a pet, the age of the dog, its need for activity and character, you can choose the ideal model of a toy that will bring a lot of pleasure both to the life of the dog and to the owner.
Review of toys for dogs, see the following video.