Types of Toy Play
There are two types of toys: solitary and interactive.
Solitary toys are chew toys that should be easily accessible for your young pup to chew on when they feel the need. Chewing is a way for dogs to decompress so giving your puppy this outlet is crucial in their development. Think teething toys for babies…
Edible chews such as beef trachea, fish skins and tendons
Synthetic chews such as Nylabones or Benebones
I don’t recommend antlers for puppies or aggressive chewers as they can cause breakage
Interactive toys are the ones you can’t seem to stop buying! These are the squeaky toys, the tugs and the balls. It’s nice to have a variety but don’t overdo it. Puppies will get overstimulated and overwhelmed to the point that they won’t want to play with these toys anymore. Toy exhaustion is real! I have seen it in toddlers who have too many options; they feel overwhelmed, won’t be able to choose a toy to play with and may find an activity to do that will cause trouble.
Tug toys - try to steer clear of rope as these fibers can become ingested and cause gastrointestinal issues
Squeaky or crinkly toys - immediately take these away if the dog begins to rip them up to prevent swallowing any synthetic pieces
Balls or frisbees - opt for the ones that have a handle to easily grab from your dog during play
Keep your toys to a maximum of 4-5 favorites with a good variety: a couple of squeaky toys, something to fetch and something to tug (think toy rotation with toddlers). These toys are never left out to prevent them from being destroyed; you don’t want your puppy shredding a toy to eat the squeaker or ripping apart a tug toy to swallow the rope fibers, both are quick trips to E.R.! It also helps to teach the puppy that not everything on the ground is theirs to chew and destroy; keeping a clean house will help with this.
Toy play is a great way to bond with your dog so make sure to add it into your daily routine for about 10 minutes at a time. Utilize this time to teach some impulse control commands such as: LEAVE IT, SIT and FREE.
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This is also a great time to teach the command DROP IT:
Start off with some fun interactive play for a few minutes.
When the puppy has the toy in their mouth, call them to you and hold out a treat near their nose.
More than likely they will drop the toy to get the treat.
When they do, say “DROP IT” and reward with the treat.
Then pick up the toy to continue play. This is the most CRUCIAL PART of teaching the DROP IT command; do not discontinue play after the first round of commands. Your puppy will learn that the DROP IT game is fun and will engage more. This will make it easier to use later on when you actually need them to drop something.
Moose playing with his Jolly Ball (a fun interactive tug toy)
Tug toys for dogs are important for play and bonding with owners. Made for tugging, they encourage physical activity and allow dogs to express their instincts safely. They come in different materials and sizes, promoting healthy chewing and helping reduce anxiety through play. Whether used for tug-of-war or training, these toys offer entertainment and exercise, making them a valuable part of any dog’s toys.
