Are you tired of buying your dog toys that they seem to immediately get bored with? Dogs are just like kids and have individual play styles and preferences for what kind of toys they like best and prefer to play with. If you want to keep your dog occupied with toys here are ideas for how to pick the right toys for your dog.
Play style appropriate:
The priority when looking for a toy to keep your dog entertained is to think about your dog’s individual play style. Many dogs have a preferred play style that involves chase, chase, and more chase. In that case a fetching toy is going to be what will best hold their interest. Other dogs prefer shaking and pouncing on their toys, while other dogs might like tugging, or puzzles best. When selecting toys to keep your dog entertained it’s best to think about your dog’s play style and select toys that allow your dog to play their favorite games.
Inspiring interactive play:
For dogs who are bored playing on their own consider adding in some toys that will inspire interactive play. These are toys that are designed for people and dogs to play with together. Most toys that are great for interactive play are ones designed for tugging and/or tossing. Many dogs like to play with their people, and so not only can these interactive toys keep your dog entertained, but they can also help to build or reinforce a strong relationship between you and your dog.
“New” toys:
Does your dog fall in love with any new toy they get and then seem to lose interest? Many dogs are most excited by new toys, but continuing to purchase new toys isn’t very budget-friendly! One way to keep your dog entertained with their toys for longer is to create a toy rotation with the toys your dog already has. To do this, go through your dog’s toy box and divide out the toys, putting half of them away in a closet. Then, when your dog has lost interest in their toys in a few weeks you can swap out the old toys to the “new ” old toys that were in the closet. Most dogs will treat the rotated toys like they are new and be ready to engage in play with them again. Do this regularly and you’ll only occasionally need to actually purchase a new toy to add into the rotation.
Puzzle toys:
If you need to keep your dog occupied for a while, puzzle toys are ideal. Dog puzzle toys can keep dogs entertained and challenged and are a lot of fun for dogs of all ages. There are a variety of puzzle toys available for dogs of all sizes and play styles including soft puzzles, and hard puzzles depending on your dog’s preferences. To use, put some of your dog’s favorite treats, or food into the puzzle toy. When you give the puzzles to your dog they will use their nose and mind to figure out how to solve the puppy puzzle. To complete the puzzles dogs will use their paws, nose, and mouth to move the puzzle pieces to reveal the hidden treats and food. Puzzle toys are great for helping to keep dogs mentally occupied and engaged.
Chew toys:
Another great option for keeping dogs entertained for long periods of time are chew toys. Chewing is a natural activity that most dogs enjoy doing. In addition to coming naturally to dogs, chewing is also a stress-relieving activity for dogs. Toys that are designed for chewing can help to keep dogs entertained, engaged, and entertained when you aren’t able to focus on your dog. Bones and other chew toys can also be a great option to engage dogs in toys that might otherwise not be that interested in dog toys. As with all toys make sure to supervise your dog with their chew toys to ensure they are in good condition. If the chew toy begins to splinter or gets worked down to a small size you should remove the chew toy from your dog because it could become a choking hazard.
Food Stuffed Toys:
Like puzzles, food-stuffed toys are filled with your dog’s treats or food. But unlike puzzles, with these food-stuffed toys the location of the treat is readily apparent. Food-stuffed toys are generally made of rubber or silicone and are hollow so food can be stuffed inside. Dog-safe peanut butter and other spreadable treats on its own or mixed with your dog’s food make a great filler for these toys. Food-stuffed toys are highly enriching for dogs and can be used to keep dogs entertained if you need to leave them alone, or need your dog to be occupied for a little while you get something done. These food-stuffed toys can be especially helpful for dogs who might have a lower toy drive or not even regularly be that excited about toys. Not only can these toys be a great option for these dogs, but they can also help to encourage those dogs to develop an interest in other toys.
