Safe Toys For Dogs
Why do dogs need toys? Well this is a good question and there
is no simple answer. Dogs are like children or at least many
owners treat their dogs like children. So for the same reason
parents buy toys for their children, so do dog owners buy toys
for their dogs.
There are many toys for owners to choose for their dogs.
Choosing toys that are safe relies on a number of
considerations which I cover briefly in this article.
First of all what do we mean by toys for dogs. Basically they
fit into two categories. Special toys you can buy from a pet
shop or other similar retail outlet. Household items or objects
found in your garden or local park. Let’s take these in that
order.
Special Dog Toys
Although you can buy toys for your dog in a shop that does not
mean that they are all safe for your particular dog. Also you
should realise that toys you can buy for dogs do not have to
meet the same stringent safety standards imposed on the
manufacturers and retailer as required for children’s toys.
Dogs of any age are like children at a young age and cannot
distinguish between a safe toy and one that can cause harm. Of
course Dogs can be trained to avoid toys that can be harmful
but that really only applies to household items or objects used
as toys which I cover in the second category. It is really up to
the dog owner to choose toys that are safe for their particular
dog.
So what criteria should dogs owners look for when choosing a
safe toy for their dog. Well of course the toy has to be fun
because that is the primary objective of a toy. Then it has to
be practical in that the toy needs to be durable - it needs to
be capable of quite a lot of abuse from your dog and you want
it to last for a while. Finally it has to be safe and what is
safe for one dog may not be safe for another.
Most dogs like to chew almost anything that comes near them,
particularly when they are a puppy. So a soft cuddly toy which
squeaks may be safe when bitten by a small Chiwawa but can be
harmful and certainly not durable when chewed buy a Great Dane.
Plastic toys can break up and cause harmful splinters for a dog
with a powerful jaw.
Anything that is small enough to be swallowed by your dog is
potentially harmful. Choosing a toy of the right size for your
dog is very important. Much of this is common sense to the
majority of sensible dog owners and if in doubt about a toy
then ask the shop attendant before you buy. Chew Bones are very
popular and are safe provided they are not small enough to get
stuck in the dog’s mouth and provided they are not made from a
brittle material. Hard rubber toys are usually a good choice.
Kongs are probably the best toy ever invented and come in a
variety of sizes to suit any dog. So lets move on to the next
category.
Household Items or Objects used as Toys
Well the list here would be endless so I will talk only about
the type of household item or object that can be found around
the house, garden, local park and anywhere you are likely to
take your dog. Vigilance and common sense by the dog owner is
very important particularly with young puppies that have yet to
be trained.
Avoid allowing your dog to chew or bite on anything that can be
harmful. Items such as string, shoe laces, cord of any kind
(especially electrical), discarded socks etc etc. All of these
things can be swallowed and/or trapped in your dog’s throat.
Anything that is likely to break into small pieces when chewed
or bitten must be avoided.
Whilst a dog owner can usually control what happens within the
confines of the house and garden, it becomes much more
difficult in the park, in the field or down by the local pond.
This is where vigilance by the dog owner is so important. When
out in the open, most dog owners like to play 'fetch' with
their dogs and the choice of object used as a toy in this type
of game is similar to the criteria used when buying a safe toy
from a shop. Twigs and small branches are usually ok provided
they cannot be broken or splintered too easily. Tennis balls
are used as very popular toys for dogs as many are other types
of ball. The main criteria here is to ensure the ball cannot be
swallowed or become stuck in the mouth or throat of larger dogs.
In summary, When choosing a safe toy or object for your dog to
play with it really comes down to just plain common
sense.
About The Author: For more information and articles on dogs and
dog health visit http://www.aboutdoghealth.info/
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