Puppy Toys
Proper puppy toys play a very important role in your puppy's development.
Toys will not only keep him busy, but also stimulate his mind and condition his reflexes.
All puppies have a natural instinct to "catch his prey". As he obviously does not have to hunt for his food, this instinct manifests itself in other ways: a puppy playing with a toy, batting it with its paws and shredding or chewing it.
If you do not want your puppy to start destroying your possessions, you have to give him an alternative "victim". This is where dedicated puppy toys fit in. Remember to only get toys specifically made for dogs, as normal toys might have small components that can choke your puppy if swallowed. Most toys should be large enough to prevent your puppy from choking on them, but small enough to bite and carry around in his mouth.
Toys come in all shapes and sizes, each fulfilling a different function. Some toys are designed for fun, some for training and others to fulfil another specific role.
The timeless classic, the
ball with rope attached
is a very good puppy toy. Not only can your puppy chew it, he can also bat it with his paws, run after it and catch it. And as a bonus, you can carefully play tug-of-war with your puppy. A truly all-in-one package!
Small soft toys can serve as "prey" for your puppy to hunt. Larger soft toys can be a part of the "pack" and be a sleeping companion for your puppy.
Puppies love to chew, so if you don't want him to start chewing furniture and shoes, you have to get him some chew toys, like
rawhide chews or even
educational chew toys
.
You have to provide your puppy with a large variety of puppy toys. Did you like to play with only one toy when you were a child? Well, neither does your puppy. Get him anything from 5 to 10 toys and make sure they are all different to keep him occupied.
Pet Care RX has a great variety of puppy toys. You might even get lost in the large selection, but remember that simple toys often provide the most fun. Check it out!