Soft Rope Toys for Dogs

Most dogs enjoy playing with soft rope toys. These toys are inexpensive and fairly durable. Some even are designed to improve dental health. Soft rope toys are not without their drawbacks. A fraying rope toy could become a health hazard. Some trainers also advise against playing any tug-of-war games with dogs. Overall, soft rope toys are safe and fun for dogs, but should be chewed only with supervision.

  1. Types

    • Soft rope toys range from a simple knotted cotton rope to more complicated toys that may incorporate cow hooves, rawhide, plastic chews, handles or special rope designed to help freshen a dog's breath. Some rope toys are made of a type of fleece designed to help clean the dog's teeth as he plays with his toy. Rope toys can be designed for solo play, play with multiple dogs or play with an owner.

    Benefits

    • Rope toys provide fun and exercise for dogs. Some types of rope toys can also improve dental health. However, playing with a toy is no replacement for daily toothbrushing and a healthy diet. The social benefits of play with rope toys are much more significant than any potential dental benefits. When two dogs play with a rope toy together, they are enjoying a game, using up energy and reinforcing their social status within the "pack." When an owner plays games with his dog using a rope toy, he is strengthening his bond with his dog and helping to prevent future behavior problems with daily play and exercise.

    Hazards

    • As with most dog toys, soft rope toys can be dangerous if a dog is allowed to continue to play with a heavily worn toy. Rope toys should be replaced when they become significantly frayed. A worn rope toy could start to come apart, allowing the dog to swallow pieces of rope. These could become lodged in the dog's digestive tract, requiring expensive surgery to remove them. To reduce the risk of your dog swallowing parts of a rope toy, allow play with role toys only with human supervision and replace the toys when they show obvious wear.

    Tug Games

    • Some trainers feel that tug-of-war should not be played with dogs because winning a game of tug-of-war might cause a dog to think of herself as more dominant in the household than her owner. Behavioral studies have not supported this hypothesis. In fact, dogs who play tug-of-war with their owners are likely to be more responsive to commands immediately following a game. If you choose to play tug-of-war with your dog with a soft rope toy, choose a style with a plastic handle on one end to protect your hands from accidental nips.

    Alternatives

    • Alternatives to soft rope toys include reinforced cloth toys, rubber tug toys and dental chews. Stuffed animal toys should never be used for tugging games and rough play due to the risk of the dog swallowing stuffing. Edible chews are also unsuitable for tug-of-war and other rough interactive play.