What Are Good Toys for Dogs?

To keep your dog mentally stimulated and prevent behavioral issues, provide it with toys to play with. Depending on the play style and size of your dog, you can choose from toys designed for human interaction or solitary play. Provide a variety of toys for your dog to keep it active and rotate these toys daily to keep your dog's interest.

  1. Safe Toys

    • Look for toys made from durable materials such as rubber or rope that your dog cannot easily destruct or break apart when chewing. Purchase only size-appropriate toys for your dog, as larger dogs can swallow small dog toys and choke on them. Avoid toys with small parts such as ribbons, strings, or buttons as these also pose a choking risk or can become lodged in your dog's intestines if ingested. When choosing soft dog toys, look for washable ones, labeled safe for children under three years of age, according to the Humane Society of the U.S.

    Chew Toys

    • Dogs love to chew on toys to strengthen their jaws and aid in cleaning their teeth, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Purchase strong, rubber toys meant for chewing that your dog can play with while you are out of the home. Some of these toys have a special compartment for you to place dog treats into. This ensures your dog must play with the toy and chew it for a while to get to the food reward. These toys entertain your dog and help prevent destructive chewing of furniture and other surfaces in your home due to separation anxiety. Rotate these toys every few days to prevent your dog from becoming bored with them.

    Interactive Toys

    • To keep your dog fit and healthy, purchase interactive toys you can use to bond with it. Use sturdy rope toys to play tug-of-war with your dog outside. Purchase rubber or plastic toys your dog can pick up easily in its mouth and that you can throw at least a long distance away so your dog can retrieve it for you. Tennis balls or Frisbees make good choices for interactive games of fetch as do toys with squeakers in the center to keep the dog's interest. For outdoor play, select toys you can easily wash with soap and water since they will become soiled outside.

    Considerations

    • When choosing the best toys to get your dog, observe its behavior when playing. While active dogs may prefer interactive toys, older dogs may like comforting soft toys, such as stuffed animals they can cuddle with. Observe your dog's usual behaviors to determine if it enjoys chewing, fetching, tugging or snuggling and purchase a toy appropriate for that behavior. Rotate your dog's toys regularly to prevent boredom and wash them with dish washing soap and water to prevent a buildup of dirt and bacteria. Check your dog's toys regularly for wear and discard any toys that begin to fall apart for your dog's safety.