Toys! Toys! Toys! Playtime is most dogs’ favorite time (but probably second to dinner time). For some, it’s fetching a tennis ball. (Thank you, Charles Goodyear) Or maybe just a stick.
Walk into any pet store and you will see more than one aisle or display with dog toys in them. Take your dog down that aisle and watch them go along, sniffing down the aisle until they find something they like. Or more than likely, something familiar like the same toy they already have at home.
I used to think big toys were for the big dogs and I had to get a bunch more small toys for our small dog. When I first brought her home as a puppy I got some small toys for her and some chew bones. I knew I needed different kinds of textures for her to chew on and explore. She had everything from soft, plush toys to the harder chew bones for puppy teeth. It didn’t take long to see what she preferred from her toys. I needed something that wasn’t easy for her to rip open and she really liked the squeaky toys. One of her favorites is a pink squeaky pig.
I wanted to add a toy for her to an online order once. I saw one that I thought was about a 4″ stuffed toy. I added it to the order and when it arrived I was surprised to see that the toy was almost bigger than her. She loves it!! She grabs it and shakes it, then throws it up in the air the best she can and “wrestles” with it. It is now one of her favorites.
As I was going for a run one day, I saw a stuffed duck that had been run over in the middle of the road. I picked it up on my way home and cleaned it up. She liked that one too. She tried to pop its eyes off because they were plastic.
So you never know what your dog will like for his toys. Try a few out. Get a variety and see what they prefer to play with. Have fun!!