Dog chewing: what toy is right for your dog?
Practically every dog owner will tell you that what their dog absolutely loves over and above anything else when it comes to chew toys, is the most expensive items around the house or flat. These tend to include sofas, shoes and furniture, even when your dog has chew toys readily available for it to play with! So how can you ensure that he leaves your furniture alone, and instead directs his attention to an item designed to be chewed on and to give the sense of satisfaction your dog is after by doing this? The reality is that different dogs need different toys, so what do you choose?
Some dogs enjoy handling relatively delicate toys, while others much prefer to ravage much tougher ones. Because of the sudden dramatic increase in different toy designs in recent years, there is now oh so many for you to choose from that you will have to carefully consider all your options. It is generally understood that soft latex-based toys are far more durable for the more vigorous chewers, while on the other hand hard plastic can be considerably more dangerous. Do make sure that you do not give your dog toys with plastic bits that he might chew off, such as eyes and noses of soft toys. These can easily get lodged in the throat which can cause choking and even death if not treated in time. Indeed the most important aspect of choosing the right toy to sort your dog chewing problem is to be absolutely certain that it is safe for your dog to handle. Some of the most important points which should always be upheld when it comes to deciding on the appropriate toy include the fact that it should never be small enough to be swallowed, and nor should it be sharp. Additionally, your dog should not be able to get his head stuck in any part of the toy. Many poor puppies have suffocated following incidents such as this.
Another point which should be remembered is that if you expect your dog to stop chewing your sofas, you should ensure that he is accustomed to playing with toys which do not require a person’s interaction as part of the entertainment. If your dog gets used to having to entertain themselves with the toy and only the toy, they are far more likely to pick it up instead of gnawing at your furniture! This might sound laughable but it is incredibly important if you are to solve your dog chewing problem.
Once you have firmly established the above mentioned safety features, what toy you choose for your dog depends entirely on your needs Of course by this I mean both yours and his. Some dogs get an incredible thrill out of squeaking toys and will enjoy hours of excited play and forget about ever chewing anything else! The trick really is trial and error. Simply ensure that any new toy meets the safety criteria we have mentioned, and try and find something you think will satisfy your own particular dog’s excitement. By weaning them off your furniture using a toy which truly captures their attention effectively, you are able to minimize your dog chewing problem and hopefully even eradicate it.
