January 23, 2010

Dog Toys to Fit Your Lifestyle

by Joanne Gallagher

What does a dog find entertaining about a dog toy? Is it the squeak, the texture, the size? Every dog has their preference, and just like their human counterparts one day a soft plush toy is fun and another day a hard rubber chew toy is the toy of choice.

Do you think a dog really prefers one toy over another or do they choose the first toy they see? Is it tug-a-war time or comfort time with a soft plush dog toy? Sometimes it is difficult to predict which toy a dog will choose.

Toy breeds and small dogs have little paws and mouths and need toys that accommodate their size. Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Westie, Chihuahua and Dachshund are examples of breeds under 20 lbs that benefit from smaller sized dog toys.

Popular medium dog breeds include: Beagle, Basset Hound, Welsh Corgi, Cocker Spaniel and Schnauzer. These breeds tend to weigh 20 lbs to approx 45 lbs. A medium dog toy needs to be large enough so your dog does not choke and small enough to handle with their paws and get their mouth around it.

Dog Breeds like, Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies take pleasure in chasing a ball! What a great form of exercise and quality time play. Veterinarians recommend hard rubber balls, rather than tennis balls. Tennis balls tend to get covered with dirt and sand and grind away dog’s teeth.

Then there are the ball lovers. They can amuse themselves by simply having a ball in their mouth and when the ball falls out, it’s a quick retrieve. Chasing and retrieving a ball is a never ending cycle of fun. Wiemaraners and Labrador Retrievers will chase a ball for as long as their owners arm will hold out!

Rope toys are great for tug -a-war games either between dog owners and dogs playing with other dogs. Rope dog toys are for pets who like to rough house. One of the benefits of rope toys is that they floss pet’s teeth during play.

A pet store has so many pet supplies, pet toys, dog food and dog treats, it can be overwhelming to find the appropriate pet product for your breed, size and age of your dog. Be sure your pet is safe and never leave your pet unsupervised with a new product.

About the Author:

Do you know what your dog’s choice of toy is? Some dogs are often picky about the toys they will play with, while others will put anything and everything in their mouth. Joanne Gallagher suggests browsing to Jake’s Dog House to view their vast selection of Dog Toys that vary from rope to heavy rubber toys.