All dogs deserve toys, and all people with dogs deserve to know as much as possible about toys. I’m covering my favorite dog toys, how I used them, and why to avoid the two most popular for dogs. My house is a treasure trove of toys, and I’m sharing who they are for and when. Plus, we’re looking at toy selection to protect you and your dog from harm and tips for playing fetch safely.
In the episode you'll hear:
- My top dog toys and toys to avoid.
- How I make toys available to my dogs.
- About good toy habits for puppies.
- Criteria I have for selecting dog toys.
- The two categories of toys for training.
- About using toys for rescue dogs or puppies to boost confidence.
- The dangers of dogs playing with sticks and tennis balls.
- Why I created my “Bring Me” program to teach dogs to retrieve.
- That North America lacks toxicity guidelines for dog toys.
- The safer options of Kong tennis balls and play sticks for dogs.
- Why a renowned Veterinary dentist recommends road hockey balls.
- Safety tips and suggestions for playing fetch with dogs with balls.
- Why to avoid Dollar Store dog toys.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed
- YouTube Video: 15 Ways To Exercise Your Dog
- 4MyMerles Dog Toys
- Podcast Episode 95: How Playing with Your Dog Like a Puppy Can Reduce Fear
- YouTube Playlist: Exercising Your Dog's Body and Mind: Tips and Games
- Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home
- Vlog Post: How to Teach a Puppy to Retrieve
- Podcast Episode 55: Pro Dog Trainer’s Guide to Toy Selection
- TikTok Video: The Dangers of Sticks for Dogs
- *Wood Dog Chew
- *Kong Squeezz Stick
- Home School the Dog
- Recallers
- Article: Yikes, Your Dog’s Toys May Be Toxic
- *Kong SqueakAir Ball
- Podcast Episode 174: Dopamine In Dog Training: Anticipation, Rewards, And The Transfer Of Value
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
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I can bring up even more reasons for tennis balls to be a no-no: daily biting on it is not good on the teeth, all parts are toxic when digested and if the the dog opens the ball there is unhealthy gas streaming out.
For sticks it might be not only splinters and wrong throwing, but the stick itself can have toxic substances or sharp parts, thorns etc.. So better not playing with them.
Thanks for a lovely podcast. Any suggestions for a beginner toy? I have 2 Shelties, littermates who just turned 2. Blue loves tug. And Bandit doesn’t. Bandit will happily chase and return ventilated kong balls. He loves chasing and catching frisbees. But when it comes to tug, he will chase after a toy, but as soon as he catches it, he spits it out. I’ve gone to 4 my Mearles, and would love some advice on a beginner toy to help Bandit learn to love tug. Help please! Thanks for all your great teaching!
I can attest to the tennis ball dangers. My very first standard poodle, Ollie, was given a tennis ball at day care. He ingested a bit less than a third of it. He ended up in major surgery after 24 hours of horrible events. They removed a significant amount of his intestines! He made a full recovery but the ordeal was very traumatic for us both. We were vert, very lucky! I tell everyone who comes in contact with dogs the dangers involved. Unfortunately some people think this won’t happen to them.