Toy Selection

How do you choose the right toy for your dog?

Toys are not a luxury when it comes to your dog. They are an absolute necessity. They not only prevent boredom (and the negative behaviors that can arise when dogs are bored), they also stimulate their brains and trigger dogs' natural “play drive.”

Ebony likes soft, squeaky toys she can chew and toss in the air. What does your dog like?


When choosing safe and fun toys, you should consider the size of your dog, his or her activity level, breed, tendencies, and preferences.

In addition to being the right type of toy to suit your pet, your new toy needs to be safe as well as being durable and fun. Please keep in mind that no toy is truly indestructible but some are more durable and sturdier than others.

The best toys are often interactive. These types of toys allow both you AND your dog to play with the same toy together. Toys that present an element of surprise or give your dog's brain a workout are especially beneficial.

It is recommended that you should supervise your dog at play with any toys.

No Squeak

When it comes to toys that dogs really enjoy, squeaky toys are right up there at the top of the list. That's great for the dog... but not so great if you are the one who has to listen to all the noise.

Well, here is the perfect solution.

If your dog loves squeaky toys and you want him to be happy - but you do not want to listen to all the noise - check out the new line of Hear Doggy!™ toys. Their new ultrasonic squeaker technology transmits the sound at a frequency only your dog can hear. So he can still enjoy the squeaking, while you enjoy the silence.

If your dog enjoys "flat" toys with no stuffing, he will love the Hear Doggy! Flat Deer toy. Their Large Blowfish toy is perfect for larger breeds while smaller dogs and puppies will love the Hear Doggy! Blue Whale.

This new ultrasonic squeaker technology will give you a welcome reprieve from the noise of regular squeaky toys, while your dog enjoys all the squeaky fun his heart desires. It really is a win-win situation.

How Smart Are Dogs?

Recently on PBS NOVA science NOW asked the question,
“How smart are dogs?”



We all know that dogs are smart. They learn to follow commands, perform tasks, and work at jobs.

Research tells us that the average dog can understand about 150 words. Their intelligence level is estimated at around the same level as a three-year-old child. Some breeds are considered generally smarter than others, and Border collies are thought to be among the smartest. We know that some of these dogs understand hundreds of words. But the dog on this show - a Border collie named Chaser - showed us that dogs could be even more intelligent than we believed. Chaser has about a thousand toys, and her owner claims that she can identify each one by name. Chaser knows more than a thousand words!

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the well-known scientist and astrophysicist who hosts this PBS show. He decided to put that theory to the test with an experiment of his own. He asked Chaser to find several of her toys by name, and she got it right every time. Then he decided to see if Chaser could take it one step further. He wanted to see if she could identify a toy that she had never seen before, with a name that she had never heard before, by using the process of elimination.

Dr. Tyson had brought a new toy with him that he named "Darwin". He put Darwin among some of Chaser's toys to see if the dog could pick out. At first, Chaser seemed confused when he asked her to "find Darwin". She had never seen the toy before and did not know the name, but finally she picked out the right toy!

Experiments like this make us realize that dogs are indeed very smart. Just like humans, dogs need to use their brains to keep them sharp. It is not enough to keep their bodies healthy - they need to exercise their minds as well. A challenging situation that tests your dog's problem solving skills is both interesting and fun, and it is also a good way to help keep them mentally engaged. Without these satisfying tests of intellect, boredom will soon set in. A bored dog can soon lose interest in play or even become destructive or lethargic.

Keep your dog mentally stimulated with games and interactive toys.

Beyond Squeak

Dogs go crazy for toys that have noisemakers and the distinctive "squeak" that they provide. Eventually, even a favored squeaker can get boring after a while.

Providing your dog with a wide variety of toys is really important. Dogs rely on us for their entertainment and they cannot go buy new toys when they are bored with their old ones. Often you do not know that they are bored until they find a way to let you know...usually by channeling their energy in inappropriate ways like chewing or destroying household items.

Some creative soul came up with an alternative to the squeaky toy for dogs. Deedle Dudes are adorable toys that sing, babble, talk, and chirp their way into your dog's heart. The stuffed toy is made extra-soft for those dogs who love to snuggle. Inside each Deedle Dude is a novel noisemaker that will provide your dog with the mental stimulation necessary for good health.

Deedle Dudes Singing Monkey and Singing Shark have a lot of personality.
















Beware, you might get their silly songs stuck in your head!

Ebony Toy Test

Yes, Christmas time and time to spoil my dog.

Ebony loves soft, squeaky toys. But she destroys them. The last toy had "Chew Guard™" technology which claimed to be tougher, but Ebony had the stuffing out the next day. She still likes to play with the remains of the toy. In fact, I have seen at pet stores dog toys without stuffing.

The Kyjen Invincibles Snake claims to be a long-lasting toy and has no synthetic stuffing inside. It is filled with squeakers. The huge rectangular squeakers inside this toy make up its entire body. So if your dog bites through the toy, there is no stuffing to swallow. Unlike other squeaker toys, your dog can bite right through the Kyjen Invincibles Snake and the squeakers will still work.

These guys will show you......



I will let you know if it passes the Ebony Toy Test

Tug-Of-War

Does your dog love to play tug-of-war?

Why do dogs like to pull and tug on their toys?

Some behaviorists think that tug-of-war is a way for dogs to practice behaviors such as pulling meat from bones that were once useful to wild canines. Others have suggested tug-of-war games allow dogs to play without the normal pack rules; it is the canine version of "goofing off." Still others think that tug-of-war is simply a way for dogs to release energy and get exercise.

Dogs can play tug-of-war with almost anything. You can be creative and make a toy for your dog or find many tug-of-war toys to choose from at a pet store.

Ready For Easter?

Skip the chocolates, but check out the bunny!

Knotties Bunny

The Knotties Bunny made by Hugglehouds Toys is a fun interactive toy that comes in 2 sizes - regular and mini.

This cute pink bunny is made of snuggly soft corduroy - but it is really durable because it is made with Tuffut Technology and can withstand 100 pounds of pulling and tugging!

Inside, there are five squeakers, and those long bunny ears are filled with a special "crinkle" fabric. Best of all there is a knot in each leg for your dog to gnaw on.

I think I will put a Knotties Bunny in Ebony's Easter Basket.

So Far Still In One Piece

Ebony's Christmas present.....



Usually I choose the most durable toys for Ebony, but I could not resist this silly looking creature. It is rather funny watching Ebony play with this toy. So far it still has its stuffing and is in one piece.

I found the creature at this website, but looks like they do not sell it anymore.

Dog's Mental Health

Are you giving your dog the gift of mental health?

It is important that your dog's mind stays in shape.

Domestic dogs are descended from gray wolves, and you can still sometimes see your dog exercising some of their wild instincts. The desire to chew on bones, dig to bury food or find a cool spot to rest, tug or roughhouse these behaviors likely served your dog's ancestors well. Today's dogs live differently with most of their needs provided for, but these instincts have not disappeared.

A dog that no longer has to worry about hunting food, running from predators, and defending its territory from intruders has a longer life expectancy - but fewer things to keep him busy. Without a way to exercise his natural instincts, a dog is likely to express frustration and boredom or he may decide to make his own "entertainment". This can lead to unwanted behaviors.

When it comes to improving your dog's mental health, a few changes can make a huge difference. Gift your dog with toys that challenges his mental abilities. There are several toys that challenge your dog's problem solving skills, toys that make crunching sounds or squeak, and super tough chewing toys.



Give your dog the gift of mental health.

Smart Toys

Researchers have been testing dog intelligence for some time now, and they rate these breeds among the most intelligent:

1. Border Collies
2. Poodles
3. German Shepherds
4. Golden Retrievers
5. Dobermans
6. Shetland Sheepdogs
7. Labrador Retrievers

How smart is your dog?

Even if he is not among these top-ranked breeds, your dog could be smarter than you think.

Research shows that most dogs understand more than 150 words and can count up to four or five. Your dog is as smart as a two or three year-old child. He can learn basic commands, he knows how to express himself, and he picks up on the emotions of the people around him.

Yes, dogs are smart. Which is why they like smart toys that challenge their intellectual problem-solving skills. These "puzzle" toys make your dog think, and in general they will hold his interest much longer than many other types of toys.

Some of the best puzzle toys release treats to reward your dog for his ingenuity. These interactive toys will keep a dog busy and happily entertained for hours, trying to figure out how to release the treats.

I recently came upon a new treat-dispensing smart toy for medium to large size dogs. It's called Linkables™.

The great thing about this toy is that it is adaptable. As your dog learns how to solve the puzzle, you can continue to increase the difficulty of the challenge by adding more "links" to the toy. This helps keep your dog interested because you can give him increasingly difficult puzzles to solve. This is a durable, heavy-duty toy, and the thick rubber material massages your dog's gums as he chews.

Yes, dogs are smart. That's the good news. The bad news is that they often use that intelligence to "trick" their humans into giving them what they want - whether it's an extra treat, attention, extra playtime or some tasty table scraps. Dogs learn how to get what they want from their humans, just like young kids do with their parents. In some cases, giving in to your dog's manipulation may not always be the best choice, so take a moment to stop and use your best judgment.

Toxic Toys

Is there lead lurking in your pet's toys?

A concern in the minds of many, there is recent evidence that some products made in China contain unsafe levels of lead. Particularly shaken by the news are families with young children, due to popular toys being recalled, such as the Easy Bake Oven and 1.5 million Fisher-Price toys. With all this frightening news, who can you trust, what is safe? Should you be concerned about your beloved pets?

Is Lead Dangerous to Pets?

Lead can indeed be a threat to pets. Lead toxicity can be caused by the ingestion or inhalation of products containing lead. Some lead-containing products which can be a threat to pets include the following: lead paint, fishing weights and sinkers, gun pellets, linoleum, drapery weights, rug padding, automotive parts, and construction materials among others.

There are numerous symptoms of lead poisoning in pets, many of them mocking symptoms of more common health problems.

Because of lead poisoning's vague presentation and the rarity of such a contamination, the condition can be difficult to diagnose.

Some symptoms of lead poisoning include anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, seizures, blindness, deafness and behavior changes.

For more information on lead poisoning in pets, read PetPlace's in-depth article on Lead poisoning.

Regulations

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) checks the safety of all toys intended for humans. Unfortunately, there are no organizations regularly testing animal toys, and there are no federal standards regarding lead in pet toys. The CPSC enforces a federal standard for lead in paint on children's toys. This standard is 600 parts per million (ppm).

Toxic Toys

In the wake of the lead scare, two laboratories have conducted independent tests on randomly selected pet items. These very qualified laboratories include Trace Laboratories, Inc. in Illinois and ExperTox Analytical Laboratories in Texas. Both labs have found lead and other toxic heavy metals in pet items purchased from American stores.

ExperTox Analytical Laboratories tested a Chinese-made, Wal-Mart marketed cat toy and dog toy. Both were packaged in a clear plastic wrapping with a cardboard label and no brand name.

The dog toy, a latex, green monster, contained high levels of lead and chromium (a cancer-causing heavy metal) and smaller amounts of other toxic materials. The cat toy contained very high levels of the toxic heavy metal, cadmium.

The lab determined these toxins were easily accessed and could be acquired from the toy with a simple lick of the dog's or cat's tongue.

Trace Laboratories tested Paws 'N Claws tennis balls purchased at a dollar-type store. They found an astounding 27,200 ppm lead levels in the ink on the balls. They also tested a ceramic food dish and found lead levels at 2,890 ppm. The lead levels in both these items far exceeded the limit set for human toys.

Should You Be Concerned?

There are conflicting opinions regarding the severity of these levels of lead and other heavy metals in pet products. Because of the lack of federal regulation at this time, it is up to you, the pet owner, to determine your level of concern.

An interesting bit of information to consider: Wal-Mart actually recalled children's toys which are quite similar to their lead-containing pet toys. These Chinese-made, Wal-Mart children's toys are sold at a similar price, without a brand, in packaging very similar to that containing their toxic pet toys. If these toys are not safe enough for your children, should your pet be playing with them?

What Can You Do?

How can you protect your pet? Talk to your veterinarian. Do your research. Check with the manufacturers of your pet's toys; ask for proof of their safety testing. Strongly consider discarding your pet's current products which are made in China. When buying new products, look for items made in the United States. Also, avoid toys made of latex, as they are more likely to contain lead. Above all, be proactive and don't take chances with the health of your pet.

Why Water Bottles?

Why do dogs love to chew on empty water bottles? It's the crunching sound. It can give people goose bumps but dogs just love it!

Whether they are given the empty bottle as a toy or they fish it out of the recycling bin, puppies and adult dogs alike seem to love these crinkly, crunchy "toys". Filled with water or kibble, pre-crunched or just as they are, plastic bottles are a big hit.

Here's the good news. Water bottles are readily available, inexpensive, and easy to replace (no trips to the pet store required!), making them a necessity for many dog owners. I've known several dogs whose owners tried giving their dogs bones, stuffed toys and balls only to have their pets come back time and time again to play with the water bottle.

Now, here's the bad news. Water bottles aren't always safe for dogs to play with - but they can be. All you have to do is take a few precautions.

Before giving a water bottle to your dog, always remove the cap and label as well as the small plastic ring which secures the cap. A pair of small scissors can be used to snip off the latter if you cannot easily remove it on your own. As with any dog toy, it is important to supervise play and regularly inspect water bottles for damage to avoid the ingestion of plastic or damage from sharp edges. When the plastic breaks down, the sharp edges can cut your dog's mouth.

Several dog toy companies have taken note of the growing water bottle craze and incorporated water bottles into their products.

Check out the Crunchy Monkey.


Ebony likes these Bottle Crunchers.

On Second Thought

Do you remember this previous post?



4 squeakers — 1 in each foot
Cawing mechanism in his tummy
Soft & cuddly but STRONG
Made to withstand chewing


He’s made with Chew Guard™ Technology, for extra tough protection against your dog’s teeth. Heavy-duty thread, double seaming and a super-tough liner will keep even tough chewers from tearing this toy apart. (It can withstand extremely high bite pressure and a pulling strength of up to 30 kg.)

This cute little lamb makes fun, engaging noises that will make your dog eager to play with him. He has a cawing sound mechanism in his tummy and 4 fun squeakers — one in each foot.

His baby-soft fleece feels soft and cuddly ... but inside, this little lamb is as tough as they get!

This is one TOUGH little lamb!


YES, this little lamb was a favorite of Ebony's

BUT, she out chewed the Chew Guard™ Technology!

The poor lamb is flat as a pancake!

How to Save Money on Dog Toys

Dogs love to play, but after a while they often become bored with a toy. So how do you keep your dog interested in his toys?

Many behaviorists and veterinarians recommend that you have several toys for your dog that you regularly "rotate" to keep the fun "fresh" for your dog. When your dog gets "bored" with one toy, hide it away and replace it with another toy that your dog has not seen in a while. Let him play with the "new' toy like crazy until he becomes bored with it. Then, hide that toy and reintroduce another one that you've kept hidden away.

Keep the toys rotating and it will keep the toys "new" and interesting.

How does your dog like to play? Some dogs like to cuddle, some like to chew, and some like to fetch. Many dogs enjoy mixing it up a little for variety. Figure out how your dog prefers to play and buy toys that are made for that type of play activity.

What's most important is that you choose toys that are safe - toys that your dog won't tear apart and swallow. If your dog is a hard-core destructive chewer, there is probably no safe toy that will withstand his teeth. But for most dogs, good quality durable toys do the trick.

I think it's important to stimulate your dog with several different types of toys, including toys that encourage your dog to "think". (They call these toys "intellectual toys".)

Giving your dog different types of toys for all the different ways he plays will keep him stimulated. That's important because the dog will be happier and have less behavioral problems.

Tough Dog Toy

I just purchased a Go Dog™ Lamb with Chew Guard™ Technology.

I could not wait until Christmas to give it to Ebony!

Check this out:



4 squeakers — 1 in each foot
Cawing mechanism in his tummy
Soft & cuddly but STRONG
Made to withstand chewing



He’s made with Chew Guard™ Technology, for extra tough protection against your dog’s teeth. Heavy-duty thread, double seaming and a super-tough liner will keep even tough chewers from tearing this toy apart. (It can withstand extremely high bite pressure and a pulling strength of up to 30 kg.)

This cute little lamb makes fun, engaging noises that will make your dog eager to play with him. He has a cawing sound mechanism in his tummy and 4 fun squeakers — one in each foot.

His baby-soft fleece feels soft and cuddly ... but inside, this little lamb is as tough as they get!

This is one TOUGH little lamb!

The Lamb is still in one piece and Ebony loves it.

Dog Toys

Dog toys aren't a "luxury." They're vital to your dog's physical and emotional health. They help him burn off excess energy and keep his mind sharp. They keep him from becoming bored or depressed. They even help relieve his separation anxiety.

There are toys to chew, toys to fetch, toys to cuddle and toys to tug. There are toys that challenge your dog's creativity and exercise his mind. But with so many different kinds of toys to choose from, how will you know which toy is right for your dog?

First, it's got to hold his interest. Otherwise it will end up lying around the house with all those other toys he doesn't play with. It's also got to be durability. If a toy isn't tough enough to withstand your dog's active play, he'll quickly destroy it. In either case, that toy ends up being nothing more than a waste of your good money.

So, with so many dog toys on the market today, how do you find the right toy for your dog?

First of all, don't let all those options overwhelm you. You can easily narrow down the playing field by asking yourself three simple questions:

1. Will this toy entertain my dog?
2. Will it hold up to my dog's active play?
3. Is this toy safe?

If you can answer "yes" to all three of these questions, you've got a winner.