Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs and you need safe dog chew toys to direct this behavior to appropriate items (and not your shoes or furniture!) Not all chew toys are durable and some are actually dangerous. Here are some tips to help you choose the safest and best dog chew toys.
Desirable Features in Dog Chew Toys
Size – large enough that your dog can’t “swallow”
Safe
Durable
Easy to clean/wash
Guaranteed
As an added bonus – toys that have holes for you to hide treats which can really stimulate a dogs mind and keep him “mentally” busy
Ideal Choice for Dog Chew Toys
Super durable rubber toys such as Nylabone® and Kong® brands are safe, durable and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can be loaded with treats, which can keep a curious puppies or dog busy for hours. Many also come with a guarantee. Use as directed. Make sure you get the right size for your dog. There are also different strengths in these toys. For example some of the basic kong toys are red and thinner (although still a very durable dog chew toy) but the extra strong kong version are thicker and made of a super durable black rubber.
Shopping Tips for Dog Chew Toys
Don’t buy dog chew toys with strings, buttons, small parts or loose fabric. Stuffed toys and rope toys are not recommended because dogs can chew through them ingesting the fabric or chew off parts like the eyes causing a life threatening intestinal obstruction or a choking hazard.
Don’t use bones as a dog chew toy. Bones are not recommended for dogs or puppies. They do not break down easily which means your dog may have to pass them through his stool causing serious impaction and constipation.
Don’t buy too many dog chew toys at first but have enough to distract your puppy from chewing on your furniture, shoes and other items.
More Tips for Dog Chew Toys
Chewing is a natural behavior for puppies as they investigate the world with their mouths. However, chewing behaviors can be directed toward inappropriate items, such as furniture, pillows and shoes. It is up to you to teach your dog what is appropriate to chew on. One-way to do this is to offer your dog a variety of dog chew toys.
All dog chew toys have a certain element of risk involved. Extra strong chewers can tear apart just about anything, even so called indestructible rubber. Some dog chew toys can cause chipped teeth, while others can cause gastrointestinal problems. But with forethought and supervision, you can make your dogs toys as safe as possible.
Rotate dog chew toys periodically to keep your dog “interested”.
I hope this gives you information to help you shop for dog chew toys.
