Great Dog

Toys

and Chews

Dogs are predators. Thus, eating behaviors like chewing, ripping and dissecting are hard-wired into every dog. While you cannot teach dogs to stop chewing altogether, you can teach them what to chew on.

Chewing is great mental exercise; it helps clean a dog’s teeth, and keeps jaws and gums healthy. Dogs will develop a preference as to

what to chew on depending on what they were able to get their teeth on as puppies. Depending on breed and individual dog, many dogs need to be managed and closely supervised until they are 1 to 3 years old before they can be given the run of the house.

Dog owners now have a magnitude of interactive chew toys available to choose from. Rather than feeding your dog from a bowl and letting her wolf down her food in a matter of seconds, stuff her meals into one of these wonderful toys instead. Be sure to rotate your dog’s toys, so they remain interesting to her.  

There is no 100% safe toy for every dog. Some dogs can and will chew holes into toys and consume them, therefore risking injury to their mouths and gastrointestinal tract. Be sure to supervise her around new toys at first.

Remove any toy that is becoming old and worn or if you notice your dog removing entire chunks. For dogs who gulp rather than chew, use utmost caution and hold on to the toy while your dog chews to give her the idea to chew before she eats.

Some of our favorite chew toys include, but are not limited to,

the following:

Kong Toys ™ —any variety

Kongs are marketed as "The world’s best dog toy." They truly are. If you will only get one dog toy, get a Kong. Red Kongs are suitable for most dogs and Black Kongs are for serious chewers. Do not buy the tiny sizes, even if you own a toy breed.

They now come in all kinds of shapes--make your dog’s Kong irresistible by stuffing it with a combination of your dog’s kibble, wet dog food, peanut butter, cream or cottage cheese, baby food, squeeze cheese, biscuits, chicken, tortellini, meat, etc. Anything healthy (no chocolate, grapes or raisins as all three are toxic to dogs.)

To begin with, aim for a mush of the consistency of refried beans. Gradually make it more difficult for your dog to get the food out by using larger pieces and/or freezing your Kong. Stuff a favorite treat into the small hole to keep him interested even after he managed to eat the main course.

Busy Buddy Toys™, Planet Pet Toys™, Canine Genius™, Marrow Bones, Beef Tracheas

Stuff and freeze as you would stuff a Kong and use them as kibble dispensers or doggie popsicles.

Raw Bones. Turkey necks, chicken wings and backs, whole chickens or rabbits, marrow bones, beef ribs (these must be raw, not cooked, bones.) Cooked bones will splinter and may hurt your dog. Be sure to research this and discuss with your veterinarian before you start feeding raw.)

Cow Hooves or Natural Roasted Bones or Nylabone Galileo bones™. Moo Chews or Merrick Bones are a favorite in my house. Choose large hooves with thick sides or big knuckle bones.

A kibble dispensing toy/ball/cube: Tricky Treat Ball™ or Buster Cube™ and Premier’s Busy Buddy™ Line: The Twist N Treat and the Squirrel Dude are our favorites.

Article Provided By:

Four Positive Paws, LLC
Greenbelt, MD
301.580.0988
www.fourpositivepaws.com
Modern, humane dog group and private training classes and

behavioral consultations