All dogs, regardless of their age, need toys.
They are great interactive tools that help your pets grow and learn throughout their formative puppy years.
Dog toys will take them right through adulthood, where they will be kept entertained, active and stimulated.
Choosing the suitable canine toys for your dog can be challenging as they all have their own needs, which change throughout their lives.
Dog toys are designed to keep your pet active and stimulated and are specifically geared for different stages of development.
Toys provide comfort, help fight boredom, and can be used as a training tool. Today I will go through:
- Puppy learning toys
- Adult dog Toys
- Toys for senior dogs
You'll also learn why its important to pick the one depending on their age.
Choosing The Right Dog Toys
Toys for puppies of 7 to 12 Weeks
Your brand-new puppy is so curious and excited about everything.
This is a great and exciting time to introduce him to various learning and developmentally challenging puzzle toys to help his mind grow.
This will teach him the skills he will need as an adult to survive.
Squeaky toys will enthrall him, and he will need a few soft plush toys to snuggle with at night as he grows accustomed to being separated from his mother and siblings.
He will love those puppy toys you can stuff with anything you wish – other toys, dog treats, or food – which will promote curiosity, and he will have to learn how to get them out.
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Don't give your young dog all his toys at once; rotate them and switch them up daily, so he has endless variety.
This will keep your puppy interested and comfortable with change and make it easy for him to adapt to situations.
He still has his baby teeth, so his toys will be softer rubber, making them easier to “kill.”
Toys for puppies of 3 to 9 Months
At this stage of your puppy's life, he has started teething and will want to chew everything.
Invest in some strong chew toys for your growing pup to avoid losing your favorite pair of shoes or not-so-favorite couch cushion that you received as a gift from a relative to a puppy.
He will love interactive toys more than ever, which will become an important tool in puppy socialization and playtime, too.
There's a high chance that your Fido will love Frisbee and chasing balls.
His strength is continuously increasing at this stage, as is his stamina, and it will take a lot to tire him out.
You will probably be replacing many of his chew toys quite frequently, which is good because you don't want the rubber to be too hard and hurt his teeth.
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Dog toys are a great training tool and can be used as a reward or encouragement when your puppy masters a new skill or demonstrates positive behavior.
Around the time he's 3 to 9 months old is the optimum time to train your puppy in this early developmental stage.
He is not too young that he would not be able to understand your commands, and he is quick and eager to learn.
Puppy toys will work as an excellent reward when training your pup.
Whether you are training your puppy to familiarize himself with other training tools like pet brushes, dog collars, or harnesses; or teaching him the basic commands of sit, stay and lie down, rewarding him with a brand-new squeaky toy will have your canine participating in no time.
Toys for adult dogs of 9 Months to 1 Year
Your fully grown dog will love being incredibly active now and will have what appears to be limitless energy.
He will run like a puppy possessed and need lots of interactive dog toys to keep him stimulated.
He will also want to show off his strength, so he will most likely love rope pulls and showing you how fast he can run and catch the balls you throw for him.
At this stage, your dog's teeth will be fully formed so that he may cut down on the chewing, but dogs never lose that desire. You will replace his chew toys with bones and pigs ears as treats, but he will still love his rubber toys to gnaw on, and it's also cheaper for you.
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For dogs, chewing promotes healthy saliva production, which keeps their teeth and gums healthy.
Keep your Fido's hunting skills sharp by purchasing toys you can hide treats in.
He will have to figure out how to get the treats out, which will keep him entertained for hours (hopefully).
Toys for senior dogs of 7 Years and Up
Even though your dog is now in his senior years, keeping him active, healthy, and stimulated is still important.
He may not have as much energy as he used to, but he is still inquisitive and will love his chew toys.
There's an abidance of dog toys for senior dogs available online on Amazon or from other vendors.
They are made from softer rubber, like the chew toys designed for puppies, so their older teeth won't be damaged but can still keep themselves clean and free from gum disease.
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Your dog will still love to fetch, so make sure you have plenty of balls and rubber sticks for him to chase.
While his body is aging and his responses may be slowing down, his mind is still sharp, and his instincts to hunt and kill and think still need to be nurtured.
Choosing The Right Dog Toys: Conclusion
It's important to choose the right dog toy for your dog.
Fortunately, puppies can have toys for senior dogs as well.
Providing your puppy with great opportunities to exercise his body and mind by supplying him with senior dog toys will encourage his instincts.
This helps make the later stages of his life full and joyful.
Interactive dog toys that he can play with you will be beneficial, as he loves spending time with his human parents.
Also, balls or rubber toys you can put food into, which he then has to discover how to get out, will keep his mind active and encourage him to use his brain.
