Quick question about chew toys for puppy

[doggiesayswoof]

I am stocking up a bit - we pick up our pup tomorrow.

I have wandered up and down the aisles of pets at home and I'm a bit mystified. What chews are suitable for puppies? I'm worried about bits breaking off and choking hazards (or am I thinking of human babies ?)

Any advice?

TIA

[KingCanuteIAm]

Do you have a good independant pet shop around? They can give you some great advice.

I found some chew toys that look like plastic crocodiles but are actually made from vegetable and are a healthy treat that they can chew at which my pup loves!

[FeelMuchBrighterToday]

have heard that nylabone type things can be hazardous, and some people have had problems with rawhide (equally lots of dogs chomp on these without ill effects)

you can't really beat kongs in my opinion and experience

[doggiesayswoof]

Yes I'm going to the local pet shop later today. Much prefer to support them than the big chains anyway.

I have bought a kong - just need to get treats to stuff it with.

I guess it's a bit of trial and error to see what any particular dog likes.

[KingCanuteIAm]

I have heard that you can fill kongs with pate and fridge/freeze it to make them last longer and cool teething gums, I am a bit about the salt content in pate though, it is high isn't it?

[FeelMuchBrighterToday]

you can plug them and fill with (reduced salt!) stock and freeze for hot days

also yoghurt mixed with oily fish, chopped liver and other disgusting combinations - frozen or unfrozen

but was thinking of kong toys generally as being pretty safe and long lasting

[doggiesayswoof]

Yogurt and oily fish, mmmm

So there are other kong toys too? I've not been paying attention - will need to have a look.

[morethanyoubargainfor]

my dog also had a blue bone, with many different textures all over it, it was advertised as a puppy dental toy but he loved it, and still does (he is 18 months now!) he also had loads of fun with his ragger. You can also freeze the ragger for a few hours beford giving it to pup, just soak in water first then freeze. This feels godd when they start to loose thier little teeth and get thier bigger ones.

My dog never has been interested in the kong, even when stuffed with tasty stuff.

He also loved the ragger with the plastic toys over the top IYKWIM.

[FeelMuchBrighterToday]

mine likes a round flat stone in his mouth or an egg, just to carry around

I recently got this very cool thing that you can use for dispensing food - with progressive levels of difficulty once they get the basic idea, very helpful if you have to leave them for an hour or two and want to keep them occupied (my 'puppy' is 2 now though )

[Blondeshavemorefun]

our monster puppy has a duck cuddly toy which he loves,he also destroys them - is on 4th duck in 11mths

he pulls their head off

he also had a rope chewy thing, which he loves gnawing, as well as a ball he loves batting with his huge paws

i got him a squeaky yellow mouse for xmas - which he loves

havent tried him with a kong, tbh im afraid



that he wouldnt have the brains to work it out

hes lovely,but a bit thick!!

[spugs]

My 12 week old pup particularly likes fluffy toys and things where food comes out . He has a classic kong, a tube kong, a ball you put food in, a squeaky sausage dog, a cuddly toy with rope arms and legs, selection of squeaky balls, a rope tug toy and some squeeky underpants! (there all from pets at home) Hes also partial to a cardboard loo roll holder and shredding paper .

The stuffed kongs are good to give when you have to leave your pup (mine yaps like mad and the kong definitely helps), i put all sorts in them. Chicken, ham, hotdogs, peanut butter, cheese, dog snacks, his lunch. Just be careful its only tiny amounts of the rich stuff though or he'll get squitty (proper puppy terminology that is )
Best bit of advice I have regarding toys is to keep them in a toy box for him and rotate them every day so he doesn't get bored. I also get him to sit or lie down before he's allowed it.

Good luck with your new pup

[bella39]

I consider myself to be something of an expert in dog toys

I would recommend a selection of the following:

nylabones (not dangerous)
rope toys
kongs
sturdy stuffed soft toys
tennis balls

Avoid the cute and funny but flimsy plastic/rubber toys (chickens/postmen) etc. IME they get shredded very quickly and are a choking hazard.

Avoid rawhide chews and cooked bones.

I, too, have a Nina Ottosen (sp.) interactive toy in which you hide the food, which is pretty good.

All toys can be made more special and attractive by being rubbed between your hands.

Peanut butter is good for stuffing Kongs (smooth not crunchy).

And rotate your toys - even a lot of toys, if left out all the time, get boring. I have a toy rotation chart and bring new ones out each day, but no-one else seems to

All the very best with puppy x

[morethanyoubargainfor]

I do the toy rotation thing bella!

I have ones for water playing (fab minty floating ball thing, was the MOST expensive ball i have ever bought but well worth it!), ones for walking and house ones! they don't get mixed up and he loves them all in thier own right!

sorry to high jack!

[bella39]

[morethanyoubargainfor]

Its my OCD Tendencies i tell you!

He even has his own toy basket that sits on door ledge so he can just help himself, and on occassion he will put them away again!

[KingCanuteIAm]

We do toy rotation too! All toys are played with and then put in the toy cupboard.

Pup already knows he has been really good when I go to the toy cupboard... in fact the other day I said "free" from a particulalry good practice and he went straight and sat in front of the cupboard

The most popular toy is always the one he has had least, the one he had earlier/yesterday never gets played with long but, leave it away for a week, and it become fav. again!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

we ALSO do toy rotation - though blonde does have a chart - i just look in kitchen cupboard and change over

i also change over my hammy toys as well

never asy my pets are unloved and uncared for

[morethanyoubargainfor]

i also do it for the hammie and the fish

[bella39]

I do mine on Excel

Blondie - do you have one for your sex toys too?

[Piffle]

Kongs are fab
As are good quality lookalike soundalike pheasants/ squirrels etc
Our ridgeback puppy adores her toys
Hates plain rubber
She started really teething at 16weeks and rawhide shoes went down a treat.
Tripe sticks, pigs ears are great distraction treats too

[Blondeshavemorefun]

we dont change toys for fish

maybe if we did,then colin would still be here

[bella39]

Second pigs ears. The veins do freak me out a bit (says she who has held two sections of a dogs intestine for vet to suture together) but puppy loves them

[KingCanuteIAm]

What about trotters? Pup loves them, they are a bit freaky but are less hard than normal bones.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

atualy bella - i do



but THIS is not the time nor thread to talk about your sexual needs!!

[chickchickchickee]

Pig ears can cause squitty bums, so just watch out for that

[morethanyoubargainfor]

blonde, i don't think that was colins problem!

Eeney doesn't appreciate his toy rotation but then i feel sorry for him because every live play mate we give him, he murders them!

The murderous bastard! 5 other fish have gone to fishy heaven in eeney's short life, but he still swims about looking at us with utter disstain i tell you!