Safe Puppy Toys

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hello Everyone,

I went to our local pet store yesterday, and I must admit that I was extremely overwhelmed by the aisles and aisles of puppy toys. I was hoping that I could get some advice on what the safest & best puppy toys are?

Thanks,

Michelle

[Kevin]

I don't know too much but everywhere I read says that the Kong toys are the best. You can stuff treats in it and almost all puppies love them. Very cheap off of Amazon too. Good luck!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

If you are going to closely supervise a dog with a toy, then the options are unlimited.  but as they get older, stronger, more focused, with some dogs, almost any toy they have can be destroyed.  not horrible-they have a shelf life, but the KEY is that the dog is not harmed by the potential small pieces they wind up as!  so, if you don't mind the white stuffing all over , that's fine, but you can't leave that around for a puppy to chew and choke, nor can you leave a puppy to make mince meat out of some rubber toy, eat the squeaker and devour the tiny, or not so tiny hard rubber to choke on!  and the thing is the type of chewer your pup is or will become cannot be predicted! 

Kong toys are virtually indestructible.  we have several in all sizes.  everything else gets, at some point, destroyed around here,  Just like a toddler, it's constant supervision!  you will eventually know what level destroyer you have.  

I do recall reading some post here about doodles who still have "stuffies" from puppy days that they carry around still intact and lovingly played with.  My dood eventually, even if lovingly, cannot resist ripping open a seam and getting out the stuffing.  

and don't forget- the bathroom waste basket has the most fun toys of all (NOT).  

[Adrienne]

Kong toys and any type of rope toy (but, be careful if you have a "nipper", you don't want to play tug of war to make him more aggressive).  At the moment, Dougie's favorite toy is an empty plastic water bottle--go figure!!  I take the top off and the paper and let him chew on it--supervised of course.

[Sally S Miles]

The joys and toys of puppyhood = toys save furniture and nerve endings.   My all time favorites's are Kong toys, Nylabone's,  rope knot toys, and I also prefer balls that are not fuzzy.  Our girl likes these balls and they suffice to keep her oral fixation satisfied - like a fat piece of gum she totes around in her mouth.    Soft rubbery squeaky toys are fun, but die quickly and can pose a hazard to pup, just like Lori said.    The soft stuffed toys will die first, keep a close watch on them.   Once they figure out a weak point, it's amazing how fast those little teeth can destroy something.    Soft disc similar to Frisbee, a simple fire hose fetch toy,  Jolly Ball, and silly hard plastic puppy rings.   We had toys that other dogs kept for a while, but this gal killed them fast - each dog is different.    Monitor the pup with toys, the best way to teach them anything is to catch them at it and discourage attack mode. 

 

The longest lasting favorite here is Bumi toys - looks like a Z - here is a link,  http://www.amazon.com/West-Paw-Design-Zogoflex%C2%AE-Colors/dp/B002...    we now have a small and a large.   It's the only tug toy - she even plays tug with herself with it - shakes it around - chews on it - makes up games with it. 

 

Rotate toys - all kids get bored with the same ol' same ol', day in and out. I shift them in and out so that every couple of days she sees a toy and goes 'wow, I missed that toy!'.   We have toys that don't leave the bedroom, toys that are indoors only and toys that are outside only.  We have toys she has to 'earn' and toys to interact with.    

If you get a toy that your dog shows no interest in for a while, hide it and bring it back out a few days later - but remove something else. Watch and learn what gets your pup's interest - they are so darn funny!

Wastebasket - indeed!   Plastic water bottle - yup, like kids playing with your kitchen supplies... :) 

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Toys around here have to be elephant proof!  One of my dachshunds can destroy ANYTHING if jiffy time!  He peels a tennis ball and breaks it into chunks within just a couple of hours. So we have lots of rope toys, Kong toys, a Kong frisbee that the doodles LOVE to chase, and nylabones. We also have a few antlers and hoofs.  I have a toy box that daily I pick toys up from all over their room and put it in the toy box as I vacuum and mop, As soon as I put one in the box, Tango takes it out - even if all he does is drop it next to the box.  The cutest thing, though was when Casey took it away from him and put it back in the box!!!