How to pick the right toy for your puppy

Toys are mentally and physically stimulating and assist in fulfilling a puppy’s mental, physical stimulation. Even though dogs today are primarily bred as companion pets, they still need something to do. In the absence of an activity, they will look for things to do to occupy their time and fulfill their chewing needs. If you don’t want them to choose their own chew toys, such as your sofa, pillows, or toilet paper rolls, provide them with appropriate toys.

 How to select the right toy for the puppy

• Pick a toy that is gentle on your puppy’s teeth. It’s best to pick something that’s gentle on your puppy’s teeth so that he can carry it easily. Offer a variety of different textures varying from soft plush toys to very hard rubber balls. Avoid rawhide bones. 
• Make sure there is no risk of choking. All Toys should be appropriate for your puppy’s current size. For example, balls should be large enough to carry, but not too small that can easily be swallowed. Also, make sure it doesn’t have any parts that could easily break off and become choking hazards, either. ‘Fetch toys’ should be especially durable since they’re susceptible to more damage being flung all over the place.
• Ensure the toys are lightweight: Make sure that your puppy toy is compact enough to carry. 
•  Toys are easy to clean and water-resistant: Select a toy that can be cleaned easily so that your puppy can experience fun time and time again.
• Toys that are highly visible to our puppies. As we know dogs have dichromatic vision; blue and yellow are the easiest and most attractive colors for them to see. It’s a good idea to select a toy that can easily be seen by both you and your puppy. This way, you can always help your furry friend track down his favorite toy. 
• In order to keep your pup happily entertained, it’s important to rotate their toys. You can hide most of their toy stash except for a few, then after a week, put those away and pull out some others to offer variety. 

Some Toys types to choose from 

• Chew toys - A good durable chew toy is a must have for dogs of any age
• Plush toys with squeaker - A lot of dogs like to suckle on soft toys and a few like to chew on squeaky toys to enjoy the sound. 
• Tug toys - The classic Tug-of-war with your puppy can be a mood booster and can help channelise that extra energy
• Fetch & chase toys - Balls, frisbee, flirt poles to engage high energy dogs who need lots of exercise. Be sure to not over do these exercises, since they can easily over stimulate our dogs. 
• Teething toys - Toys with spikes to engage the gums while the puppy is in the teething phase. Smear it with Peanut Butter and give it to your puppy. 

Food dispensing toys and puzzles - The ultimate boredom busters for dogs that love challenges. They can keep dogs equipped for long periods of time, building their curiosity and confidence.