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[Veterinarian supervision] What toys are suitable for puppies? Explain the types and points to choose

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[Veterinarian supervision] What toys are suitable for puppies? Explain the types and points to choose
Toys are indispensable for living happily with dogs. However, there are many types of dog toys. Especially when you first pick up a puppy, you may be wondering what toys to choose.
今回は、犬にとっておもちゃとはどのような役割を果たすのか、種類や選び方、与え方のコツについても解説します。(最終更新日2023年12月4日)

\子犬にオススメのぬいぐるみおもちゃ/


丸ごと洗える犬用おもちゃ

Supervision

Dr. Kunimitsu Masuda, Director of Masuda Animal Clinic
Masuda Animal Clinic
3-918-9 Mukuya, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture
TEL 0547-33-6010

Graduated from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University. He is a part-time lecturer at the Renaissance Pet Academy, a vocational school, and a lecturer at the Japan Pet Massage Association and the Pet Medicinal Food International Association. Participated in rescue activities for animals affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. In addition to general Western medicine, work on animal health through acupuncture and moxibustion treatment, Chinese medicine, pet massage, etc.

1What are toys for dogs?

When it comes to toys, many people may have the impression that they are simply fun to play with, such as "things that dogs play with their owners" and "things that make you bored when you are alone." However, toys for dogs can satisfy their instincts as creatures and are also for communicating with their owners.

 

Dogs can satisfy the "hunting desire" that comes from their instincts

Dogs are essentially creatures that instinctively have a desire to "hunt." Therefore, for dogs, playing with toys leads to pseudo-hunting, which can satisfy their instinctive desires.
Therefore, being able to use toys to satisfy a dog's hunting needs can have a better effect on the dog.

 

Four dog actions made by toys

In order to satisfy the dog's hunting desire, it is necessary to perform four actions: "chasing", "catching", "wielding", and "biting and destroying". These are the very actions that a dog takes when hunting. It is a series of hunting patterns in which the prey is run, chased, caught, swung around and weakened, and finally the meat of the caught prey is chewed and eaten.

It is important to be aware of these four actions when giving toys and letting them play. By doing so, playing with toys will be a simulated experience for dogs to hunt and satisfy their instinctive desires that are not available in everyday life. It also helps to curb dog behavior problems due to frustration such as restless behavior and barking.

\シャカシャカ音が楽しいまるごと洗えるぬいぐるみ!/

丸ごと洗える犬用おもちゃ

2Types of dog toys

There are many types of dog toys in one bite, and many owners may not know which one to choose. Next, we will explain the features and effects of each type of toy.

 

 

Throwing toys

Throwing toys are perfect for playing while moving. Types include balls and frisbees. By chasing the thing thrown by the owner, you can experience the act of "chasing" and "catching" in a simulated manner. You can also run as hard as you can, which will help solve your lack of exercise. If it is a small ball, you can roll it indoors to chase it, or hide it in the shadow and play for treasure.

\音を気にせず、どんなシーンでも遊べるおもちゃ!/

サイレントドッグラテックス

 

Pulling toys

The toys to pull are mainly rope-shaped ones. Rope-shaped toys come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and come in many varieties. Depending on how you play, such as pulling and chewing, you can make all four actions of "chasing," "catching," "wielding," and "biting."
You can pull each other and play with the owner, or the dog can swing around and play alone. It is also highly durable, so it is also recommended for playful dogs.

Dental type toys

Dental type toys are toys intended to be chewed. There are various types of flavored plastics, natural woods, gums, animal bones, horns, and other materials and shapes.
Not only can you bite into a toy and destroy it, but you can also have a simulated experience of eating the prey caught by hunting. By chewing a toy, you can expect the effect of removing tartar, so it can be said that it is also useful for maintaining hygiene in the dog's mouth.

\たのしく遊びながらお口の健康を維持!/

Kanderu DENTAL

 

Toys that make sounds

Among the toys, dogs are particularly pleased with toys that make a sound when chewed or touched. There are various types such as balls and stuffed animals, but many children concentrate on playing by touching toys that make sounds.
Dogs vary from individual to individual, but in general, they can hear sounds with a frequency of about 40Hz to 65,000Hz, and they have very good hearing. It is said that the sound that humans can hear is about 20Hz to 20,000Hz at most, so dogs have much better hearing than humans, especially in the high register. In addition, it is said that humans can hear sounds in 16 directions, but dogs can pick up and hear sounds from 32 directions.

From this, it can be said that the dog is very responsive to the toys that make sounds, and it enhances the dog's tension and motivation to play. Also, since the dog itself makes a toy sound when it bites or touches it, the dog's curiosity about the object in front of him, "What's going on?" It also has the effect of increasing.

\ベビータオルと同じ素材を使用したやわらかいぬいぐるみ!/

first errand

 

A type of toy for snacks

Toys that can be used as snacks are highly advantageous as educational toys. The dog can play while thinking, "How can I eat the food and snacks contained in the toys?"
It is said that using the head from the desire to eat snacks activates the dog's brain and has the same stress-relieving effect as physical activity such as walking. You can also expect to be able to concentrate and change your mood. It's the perfect toy for your answering machine.
However, if the type of thing is difficult to take out a snack for the dog's intelligence level, the dog may get tired or tired and throw it out on the way, so be careful.

\嗅覚を使って遊ぶノーズワークトイはコチラ/

ノーズワークトイ

3Key points for choosing toys for puppies

What points should I keep in mind when giving a toy to a puppy who is not yet accustomed to playing with toys? Here, I will explain three points.

 

 

Choose strong toys

Even puppies have considerable biting and swinging power. It is necessary to choose a toy with strong strength so that you can play it to your heart's content. Toys can deteriorate and break while being chewed or swung around. Then, you may accidentally swallow a piece of a damaged toy or get injured by a broken part, so carefully look at the material and construction and select the one with the highest strength possible. Puppies have four times the number of accidental ingestion of foreign bodies compared to dogs over the age of one, and it is necessary to avoid the risk of accidental ingestion caused by toys, especially during the growing season under the age of one.
Also, for dogs, choose toys that are labeled for dogs. Human children's toys cannot withstand the biting force of dogs and can easily break. Please note that this can also cause an accident.

 

Choose according to the size of your dog

The size of the toy is also important. Please note that the toys for dogs have notations such as the body shape of the target dog. Toys that don't fit your dog's size can cause an accident.
For example, if you give a large dog a toy for a small dog, it will be put in your mouth rather than biting the toy, causing accidental ingestion. Be sure to look at the display and choose the one that suits your puppy's condition.

 

Choose according to your dog's taste

No matter how good you choose a toy, your puppy may not play. Therefore, please choose the one that the puppy is interested in and will play as much as possible. As mentioned above, there are many types of toys. Observe the age of the moon and the tendency of play at that time, and choose a toy.

4Benefits of giving dog toys

What are the benefits of giving a toy to a dog? Here, we will introduce five benefits.

 

 

Merit 1: It leads to the elimination of lack of exercise

Playing with toys will help eliminate lack of exercise. A dog's usual exercise is a walk, but if you can't go out on a rainy day or take a long walk, your dog will also lack exercise.
Even when you can't go out, you can solve some lack of exercise by playing with toys such as balls and ropes indoors.
Alternatively, not only walking, but also playing by flying and bouncing with toys has the effect of moving muscles that are not normally used. Also, if you move your body well by playing with toys, you will use your physical strength, so you will be able to sleep soundly at night.

 

Merit 2: It becomes discipline and training

Playing with toys can be discipline and training. Dogs are essentially animals that love "thinking" and "praising." Therefore, it is a good stimulus for dogs to play while thinking about how to play each toy.
When the dog is absorbed in playing, the dog can also concentrate on the owner's voice and movements. Therefore, while playing with toys, try to discipline and train by saying words such as "wait", "sitting", and "come". Also, at this time, you can experience and remember that you should not chew sweetly or be too excited.

 

Merit 3: Can be quiet

It is also effective to give toys when the owner's hands cannot be taken away, when a visitor comes, or when he wants to be quiet for a while on the go.
While you're drawing attention to your toys, you'll be less worried about mischief and annoying people around you.

 

Benefit 4: An alternative to brushing your teeth

Dental toys and rope-shaped toys can also be an alternative to brushing your teeth. By chewing firmly and playing, there are effects such as removing plaque and strengthening the gums. Dental care while having fun is effective for puppies who are not accustomed to brushing their teeth or when they cannot brush their teeth well.
However, playing with toys does not mean that you can brush all your teeth in your mouth, so brush your teeth as regularly as possible.

\たのしく遊びながらお口の健康を維持!/

Kanderu DENTAL

 

Merit 5: Stress release

Dogs are the creatures that sometimes make you want to chew and swing around because of your hunting instinct.
Just because you damage furniture and other things around you in your house, if you force the restrictions, your dog will be stressed. In such a case, if it is a toy, you can chew or swing it as much as you want, so you can release stress.

5Precautions when giving toys to puppies

It's a toy that has many benefits for puppies, but if you give it the wrong way, it's not only less effective, but it can also be dangerous. Here are five things to keep in mind when giving toys to your puppy.

 

 

Note 1: Keep an eye on

Keep an eye on your puppy when playing with toys. Even a safe dog toy can break while a puppy forgets to chew or chase after playing. To prevent accidental ingestion and injury caused by toy parts, always keep an eye on your puppy so that you can immediately notice when it is likely to cause trouble, such as when your puppy is too excited or the toy is about to break. is needed.

 

Note 2: Clean up after playing

No matter how much your favorite toy is, if you keep it within reach and playable, your puppy will get tired of it.
Try to put away the toys as soon as you finish playing so that you don't lose the special feeling and excitement of playing with toys. It is important to prevent accidents such as accidental ingestion of toys by playing with toys without the owner's knowledge.

 

Note 3: Do not pick up toys

Don't force the puppy to pick it up when he's crazy about playing with toys. If the toys that you were playing with are taken away, the puppies may run away or hide from their owners if they are not taken away. In some cases, you may take aggressive actions such as "groaning" or "biting" because you absolutely do not want to be taken.
If you are going to receive a toy from a puppy, we recommend that you use the situation to discipline the puppy to return the toy by saying "give me" or "out". It may not work at first, but in such cases, start by giving a little snack instead of a toy.

 

Note 4: Wash frequently

Puppy toys are basically things that you play by holding and chewing. However, dog saliva contains a lot of germs, and toys with saliva are prone to dust and dirt.
Therefore, if possible, it is recommended that the toys be washed the same day the puppy plays. However, it is difficult to wash stuffed animals every day, so wash them at least once a week.
After washing or washing any toys, it is important to dry them thoroughly. It is also recommended to dry it in the sun once in a while.

\シャカシャカ音が楽しいまるごと洗えるぬいぐるみ!/

丸ごと洗える犬用おもちゃ

 

Note 5: Check the condition of the toys on a regular basis

Care must be taken to prevent accidents such as accidental ingestion or injury due to damage to the puppy's toys. For that purpose, it is necessary to check the condition of the toys on a regular basis.
The power of puppies grows stronger day by day. Even if you think "this is all right", it can be destroyed in a blink of an eye. Let's always keep in mind to look closely at the details. And if you are worried, you need to not use it or dispose of it.

6Petio's recommended dog toy related products

Petio has a large selection of toys that puppies will love. This time, we would like to introduce three particularly recommended products.

Featured Products

  • Kanderu Bone Dental S Soft
    "Kanduru Bone Dental S Soft" is a dental type toy that can be chewed and enjoyed for oral care. When chewed, the rubber protrusions reach the grooves of the back teeth firmly, and the shape is such that it stimulates the mouth and tongue firmly. With a paste pocket, you can apply the dental gel, which can attract the puppy's interest even when you give it for the first time.
  • Vispo Latex Bomb
    "Vispo Latex Bomb" is a colorful toy made of soft latex. The small size makes it easy to hold even in the small mouth of a puppy, and it is also very comfortable to chew. There are two ropes on the side so you can swing around. Inside the toy is a whistle that screams when chewed.
  • Dog toys EthicalDoor Shrimp heaven
    A shrimp-shaped squid that allows you to enjoy both softness and crispness depending on where you chew. It is an ethical toy made of recycled polyester fabric derived from PET bottles that considers the earth. Inside the toy is a whistle that makes a sound when chewed.

7Choose puppy toys that match your age and body, and regular maintenance is important.

There are various types of dog toys, but it is important to choose one according to the age and situation of the puppy. It is also necessary to play with them and wash their toys regularly, rather than leaving them alone. It is important to always check that the toy is safe to use, as growth can make the toy unsuitable for size and physique.
Carefully manage toys for discipline and health so that your puppy can always enjoy and play with peace of mind.

8
Frequently Asked Questions
子犬のおもちゃQ&A

子犬にとって、おもちゃとはどんな物?
子犬にとってのおもちゃは、生き物としての本能「狩猟欲求」を満たすことができる物であり、飼い主さんとのコミュニケーションを図るための物でもあります。犬は本来、本能的に「狩りをしたい」という欲求を秘めている生き物です。ですから、犬にとっておもちゃで遊ぶ行為は疑似的に狩りをすることにつながり、それによって本能的な欲求を満たすことができるのです。


子犬におもちゃを与えるメリットとは?
子犬におもちゃを与えて遊ぶことで、運動不足の解消やストレス発散につなげることができます。その他にもおもちゃで遊んでいる時間の中で、「待て」や「おすわり」「おいで」などの言葉をかけることで、しつけやトレーニングにもなることに加え、デンタルタイプのおもちゃやロープ状のおもちゃは、歯磨きの代わりにもなります。


子犬のおもちゃ選びのポイントとは?
月齢やその時期の遊びの傾向などをよく観察しておもちゃを選んであげましょう。また、子犬といえども、噛む力や振り回す力は相当なものです。思い切り遊ばせてあげるためにも、強度がしっかりしたおもちゃを選ぶ必要があります。また、犬用のおもちゃには対象の犬の体型などの表記がありますので、注意して見てください。犬のサイズに合わないおもちゃは、事故の原因となりかねません。
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