Toys, Toys, Toys

Toys are a healthy part of any dog's life. But a visit to any pet store will find aisle after aisle of choices. Which toys are best for your best friend? I discuss this matter with almost all of my clients. The reason? Because a poor choice of toys can cause some problems in the home.

Chewing is a common complaint with many dog owners, yet a review of what toys they're giving their dog frequently finds things like fabric stuffed animals, chew ropes, etc. These fabric and synthetic toys feel and taste much the same to a dog as furniture, clothing, etc. Likewise, many owners give their dogs rawhide products. These products are processed leather and will taste the same to your dog as your $3000.00 leather sofa.

Rawhide products are also a poor choice for health reasons. Many dogs chew off large chunks which can cause obstructions in their digestive tracts requiring emergency surgery. Furthermore, many of these products are processed overseas with heavy metals for curing, posing serious long-term health dangers for pets.

And rawhide, along with other natural products (butcher bones, pig's ears, hooves, etc.) are a common source of food aggression in many dogs. Food aggression can lead to biting and other serious behavioral problems in my experience.

My best recommendations for safe toys include Kong and Nylabone products. Nylabone has a large range of products of varying sizes and densities - choose one appropriate for your dog's size and chewing intensity. Kongs vary in size as well, with various "toughness". White Kongs are softest, red intermediate, and black the most durable.