Archive for the ‘Dog Toys’ Category

Here in Georgia, it gets way too hot to take our dogs on long walks for exercise, or even to throw the ball outside for more than a few minutes. We have a shih tzu, Gizmo, and dogs with short snouts over-heat even more easily than dogs with longer snouts. We are extra careful to avoid heatstroke in our pups, and in the pups that we pet sit. I’ve listed a  few fun activities to get your dog’s blood moving that you can do in the comfort of the air conditioning below.

Here are a few fun things to try with your dogs when the weather prevents you from taking your fur kids to the park or out for a walk:

• Laser Pointer- some dogs chase it, some don’t. A lot of cats do, too! Make sure you don’t put it near your pet’s eyes.
• Obedience Training-it can be fun! Make sure you use positive reinforcement, like Victoria Stilwell and Patricia McConnell. Only train in intervals of 15 minutes or less a few times per day, or it will stop being fun.
• Fetch- down a long hallway
• Hide And Seek- One person holds the dog, another person (treats in hand) runs and hides and calls the dog. When the dog finds you, reward them with a treat!
• Hide your pet’s favorite toy or treat and guide them to help them find them, but don’t give it away! It’s good exercise, both physically and mentally for your dog!
• Toys that dispense treats are a good mental exercise for your dog
• Rope Toys- for a good old fashioned game of Tug-O-War (not recommended for aggressive dogs)
• Got a basement? How about some soccer or fetch down there?
• For good time killers, try Nylabones or Kongs

Just remember to keep it light, fun and positive!

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.  ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

I found this list and think it will be very useful for people who have just adopted a new puppy. The only thing that I see that I would change would be the Mealtime section. It says to feed your new puppy whatever they were eating at the breeder’s. If you adopt your puppy or find a stray, obviously you’ll need to pick out a good food. I suggest a raw diet or a grain free, high grade dog food.

If you have anything to add, please do! You can add whatever you want to the Comments section.

The Essential Puppy Supplies List
By Caroline Coile |

Half the fun of getting a new puppy is going on a “puppy welcome wagon” shopping spree. So get out the checkbook, and check out our checklist!

Bedtime:

- Crate: Choose between wire, which fold flat and have better ventilation; plastic, which are cozy and are approved for airline shipping; and cloth, which are lightweight but can be shredded by dogs that want to get out.
- Bed: It doesn’t have to be fancy, just soft.

Mealtime:

- Food: Start with what they’re eating at the breeder’s. You can gradually switch them later.
- Bowls: Stainless bowls are best because they are easy to clean and durable.

House time:

- Baby gates: Baby gates allow your dog more freedom while still blocking off restricted areas.
- Exercise pen: An exercise pen (X-pen) is a 4-foot by 4-foot pen that you can set up as an optional indoor playpen. You can also take the X-pen on trips so you have a portable yard.
- Anti-chew spray: These sprays taste so bitter most puppies won’t chew anything they’re on.
- Cleaning supplies: For rug accidents, use an enzymatic carpet cleaner, which destroys the odor causing molecules.
- Potty Training pads: Scented pads that entice a puppy to urinate on them rather than your rug. Optional.
- Indoor potty system: An option for apartment dogs.

Yard time:

- Fence: The fence should keep your dog in and other dogs out.
- Kennel: A covered kennel run is another option, but only if it’s next to the house and has shelter from the elements.
- Pooper scooper: Two-part scoops are easier to use than hinged versions. Scoops with a rake on one side are better for grass, and the flat-edge pusher varieties are better for cement surfaces.

Walk time:

- Collar: For now, get a nylon buckle collar with room for adjustment. The collar should be loose enough for you to get a couple of fingers between it and your puppy’s neck, but not so loose that it could slide off his head when walking on leash. Don’t leave any collar on a puppy unattended because pups have a talent for getting their lower jaw stuck in it.
- Leash: Start with a sturdy lightweight leash, four to six feet long, of leather or nylon — never chain links!
- Retractable leash: Only for use away from roads, other people and dogs.
- Harness: If your puppy has a habit to slipping out of a collar, consider a harness as an option.
- Poop bags: Cheap sandwich bags or stylish doggy poop disposal bags both work.
- Identification: Get both tags and a microchip.
- Coat or Sweater: Little puppies don’t have much fur or fat, and may need some extra warmth in cold weather. Optional.

Grooming time:

- Brush: A soft-bristle brush is ideal for getting your puppy used to grooming.
- Rinseless Shampoo: A quick fix for dirty puppies! Optional.
- Toothbrush: For now, you just need a soft baby toothbrush and some doggy toothpaste.
- Toenail clippers: The guillotine and scissors-type cutters are equally good.

Fun time:

- Plush toys: Soft-mouthed puppies love soft fuzzy toys. Make sure no parts can come off, and that your puppy can’t gut it and swallow any noisemakers or bean stuffing.
- Throw toys: Balls and other toys, such as tug toys, that encourage playing with people are especially good for social development.
- Interactive toys: Toys that challenge your puppy to dislodge food treats can occupy them while you’re away.

Love time:

- You: A person who will stop what they’re doing and pay attention to the new puppy!

When you feel lousy, puppy therapy is indicated. -Sara Paretsky

If your dogs are like our 3, they go crazy over a new toy. But what is the right toy for your dog? The following article fragment was written by Dr. Jon of the Pet Place Dog Crazy Newsletter. Through email, I get a daily newsletter that has a wealth of knowledge and information. I highly recommend subscribing to their newsletter!

Here are some tips to help you find the right kind of toy for your dog based on his unique play style:

Fetchers – For dogs that really love to fetch, the Tuffy Ultimate Ring is a great toy. It has a great shape. Your dog can carry the stuffed ring shaped toy in his mouth or over his snout. It’s the perfect weight for a good toss and it’s made to be durable as well as fun. It has squeakers inside. It floats, so you can use it as a water toy. It’s soft enough for your dog to pick up and carry in his mouth without hurting his gums, but it’s tough enough to hold up to his teeth. It’s made of a very durable fabric that’s reinforced with multiple rows of cross-stitching.

Cuddle toys – If a soft plush toy makes your dog happy, get him a durable good quality toy like the GoDog™ Dragon. This toy is soft and cuddly, but it’s made with Chew Guard Technology™, so it’s made to be tough. It has reinforced seams and extra layers of double stitched material inside to give it added strength. This is a toy you dog can get up close and personal with, and he can enjoy it for a long time to come.

Chewers & Problem Solvers – If your dog falls into one or both of these categories, I have 2 amazing toys that are sure to please. One is the TUX . This toy is made of a durable rubbery material called Zogoflex. It has an unusual shape that makes it easy for the dog to chew on it or pick it up and carry it in his mouth. The other toy is the Everlasting FUN Ball . This ball is made from a very strong rubber that’s safe for your dog, and it’s one of the toughest chew toys I’ve ever seen. Both of these toys are great for chewing. And to turn up the fun quotient even more, you can fill these toys with treats. Both toys have hollow cavities. The treats can be tucked inside, and your dog has to figure out how to get them out as he plays. I always recommend these 2 toys for dogs that love to chew.

Tuggers – For dogs that love a good game of tug, I LOVE the Pentapulls Squirrel . The material is very strong. The squirrel’s body is lightly stuffed, but the legs are unstuffed, which makes them better for tugging. They are attached to the body in an “x” shape with multiple rows of reinforced stitching.  There is a squeaker in each leg and one in the tail. I’ve seen dogs that never tire of playing with this toy. And when it gets dirty – just toss it in the washer.

Crunchers - Some dogs love crunching popping noises. That’s why they enjoy chewing on empty water bottles. They love to hear the popping crackling sound of the plastic as it bends and cracks. These dogs can have a ball with an empty water bottle, and it can hold their interest for hours. For these dogs, Bottle Crunchers are the perfect toy. It’s a brightly colored fabric sleeve that fits snuggly over an empty water bottle to protect your dog’s mouth from the broken plastic as he chews. When the water bottle wears out, take it out of the Bottle Cruncher and put another empty water bottle inside. When the covers get dirty, just throw them in the washer.

Squeakers – Some dogs go crazy over toys that squeak. Several of the toys I mentioned here have squeakers including the Tuffy Ultimate Ring, the GoDog™ Dragon and the Pentapulls Squirrel . All of these toys are made to please a dog like this. They are also well-made so they will hold up to your dog’s active play.

Fun really is in the eye of the beholder – in this case, the dog. So get to know your dog, find out what type of play makes him really happy and get him the kind of toys that are designed to please his particular style of play. You can try any of these excellent toys, or check them out at: www.petproductadvisor.com/Dogtoys

But remember, one thing holds true for ALL dogs. You must always supervise their play to keep them safe. No toy is indestructible, and ingestion of toys is a serious problems that often sends dogs to the emergency clinic. So please keep your dog safe. When you give your dog a new toy, watch him to make sure that he will play with it safely.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. These toys passed our safety tests with flying colors, and our dogs just love them. So if you’re looking for a safe, well-made toy, give one of these toys a try. You can’t beat the quality. Go to: www.petproductadvisor.com/dogtoys

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. –Anonymous

This email was sent to me the other day by my good friend, Christy Morrison and I felt the need to share.

Quote:

Last night at agility class, a vet, who is a fellow agility student was telling us about a case she had this week. The dog ate a child’s teddy bear and was very sick. When she opened the dog up to remove what she thought was an intestinal obstruction she found a huge gelatin type mess inside and the dogs intestines were black and the tissue dead. The dog will die; no surgery can fix him up because there was no living intestine left from stomach to colon.

This was not an obstruction.

…. so she called the manufacturer of the teddy bear on a quest to find out what the gel was and what killed the dog. Turns out the stuffing in children’s toys contains ingredients for flame retardants and mite control! It is designed to be come a gel. It is highly toxic. Now you would think a child’s toy would be safe because it is for children, but they don’t expect a child to eat the stuffing of the toys… huummmm that seems a bit scary, too. But we all know dogs demolish stuffed toys.

So do not give or buy your dog any children’s stuffed animals… some people get them at Goodwill, etc. The vet will be posting a warning and story and I will send any other facts as needed and as I learn more. Maybe some children’s toys do not have this ingredient, but better to be safe then sorry. So meanwhile, make sure all your dog toys are for dogs. Please pass this on… it is a horrible death she described and one that can be avoided.

HMM. . . makes me think about all stuffed toys we may buy at retail, thrift stores, or that may be given to our children or pets by others. Also, what about the kennel your dog goes to, or doggy day care or the church nursery? This danger can be far reaching! We get notices about high chairs and cribs – recalled ones should not be “recycled” but how can one person keep up with that info?

For the protection of your children and your pets, allow them to play with only items you have bought. And inspect them daily for tears or breaks, in case some type of poison is leaking out!

I wrote some years ago about my friend’s English Springer Spaniel who got very very sick. No apparent reason. But Buddy loved tennis balls. And he had torn up the outside of a “high quality” tennis ball with a titanium center. After Xrays, the vet found that the titanium center had been swallowed by the dog and was stuck in his digestive track. The affected area was removed, Buddy stayed in the vet hosp for 3 weeks, and finally died. Died at a young age from the leeching of poison from the titanium into his system. It didn’t have to be! But how would she have known the center was toxic? I doubt that PetsMart’s tennis balls carry this in the center (it’s probably empty) but what about those used tennis balls of yours in the doggy toy box?

Please, check out the toys at your house, the kennels, doggy and kiddy day care, etc.

You might say, “My dog has a huge, fenced-in backyard to run around in all day, he gets plenty of exercise!” Did you know that dogs have a deeply ingrained, instinctual need to migrate with a pack and that there are breed specific activities that you can play to give your dog the balance she needs?

A well-balanced dog has all of her instinctual needs fulfilled, such as walking with their pack, and also exercises that fulfill the type of breed your dog is.

For instance, if you have a high energy dog, you may take him on two or three 30 minute to an hour brisk walks or jogs per day, in addition to some agility course training to satisfy their energetic nature.
If you have a medium energy dog, one or two 15-30 minute walks, plus some fetch in the backyard may suffice.

You might have a couch potato dog. Even if they appear disinterested in walking, you will find that they truly enjoy walking with you, their pack leader, and you might even see a new, more energetic side of your low energy dog.

Confining your dog to the backyard without a walk is comparable to confining a fish to a fish bowl. The world is you and your dog’s ocean. Explore it!

Well exercised dogs are balanced, less destructive and less rambunctious. Walking with your dog also creates a close bond between the two (or more) of you and can reinforce or establish your role as the dog’s pack leader.

If you are having issues with your dog, start simple. Take them for a few short walks a day to start out and see if that helps. They may need to be more challenged, and if that’s the case, you can find all kinds of games and puzzle-type toys for your dog. These can be homemade games and toys; no need to spend a ton of cash. It could be hiding a favorite toy in a sandbox, placing treats throughout the yard or house for your dog to find, or just a Kong toy filled with hard to reach treats.

I suggest checking out Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer and his books and website. He truly understands the nature of dogs and is easy to read and understand. Here is a link: www.cesarmillaninc.com

Dogs are great companions, especially well balanced and happy dogs. Make sure you do your homework on breeds before you go and get your new dog. Remember, your dog is not “human” and is quite happy being “just a dog.” Once you accept that, you are on your way to a strong and healthy relationship with your dog.

“In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.” –Edward Hoagland