Being a pet owner of a small dog is a responsibility, and it is necessary to find the best toys keeping the dog active, cheerful, and in playing. They also require toys that are mentally and physically stimulating.
In this blog we shall look at the best dog toys for small dogs that fit for small dogs, their advantages and ways to make proper selections on your dog toys.
Why Are Dog Toys Important for Small Dogs?
Dog toys are important as they stretch the mind and bodies and avoid boredoms and relieve anxiety.
In case of small dogs, selection of the appropriate toys is even more required because they are energetic and their size is smaller. The suitable toy should:
- Promote physical activity: Little dogs should also get exercise, and toys provide a great way to make them active.
- Reduce anxiety: Diversionary toys may also be used to make your dog less fearful, when left home alone, or when going on a car ride.
- Avoid bad habits: The bored dogs tend to chew furniture or any other stationary in the home. Toys help them distract their attention over these habits.
- Improve dental health: A good chew on the healthy toys aids in the cleaning of teeth and gums of your Wagner, thus eliminating dental problems.
Types of Dog Toys for Small Dogs
1. Chew Toys
Toy chewers are available to clean their teeth, soothe their teething pain and to distract them when they want to chew on to furniture.
- Rubber Chew Toys: Chew toys made of rubber are indestructible and safe to small dogs. Such brands as KONG sell stainable toys that can be filled up with treats and become even more interesting and attractive.
- Dental Chews: These are also important toys in keeping the teeth of your dog in good condition whilst releasing the chewing need.
- Edible Chews: Some small dogs love to chomp on edible chews, such as bully sticks or dental chews which are healthy too.
2. Interactive Toys
Interactive toys are made to stimulate your dog and make it occupied.
- Puzzle Toys: These are toys that usually involve stuffed up compartments which your dog has to learn to open up in order to get the treat. They are also good to keep you dog busy and can occupy your dog in hours.
- Treat Dispensers: These toys dispense food treats when being interacted with by your dog. They make your dog seek to play in order to be rewarded.
- Snuffle Mats: Snuffle Mats are mats that involve hiding food in various layers of material and allows your dog to use their nose to find the food.
3. Tug Toys
Such are the best toys that you can play with your small dog.
- Rope Toys: They are certainly good to play a tug-of-war game. They are both soft and strong, and they may be played both individually and interactive.
- Tug Rings: They have the form of rings and they are easy to hold the both of you and your dog.
4. Fetch Toys
Fetch is an old game, which dogs enjoy a lot, and numerous toys are created with the purpose of adding entertainment to a game of fetch concerning small dogs.
- Mini Tennis Balls:They are just suitable to be held in the mouth of small dogs. Tennis balls are easy to toss and are excellent at fetching games.
- Frisbees: One of the common toys to use when you have a small dog is small, soft frisbees as it is a toy that can keep them occupied.
- Chuckit! Toys: Chuckit! Produces toys that can be thrown at long distances, which makes fetch even more entertaining to an active doggy.
5. Plush Toys
Plush toys are soft to touch and cuddly, hence sound as cuddling and carrying toys. Some small dogs will love to play with such toys, but not all of them will last long with aggressive chewers.
- Stuffed Animals: These are soft fluffy toys and can either be cuddled or chewed on (gently).
- Squeaky Toys: A plenty of small dogs are fond of squeaky toys. The audio is another thing that attracts their attention and adds to the enthusiasm of the playtime.
How to Choose the Right Dog Toys for Your Small Dog
When purchasing dog toys there are various factors that you must put into consideration in order to ensure that you get the right toys that fit your small dog.
1. Size Matters
Your dog is small, hence, it is necessary to choose the toys which are suitable in size. They may not be able to play with toys which are too large but they can choke on small toys. Toys, especially made for small breeds should also be sought to make the right fits.
2. Durability
Sounds Dogs have the ability to chew a lot and you should ensure that the toys you purchase are strong enough to engage in some chewing activity. Rubber or nylon toys are a suitable option of aggressive chewers. Prevent using toys of low-quality material that might break.
3. Safety
Use ones that are non-toxic and pet-safe. No part of it should be small such that it could be chewed and swallowed as this may choke the mouth.
4. Variety
It is in the best interest of small-sized dogs to have different toys. The different choices of toys will keep your dog occupied both physically and mentally.
Benefits of Dog Toys for Small Dogs
- Enhanced Physical Health: Toys are associated with physical fitness as exercise keeps your dog fit and healthy.
- Mental Stimulation: Interactive toys, such as puzzles, stimulate the brain of your dog, and these toys can enhance its mental process.
- Stress Relief: Stress and anxiety have been known to cause an increase in stressful cases to small dogs and toys can be used to reduce the level of stress to both the animals and the humans.
- Teeth cleaning: Chew toys will clean teeth and gums of your dog, avoiding dental problems.
Conclusion
It is quite important to find proper dog toys for small dogs to make your pet happy, healthy and occupied. You can decide to provide chew toys, catch-me puppies, or soft squeaky toys and each time there are so many in the market.
Your little dog will spend long hours having a lot of fun staying active and engaged with the right toy!
FAQS
Which are the best toys of small chewing dogs?
In the case of small dogs which love to grip things in their mouths, tough rubber chew toys like KONG are ideal. Hot chews and nylon objects could also resist violent chewing.
Are squeaky toys safe to be used on small dogs?
Each time your pet toys with squeaky toys, you ought to be around him or her so that the pet toys do not break, posing like a choking hazard.