Dog toys
are a very important part of owning a
dog or puppy. Since dogs enjoy chewing,
the purpose of dog toys is to provide
your pet with appropriate items to chew
so he doesn’t chew other things around
your home. Also important is that dog
toys, such as balls, frisbees,
sterilized bones, dog stuffed animals,
rope toys, etc., are all helpful in
staving off boredom in dogs… an
important aspect to help prevent
mischief.
In addition to making sure your dog has
plenty of different types of toys and
bones to keep busy with, another aspect
is making sure the toys are accessible
to him. This may sound simple, but over
the course of time the toys often end up
under the sofa, out in the yard or
otherwise lost around the home. Next
thing you know, your dog may be right
back to being bored and mischievous, or
at the very least, have no toys to play
with even though they are “somewhere
around here.”
The solution? A dog toy box. It doesn’t
need to be fancy at all… a sturdy
plastic one will do. It should be low
enough for your dog to reach the toys
and should be kept in a central location
in your home where your dog spends time.
Then, you can occasionally go around the
house, picking up all the dog toys and
returning them to the box so they are
easy for your pet to find (and your home
stays tidier too).
Another benefit of the dog toy box is
that it creates an additional activity
for your pet. Now, he can not only have
fun playing with the toys, but can also
enjoy the additional stimulation of
looking through and taking them out of
the box.
For puppies, the toy box is also
particularly helpful because you can
simply pick up the box and bring the
toys easily into the room your puppy
will be spending time in. Then there
will be no excuse for him to be chewing
or stealing other things and with the
toys at your fingertips, it’s easier to
correct and redirect if an inappropriate
item is in his mouth.
Another toy tip: rotate the toys
occasionally. Instead of keeping the
same toys in the box all the time, some
of which your pet may have become bored
with, you can occasionally go through
the toys and put away the ones he hasn’t
played with in a while. Replace with a
few new toys. Then, when he becomes
tired of those toys, pull the old ones
out of your cabinet and your dog’s
interest will be renewed. This is a
great way to keep your dog interested in
the toys, while also saving money by not
always having to buy new ones all the
time.
With a little creativity and effort on
your part, your dog will quickly learn
to go to the box when he wants to play
with something, helping to stave off
boredom and discourage mischief!
Article written by Lori Verni
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