How To Teach A Dog To Play With Toys

how to train a dog to play with toys

He refuses to fetch and shows no interested in chew toys. Squeaky toys don't even go a 2nd look. Does this sound familiar? If your dog doesn't similar toys, you may be wondering why and what you lot can do to brand their toys more exciting?

At that place are two common reasons that your dog may not be interested in his toys:

i. Yous oasis't constitute the right toys nevertheless.

2. He simply doesn't sympathise what he'south supposed to practice with them.

These 2 are often both true but don't worry, this toy guide volition help y'all find the right dog toys and offer some simple tricks to help them learn to dearest their toys.

5 Benefits of Dog Toys

Start past asking yourself why your dog should play with toys. Toys can be fun, but they tin too take a applied purpose. Part of playtime is edifice good for you routines and keeping your pet mentally and physically stimulated.

If you include playtime into your canis familiaris's daily routine, you lot will notice it much easier to modify or add new games and toys in the time to come.

Let's take a look at the potential benefits of dog toys.

1. Colorlessness

how can i get my dog to play

This 1 might seem obvious, but bored dogs tend to act out in other means, sometimes fifty-fifty destructively. Showing your dog how to play, both with you and lone can help to keep them mentally stimulated.

Chewing on piece of furniture, digging through the garbage, and begging for attending tin can all be signs that your domestic dog is acting out because he's frustrated that he doesn't have anything else to do.

Offer a regular variety of toys, and especially games that will mentally engage them can reduce many unwanted behaviours that are caused by boredom.

2. Anxiety

Anxiety is very common in dogs. The signs of anxiety can be similar to the symptoms of boredom, but tin can also include fearful reactions, whining, barking, and fifty-fifty cocky-harm.

One way to reduce feet is to give your canis familiaris something to do. The mental and physical stimulation from toys can assist them experience calmer by giving them something rubber and productive to focus on.

If your dog shows piddling interest in toys, then it's of import that you lot are sticking to toys and games that allow y'all to play with them. The extra motivation and excitement from you can help build your bond and a healthier routine.

three. Exercise

how to train your dog to play

Diet and exercise are the foundation of a healthy pet, so keeping them physically active can reduce the risk of health issues like obesity and mobility problems.

Whether you are trying to proceed up with an active domestic dog, or are trying to encourage your lazy mutt to go moving, toys are a great outlet. Start minor, peculiarly with less active dogs, but make sure you build a consistent and fun routine.

4. Dental Health

Using toys to work their jaws and massage their gums is an important part of their dental health. Chewing tin can strengthen their jaw muscles and assist in removing bacteria build-upwardly on their teeth.

Chewing is a depression energy activity, and there are many toys to accommodate the different chewing styles of all ages and types of dogs. Always monitor your pup while chewing to avoid choking or ingestion disasters.

5. Learning

how to train a dog to play with toys

Dogs continue to learn from their disquisitional boyish stages through their most delicate senior years. They explore with their mouths, then toys are a great mode to help them experience their environment and to collaborate with y'all and other animals.

Toys can assist to teach skilful behaviours, acquire new skills, and fifty-fifty maintain cognitive function as they age. This can include both solo playtime and group play.

Your domestic dog will acquire to master toys in time, so make sure yous accept a few varieties of toys to rotate through. This will prevent your dog from getting bored with their toys, and can also extend the life of the toys past limiting consistent wearable and tear.

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Types of Toys

If we put all the benefits into perspective, toys seem like a pretty vital role of your domestic dog'southward wellness, right? Only how do you find the right toy for your dog?

Allow'southward accept a expect at the different types of toys that might keep your dog's interest and encourage more playtime:

Fetch & Toss

how can i get my dog to play

Fetch is one of the oldest and almost popular games for dogs. It allows them to exercise, explore, and is also a keen way to bond with your dog.

If you've e'er tossed a brawl, just to have your dog just stare at information technology (and so you, while you walk over to fetch it yourself), so you may be skeptical of trying this one-sided game again.

That's understandable, merely don't rule fetch out completely. It may take some training, just the game of fetch can be taught. It is ideal for both mental and physical activity, and tin can be adapted to other games and toys to keep the game fresh and fun.

Tips for Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

Start by tossing small-scale treats beyond the room. When your domestic dog goes to retrieve the care for, brand sure you give loads of praise. If your dog is food motivated, so they will probable wait back to you to run across if there's more where that treat came from.
Phone call your dog back to your side, and reward them when they come. Do this repeatedly.
Once your dog gets the signal, identify or toss the ball on the other side of the room and throw a treat near it (the closer you can get to the toy, the better). If your canis familiaris touches the toy when they run to call back the treat, brand sure you react with lots of praise.
Side by side, have a small dab of pet-safe peanut butter, salmon oil, or something else tasty and spreadable, and put it on the ball. Just enough to get the flavor and scent, you don't want to end upwardly with a sticky floor.
Permit your dog sniff the ball and then toss it. Most dogs will follow their noses and go afterwards the ball. Encourage your dog to pick up the ball, and praise them when they do. Always call them back to y'all and reward them for a job well done.
Eventually, you will be able to phase out the treats, and your dog will exist a fetch pro. You tin start moving to larger areas, like the yard and fifty-fifty the park.

If your domestic dog knows the game but gets bored of it speedily, try switching upwards the toys that you apply. Frisbees, footballs, and fifty-fifty costly toys can exist an like shooting fish in a barrel way to spruce up an old classic.

Looking for the all-time fetch toys? Check out our 25 Best Outdoor Dog Toys to discover the toy that will get your dog moving.

Chew Toys

If your dog isn't interested in chewing, and so you may be offering the wrong kind of chew toy. We desire to stretch every penny and observe a durable toy that will terminal forever, simply it may not exist very highly-seasoned to your pup.

Effort dissimilar textures, flavours, and scents to appeal to your dog'southward natural chewing instincts. They may get bored or discouraged if the toy is too difficult or besides boring.

Tips for Encouraging Your Dog to Chew

Expect for durable plush toys or softer rubber toys that will yet be expert for chewing, just won't be hard every bit a rock. This tin can encourage positive chewing habits, and allow you to slowly work upwardly to tougher toys.
Y'all can also opt for toys that tin can be blimp, or ones designed to concur treats. This will give them a reason to go on chewing on a denser toy, and will still offer the many dental benefits of a chew toy.
Start chew sessions with an interactive game, similar tug-o-war, or hide-and-seek. Get them excited by beingness excited yourself. When your mini-game is over, you can pass off the toy to your canis familiaris for some solo playtime.
Some other choice is to look for flavoured chew toys. A beef infused nylon basic may be merely the encouragement they demand to start chomping down.

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Want to see some of our favourite chew toys? Durable Dog Toys for Extreme Chewers has a fun, only tough range of toys that encourage salubrious and advisable chewing habits.

Puzzle Toys

how to train your dog to play

If your canis familiaris needs a low impact game or prefers a tasty reward for their efforts, then puzzle games are right upwardly their alley. These toys combine the boredom-busting ability of a puzzle and the delicious odor and flavour of their favourite snacks.

These are platonic for indoor play and tin help to combat anxiety and destructive behaviours. They are too slap-up for puppies who are learning to master their paw-eye coordination.

Tips for Introducing Dog Puzzle Toys

This one almost needs no introduction. Each puzzle toy will be a chip dissimilar, but the goal is the same: Observe the treat.
Start small and simple and work your way up to a more challenging puzzle to forbid your dog from losing involvement one time they've unlocked the secret to getting the treats quickly.
Playing with the puzzle toy together can offer much-needed encouragement and direction. It's a great way to get them started, not to mention a great bonding experience with your pet. Keep your photographic camera ready. First attempts at puppy puzzle toys are always entertaining.
Many toys can exist a puzzle or mind game. Check out 13 Ways to Employ a Kong to go some inspiration for how you can repurpose some of the neglected toys that are laying effectually your habitation.

F ind more ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated in Bored Dogs: Symptoms & Solutions for Dog Boredom. Learn how to recognize boredom in your pet, and tons of fun toys and games that tin liven up their regular routine.

Snuggle Toys

how can i get my dog to play

For some dogs, a toy is more than a tool; it'southward a friend. If your dog prefers a nap over a walk, or if they need a little condolement, then a snuggle toy is what y'all need. Snuggle toys tin can come in all shapes and sizes, just generally, we are talking about plush toys.

They need something soft and warm that can go on them company during their afternoon nap or soothe the stress triggered by an unexpected business firm guest. Snuggle toys tin act equally a pacifier for anxious dogs, a pillow for an old dog, or just a trusted pal for your puppy.

Tips for Finding your Dog a New Best Friend

This is less well-nigh training and more most finding the correct fit. It will take some trial and error, but you'll somewhen find a toy that your dog volition take to.
If you are dealing with anxiety, attempt offering the toy in situations that may trigger that anxiety. (New firm guests, thunderstorms, kids) The thought is to get them to hold the toy or get to the toy when they are feeling anxious.
Make sure the toy is offered in a calm, safe infinite. If your domestic dog is crate trained or has their own room or area, then they will be more likely to seek comfort in the toy than if they were in the middle of all of the commotion. They will somewhen start to associate their snuggle buddy with safety and seek out their friend in times of stress or anxiety.

If your dog loves costly toys, but yous're sick of toys that don't last, try ane of the toys from our Tiptop 5 Durable Plush Canis familiaris Toys For Dogs That Play Hard.

Teething Toys

how to train a dog to play with toys

Your puppies teething stage can be unpleasant. Assist them survive this part of their evolution by offering the best toys to ease their teething aches and pains.

In add-on to the discomfort they are feeling, teething can trigger some destructive and annoying behaviours as they desperately try to soothe their tender mouths. Those baby teeth are razor-precipitous, so requite them something safe to chew on instead of your fingers.

Tips for Introducing Teething Toys to Puppies

If your pup doesn't seem to know what to do with a chew toy, then you'll desire to commencement by keeping a soft teething toy on hand. When they nip, suck, or whine due to tooth hurting, quickly offer the toy.
Freezing the toys can aid to numb the gums, and may encourage a sore pup to give the toy a try.
Try adding a dab of flavour to the toy. Stick to tiny amounts of pet-safety peanut butter or salmon oil, and allow them lick information technology off.
Practice yelping when they bite you, and immediately offer a toy in identify of your tasty digits.

Ease the teething process by choosing from the Best Chew Toys for Teething Puppies. This will assistance to soothe their painful gums and redirect their chewing instincts onto a safe and durable toy.

Toy Prophylactic: iii Things to Consider

When picking a toy for your canis familiaris, make sure you consider how the toy will be used and when. Not every toy is suitable to be left with your domestic dog unsupervised. Many puzzle toys, for instance, can have pocket-sized removable pieces that yous wouldn't want your dog ingesting.

Here are some of the well-nigh common risks that you should exist aware of before giving your doggo a new toy:

1. Choking

Any toy can be a choking take chances, which is why it'south so of import to choose the right size and blazon of toy for your pet. Bigger is usually safer, so stick to toys that don't fit entirely in their mouths.

If your domestic dog has a powerful jaw, then they may be able to break off pieces of a toy. Even if they do manage to swallow them safely, the blockage could still stop up somewhere in their digestive organisation.

Ever monitor your dog with toys to ensure they are playing with them safely, or stick to large toys that tin can't be broken downwards.

two. Dental health

Although many toys can offer dental benefits, you still need to consider the run a risk of tooth harm. Hard toys, nylon basic, and many plastic toys tin impairment their teeth, gums, or tongue.

Many harder toys are not appropriate for puppies, seniors, and dogs with existing dental issues. Even in a completely salubrious adult domestic dog, difficult toys can still pose a small adventure. If y'all are concerned that your dog could injure themselves, then stick to softer toys, similar those made of condom every bit opposed to nylon.

3. Cleanliness

Dog toys are loaded with germs. Some toys become outside, to the park, and are even played with by other dogs. Those toys tin quickly spread bacteria around your home.

Toys should be replaced when they are damaged or soiled beyond repair, only many dog toys can be cleaned to preserve them for longer.

Tips for Cleaning Your Dog's Toys

But thinking about how gross domestic dog toys get can make your skin crawl. These quick and muddy tips for keeping your dog's toys clean should requite yous some peace of mind.

Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach when cleaning your domestic dog's toys. They tin leave a residue that is very dangerous for your pets.
Have strict indoor and outdoor toys. This won't eliminate bacteria but information technology tin assistance to control information technology.
Accept a consistent rotation of toys. This will let you to clean them regularly without leaving your dog toyless, and will prolong the lifespan of the toy.
Wet toys should exist dried to prevent leaner growth. Afterward playtime and washing, toys should be left to dry naturally before being returned to your pet or the toy bin.

Check out How to Clean Dog Toys to go some great tips for keeping germs on your dog'southward filthy toys from infiltrating your abode.

Try Something New

If your dog hasn't shown any interest in toys, then chances are you lot have a stockpile of forgotten canis familiaris toys in your house. The terminal thing you lot desire to do is to add to the island of misfit toys, so before you buy more, effort re-introducing their former toys in a new manner.

Think exterior the box to brand a boring old toy fun. Information technology could mean making up new games or fifty-fifty playing with the toys with them by showing them how information technology's done.

Or try getting them some of their doggy friends to show them the ropes (and assurance, and frisbees…you get it). Your dog may be more social than you lot call back. Fix some play dates or look into a daycare program that tin assistance to socialize your pet.

If your lazy couch potato refuses to fetch, and then perhaps it's time you plow that tennis ball into a treat-dispensing ball. Perhaps that tired sometime plush toy could exist used for a rousing game of hide-and-seek. Get creative.

If you need a niggling inspiration when looking for a new toy for your dog, bank check out the 50 Best-selling Dog Toys that our customers beloved. These popular toys are adored by many dogs, and so chances are your dog will love at to the lowest degree 1 of them.

West Paw Qwizl

Some of the toys may non exist stimulating in the right ways, so try to find new shapes, smells, and textures to grab your canis familiaris'southward attending. Something equally elementary every bit the shape of the toy can make a difference in how they are able to play with it.

Make it the habit of rotating their toys too. The bicycle is up to you, but try to accept a few options hidden away that you can swap out occasionally. This volition continue their toys new and heady, merely can likewise extend the life of the toy by giving it a break from your domestic dog.

Do you have whatsoever unique ways of encouraging your dog to play more? What kind of toys have you had success with? Let us know in the comments below.