Interactive toys for dogs

It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect on mental abilities and stimulate the dog’s natural instincts. Furthermore, interactive toys may relieve dogs of the anxiety they may feel in some cases. But, how to choose the right interactive toy and what are the best ones on the market?

Basic selection rules

As already mentioned, interactive toys offer a great way of developing your dog’s mental abilities, while entertaining him and teaching him something new. Some of the toys may also involve food, teaching the dog to eat slower. If you decide to buy your dog an interactive toy, you should remember some basic rules:

 

1. Make sure that the toys you buy are safe and of high quality.

2. Interactive toys should be highly durable. The dog will chew on most of them, so they should be made of appropriate materials.

3. If you decide to buy a toy in which food can be put, remember that its main purpose is to teach the dog to eat more slowly and in smaller quantities. Such toys are therefore suitable for dogs that tend to devour their food and eat large amounts of food at once.

 

Treat toys

The most popular toys are those that hide food or treats in them. These may, for example, include balls with holes with treats. The dog then has to find a way of getting into the holes and get the treat. Another popular variant are puzzles with different buttons, holes and more, where the dog has to navigate himself through them. This type of toy has a very positive effect on the development of the dog’s motor skills and mental abilities.

 

Development of the senses

If you want to develop your dog intensively, you can choose toys that will act on its senses. These are objects that make different sounds or colors and stimulate the reception of such stimuli. There are also toys on the market that can be controlled remotely using a smartphone. So, if you know you are going to stay at work a bit longer, you can entertain your dog at home this way.

 

Toys do not substitute personal contact

Interactive toys are great tools, especially in that they help with the dog’s development, keeping him alert, warding off boredom and helping when you are not around. On the other hand, they cannot transmit your touch and love and do not substitute regular activities outdoors. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that these tools cannot be relied on in all cases. Even if the dog had the largest number of toys at his disposal, he would still be most eager for contact with his owner, for a long walk, playing and cuddling topped off by a treat.

Related articles

Which cat breed is the right one for you?

If you have decided to buy a purebred cat, you still have a lot of questions ahead of you. Which breed should you choose? A female cat or a tomcat? A kitten or an adult? Only if you consider everything carefully, you'll get the right companion for...

Ili pika - the magical rabbit

Lots of rabbit lovers choose this breed mainly by its appearance. The cuter, the better. But maybe they don’t know that a certain kind from the order of lagomorphs lives in nature, and hardly any domestic rabbit can match it in its cuteness. The same...

When the dog has itchy paws

If you've noticed that your fluffy friend excessively licks and nibbles at his paws, you should not leave it like that. It might have several causes. Whether it's a psychological problem, allergy, yeast or other problem, the situation must be...

First aid for poisoning I - Chocolate

No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...

Dogtrekking

Under the name of dogtrekking, imagine an orientation walk with the dog. Official rules rank it among extreme dog endurance sports.