Bringing home a new puppy is a bundle of joy and excitement but it also comes with challenges, especially when it comes to keeping your furry friend happy, healthy, and well-behaved.
One of the best ways to do this is by providing the right puppy toys. Whether it's a chew toy, something they can interactive with, or a toy to provide comfort, the right selection can make a big difference in your pup’s development and your peace of mind.
Why Puppy Toys Matter: More Than Just Fun
Many new puppy owners wonder, "Are chew toys good for puppies?" The simple answer is a resounding yes. Chew toys serve a crucial role during your puppy’s teething phase.
Between about 2 to 10 months, puppies experience discomfort as their adult teeth come through. Chewing helps relieve this discomfort, strengthens jaws, and keeps teeth clean by reducing plaque buildup.
Additionally, chew toys help redirect your puppy's natural urge to bite and chew away from your furniture and favourite shoes to something safe and enjoyable. They also provide mental stimulation, which tires out your puppy faster than just exercise alone.
This mental engagement prevents boredom, which is often the root cause of destructive behaviour like excessive barking and chewing on household items.
Interactive puppy toys such as treat-dispensing puzzles add another layer of mental exercise. These toys challenge your puppy's problem-solving skills, reducing anxiety, and boosting confidence. Meanwhile, puppy comforting toys, like soft plushies or puppy blankets, offer emotional security, especially when you’re not around.
How Many Toys Should Your Puppy Have?
Choosing the right number of toys isn't about quantity but variety. Experts recommend providing your puppy with around 5 to 10 toys, rotating them regularly to keep your pup interested. This mix should include:
- Puppy chew toys for teething and dental health
- Interactive puppy toys for mental stimulation
- Fetch and tug toys to burn off energy and strengthen your bond
- Comfort toys for security and emotional comfort
- Puppy crate toys to make crate time positive and fun
Rotating toys ensures your puppy doesn’t get bored or overwhelmed, and keeps them engaged with fresh challenges and textures. For small breeds, ensure toys are appropriately sized to prevent choking hazards.
What Toys Do Puppies Like Best?
Every puppy is an individual, but many have common preferences:
- Durable rubber chew toys: These withstand vigorous chewing and soothe sore gums. Brands like KONG are highly popular because you can stuff them with treats or peanut butter, making playtime a tasty puzzle.
- Soft plush toys: Great for cuddling and comforting, but choose puppy-safe versions without loose parts that can be swallowed.
- Interactive treat puzzles: These provide mental challenges that entertain and tire your pup.
- Rope toys and fetch balls: Perfect for active play and training sessions.
- Cooling teething toys: Soaked in water and frozen, these help relieve inflamed gums during teething.
Offering a mix of these types allows your puppy to discover what stimulates and comforts them best while catering to their instinctual needs.
Puppy Toy Safety
Some puppy owners worry about the safety of chew toys, especially concerning toxic materials or choking hazards. It’s important to choose toys specifically designed for puppies, avoiding anything with small detachable parts, strings, or ingredients like rawhide that can cause blockages. Regularly inspect toys for wear and replace them as needed.
Others wonder if toys might encourage bad chewing habits. On the contrary, providing appropriate chew toys teaches puppies what is okay to chew, reducing the chances they’ll target non-toy items. Always supervise your puppy during playtime and reinforce positive behaviour.
Safety Checklist for Choosing Teething and Chew Toys for Puppies
Choosing the right teething and chew toys for a puppy is essential to ensure their health and safety during a critical stage of development. Use this checklist to select toys that soothe teething discomfort without posing risks.
1. Choose Non-Toxic, Safe Materials
- Look for toys made from non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free materials.
- Preferred materials include food-grade silicone, natural rubber, natural wood (untreated), and organic cotton.
- Avoid any toys with chemical coatings, synthetic dyes, or toxic plastics that might be harmful if ingested.
2. Avoid Choking Hazards
- Select toys that are appropriately sized for your puppy. Not too small to swallow or choke on.
- Avoid toys with loose parts, small detachable pieces, or hollow sections where saliva or bacteria might accumulate.
- Do not choose toys with strings, beads, or buttons that could come off.
3. Durability and Safety in Construction
- Ensure toys are durable enough to withstand chewing without breaking into pieces.
- Check regularly for signs of wear, cracks, or tears, and discard damaged toys immediately to prevent choking.
- Prefer solid toys without holes where saliva can get trapped and cause bacterial growth.
4. Texture and Comfort
- Toys should have an appropriate hardness. Not too hard to damage sensitive gums, nor too soft to break apart easily.
- Some cooling or water-fillable toys can soothe gums, but avoid freezing as this can harm delicate tissues.
- Offer a variety of textures to keep your puppy engaged while also providing gum relief.
5. Hygiene and Cleanability
- Choose toys that are easy to clean with soap and water or dishwasher safe.
- Avoid toys with crevices difficult to clean, to prevent bacterial or mould buildup.
- Regularly clean and disinfect puppy toys to maintain hygiene.
6. Suitability for Your Puppy’s Age and Breed
- Some small breeds need specifically sized toys to prevent choking.
- Match toy toughness to your puppy’s chewing strength and teething stage.
- Rotate toys to prevent boredom and overuse of one toy that might break down.
7. Safe Use Practices
- Always supervise your puppy while playing with toys.
- Avoid attaching toys to collars or around the neck to prevent strangulation or choking.
- Monitor your puppy’s chewing habits and remove any toy that becomes unsafe.
Using this checklist helps ensure that puppy teething toys and chew toys are a safe, soothing, and enjoyable part of your puppy’s early life, supporting healthy development without risk.
Buy Puppy Toys Online
Puppy toys are essential tools for new puppy owners—not just for fun but for teething relief, mental stimulation, emotional comfort, and behaviour management. A carefully selected variety of toys will lay the foundation for your puppy’s healthy development and your harmonious relationship.
Explore the best puppy toys today at dogtoystore.co.uk and give your puppy the joyful start they deserve.