Fun and games
Toys and games are important to puppies, just as they are to children. They encourage them to play and, through play, they learn. Puppies which do not have many toys will quickly start finding their own - a toilet roll, a shoe etc…
Playing with the puppy’s toys is as important for you as owner and ‘pack leader’ as it is for the pup - through playing with our dogs we learn more about them, enabling us to build a strong bond of friendship and, above all HAVE FUN ! Toys and games are a useful tool, which will help you to mould and shape your puppy into the adult dog you wish to spend the next decade with.
.Keep the best toys for yourself
One rule for playing with any dog is that you should always be in control. If you take charge of the games your puppy will grow up to respect you and enjoy playing with you; let him take charge and you could have real difficulty training him. There is no reason why he shouldn’t have a few toys, such as nylabones or kongs to mess around with on his own, but keep the best toys for you. Keep the toys in a special box, out of the dog’s reach so that you can bring them out when you wish to play with him. As pack leader, it is your right to choose who you share ‘your’ special toys with, and when you wish to play. As pack leader, you will win most games, and you will always keep the toys for yourself at the end. Let the puppy have a small victory occasionally - it’s no fun if you always lose - but the toys are always put out of reach at the end.
If you find that your puppy is always snatching the toys and running away with them to his ‘den’, attach a light line to him while you play so that you are able to stay in control, by gently guiding him back in to the game. If he won’t give up a toy, don’t make an issue of it. Switch your attention to another toy, pretend to examine the new toy, or toss it around, ignoring the one the pup has. Soon YOUR toy will become the very best in the whole world, and the previous toy will be forgotten as the pup comes running to join in the new game. Ask him to sit before sharing your new toy with him and gather the original toy up at the end of the game, when it has been completely forgotten. In this way, you will have kept control of the situation, kindly but firmly making the point that you will not allow the pup to manipulate you.
.Choose when to play
Play with your puppy often. Several short play times a day is better than one long game which leaves the puppy exhausted or bored at the end. Stop the games while the pup is still having fun, so that he is always eager to join in a game and will remain far more attentive to you, always on the lookout for the next playtime.
.The serious side of play
Use your toys as training tools to help you mound and shape the puppy’s behaviour. Incorporate small training exercises into your games, such as asking the pup to ‘sit’ or ‘down’ at the beginning of a game or before you throw a ball. Similarly, you can incorporate toys and games into training sessions, by using a short game with a favourite toy as a reward for coming, instead of a food treat or as a focus of attention when practicing heel work.
Take some of your special toys with you on walks. Teaching you pup to play with you when you are out will keep walks interesting and encourage the puppy to focus on you rather than on mischief! Arm yourself with toys that can easily be whipped out of a pocket to distract the puppy form trouble - a favourite squeaky which is more interesting than a rabbit next to a railway line can literally save your dog’s life.
.Games to play
Fetch
Everyone knows how this one works. Fetch games are great exercise and fun, and help you to teach your puppy to come back to you. Do make sure that he brings the toy all the way back, and ask him to GIVE it to you before it is thrown again. Don’t let him teach you to fetch for him! Introduce a ‘sit’ or a ‘down’ occasionally, rather than just throwing the toy again when your dog commands it! This will keep you in control, and maintain variety
.Dangerous Toys:
Generally speaking, any toy with small, detachable parts (such as glass eyes) is unsafe. You can make them safer by removing ribbons, strings, eyes, or other parts that could be chewed or ingested but if you are unsure, it is best to avoid them.
Even soft toys without small parts can be dangerous if your dog likes to rip and tear as he could ingest the stuffing which might be toxic or cause intestinal blockages.
Many of the toys commonly sold in pet stores can actually be dangerous, particularly if left unsupervised. Toys with a squeaker embedded inside may cause dogs to "search and destroy", thereby ingesting the squeaker which then becomes a choking hazard.
Another potentially dangerous toy is rawhide chews. These are pieces of cow skin which have been chemically treated, stretched and then dried into a variety of shapes (knots, sticks, rings). Not only can the rawhide break off into small chunks which can scratch or puncture your dog's gastrointestinal tract, it can also be a severe choking hazard once it is thoroughly wet, as it becomes a thick, sticky mass that could get stuck in your dog's throat.
Pig's ears and trotters can also be dangerous: the pressure from chewing often breaks the fourth premolar tooth. Bacteria then work their way up the fractured tooth into the root, resulting in abscess.
Most household items do not make good toys. These include things like socks, shoes, treated wood, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, etc. Not only does this teach dogs bad habits and the wrong things to chew, some of these materials contain toxic chemicals; others can be easily shredded and swallowed, causing intestinal blockages. Wood and plastic can become lodged in gum tissue, causing painful injuries and infections.
Sticks found in the park are actually very dangerous - they can easily snap and sharp ends or splinters embed themselves into your dog's mouth. They can also bounce back when thrown and impale a dog that is running to catch it. Do not play fetch with sticks - use a properly designed rubber dog toy instead.
.Safe Toys:
Providing that they are the right size and material, balls make great toys for dogs and most canines love a game of fetch. Nowadays, pet stores stock a variety of rubber balls, tennis balls and even footballs specially designed for dogs
Kongs® are a fantastic dog toy - these are hard rubber chew toys in a variety of shapes, all with a hollow centre which can be stuffed with treats and peanut butter. They keep a dog entertained for hours and have been made to withstand even the toughest chewers. They now come in a range of types - from floating Kongs for play in the water to special teething Kongs for puppies. Nylabone®-type products are a similar toy which comes in a variety of shapes and flavours but without the stuffing element.
Puzzle toys, such as Buster Cubes or treat balls, are another wonderful source of entertainment for your dog. You fill the hollow centre with dry treats and your dog has to roll the toy around, with treats falling out at random from strategically-placed holes. They can keep a dog occupied for long periods of time and - together with a stuffed Kong - are especially good for dogs which have a problem with being left alone.
Cotton rope toys, usually twisted and knotted at both ends to make a bone shape, are also popular and generally safe although a poorly-made rope toy may not withstand constant tugging and pulling and your dog may swallow a string or two. So it is best that they are used under supervision.
Remember, always check toys regularly for wear and tear. Even the best-designed dog toy in the world will not have a limitless expiry date!
.
Toys and games are important to puppies, just as they are to children. They encourage them to play and, through play, they learn. Puppies which do not have many toys will quickly start finding their own - a toilet roll, a shoe etc…
Playing with the puppy’s toys is as important for you as owner and ‘pack leader’ as it is for the pup - through playing with our dogs we learn more about them, enabling us to build a strong bond of friendship and, above all HAVE FUN ! Toys and games are a useful tool, which will help you to mould and shape your puppy into the adult dog you wish to spend the next decade with.
.Keep the best toys for yourself
One rule for playing with any dog is that you should always be in control. If you take charge of the games your puppy will grow up to respect you and enjoy playing with you; let him take charge and you could have real difficulty training him. There is no reason why he shouldn’t have a few toys, such as nylabones or kongs to mess around with on his own, but keep the best toys for you. Keep the toys in a special box, out of the dog’s reach so that you can bring them out when you wish to play with him. As pack leader, it is your right to choose who you share ‘your’ special toys with, and when you wish to play. As pack leader, you will win most games, and you will always keep the toys for yourself at the end. Let the puppy have a small victory occasionally - it’s no fun if you always lose - but the toys are always put out of reach at the end.
If you find that your puppy is always snatching the toys and running away with them to his ‘den’, attach a light line to him while you play so that you are able to stay in control, by gently guiding him back in to the game. If he won’t give up a toy, don’t make an issue of it. Switch your attention to another toy, pretend to examine the new toy, or toss it around, ignoring the one the pup has. Soon YOUR toy will become the very best in the whole world, and the previous toy will be forgotten as the pup comes running to join in the new game. Ask him to sit before sharing your new toy with him and gather the original toy up at the end of the game, when it has been completely forgotten. In this way, you will have kept control of the situation, kindly but firmly making the point that you will not allow the pup to manipulate you.
.Choose when to play
Play with your puppy often. Several short play times a day is better than one long game which leaves the puppy exhausted or bored at the end. Stop the games while the pup is still having fun, so that he is always eager to join in a game and will remain far more attentive to you, always on the lookout for the next playtime.
.The serious side of play
Use your toys as training tools to help you mound and shape the puppy’s behaviour. Incorporate small training exercises into your games, such as asking the pup to ‘sit’ or ‘down’ at the beginning of a game or before you throw a ball. Similarly, you can incorporate toys and games into training sessions, by using a short game with a favourite toy as a reward for coming, instead of a food treat or as a focus of attention when practicing heel work.
Take some of your special toys with you on walks. Teaching you pup to play with you when you are out will keep walks interesting and encourage the puppy to focus on you rather than on mischief! Arm yourself with toys that can easily be whipped out of a pocket to distract the puppy form trouble - a favourite squeaky which is more interesting than a rabbit next to a railway line can literally save your dog’s life.
.Games to play
Fetch
Everyone knows how this one works. Fetch games are great exercise and fun, and help you to teach your puppy to come back to you. Do make sure that he brings the toy all the way back, and ask him to GIVE it to you before it is thrown again. Don’t let him teach you to fetch for him! Introduce a ‘sit’ or a ‘down’ occasionally, rather than just throwing the toy again when your dog commands it! This will keep you in control, and maintain variety
.Dangerous Toys:
Generally speaking, any toy with small, detachable parts (such as glass eyes) is unsafe. You can make them safer by removing ribbons, strings, eyes, or other parts that could be chewed or ingested but if you are unsure, it is best to avoid them.
Even soft toys without small parts can be dangerous if your dog likes to rip and tear as he could ingest the stuffing which might be toxic or cause intestinal blockages.
Many of the toys commonly sold in pet stores can actually be dangerous, particularly if left unsupervised. Toys with a squeaker embedded inside may cause dogs to "search and destroy", thereby ingesting the squeaker which then becomes a choking hazard.
Another potentially dangerous toy is rawhide chews. These are pieces of cow skin which have been chemically treated, stretched and then dried into a variety of shapes (knots, sticks, rings). Not only can the rawhide break off into small chunks which can scratch or puncture your dog's gastrointestinal tract, it can also be a severe choking hazard once it is thoroughly wet, as it becomes a thick, sticky mass that could get stuck in your dog's throat.
Pig's ears and trotters can also be dangerous: the pressure from chewing often breaks the fourth premolar tooth. Bacteria then work their way up the fractured tooth into the root, resulting in abscess.
Most household items do not make good toys. These include things like socks, shoes, treated wood, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, etc. Not only does this teach dogs bad habits and the wrong things to chew, some of these materials contain toxic chemicals; others can be easily shredded and swallowed, causing intestinal blockages. Wood and plastic can become lodged in gum tissue, causing painful injuries and infections.
Sticks found in the park are actually very dangerous - they can easily snap and sharp ends or splinters embed themselves into your dog's mouth. They can also bounce back when thrown and impale a dog that is running to catch it. Do not play fetch with sticks - use a properly designed rubber dog toy instead.
.Safe Toys:
Providing that they are the right size and material, balls make great toys for dogs and most canines love a game of fetch. Nowadays, pet stores stock a variety of rubber balls, tennis balls and even footballs specially designed for dogs
Kongs® are a fantastic dog toy - these are hard rubber chew toys in a variety of shapes, all with a hollow centre which can be stuffed with treats and peanut butter. They keep a dog entertained for hours and have been made to withstand even the toughest chewers. They now come in a range of types - from floating Kongs for play in the water to special teething Kongs for puppies. Nylabone®-type products are a similar toy which comes in a variety of shapes and flavours but without the stuffing element.
Puzzle toys, such as Buster Cubes or treat balls, are another wonderful source of entertainment for your dog. You fill the hollow centre with dry treats and your dog has to roll the toy around, with treats falling out at random from strategically-placed holes. They can keep a dog occupied for long periods of time and - together with a stuffed Kong - are especially good for dogs which have a problem with being left alone.
Cotton rope toys, usually twisted and knotted at both ends to make a bone shape, are also popular and generally safe although a poorly-made rope toy may not withstand constant tugging and pulling and your dog may swallow a string or two. So it is best that they are used under supervision.
Remember, always check toys regularly for wear and tear. Even the best-designed dog toy in the world will not have a limitless expiry date!
.
© 2011
Tialexi Miniature Schnauzer
After Care
