Buyer's Guide – Best Chew Toys For Puppies
Chew toys are a great way to help your puppy ease the pain of teething. Moreover, chewing is a basic function and natural behavior that all puppies and dogs display.
It is important to understand that providing them with chew toys will actually help in the proper development of their teeth, jaw structure and also improve their food habits early in life.
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Before you buy chew toys for your puppy, you should be well aware of your dog's chewing patterns. Knowing why your dog chews are the first step towards making the right purchase.
Puppies tend to be very playful and have a natural tendency to be investigative. Playing with other dogs and humans along with object play is important for dogs to learn about socialization, social development, and the environment they live in.
You will often find your puppies sniffing around and tasting foreign objects. This is a way in which they investigate their environment and learn new things about it. If your puppy is chewing and gnawing often, it is mostly because puppies have a natural urge to chew and gnaw at things.
There can be a number of other reasons to chew. The main reason is to alleviate the pain that they experience during their teething process.
They may chew to draw attention because they have been conditioned to believe that they will receive a reward to stop doing it. Some puppies chew for no reason because they might be trying to respond to anxiety.
If puppies or dogs are confined in a crate for long periods of time in the same area, they might chew in order to dig their way out of it. This is often considered a sign of destructive behavioral tendencies in a dog.
When in doubt, always consult your vet and seek their advice.
What Factors Make A Good Chew Toy For Puppies?
It is important to understand the factors that go into making a good chew toy for puppies. They are listed below:
- They should be made of safe and non-toxic material.
- They should be of a size that is large enough to not swallow.
- They should not have small parts, buttons, and strings that could be swallowed by your dog.
- They should be easily washable.
- They should be durable.
- They should be able to withstand wear and tear without showing signs of deterioration.
You can't deny the fact that no matter how many toys your puppy has, a chew toy will always be a favorite. You can trust him/her to go back to it even if you have attempted innumerable times to distract his/her attention. However, there will be that one or more situations in which his favorite objects to chew on would be your couch or your expensive pair of shoes.
Puppies absolutely love gnawing at shoelaces and unless you have specifically designed chew toys that he can't do without, anything in the house could be an easy target.
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Importance Of Having A Chew Toy
Puppies have the unfortunate combination of curiosity and a love for chewing. This often leads to dental injuries like broken teeth, dental chips, eye and mouth injuries, etc. We have also heard of the need for surgeries and extractions in severe cases.
If you have not offered the right chew toy to your pet, there is a high probability of him/her consuming foreign objects while chewing and exploring. They might have symptoms like vomiting, reluctance to eat, abdominal pain, and disorientation. These are reasons enough to buy the right chew toy for your puppy as soon as possible.
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How To Choose A Puppy Chew Toy?
Before making a purchase, it is important to understand what your puppy toys should have and what they should not have. Listed below are some of the important factors.
Safety
It is of prime importance when you are buying a chew toy for your puppy. Buying low-quality chew toys could save money for now but they are mostly unreliable. They might contain hazardous parts and may be made of hazardous materials that could be toxic for your puppies. Be wise and invest in reliably sourced and safe chew toys from the beginning.
Observe
When you hand new puppy toys to your gnawing chewing little Fido, always stay nearby in the initial days. This is because you need to be absolutely sure that they are as safe as they claim to be.
Digestible Toys
There is a high demand for digestible dental chew toys and this is because of the safety that they offer. It is always recommended to opt for stuff like these if your budget permits.
Right Size
The toy that you choose should ideally be bigger than the size of your dog. However, if a toy is too big for a smaller breed, it will have not have much fun out of the toy. Choose an appropriate size and watch them play away.
Variety
Just like children, puppies grow out of toys pretty quickly and if you offer them the same toy every time for a long period, they will lose interest. This is exactly why you should introduce one toy at a time and rotate the toys on a weekly basis. This practice keeps them occupied and playtimes are much more fun.
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