Dogs are simple animals in many ways, and crave nothing more than a walk or a romp in the park. But sometimes we can’t be with our dogs or don’t have the energy to play with them, and this is where the importance of choosing the right dog toys comes in. Dogs don’t care much about the way a toy looks or how much it costs; rather, they want a toy that will keep them active and thinking quickly. Dog toys can teach your dogs new skills, refresh old talents, and give your dog something to chew on (other than your couch and curtains) when you’re not around. Here are the five bust dog toys:
Buster Cubes
Buster Cubes are puzzles made for dogs that allow your dog to be rewarded with a treat for patiently rolling a cube around. This means that your dog is forced to both think and move, two things that are likely to cut down on her energy level and make it easier for her to behave when no one is around. Place several small pieces of treats into a buster cube when you leave and shake the cube up. Your dog will be kept occupied by this unique puzzle for hours. Buster cubes even allow you to adjust their settings to make getting the treats easier or more difficult. You can find them here.
Hide-a-Toys Dogs are hunters by nature and nothing is more gratifying to a dog than finding a small animal and hearing it squeak. Understandably, most people don’t want their dogs killing things when they’re not there, but the innovative company Kyjen has come up with a novel substitute. Their hide-a-toys feature plush storage areas in which small squeaky plush animals are hidden. Your dog can dig for the animal and pull it out, which can be incredibly gratifying for dogs with a strong hunting drive. This toy can also improve coordination and sense of smell. You can find Kyjen toys here.
IQ Treat Ball The IQ Treat Ball is similar to the Buster Cube in that it allows your dog to roll a puzzle for a reward, but the effort required to get a treat out of the IQ Treat Ball is slightly higher. Further, the treat ball is shaped like a ball so dogs with a strong retrieving instinct as well as dogs who like to chase things love it. This is a great toy for dogs who have gotten sick of their buster cubes and you can find it here.
Kong
Kongs are among the most popular of dog toys and with good reason. Virtually indestructible, they come in a variety of sizes and can function as balls, tug toys, and treat hiders all at once. Try getting a kong with some rope attached to it and hide a few treats in it when you’re away. The rope will add an extra challenge and your dog will not be able to destroy the kong. You can find kong toys here.
Dog Games Treat Wheel This game looks like it was designed for the dog engineer, but if you have a dog who is constantly digging, finding things he shouldn’t and is so smart he gets himself into trouble, this could be the perfect choice. This toy has eight different food chambers and your dog has to both spin and roll the toy at the same time to get a treat. Once dogs figure out the trick, they’ll love the challenge in coordination and intellect to get to the treats! You can find this great toy here.
Though we often think of children as the only people who need educational toys, when dogs are alone they need something to keep their minds occupied. These toys are great options that take advantage of dogs’ natural instincts to keep them active (and out of trouble) for hours.
