Training & Toys

Toys are important to your dog's well-being. Toys help fight boredom when you have to leave your dog at home, and provide comfort when they're feeling nervous. Toys can even help prevent your dog from developing certain problem behaviours. As toys that make them happier, is a rewarding experience, and can counteracts the effects of stress. e.g a long-duration chew toy can keep them quiet, distracted and calm while in the car. 

As your puppy grows, he'll be ready for some more sophisticated toys. Various puzzle and interactive toys require him to work to get treats or rewards. Puppies explore the world through their mouths, so they’ll chew anything they can sink their teeth into. By providing them with toys that indulge their teething instincts, you’re more likely to spare your shoes and socks from destruction. During a puppy’s period of rapid development, from 2-months-old to 10-months-old, it’s important to give them appropriate toys, and both dog breed and personality can play a role in what toys might become your pup’s favourites. If your puppy bursts with energy and enjoys a challenge, they’ll love a toy that they can puzzle apart, or one that dispenses treats. While some pups like to snuggle up with a soft toy, others dogs may tear it to shreds.

All dogs can benefit from the right kind of toys. Dog toys provide both mental and physical stimulation for your pets. In the absence of the kind of experiences they’d gain in the wild, dogs can become a little bored if they don’t have something to do, and might just make there own fun in a way you don't want e.g digging.

Young or active dogs need a way to burn off energy and a game of fetch will satisfy the need for activity and improve our bond and leadership role so has multiple benefits.  Tug toys are another way to bringing us and our dogs closer. A game of tug-of-war with us or another dog can help build trust and creates a socialization opportunity. Just remember weather you chose a hard or soft tug will often depend upon the breed of dog or its purose if usd in training e.g  to increase play drive. 

Some dogs are happy to lay around and these dogs will often gravitate to the squeaky toys, and although they can drive us crazy with the noise, they are more like the prey they might have caught in the wild. So if you want this type of dog to play fetch - use his favourite squeaker toy to get them started. 

Let’s be honest though, there’s no better motivator for most dog than food, so snuffle mats that you can stuff with treats will get your dog busy using his senses. These type of toys are a seriously fun mental workout for smart dogs they can be used as a training aid.