Today's tip - toys

All dogs need some sort of toy, not necessary expensive ones, they are happy with a stick or a larger wood too. Today's tip is about toys.

Image by 9mm

Good: stick, ball, disk

Useless: teddy-bear and other plush toys

For certain situations: "brain" toys

Dogs love to play! What means play for a dog? Is simple because they don't need gadgets, expensive toys, shiny colors, whatever special materials or brands, a dog plays with whatever can be grabbed in mouth. Can be a piece of wood, can be a rock or whatever nature offers them. They love wood sticks, probably is in their cell memory. We like to use frisbee disks, balls and other fetch toys, they don't care what it is as long as they can run after that thing and hopefully bring it back to be thrown again.

Sometime they lose quite quick their interest in running after the toy so don't get mad if you lose some balls in the forest, you should expect this.

If you are outside and don't have any toys with you, use a stick or whatever nature gives you, it exercises your dog and maybe is good for you too to make some movement.

You are that kind of owner that loves to buy toys? Then a frisbee disk and some balls can be enough, the dog is running and is happy and you are happy because you have the coolest frisbee in the neighborhood.

Don't buy teddy-bears ... your dog is not a kid, does not make the difference between an ugly and a beautiful toy. It will not love you more for that teddy-bear ...

Maybe the only toys worth to buy are those toys where the dog needs to use some brain, like getting a treat out of that toy or other kind of rewards, usually eatable. This kind of toys train your dog's brain and keep busy, and not to mention that is fun to teach them how to use the toys.

A word of caution, if your dog becomes possessive with its toys, some do, and even you are not allowed at any times to take the toy then you should solve this behavioral problem and never take the dog out with those toys. Why? Imagine is another dog around and sees that toy flying in the air, your dog is running after and the instinct kicks in and he joins the race, uninvited though. At that point can be a recipe for disaster, your dog protects the precious toy and if the other dog is not in a mood for being bossed around will react. The result? A nice fight between two dogs.

Who's fault is? I will be right in your face and I will say YOURS! You can argue that the other dog should not run after other toys. But all dogs love to play and join a game. Is your fault for having a problem dog with its toy outside.