Your furry best friend deserves a fun, durable, and safe toy.
Not only do dog toys provide hours of excitement and mental stimulation for animals, but chew toys are one way to maintain your pup's oral health.
However, choosing the wrong dog toy can do more damage than good.
For example, some toys hold bacteria that can harm your dog, while others get made from materials that can break apart and create choking hazards.
That’s why it’s essential to choose the right dog toys. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with tips and tricks for how to choose the right dog toys below.
Choose the Right Dog Toys
Safety should be your number one concern when looking for the right dog toys.
The toy must be suited for your dog to play safely, so there are four main things to search for when choosing the right dog toys for your pooch: what it’s made from, how large or small the toy is, your dog's temperament, and the brand name. We’ll discuss each in detail below.
Material
Dog toys are made from various materials, with some being safer than others.
You wouldn’t drink from a bottle made with BPA, so don’t let your dog chew on a plastic toy made from the same toxic materials.
When searching for the right dog toy, look for materials that have undergone food-grade testing.
While there are no official tests for the safety of dog toys, search for dog toys that are FDA-approved or follow the EU's 1935/2004/EC testing.
You also want to ensure that the material is durable enough to withstand playtime, tug-of-war, and consistent chewing. Soft materials that can break apart are a choking hazard to your dog and may cause digestive problems and serious health risks if they swallow the material.
Size
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and because of that, so do their toys!
Size is an important thing to consider when choosing the right dog toys because it can be a choking hazard when large dogs play with small toys.
Likewise, a small dog will have difficulty chewing or carrying a large toy, meaning it won’t get the mental stimulation it needs to thrive.
The key is to find a toy that’s the right size so that your dog is comfortable chewing and playing to their heart’s content.
Temperament
Dogs have personalities that display as meek, neutral, or aggressive, so choose the right dog toy to fit your dog’s temperament.
Durable materials are best for every temperament. However, neutral, aggressive, and large-sized dogs have a firmer bite force than meek ones.
For example, when playing catch, your dog may enjoy a game of tug of war before dropping the ball for another throw.
In contrast, a meek dog is likely to drop it and wait, resulting in less wear and tear on the toy.
Also, keep in mind that dogs have preferences. To your furry best friend, some toys have a nicer mouthfeel, taste better, or make a sound they love.
It’s important to stay patient and find a toy that’s suited to your dog.
Brand Name
No matter how good the toy looks in the package, investigating the company that makes it is one of the most important ways to choose the right dog toys.
Do some research on the brand to determine what certifications they have, what materials they use, and their moral practices.
For example, PetopiaToys has an in-house research and quality-control team dedicated to designing and creating durable, safe, and exciting dog toys.
The Pros and Cons of Different Dog Toy Materials
Now that you know the basics for how to choose the right dog toys, let’s dive into some of the pros and cons of the top 10 dog toy materials on the market.
1. Plush Cloth
Plush cloth toys like stuffed animals are a popular choice for many dog owners. Here are some of their pros and cons:
Pros
* Soft and easy to chew
* Large selection of styles and colors
* Cheap
Cons
* Difficult to clean
* Easy to tear apart
* Can possess mold, fungus, and staph bacteria
2. Nylon
Nylon dog toys are marketed to dogs with a strong bite force because they’re hard and bite resistant. However, if the hard material breaks apart after prolonged play, the pieces can cause serious health risks to your dog.
Pros
* Easy to clean
* Bite resistant
Cons
* It can cause damage to teeth and gums
* If eaten can cause internal damage
* Often contain paint and glue, which dogs can swallow
3. TPR or TPE
Photo From Google
Thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) dog toys use synthetic materials to create bite-resistant and durable dog toys.
Pros
* Medium bite resistance
* Easy to clean
* Good taste
* Weatherproof
Cons
* Expensive
* Unpleasant smells
4. Kraft Rubber
Kraft rubber is a popular material for chew toys and squeaky toys. This material is bite resistant and marketed to dogs with a strong bite force.
Pros
* Bite resistant
* Good taste
Cons
* Bad odor
* Easy-to-breed bacteria
5. Natural Rubber
Natural rubber is the safest rubber option for your furry friend’s dog toy. That said, there are benefits and drawbacks to this material.
Pros
* Bite resistant
* Easy to clean
* Range of hardness options
* Good taste
Cons
* Expensive
* Some dogs are allergic to natural rubber
6. Latex
Photo From Google
Latex is a natural rubber often used in dog toys. While this material is more sustainable than synthetic products, there are some drawbacks to consider.
Pros
* Non-toxic
* Naturally anti-microbial
* Range of hardness options
Cons
* Not bite resistant
* May break apart and cause choking hazards
* Some dogs are allergic to latex
7. Knotted Rope
Photo From Google
A knotted rope toy is a popular material for tug-of-war dog toys with benefits and drawbacks. It’s best to choose knotted rope toys made from natural fibers since there’s a risk of your dog ingesting the fibers while they play.
Pros
* Durable
* Cheap
* Various colors and styles
Cons
* Small fibers can get chewed off and ingested
* Difficult to clean
* Can possess mold, fungus, and staph bacteria
8. Wood Plastic
Photo From Google
Wood plastic is a synthetic material that mixes powdered wood with plastic. These toys simulate the feeling of chowing down on a wooden stick but have some drawbacks worth noting.
Pros
* Medium bite resistance
* Cheap
Cons
* Simple shapes and designs
* Hard material can cause tooth damage
* Eating plastic pieces can cause internal injuries
9. Granular Foam
Granular foam is a lightweight and durable material that has medium bite resistance so dogs can chew and play. That said, it’s essential to monitor your foam toys to ensure your pooch doesn’t ingest any pieces that may break off.
Pros
* Soft and safe for dog’s teeth
* Lightweight
* Floats in water
Cons
* Simple shapes and designs
* No leakage function
* Ingesting foam pieces can cause internal injuries
10. PetopiaToys
PetopiaToys specializes in safe, durable, and stimulating dog toys made from eco-friendly and tear-resistant natural rubber.
Pros
* Bite-resistant
* Made from FDA-approved and eco-friendly natural rubber
* Durable and compact mesh structure
* 3x more tear strength than competitors
* 5-10x longer product life than competitors
* >97.9% antibacterial rate
* Zero paint or glue
* Large selection of styles and colors
* Easy to clean
Conclusion
Now that you know how to choose the right dog toys, you’re ready to safely play with your pup and get the most out of playtime.
By choosing dog toys that are the correct size and material for your dog’s temperament and size, you can introduce your dog to its new toy, educate it on how to use it, and find fun in every moment.
