Our Dogs are amazing animals, they will give us unconditional love, be our best friend and play with us no matter what, how special is that? Dogs are more than willing to play with anything we give them or they can get their paws on. Their toys will help them fight boredom and keep them company when we are not home. Playing gives them a way to use their energy, provide physical and mental stimulation, can help prevent behavioral problems and helps to strengthen our bond with our Dog. To keep our Dogs healthy we need to make sure they play with the proper toys and to avoid many unsafe things around the house.

The following are things we need to hide from our

Dogs which can be dangerous to them:

Plastic bags to avoid suffocation.

Anything that can be ingested.

Rubber bands, strings and ribbons.

Baby toys with small parts that dogs can chew off or unsafe stuffing.

We need to become aware of these often over looked items and make sure that our playing environment is a safe one.

The following are some tips on playing that should be followed:

Make sure any treat dispensing toys are durable, easy to clean and not used to replace meals.

Rotating toys is a good idea to avoid boredom. Rotating them keeps your Dog's attention fresh but it's a good idea to keep their favorite toy out for them.

Make sure the toy is not too small or a choking hazard. IE; Balls that are too small for your size dog can be swallowed.

Be interactive. Fetch, Frisbee and tugging games create a bond with your dog.

Laser pens should be avoided because it can damage your Dog's eyes. They also prevent your dog from the ultimate prize and satisfying their predator instinct.

Make homemade toys but make sure any toy does not have sharp edges, protruding parts or small easily detached parts.

Do not use children toys. They might be cheaper to buy but they can have stuffing or small parts that can be harmful to dogs.

Inspect the toys regularly to make sure they are not tearing, coming apart or breaking. If they are they should be disposed of.

If you have multiple dogs every situation is different as far as sharing. Never try to force sharing if they don't want to. If this is the case give each dog their own toys.

Be careful with rawhide chews. Some are coated with preservatives that may be toxic and always check their shelf/expiration dates.

Our Dogs are members of our families and every precaution needs to be taken the same way we would for a baby. A safe playing environment and proper playtime is essential.