Buying dog toys is not the hardest of the shopping ventures these days. This is not because they show tantrums like kids when you are buying toys for your kids. Shopping for dog toys has become pretty easy that you can choose and order a toy of your choice over the internet just by a few clicks of the mouse.

The never Ending Types of Dog Toys

If you are a first timer to buy toys for your dog, then you are sure in for a big surprise. Browsing through the variety can be quite time consuming. You can buy the toys based upon their brands and makes, toys by types, breed of your dog and by age of your pet dog etc.

If you are buying by toy types or by any other criteria, the biggest hit with any dog breed is the reusable bones which can be chilled in a deep freezer over and again. These are made from tough plastics in the shape of bones and filled with non toxic water. The next best buy which your best friend is sure to like and play non stop are fetch toys. Unlike the frozen bones, it requires your involvement too, that is when you want to indulge. Or let him play all by himself. Then there are knotty balls, Frisbees that float, or fly which also glow in the dark.

Almost all pups and Pomeranians like playing with Halloween plushes, talking animals which they can relate to. Rubber toys with tongues are a craze with small to smallest dogs.

Exercise Care While Buying Dog Toys

Don’t forget that, buying toys for dogs are no different from buying toys for kids. Both of them are ignorant of dangers of mishandling, the cost of toys or even vulnerability of toys to breakage. It is not enough for dog toys to be entertaining as they like to play around with them comfortably by licking, chewing them hard. So, keep in mind the toxicity, breakability, comfort of handling (bigger the toys harder it will be for dogs to play with them) etc while buying. Durability is another aspect you need to keep in mind as it is likely to get torn out easily than you expected.

Initially dental health toys and then fetch toys may suffice to train them. When it is time for just entertainment, you can look around for household things to use as dog toys. Empty pet jars, pet bottles, cereal boxes which will not stuck his head can be truly useful. Garden hoses cut to one foot will sure find his attention while saving money for you.

Several years ago, we owned a Dalmatian that went through normal dog toys faster than rain water through a down spout. We would buy him toys and buy him toys but they never seemed to last much more than a month. In some cases they would be gone in a week.

This got me into what’s called indestructible dog toys - or tough dog toys - capable of keeping your pooch happy and gnawing away for months.

What I eventually discovered is that, to be honest, no dog toy is completely indestructible except maybe one made out of cast iron - assuming your dog would be happy with a cast iron chew toy. The fact is aggressive chewers like our Dalmatian will eventually chew up even the toughest of toys.

However, “indestructible” dog toys are better than standard dog toys simply because they end up costing you less because they last so much longer.

Here are the costs of three typical tough dog toys:

Stone Bone Durable Dog Toy — $12.95

Hurley Indestructible Dog Toy — $8.99

Kong Original Red Tuffy — $8.99 for the large size

While that may seem a bit on the high side vs. toys that can cost $2.00 or less, these chew toys are really a bargain when you consider how long one will last versus cheap plush toys.

What to look for in a tough dog toy

Round dog toys are better than flat ones because it’s just more difficult for a dog to destroy a round one than a flat one. Second, look for a toy made out of polyethylene as this tends to be stronger and harder to destroy - even by strong dogs such as our Dalmatian or a German Shepard. Also, make sure it won’t splinter or fall apart and cut the dog’s mouth or get swallowed and cause a gastric obstruction

Third, consider what your dog thinks is fun. Does it like to play tug-a-war or does it like to fetch things? If so, look for a toy that’s chewable but also easy to throw. If your dog likes the water, get a toy that will float. On the other hand, if your dog likes to just lay around and chew, then the toy’s durability should be your number one priority.

Also, the toy shouldn’t be so small your dog could swallow it but not so big he or she can’t handle it. You might also ask yourself how easy it would be to clean or wash.

If your dog is big into chewing, like our Dalmatian, you should consider a rubber toy like the Kong or the Nylabone or the Hurley Indestructible Dog Toy. While these toys are not truly indestructible, they will keep your dog chewing happily for many months.

What not to give your aggressive chewer

If your dog is a heavy chewer, you should stay away from stuffed dog toys or rope toys. These will eventually come apart and your dog could end up swallowing loose bits of rope, stuffing or even plastic eyes. And believe me, some dogs will swallow just about anything. Our Dalmatian once swallowed one of my wife’s knee-high stockings and it plugged him up like a cork in a bottle. It cost us more than $500 to get him “unstuck.”

Finally, be sure to check the dog toys from time to time for signs of wear. If the toy is looking frayed or seems ready to fall apart, just throw it away. You might also remember to rotate the dog toys from time to time to keep your dog interested.