1. Durability and Texture<\/strong><\/h3>\nNot many toys will stand up to the bite of a pittie or shepherd. Look for toys with reinforced seams and no small pieces like plastic eyes or stuffing that can be swallowed. Bonus points for anything that squeaks, makes a fun crunching sound or can be carried in your pet\u2019s mouth. A few toys that have good durability and texture are the ZippyPaws – Holiday Z-Stitch Extra Tough No Stuffing Plush Dog Toy with Squeaker<\/a> and the Goughnut Stick<\/a>. The stick floats, is made of natural rubber and comes with a replacement guarantee if your dog penetrates the outer layer.<\/p>\n![\"dog](\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pb-toy.png\")
<\/a>![\"goughnut](\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/goughnut-1024x581.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Hardness<\/strong><\/h3>\nEven though some breeds may still resemble their wolf ancestors, it\u2019s important to avoid dog toys that don\u2019t pass the thumbnail test (pressing into the object with your thumb should leave an impression from your thumbnail). This means avoiding bones, antlers or even hooves, which can lead to tooth fractures, pain, infection and splintering in the gastrointestinal system causing rupture, blockage or even death. Likewise, rawhides can be unsafe as they may deteriorate into chunks that are too big to digest and harbor bacterial pathogens.<\/p>\n
A safe dog toy idea that meets quality standards is the Nylabone Dura Chew Plus<\/a>. It has\u00a0a pleasing ribbed texture, is chicken flavored, comes in multiple sizes and dogs can shave off satisfying, rice-grain-sized bits that are safe to ingest.<\/p>\n3. Coating<\/strong><\/h3>\nBeware of the treated pig ear or coated bully stick. Not only do the coatings stain fabric and carpeting, but they can also cause digestive upset in your dog and promote bacterial growth on the surface of the chew. Many are not sourced in the United States and may be a by-product of the inhumane international fur trade. It\u2019s important to consider the impact your purchase has on other species and the environment; a great dog toy shouldn\u2019t harm any other critters during production. One veterinarian-recommended chew that is coated with a dual-enzyme system to prevent tartar formation is the Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs<\/a>. Not only is it flavorful but it also provides the benefit of good oral health too!<\/p>\n![\"dog](\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/pb-treats.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Blog](\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/BLOG_CTA-GRAPHIC-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Size & Shape<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s important to consider the \u201canatomy\u201d of the dog toys you purchase and always supervise your pet when they\u2019re playing or chewing on their new holiday gift. Toys and treats should not be small enough to become a choking hazard, nor should they be too large that jaw strain is a result of chewing. Avoid toys that have a ring or bend that can become stuck over the dog\u2019s jaw causing injury. Try a fun treat ball or puzzle<\/a>. A safe toy idea that comes in multiple sizes is the PetSafe Busy Buddy Calming Toys<\/a>.<\/p>\n5. Washability<\/strong><\/h3>\nMyth: a dog\u2019s mouth<\/a> is cleaner than a human\u2019s. Make sure your gift is machine or dishwasher safe! Kong brand products<\/a> are not only sturdy but come in multiple sizes, can be stuffed with treats and are top-rack dishwasher friendly. Kong brand soft toys can also be thrown in the washing machine. Be on the lookout for anything that is easily washable to avoid bacteria growth!<\/p>\n6. Engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe best dog toys are mentally engaging<\/a>, provide an outlet for chewing, help reinforce positive behavior<\/a>, relieve stress and provide physical exercise<\/a> and entertainment. Most food-motivated dogs love a treat that\u2019s bacon, chicken, beef or cheese flavored. Kong Stuff’N Easy Treat<\/a> is made to be used in toys with a dispensing hole, and dogs find it irresistible! Pet owners use this treat-filled toy to relieve separation anxiety and allow safe, long-lasting chewing.<\/p>\nView our Pet Wellness Videos<\/a> for more expert pet advice.<\/small><\/p>\nAt Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer Pet Waste Removal<\/a> and Pet Care<\/a> services year-round. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and one-time clean-up services to meet your schedule and needs.<\/small><\/p>\nHappy Howlidays!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here are some criteria to consider when purchasing anything that your pet may ingest, carry, gnaw, or retrieve as well as some recommendations to keep your pet mentally and physically stimulated, especially important during the holiday season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"Picking Safe Holiday Dog Toys and Treats","description":"Here are some criteria to consider when purchasing anything that your pet may ingest, carry, gnaw, or retrieve as well as some recommendations to keep your pet mentally and physically stimulated, especially important during the holiday season."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[159,160,161,165,162,163,19,26,164],"class_list":["post-1712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pet-safety","tag-christmas","tag-dog-toys","tag-dog-treats","tag-treat","tag-gifts","tag-pet-products","tag-toys","tag-holidays","tag-safe-dog-toys"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1712\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Even though some breeds may still resemble their wolf ancestors, it\u2019s important to avoid dog toys that don\u2019t pass the thumbnail test (pressing into the object with your thumb should leave an impression from your thumbnail). This means avoiding bones, antlers or even hooves, which can lead to tooth fractures, pain, infection and splintering in the gastrointestinal system causing rupture, blockage or even death. Likewise, rawhides can be unsafe as they may deteriorate into chunks that are too big to digest and harbor bacterial pathogens.<\/p>\n A safe dog toy idea that meets quality standards is the Nylabone Dura Chew Plus<\/a>. It has\u00a0a pleasing ribbed texture, is chicken flavored, comes in multiple sizes and dogs can shave off satisfying, rice-grain-sized bits that are safe to ingest.<\/p>\n Beware of the treated pig ear or coated bully stick. Not only do the coatings stain fabric and carpeting, but they can also cause digestive upset in your dog and promote bacterial growth on the surface of the chew. Many are not sourced in the United States and may be a by-product of the inhumane international fur trade. It\u2019s important to consider the impact your purchase has on other species and the environment; a great dog toy shouldn\u2019t harm any other critters during production. One veterinarian-recommended chew that is coated with a dual-enzyme system to prevent tartar formation is the Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews for Dogs<\/a>. Not only is it flavorful but it also provides the benefit of good oral health too!<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to consider the \u201canatomy\u201d of the dog toys you purchase and always supervise your pet when they\u2019re playing or chewing on their new holiday gift. Toys and treats should not be small enough to become a choking hazard, nor should they be too large that jaw strain is a result of chewing. Avoid toys that have a ring or bend that can become stuck over the dog\u2019s jaw causing injury. Try a fun treat ball or puzzle<\/a>. A safe toy idea that comes in multiple sizes is the PetSafe Busy Buddy Calming Toys<\/a>.<\/p>\n Myth: a dog\u2019s mouth<\/a> is cleaner than a human\u2019s. Make sure your gift is machine or dishwasher safe! Kong brand products<\/a> are not only sturdy but come in multiple sizes, can be stuffed with treats and are top-rack dishwasher friendly. Kong brand soft toys can also be thrown in the washing machine. Be on the lookout for anything that is easily washable to avoid bacteria growth!<\/p>\n The best dog toys are mentally engaging<\/a>, provide an outlet for chewing, help reinforce positive behavior<\/a>, relieve stress and provide physical exercise<\/a> and entertainment. Most food-motivated dogs love a treat that\u2019s bacon, chicken, beef or cheese flavored. Kong Stuff’N Easy Treat<\/a> is made to be used in toys with a dispensing hole, and dogs find it irresistible! Pet owners use this treat-filled toy to relieve separation anxiety and allow safe, long-lasting chewing.<\/p>\n View our Pet Wellness Videos<\/a> for more expert pet advice.<\/small><\/p>\n At Pet Butler, we want you and your pet to live your best and healthiest lives, which is why we offer Pet Waste Removal<\/a> and Pet Care<\/a> services year-round. We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and one-time clean-up services to meet your schedule and needs.<\/small><\/p>\n Here are some criteria to consider when purchasing anything that your pet may ingest, carry, gnaw, or retrieve as well as some recommendations to keep your pet mentally and physically stimulated, especially important during the holiday season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"Picking Safe Holiday Dog Toys and Treats","description":"Here are some criteria to consider when purchasing anything that your pet may ingest, carry, gnaw, or retrieve as well as some recommendations to keep your pet mentally and physically stimulated, especially important during the holiday season."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[159,160,161,165,162,163,19,26,164],"class_list":["post-1712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pet-safety","tag-christmas","tag-dog-toys","tag-dog-treats","tag-treat","tag-gifts","tag-pet-products","tag-toys","tag-holidays","tag-safe-dog-toys"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1712\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n2. Hardness<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Coating<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n4. Size & Shape<\/strong><\/h3>\n
5. Washability<\/strong><\/h3>\n
6. Engaging<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Happy Howlidays!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"