Doggy Approved Tough Toys

In our business, we see hundreds of cool toys, but only a few of those survive our dog testers at Doggy Daycare. Not only are Sherman, Tibby and the rest of the gang picky about the type of toys they like, they are also exceptionally destructive when they are not closely watched. They can destroy almost anything in a matter of minutes, but some toys stand out as being extra tough.

So what makes a toy Daycare tough? They need to be soft enough to be mouth friendly but hard enough to withstand pulling, tugging, chewing and ripping as well as withstanding hot and cold weather. The toys that last with minimal damage have very few stiking out parts or mouth sized holes. And oddly, the toys need to be brightly colored so that they get picked up on lawn mowing day and don’t get chopped up. The brightness also helps them to be seen in the grass, mud and snow so that the dogs can find and play with them.

Now while toughness is certainly a requirement in a daycare toy, there are a few other factors which make a toy tops at our daycare. Daycare toys must be non-toxic. While they’re not meant to be ingested, many toys invariably get pieces chewed off of them and swallowed. Second, the toys must be interesting. If none of the dogs want to play with them, they are of little use to us. And finally, they need to be appropriate to the size of the dog they interest and the activity they are meant to be involved in. A big hard ball doesn’t cut it for the small dog at daycare who wants to play fetch.

What toys pass the Daycare testers standard. A few of our favorites are the West Paws toys, the Cuz’s and the Jolly Ball. We also have a few relatively (due to materials they are made of) tough toys that we allow in our daycare with constant supervision.

West Paw

West Paw has a great line of bright colorful tough toys. Our two favorites are the super tough ball, the Huck and the futuristic bone shaped Hurley. These toys are of medium interest to most of our dogs and last forever in our daycare. There are a couple of other varieties  of West Paw toys that are slightly less hardy than these two but they great news is that they are guaranteed for a one time replacement so you can try them with little risk.

The Cuz's

Good Cuz, Bad Cuz, Dino Cuz, Ruffian Chicken and Ruffian Turtle are just a few of the Cuz products we love. They are wonderfully mouth sized in exceptionally bright colors that make a really obnoxious noise when squeezed. Best of all, they are totally the favorites of the dogs. The only disadvantage here is that many of them have some small protrusions (feet, ears, horns) which the dogs feel the need to remove. They still work (and make that wonderful ear piercing sound) even when the dogs remodel them. Though they are not as beautiful as when they are new, they are just as appealing.

Jolly Ball

A toy that always has very high interest at our daycare is the Jolly Ball. But while they are one of the most loved toys, they are also the ones that are destroyed pretty quickly. The Jolly Ball is a softish ball in varying sizes with a large protruding tug handle. Within days at our place the handle is eaten off leaving a large ball with a round hole in it. Once the dogs have accomplished this modification, they enjoy the toy thoroughly – carrying their newly remodeled ball around and tossing it by its new muzzle sized hole.

Food Dispensing Toys

We have had Kongs and other Food dispensing toys in the daycare but we do not use food in them in our group area. Without the goodies element, the dogs are pretty uninterested in playing with these toys. Put food in them and they are the most valued toy around, so they should be perfect for pets in the home.

Plush Toys

We also have at the daycare a few tough Plush toys, if there can be such a thing. The Skinnezz which have no stuffing are a great combination throw, tug and carry-around toy. These toys have no stuffing and very few extra pieces so they are quite long lasting for a plush. We also have a line of canvas type tug toys called Penta Pulls which seem to be very strong and fun for multiple dogs to enjoy. For noise satisfying and mouth friendly, the Bottle Buddies and the Big Bite Skinneezz. These toys come with a replaceable water bottle which makes a wonderful crack when chomped on. Toys with the bottle inside also work well with the swimming pool as fetch toys.

Some interactive toys that can be fun at daycare include the toy on a stick chase games, the Tail Teasers and the Chase – It. While they are toys that must be used with an attendant, they engage all of the dogs and are very fun for them.

These toys are relatively indestructible and enjoyable for our daycare dogs. So you can imagine that they will be very good toys for you own pups at home. Check some of these out in our store at www.aplaceforpaws.com .