Educational toys for your puppy??

We buy educational toys for our children, so why not for our dogs?  Just like a human infant, puppies need to have their minds stimulated too!!  We encourages all pet owners to check out some of the fantastic educational toys that are available for our pets!  We've come a long way baby...... there is so much more available today for our pets.  Kong toys, the old standby are still great and we think everyone should have one, but there is so much more.  Not only will you stimulate mind growth, but you will occupy your best friend and we all know a pet that is happy and content is less likely to exhibit destructive behavior, separation anxiety, excessive barking, the list goes on and on.  

Please enjoy the following article, we hope it to be informative to you.  Let us know if you have a favorite educational toy (bought or even home made!!).

Not all dog toys are created equal. Much like children, educational toys are becoming popular for puppies because of the added value seen in making your puppy ‘think’ while they play. Often educational toys for a puppy are also interactive toys or toys that require you to play with the pup. This interactive play improves the bond between the puppy and owner, an important part of owning a dog. Educational Toys for Puppies Educational toys for a puppy are toys that expose the pup to sounds, textures, and actions that they would not normally be exposed to in day to day life. This exposure ensures a well-socialized pup that does not react negatively to new or different experiences. It is a vital part of raising a well-adjusted canine companion that is a calm and relaxed even in normally stressful situations. Stuffed educational toys for puppies often have a variety of textures to increase tactile exposure and often have various ‘arms’ to chew on. Think of an octopus with eight arms and a soft center body. The arms make for fun grabbing and tossing while often holding a variety of squeakers. The body is bigger and could have a sound maker different then a squeaker to add variety. The octopus could also be made out of two types of material – soft fuzzy on top and a tougher underside. Think of all the tactile and audible variations the pup experiences each time they play with the toy? Balls and things to chase are often classed as educational toys for puppies. Balls are also an interactive toy in that one of the best ways to both exercise and interact with a pup is through playing fetch. However, consider the Kong – a famous knobbly oblong shaped toy that bounces in a million directions each time it lands. Would learning to anticipate the trajectory of the bounce not be considered education? Kongs can also be stuffed with peanut butter and biscuits as a way of distracting a busy puppy and the company prides itself on producing products that are almost impossible to chew through. Rope toys are a fun, interactive activity for puppies and their owners. Rope toys often come in a variety of sizes, shapes and ways with which to play. Sometimes they come with a variety of other materials or toys attached to them as well – a Kong with a rope through it, for example. These added textures increase the ways a toy can be played with as well as adding extra interest for the puppy. Rope toys can ‘shed’ their fibers however and a puppy can chew off a section of rope and swallow it so these  toys  should only be given when the puppy can be supervised. One of the most versatile of educational toys for a puppy is a kibble ball. Kibble balls are designed to be filled with either kibble or treats that gradually dispenses as the pup pushes the ball around. Learning to use the ball takes the pup a bit of time but the instant reward of the treat dispensing usually has even the most reluctant of puppies excited about playing. This is a great way to keep a high energy puppy busy for a while and helps them to learn to use their nose. Kibble balls are also an excellent way to keep a puppy busy while you leave them to go to work. Instead of giving the pup a chew to distract them, give them their breakfast in the ball and over the course of the day, they will empty it out and enjoy their breakfast. Outdoor educational toys for a puppy are perfect for the pup with a yard. Home agility equipment helps build a stronger bond between owner and pup by teaching both to run an extremely basic agility course. Pups learn to walk along a raised platform, weave between poles, leap over short jumps, and run through a tunnel. Read the instructions thoroughly however before attempting to teach your pup as a bad experience on any one of these obstacles can traumatize a young dog for life. Although mandatory supervision is required, there are homemade educational toys for a puppy including plastic water or pop bottles either on their own or filled with rocks, cardboard boxes with holes cut in them, crumpled up newspaper, and ropes with bells or chew toys attached to one end while the other is attached to a tree branch or to the ceiling above somehow. Pups love playing with a variety of toys and anything that makes the pup think is a great toy for building confidence and  socialization . To keep pups interested in their toys, limit how many they have to play with and rotate them each day so they do not become bored as easily. It is essential to stimulate their young minds and interactive play sessions with educational toys is an wonderful experience for both the pup and it’s owner! Did you find this article helpful?  Please post a comment  :)