Tips for Choosing Chew Toys

Answer 1

All dogs, regardless of breed or size, have the urge to chew. Just like babies, young dogs chew on practically any object to find out what it is. As they get older, discomfort from teething drives them to seek relief by chewing and many dogs also chew when they feel bored.

Dogs will chew on anything that interests them and often this includes things that are valuable to you. You can avoid the destruction of household objects and alleviate boredom in your dog by providing it chew toys to keep it happy and diverted. There are a wide assortment of chew toys available to suit different canine personalities and breeds.

Rawhide Chew Toys

Rawhide chew toys come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, colors and flavors. They are usually made from cattle hide and fashioned into bone or stick shapes. They are hard to the touch, but the combination of a dog's saliva and teeth soften these chew toys considerably and they are eventually swallowed. Both small and large breeds can enjoy rawhide and these chews come in sizes ranging from tiny to colossal. If you have light carpet or furniture, avoid basted rawhide chews. These are usually coated with a brown or red flavor glaze, and can leave behind a stain.

Rope Chew Toys

Unlike rawhide, rope chew toys are not consumed. These toys are thick lengths of tightly braided rope fibers, and can actually last for years. Dogs love to gnaw on rope chew toys alone but they often have plastic handles attached, making them great for dogs and their owners to play tug of war with. The virtual indestructibility of rope chews makes them a great choice for large dogs or especially tenacious chewers. As an added benefit, the fibers in rope toys help clean a dog's teeth as they chew, promoting fresh breath and a clean mouth.

Squeak Chew Toys

For smaller breeds, squeak toys can provide endless hours of chewy fascination. They may be far too easily destroyed by large dogs, but are sufficiently durable for dogs with smaller teeth. Not only do squeak toys relieve the urge to chew, but you and your dog can play fetch with them as well. Squeak toys are inexpensive, so they're ideal for dog lovers on a budget.

All dogs will chew, but keeping your dog occupied with the right chew toy promotes healthy rather than destructive chewing.