FAQ: Toys for dogs

Many chews contain flavour or scent additives that make them more appealing. Choose products made for dogs, and if your dog is allergic to certain proteins, check that the toy's flavour suits it.

Such a dog needs dense rubber or nylon toys with thick walls made for strong chewers, with no small protruding parts. It is worth having several different chews and rotating them so the dog does not turn to the furniture.

Chewing is beneficial, but very long, intense chewing can wear down teeth and irritate the gums. Limit chewing sessions, rotate toys and make sure the dog gets enough exercise and other activities.

Ordinary wood and sticks splinter, so they are not recommended for dogs. There are special chews made of coffee wood or pressed materials that splinter less, but give these under supervision too and discard them once they get small.

A strong chewer quickly gets inside a squeaky toy and can swallow the plastic squeaker. Give such a dog squeaky toys only under supervision and leave sturdy chews for the rest of the time.

Puppies need softer toys, though still too big to swallow, and toys should be swapped for larger ones as the dog grows. Older dogs with more sensitive teeth do well with softer chews.

A broken or cracked tooth can be painful and become infected even if the dog seems fine. Take the toy away and get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.

Plush toys appeal to dogs that like to carry, cuddle or play gently, but strong chewers rip them up quickly. Give them under supervision and throw them away once the seams split or stuffing starts coming out.

A small amount of fibre sometimes passes, but a larger amount or pieces of fabric can block the intestines. If the dog vomits, will not eat, is lethargic, has a painful belly or cannot pass stool, see a vet immediately.

A squeak sounds like prey to a dog, so many dogs try to ‘silence’ the toy by pulling out the squeaker. It is natural behaviour, but take away the squeaker and stuffing so the dog does not swallow them.

They are flat soft toys, often with squeakers but no fibre filling, so nothing spills out when they are torn. They suit dogs that love to shred toys, but should still be given under supervision.

Some sensitive or timid dogs are frightened by a high-pitched squeak at first. Offer the toy calmly, play with it yourself or choose a quieter toy with a softer sound.

Most plush toys can be washed in the machine on a gentle cycle inside a laundry bag, or by hand in warm water with mild soap. Dry them thoroughly, because damp stuffing can go mouldy.

Some dogs, especially females, carry a soft toy like a puppy, while others simply have a favourite object. If the dog guards the toy intensely, growls or behaves unusually, for example a bitch after her heat, consult a vet.

Rope toys are good for tug games, but a dog can pull off and swallow long strands, which are especially dangerous in the intestines. Give them only under supervision and discard them once the rope starts to fray.

Long strands can cause a so-called linear obstruction, where the intestine bunches up along the string. If you see a string hanging from the dog's mouth or bottom, do not pull it yourself and get to a vet urgently.

When a dog chews rope, the fibres rub the tooth surface, but this does not replace brushing or vet check-ups. Also, a dog that chews rope constantly can swallow fibres, so this kind of play needs supervision.

A rope toy can be washed in hot water or in the washing machine and must be dried very thoroughly, because damp rope soon smells and goes mouldy. An old, matted or smelly rope is better replaced with a new one.

Rope toys are made of cotton, jute, hemp or synthetic fibres. Natural fibres are softer and synthetic ones more durable, but both are just as dangerous if swallowed.

Dogs love tennis balls, but their felt surface picks up sand that wears down teeth, and a ball bitten in half can lodge in the throat. Solid or thick-walled balls made for dogs are safer.