What precautions should I take regarding dog toys?
1. Size of the toy: The size of the dog should decide the size of the toy. If your dog is of a larger breed then allowing him to play with small toys can expose him to the danger of choking. Similarly a large sized toy given to a small dog remains almost unused as the small dog can not do much with the big sized piece.
2. Type of the toy: Type of the toy to some extent will depend on the breed, age and temperament of the individual dog. For you puppies you can select some chewable toys like nylabone, gumabone. Toys stuffed with goodies like peanut butter, goldfish cracker are also very favorite to puppies. For older dogs get toys that will require some thinking and doing. Toys and games that require lots of movement are suitable for breeds that enjoys lots of moment and exercising.
3. Use toys designed for dogs: Dogs are used to play with their toys with the help of their mouth so toys meant for dogs are designed to withstand dog bite. If you let your dog play with toys not intended for dogs the toy might break exposing the animal to choking risk.
4. Purchase toys from reputable store: Other than finding good quality toys for your dog you will get more choice when you buy the toys from a good store (online or offline). It will allow you to compare price and buy the toys which meet your needs and budget.
5. Keep the toys clean. Clean the toys regularly, dirty toys can cause various bacterial infections to your canine friend.