Part 1: Why Dogs Chew
& What You Can Do
This is part 1 of a 2 part series. In this article
we discuss why dogs chew and cover some
rubber and man made polymer toys you can safely use for your dog to
enjoy.
Dogs have a natural urge to chew and tear. Their
jaws and teeth were
designed to catch, hold and tear their prey. They use their teeth to
sort through and eat the most highly regarded parts of their prey.
Chewing also helps relieve anxiety and reduce mental "static" on days
where inclement weather or their owners hours may keep them from
getting
enough physical exercise.
Dogs NEED to chew. By carefully choosing
appropriate things for them to chew on and eventually destroy we are
being good owners. Getting angry when dogs destroy their toys is
unfair.
Attacking, chewing, tearing and "squeaking" their toys is like a game.
When you kill or destroy the toy you have WON! Good dog! You got your
prey! Dogs are thrilled when they destroy and rip the stuffing from a
toy. To a dog that is the point of the game -- to battle and win. Then
they are confronted by a scowling owner seeing only dollar signs and a
mess! Bad owner!
There is a way to provide safe, durable toys
without
breaking the bank. It may take some creativity and consistency on your
part but hey -- that is FREE! This issue features rubber and man made
polymer toys.
The most popular chew toy we have is the Kong.
They are sized for many
different dogs and strengths of chewers. They are made of rubber and
are
safe for dogs, easy to clean and very durable. They are designed so you
can add treats or paste mixed with treats to encourage the dog to chew
and to keep their interest. When sized appropriately for the dog it is
virtually indestructible**. The
Kong should not fit entirely in the dogs
mouth -- that means its too small -- and the dog may be able to destroy
it.
By mixing up the kinds of treats you use you can prevent boredom. Kong
also offers dental chews, rubber balls of different shapes, retrieving
dummies and glow in the dark varieties!
Newer to the market is the Everlasting Treat Ball
and its counterparts-
the Fire Plug, Beanie Ball and Fun Ball. These products are made out of
a newer polymer that is softer than most rubber toys but virtually
indestructible**. Dogs love the
feel of the dog and the toys can be used
alone or with edible treats also made by the company. Each toy is a
different shape but has the ability to have these special chews-
Everlasting Treats- inserted into them. The treats are hard but
completely edible and can take dogs a few hours or longer to remove or
chew away from the toy without damaging the toy itself. The treats are
available in many flavors and one wheat free variety. When used without
the treats for retrieving dogs love the natural "give" of the material
and it is great for dogs that "pop" or continuously bite tennis type
balls.
ORKA toys by PetStages offer a similar polymer to
the Everlasting
Products. Available in shapes and sizes for tiny to huge dogs they come
"plain" or with a durable cotton rope. ORKA offers dogs that normally
destroy or tear apart toys quickly a safe alternative. When sized
appropriately for the pet these toys are virtually indestructible** but
offer a softer texture than other toys in their class. The best seller
is the ORKA Ball that dogs can squeeze all day long without destroying.
And ORKA floats!
There are many options in solid rubber toys- from
protein and scent
infused DogZilla toys (used to attract dogs and encourage teething
puppies to chew it) to the spaceship shaped Busy Buddy Twist-n-treat
there is definitely the right one for every dog. While dogs get the
satisfaction from chewing a toy with some "give" the also win by
getting
the treats inside the toy.
*Please note that to be safe and effective toys
must be appropriately
sized for your dog. Saving a few dollars by buying a smaller toy will
most likely result in faster destruction and reduced safety of the toy.
**Why are
toys "virtually indestructible"? Any toy that was truly
indestructible would hurt your dog's teeth and jaws. A rock is
indestructible! Hard objects can crack teeth, damage enamel and cause
jaw pain. There is more of a choking risk or a chance of a blockage if
swallowed. It also would provide no reward in chewing. Dogs like the
feel of prey, the ability to chew and tear and win.
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