Hello Dogs Today team,
I have a question regarding chew toys for my puppy. Fay is now 12 weeks old and is a Vallhund who loves to chew and destroy her toys.
When I brought her home I gave her a few different toys; a soft toy, a rubber toy, a ball and a rope toy. However, I have had to replace many already, she ate part of the soft toy (it found its way out luckily), ripped the rope apart and chewed lumps out of the rubber toys. So after advice from her breeder I bought an adult red Kong and some other chews, she has had the Kong three weeks and has already chewed small lumps out of it and I can’t see it lasting much longer.
I’ve brought rope toys from the rough and tough range from Pets at Home at the same time and they are starting to fray as well. The only things that are lasting are stuffed and smoked bones, and nylon bones; I tried a pork roll but it upset her stomach and rawhide chews don't seem to last that long either.
I’m planning to get her a black Kong soon but was wondering if anyone can suggest good chew toys for strong chewers?
Thank you,
Joanne Stockbridge and Fay, by email
Joanne Drysdale BSc - Edinburgh Dog Training:
ReplyDeleteLots of dogs will chew toys, it's totally normal and of course natural behaviour. The majority of toys in pet shops aren't going to last unfortunately. Rather than looking for indestructible toys how about providing cheap or redundant items that your pup IS allowed to shred to pieces. You can then have some nice toys which only come out when you are there to supervise. I knot up old socks, give toilet rolls, plastic bottles (with lid removed) and cut up old tops and plait them into long rope like toys. In terms of tough toys I do really like pretty much all of the Kong range including wubba's, air kongs and the frisbee as the rubber is tougher than many other brands although not indestructible. I'm also a big fan of Nylabones and Stagbars. Bear in mind your pup will be almost be at the teething stage so lots of chewable items are needed to sooth the sore gums.
We give Pizzles to our strong chewers (but I would wait until she loses her puppy teeth) and nylabone dura chews.
ReplyDeleteWe found rawhide upset our dogs tummies as did pigs ears and no other edible chew lasted 2 minutes. Eco Dog Company also do an antler chew. We haven't tried it but I'm sure they'd advise you
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteI would very much recommend KONGs for strong chewers, the red are the normal ones and for really strong chewers there are black ones. In my experience at rescue shelters - not even the Staffies and Rotties would get through the black ones!
I am on the vallhund society's committee and am always on hand for any training / behaviour advice for vallhunds throughout the country. If you would like any more advice or information, please feel free to contact me at woof@naturallyhappydogs.com
Sally
I agree with Joanne Drysdale's comment, that it's a good idea to have toys the dog is allowed to chew and others that are just for interactive play with the owner. But I would recommend to only give toys that are safe for the dog to chew because of the risk of the dog swallowing pieces. A chewed plastic drinks bottle can easily create sharp shards of plastic that could cause intestinal damage. Always supervise your dog when they chew on something and remove any parts the dog could swallow straight away. Only leave a dog unattended with a toy if you're absolutely sure they will not destroy and eat it. I would also recommend the Zogoflex range of tough toys. These are made from a toxin free material. Like all toys, they're not indestructible, but extremely tough. Zogoflex toys come with a one-time replacement-refund guarantee, so if the dog does manage to destroy it, you can at least get a new toy which you can keep until the dog has outgrown their chewing phase.
ReplyDeleteGabriela
Give her a brisket bone
ReplyDeleteHere at citidogs-creche we give our beauties the standard rubber tennis ball, they might rip easy but there cheap and every dog loves them!
ReplyDeleteWe had this problem with our Jack Russell Frisbee, she loved her Red Kong, but one day she decapitated it splitting it in two, after much panic and pining by her we got her a new one, but it happened again. We then found the Kong Extrema rang, we brought her a black Large Kong and a small one. She loves the small one and takes it everywhere with her. The large one is still going strong we must have had it 3 years now and the small ones we replace if she starts to split, they last about a year. Nylon bones from Tescos always go down well too and last a couple of months.
ReplyDelete