Choosing toys that your dog loves to play with can help relieve boredom and pent-up energy that can lead to mass destruction of your home and belongings. Having a variety of toys to play with can provide your dog with physical exercise and helps him entertain himself when the family isn't home.

A common mistake that dog owners make is giving their pet an old shoe or other cast-offs to play with. Your dog is likely to think that if you let him chew on that old shoe you tossed his way, he's also welcome to chew on your new pair under the bed! Training your dog to chew on his own toys is a fairly simple process when you start with a new puppy. You've got a clean slate, one with no bad habits to break yet, just normal, instinctual puppy behavior that must be directed to the appropriate outlets. Older dogs who have the habit of chewing on what they shouldn't may be trained to chew only on their own toys, but it will take patience and persistence.

There are overwhelming varieties of dog toys to choose from, and individual dogs often prefer one type of plaything over another. Dog lovers can choose from toys that roll, wobble, fly, bounce, and stretch. Furry, rubber, nylon, rope, or rawhide toys. Squeaking, giggling, jingling, talking, or annoying-electronic-noise-making toys. Figuring out which toys your dog prefers can take some trial and error.

The sort of household items or personal belongings you're constantly removing from your dog's mouth can give you a clue! A dog who is always making off with the kids’ stuffed animals would probably enjoy a plush dog toy of his own. The dog who merrily gnaws away at wooden furniture legs will need hard, durable dog toys that can withstand his chewing habits. http://www.medicine-pet.com/48/the-best-toys-for-your-dogs.html

Supply your dog with his own toys,train him to play with them, and avoid the expense, aggravation and possible liability that is caused by your dog's chewing habits. http://www.dogguide.net/choosing-dog-toys.phpUse this guide to learn all about choosing toys for your dog.

Every year, many dogs die from choking or blockages caused by eating things they shouldn't have. Be sure that your dog's toys are made of durable materials that have no small parts or strings that can be chewed off and swallowed, and that they are too large for him to swallow whole.

Small dogs and senior dogs often prefer plush toys, but toys with squeakers inside pose a choking hazard. Dogs tend to feel compelled to dig the squeaker out while pulling out stuffing in the process, both of which are choking hazards. If your dog loves plush or rubber squeakies, only allow him to play with them under your supervision, and replace the toys when they begin to show signs of wear.http://www.dogguide.net/choosing-dog-toys.php

Dogs who need a mental challenge often enjoy puzzle toys. Puzzle toys may be plush, rubber, or nylon and have openings which can be filled with kibble or dog treats and will keep your dog busy trying to work the goodies out. Other types of dog puzzle toys contain smaller toys inside which challenge your dog to remove them.

Hard or persistent chewers will prefer a durable, hard rubber toy like the Kong. However, hard rubber toys aren't indestructible and well-motivated chewers can shred them into small pieces. Inspect your dog's toys regularly for missing pieces and other damage. Throw away damaged toys and replace them with new ones as often as necessary to keep your dog safe.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, more Americans began to move away from farms and into the cities. Most farms used working dogs to protect the farm and family or herd livestock. The emotional connection between a man and his dog could not be diminished by the changes in society, and relocating farm families often brought their dogs to the city as family companions.

The earliest dog toys were handmade leather balls. As more mass-produced, store-bought products became available, fancy dog beds and other dog supplies were marketed to dog owners, with advertisements that appealed to dog lovers on an emotional level. By the 1920's, most large department stores sold pets and pet supplies, and pet supplies became the most profitable part of the pet industry.

After WWII, the technological advancement and growing affluence of society created an even greater market for dog toys. Better quality rubber and new manufacturing processes gave birth to the rubber squeaky toy. Companies that were manufacturing toys for human babies extended their market into the dog toy field, with highly profitable results.

Manufacturers began to produce rubber and nylon toys for dogs that were designed to fulfill dogs’ instinctual need to chew. The Kong toy, a virtually indestructible rubber chew toy, wasn’t directly marketed to consumers at first, but to veterinarians, dog trainers, and other dog professionals who introduced it to pet] owners as a durable toy that was also useful as a dog training aid. Subsequent versions of the Kong could be stuffed with kibble or other food treats, which encouraged the dog to work for his food instead of stressing his digestive system by wolfing his meal down quickly.http://www.kongcompany.com/kongbooklets/basictraining.html

Dog owners began to see the health benefits in interactive dog toys that not only controlled their dogs’ eating habits, but provided mental and physical exercise as well. It took about a decade for the Kong to catch on, but this toy now sets the standard for modern dog toys.