Dog chew toys are some of the best gifts you can get yourself and your dog. Dogs have the natural inclination to chew. Toys for chewing are the best solution to stop them from gnawing on your shoe, sofa, bags and clothes. At the same time, chew toys can help decrease pet anxiety and prevent accidental swallowing of foreign objects. Your dog's enjoyment, safety and satisfaction, however, depend on finding the right toys.

Choose the Right Size

Not all dogs are in one size, and the chew toy that you pick should have just the right size for your dog. If the toy is too big, you dog may not like to play with it at all. On the other hand, however, if the toy is too small, he might accidentally swallow it and choke on it. You really should know about your dog's breed and size well to choose the right toy size. The good news is that many reputable dog toy manufacturers often print detailed descriptions on the toy labels so that you can decide whether a toy is appropriate for your dog.

Overall Safety

Aside from checking the size of the toy, you should also check it for safety features. Depending on the breed of your dog, a chew toy that is too hard could damage the teeth. Toys that are too soft could result in accidental ingestion of torn or chipped parts. In general you should avoid chew toys with small beads, buttons, strings, wire, bells and fake fur. Even a mild mannered dog could rip off small parts and swallow them. Swallowed parts can result in choking, mouth wounds, and damage to the intestines and constipation.

Appropriate Variety

It is not practical to buy a whole box of chew toys for your dog, but you should at least choose a few of them. This is because dogs can get bored if they only play with one toy and, to avoid this, you should have a rotation of a handful of chew toys. It is also a good idea to occasionally give your dog chew toys with edible treat to encourage your dog to play with them.

Keep an Eye on the Dog and Toys

Chew toys are not pet nannies so you should at least keep an occasional eye at your dog while he is at play. This will help you respond faster in case your dog is about to ingest a non-edible part.

You also have to keep an eye at the toys. Even the sturdiest toys have a limit to their lifespan. Periodically inspect your dog's toys and look for signs of wear and tear. Damages to the toy might already be a sign that you may have to replace it. Otherwise you could put your dog's health and life at risk.

Your Veterinarian Counts

You may like to consult your veterinarian when you are not certain whether a chew toy is suitable for your dog. A veterinarian sometimes is even able to recommend good toy brands and retailers.

Dog chew toys are important to all dogs both as a fun provider and a health helper. When picking such toys for your pet, you just need to keep in mind the safety features. With a good choice, you dog will have a good time with it.