Interactive Dog Toys

About Interactive Dog Toys

Are They Really Necessary

If you think interactive dog toys are just items people splurge on to spoil their pets, think again. Dogs are incredibly intelligent creatures that require a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them healthy in every sense of the word.

In fact, did you know that many canine behavior problems link back to insufficient stimulation and activity? It's true; a bored dog can become a destructive dog. In some cases, this leads to indiscriminate chewing and digging. Frustration and boredom can even drive some dogs to behave aggressively towards their house mates. It would be great if we all had enough time to give our pets all the personal attention they need, but with today's busy lifestyles this is not always possible. It's good to know that interactive toys can provide our dogs with some fun even when we can't be there to play along.

What Makes a Dog Toy Interactive?

The term "interactive" is fairly broad, but it basically applies to any toy that either has a mechanism that responds to your dog's actions, or makes your dog think in order to achieve a goal. Either way, these toys provoke a definite response from your pet and enhance play time. Let's check out what's available.

Let's Shop!

Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug

Puzzle Toys

Puzzle toys keep your dog busy figuring out how to retrieve treats and other small goodies from inside the main body of the toy.

• Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug: The Tug-A-Jug looks like a transparent baby bottle with a rubber chew nozzle and attached tug rope. Just add a handful of your dog's favorite kibble and hand it over. Your dog will be rewarded with kibbles that escape from the bottle as he plays with it. The bottle is made from bullet-proof material, so it's durable as well. This toy retails around $7.00 for a small toy and $11.00 for a large one.
• Hide-A-Squirrel: This is a puzzle for pets that love plush toys. If your dog likes to snuggle up with something cuddly, he'll have to dig these three little squirrels out of their cozy tree trunk. This toy is available in sizes from small to large, and you can purchase replacement squirrels. Price ranges from $8.00 to $14.00 a set.

Talking Toys

You'll have almost as much fun watching your dog with these toys as he'll have playing with them.

• Talk to Me Treat Ball: Your pet can be comforted by your voice whenever you're away. Just speak into the recorder and your dog can listen to your message any time he makes the ball move. This toy can also be loaded with treats that will disperse intermittently as your dog plays. The ball is available in two sizes, and retails between $12.00 and $16.00.
• Talk to Me Laser Ball: This toy is similar to the one listed above, but it has the added attraction of a colorful laser light display each time the ball is moved. Just record your message, pop in a few treats and let the fun begin.

Miscellaneous Fun

Squirt Bone

Here's even more fun for your pet!

• Squirt Ball or Squirt Bone: These toys not only provide stimulation for your dog, they give him a bit of refreshment as well. You can load these balls and bones with cold water on a summer day, and your dog will receive a squirt every time he chews on them. Either toy retails for about $5.00.
• Wiggly Giggly Balls and Bones: These colorful balls and bones will keep your dog amused. Each toy makes an odd giggling sound whenever your dog plays with it. The small ball and bone are priced at $10.00 each, but there is a larger ball available for $14.00.
• Petstages Spider Balls: This toy has so much going on that it's nearly impossible for your dog to get bored. A center ball has tethers with smaller balls attached, and the toy's range of sounds and textures provide extra stimulation.

Safety First

Interactive dog toys can provide your pet with hours of fun, but you still need to keep your dog's safety in mind. Inspect the toys daily for signs of wear that might present a hazard to your pet, and replace as needed. You can find many of the toys listed at Little River Pet Shop and Amazon.com.