TODAY’s dog toys are much more sophisticated than the rubber bone or squeaky ball that once graced our dogs’ baskets. Modern canines can expect a range of progressively high-tech food dispensing devices that require the user to problem solve whilst demonstrating varying levels of physical dexterity. But are these “toys” all just for fun or actually an important part of our modern behavioural “toolbox”? Excessive barking, destructive behaviour, attention seeking and stealing are amongst the most common problems that pet owners seek advice on, particularly with puppies or young dogs. These can become so extreme that in some cases the owners simply cannot cope and relinquish the dog to a rescue centre. Yet all of these problems can be easily reduced or even prevented from occurring by appropriate early management.
Exercise not always the answer
Many owners resort to more and more physical exercise in order to curtail their boisterous dogs. Whilst physical exercise is undoubtedly important for all dogs, it often does little to overcome these problems; quite simply, the more exercise the dog has, the fitter he becomes and the more exercise he will require in the future, and so on. If, however, we work our dog’s
brain, we can achieve a contented and truly tired dog who is more likely to settle and offer calm behaviour rather than one who constantly demands attention with nuisance behaviours. Most owners give their dogs chews or toys in order to entertain them but these are normally given in addition to regular food, so usually only attain limited interest. For the best effect, owners should throw away the bowl and deliver their pet’s entire daily ration of food and treats through training and food dispensing toys. Whilst this may seem a timeconsuming exercise, with a small amount of organisation it is actually relatively easy to achieve and usually requires less time and input than running round hiding potential chew items and puppy proofing the house!
All toys can be pre-filled (maybe the night before) and stored. Allowing the dog to “discover” the toys by leaving them in various locations around the house and garden helps encourage independence from the owner (particularly important in reducing the chance of separation problems occurring) and also in reducing attention seeking behaviour! Of course, dogs need variety in their lives. Whilst many will have a favourite toy, it is important to provide a good range of objects so that the dog is kept entertained by constantly developing new techniques in order to gain his food rewards. Some toys are also better suited to certain environments than others; for instance, pursuit toys that require the user to push or roll the toy do not tend to work well in the confines of a crate. Conversely, chews and bones may simply be buried if given in the garden! During the early training it is important that dogs do not have the opportunity to steal and chew other items, so the use of crates or safety gates is helpful in denying access to other areas when not closely supervised. In time, dogs soon learn that their own toys are the most rewarding items to chew, so simply ignore other objects that don’t give the same pay-off.
Encouraging interaction between dog and owner
Some toys actually encourage dogs and owners to interact together in order to achieve the reward; these tend to be fun, helping to create a positive relationship and help with future
training. When choosing suitable toys for pets, owners should think about their individual dog’s traits. If the dog is a dedicated chewer, then filled bones, chews and kongs are likely to last
longest. Intelligent and high-energy breeds, however, often find chase and pursuit toys such as treat balls or Buster cubes more fun. Some dogs simply don’t overly enjoy chewing! Equally, some of the more challenging toys may simply be too difficult for some dogs, particularly in the early days; if presented with a toy that is too difficult, many dogs will simply give up. Most toys do require a small amount of initial training to encourage the dog to use it properly and not simply attempt to destroy it. Even dedicated chewers can be taught to use food dispensing toys properly once they learn that it’s fun. Aim for an initial quick pay-off when introducing a new toy as this will motivate the dog to persevere (over filling the toy is the easiest way to achieve this as well as minimising any difficult settings); gradually the toy can be made more difficult as the dog learns the most effective techniques for emptying it. Food dispensing toys don’t have to be kept to the confines of the home or garden, however; they can be very effective in keeping kennelled dogs or those on crate rest due to injury or surgery entertained. They can also be used to settle boisterous car travellers. On walks they can be used to teach retrieves or harness natural scenting skills which, by default, encourage a faster recall response.
