How to Buy a Toy for a Puppy

Buy several different types of puppy toys so you can rotate them or replace them when your puppy destroys them.

Things You'll Need

• Canvas Dog Toys
• Dog Balls With Handles
• Dog Bones
• Dog Toys
• Dog Treats
• Fleece Dog Toys
• Holiday Dog Toys
• Rawhide Chews For Dogs
• Rope Dog Toys
• Vinyl Dog Toys
• Nylabones

Instructions

1. Know that puppies love to chew. If you don't provide a puppy with adequate chew toys, she'll start chewing furniture and shoes.

2. Choose at least five toys for your puppy, and rotate them so she doesn't get bored.

3. Select toys that are made specifically for dogs, not for children or cats.

4. Buy a few vinyl squeak toys, but monitor play to be sure your puppy doesn't chew pieces off and choke.

5. Look at the fleece toys available. Puppies like these because they're soft and warm. Be sure pieces of fleece don't come off.

6. Try to choose toys that are large enough that the puppy cannot choke on them, yet small enough that the puppy can get her mouth around them. Anything smaller than a pingpong ball is too small.

7. Get some Nylabones or rawhide chews. Puppies can chew these and safely eat any pieces.

8. Know that rope toys are an excellent choice because they're hard for the puppy to ruin and they act like dental floss on the puppy's teeth.

9. Understand that while puppies appreciate canvas toys because they're soft, canvas is easy to destroy with constant chewing.

10. Choose a ball for your puppy to chase indoors or outdoors. Large balls with a handle for throwing are easy for you to throw and easy for the puppy to carry.

11. Expect to pay between $1 and $15 for puppy toys.

12. Keep in mind that your puppy will destroy many toys.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy some holiday toys for your puppy. You'll see a variety, including Santas, candy canes and reindeer.

• Look for puppy toys in pet stores, grocery stores, discount stores and online.

• Don't forget that a stick is sometimes the best toy of all!

• Never leave children's toys where your puppy can reach them. They're a choking hazard.

• Throw out any dog toys that tear or begin to come apart at all. The pieces could come off and choke your puppy.