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“What kind of chew toys should I get for my puppy?” is one of the most common questions from new puppy parents. The short answer is it depends! There are chew toys meant to be consumed and chew toys meant to soothe during teething and chews toys meant for play. Yes, puppies always need something to chew on!
Puppies of any breed love and actually need to chew; it’s part of normal growth and development. With a variety of chew toys, your puppy is less likely to turn to inappropriate things like shoes and furniture! So have plenty of safe toys on hand.
Edible Chew Toys
First and foremost, we recommend big, raw meaty bones. Why? Raw bones play a vital role in overall oral health: gnawing on large marrow bones during teething is comforting; consuming smaller edible bones may help baby teeth fall out in a timely manner; circulation for gums is stimulated; bad breath is reduced. The taste of real bones is impossible for a puppy to resist, and the long-gnawing time gives wonderful mental satisfaction!
Most puppies like to chew on bark and sticks, but Himalayan Yak cheese chews are safer! They are natural chew treats that most Havanese love. They can cause loose stool if given several days in a row so keep that in mind.
And then there are bully/pizzle sticks. We are pretty picky about them for quality reasons, but Raw Paws makes bully sticks that are low-odor and from grass-fed, free-range beeves in the USA. Please take a bully stick away from your puppy/dog when it gets down to a small piece because it can become a choking hazard at that point.
Offering safe chews toys is vitally important. While antler bone is increasingly popular, more and more dogs are turning up with cracked teeth. Exercise caution.
Save yourself money and worry, and your puppy grief… please skip the rawhide! It is chemically bleached and most often from questionable sources, but more importantly, it is dangerous because it is completely indigestible. They are notorious for causing painful, expensive blockages. Veterinarian offices see many cases every year due to rawhide.
Toys for Teething
The West Paw dog toys are favorites at our house. Put a few pieces of dried meat/organs inside for extra pleasure! Avoid peanut butter though. First of all, it isn’t appropriate for canines and peanuts have heavy chemical residues. It can even be deadly if it contains xylitol. Read the labels carefully! If you must, use organic peanut butter.
Believe it or not, cotton dishcloths can be a helpful “toy” during teething. Tie each into a knot, soak in chamomile tea, slightly wring and then store in a bag in the freezer… refreshing and soothing for puppy!
Another chew toy to skip altogether is Nylabones. Even though some are “edible”, they are made of nylon, a form of plastic, and tend to develop very sharp edges that can injure your puppy’s mouth!
Playtime Toys
Puppies are a lot like toddlers, they get bored with their toys. What to do without buying new toys all the time? Make old toys seem new again by switching them out every few days! In addition, a tired old toy comes to life with you involved in the game.
Staying as natural as possible, we avoid plastics when we can. There is this amazing company that uses only natural fibers (wool from small US producers, organic cotton, and hemp) to make dog toys right here in the USA! Their motto is “If Mother Nature doesn't make it, we don't use it!”… gotta love it. Look up Purrfect Play.
Toys need to be safe. That means no little parts that can come off and become a choking hazard. Also, Havanese puppies like to pick off and swallow longish fibers, which can upset their tummy, so choose soft toys that are made of non-furry fabrics. They adore toys with squeakers and crinkly noises. Try making your own with an old pair of cotton denim jeans and an empty chip bag!
Interactive puzzle toys are fantastic for engaging their mind for some quiet playtime! Treat balls or any variety of the burrowing soft toys are great fun.
Sometimes puppies want to chew hard things and sometimes they want to chew soft things. Cotton rope is a favorite! Purrfect Play has something similar. Rope toys compliment raw bones by giving your puppy a softer alternative. They are also great for children while playing with the puppy so as to keep him from biting pant legs or sleeves - the puppy can grab the rope toy instead! Not just for playing tug with you but also if you tie long ones onto a doorknob or such, your puppy can have fun grabbing and pulling on its own. Do be careful with rope toys, too. Although mostly safe, it is best to supervise playtime because a blockage can occur if too much of the rope fibers are consumed.
This post is by no means exhaustive but gives you some ideas and precautions when choosing chew toys for your precious Havanese puppy or dog.
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