Folks always ask me what kinds of toys I use with my dogs. There are a lot of junk toys out there that are not only boring for your dog, but some are just plain dangerous. Since I’ve had so much curiosity about the topic I figured I’d better write about it. I’ve decided to make my “Top Five” list of toys. To be honest, this list does change every couple of months, and I’ll probably write about other toys in the future, but these are the current favorites. You’ll notice that I really prefer toys that can get a dog working. I don’t like a toy that the dog just picks up and carries around every now and then. I like the toys that will make my dogs use their brains and figure out how to get a nice reward for doing so. I also enjoy toys that get the dogs exercising mentally or physically. No stuffed toys made the list, and they probably never will. Most dogs love playing with stuffed toys, and that means they love ripping them apart. I’m not a fan of dogs swallowing stuffing or squeekers so I often don’t allow them. I hope you appreciate this article because I’m sure your dogs will (if you pick them out a nice item from the list of course)!

Number Five: The Chuckit!®

chuckit1           If your dogs love playing fetch as much as mine then this is an absolute necessity! This thing will out throw even the greatest major league pitcher with very little effort on your part. All you have to do is lock a standard tennis ball (or one of the included balls) into the cup, raise your arm, flick your wrist, and this ball is launched. My dogs love the extra thrill of getting to run further than what I am capable of throwing a ball, and I love not having a sore arm!

Scroll to the bottom for quick view of the current chuckit prices or head directly to Amazon to pick yours up by clicking here: CHUCKIT!

Number Four: Kong Wobbler™

This treat dispensing toy is a must have for very intelligent dogs who just get bored while you’re watching TV or something. It’s unique Kongfrom other treat dispensers because of the weight in the bottom. Each time your dog tips it over a treat falls out, but then the toy immediately stands back up. The result is that it becomes very challenging for your dog to get the treats out. This can be a great benefit if you have a dog that has a tendency of figuring out other treat dispensers really fast. The beauty of this product is its difficulty, but this is also its biggest flaw. I’ve met a few dogs that just didn’t feel like the work was worth the reward. These dogs got bored with the toy and would only play with it sporadically. However, the other dogs I’ve had play with this toy have thought that it was the best thing since sliced bacon. So if you’ve got a four-legged genius at home that seems to be bored a lot, I would definitely pick this up for him/her.

Scroll down to check out the current prices on the kong wobbler or head directly to amazon to buy your’s by clicking here: KONG WOBBLER

 Number Three: The Everlasting Fun Ball

(For those of you that have been around Top Dog long enough to have known Zane you know that this was essentially his pacifier.)

The first time I ever got my hands on an Everlasting Fun Ball I thought it wouldn’t last a day in my house. My dogs are mega chewers Everlastingwhen it comes to their toys. This ball feels like soft squishy rubber compared to some of the other toys out there that claim durability, but somehow this one holds up great! This ball can also be filled with treats so it’s not just for fetch or chewing, but rather it can also be a great brain activity as your dog tries to figure out how to get the goodies.

As a word of caution, I have seen a few dogs that I would put in the category of “nibblers” who have been able to chew this toy up. My dogs are more full mouth chewers as opposed to the mouse like chewing of some breeds, so this toy works great for us. If your dog is a “nibbler” and uses more of his front teeth on toys then you might want to consider one of the other options. 

To check out the current prices on the everlasting fun ball scroll down to the end of the blog, or if you’d just like to head over to amazon and purchase yours click here: EVERLASTING FUN BALL 

Number Two: The Buster Cube

buster-cubeIf you want to make sure your dog never has a dull moment again, then the Buster Cube is definitely the right product for you. It has internal chambers that are basically shaped like a little maze. You fill it up with food and your dog has a blast knocking it around and trying to figure out how to get all the food out. It’s pretty easy to break down and clean as well which is one of the reasons I love it. Some treat dispensing toys end up with really gross internal parts due to the difficulty of getting them cleaned out. With this toy you just put your thumb in the chamber, twist it out, and you’re ready to put the whole thing in the dishwasher.

To see today’s prices on a buster cube scroll down below, or click here to buy right now! BUSTER CUBE

Number One: The Kong®

Classic-KONG1-700x700I LOVE THE KONG PRODUCT LINE! That’s why it made it on the list twice. Nothing beats the good old fashion Kong Classic. They are a great value because of their durability, versatility, and price.

Kongs make great chew toys for all stages of a dogs life. they are fun to play fetch with because of their erratic behavior (they bounce in all kinds of unpredictable ways). They can be filled with treats to make them more interesting, and of course some dogs just love to chew on them. As I mentioned earlier, Kongs are extremely durable. I have several Kongs that have lasted five years in my shop. That’s saying a lot considering the powerful jaws that have been wrapped around them. 

I’m actually in the process right now of devoting an entire blog about all the ways that I like to use the original Kongs (the snowman shape). Look for it coming up soon.

Check out down below for today’s prices on Kongs or just click here to head directly to Amazon and pick one up: KONG CLASSIC

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about these impressive toys. I know it can be tough to shop for our pets since they always fail to give us a list, so I’ve taken this liberty for them. As always, feel free to get in touch with us if you’re having any trouble selecting the right toy for your pet. www.TopDogTexas.com

Thanks For Reading,

Adam@TopDogTX

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