I have rescued a couple of dogs, and would like to give them some fun dog toys. I don't have the budget to spend on $6-$12 toys that they tear apart in 15 minutes! Any suggestions? Empty paper towel rolls? Pine cones? Sticks? Empty egg cartons? I know that if they eat ANY toy it isn't good for them. But, what common items could I give them and not worry too much about? Thanks!
2006-08-19 03:40:35 · 12 answers · asked by AnnaB 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Okay first things first:
Do NOT give your dog dirt, sticks, empty paper towel rolls, old shoes or socks, or tennis balls. A puppy who is not fully vaccinated can easily get sick and die eating things from outside. Empty paper towel rolls can be eaten and are not digestible, sometimes getting stuck in the small intestine and causing internal bleeding that can sometimes only be corrected with surgery. Old socks and shoes will teach your dog that it is okay to play with socks and shoes. Tug of war is a horrible game to play with a pet dog, and is great only if you actually plan on training your dog as an attack dog, working dog, or champion obedience dog (which takes years). I'm not going to go into details as to why, as that wasn't your question. Tennis balls are one of the most dangerous toys for dogs, because they chew through the outer layer easily and digest the small inner ball, which can kill them. Tennis balls that are sold at toy stores are safe for dogs to chew on.
Any toy that you homemake for your dog needs to be supervised when he plays with it. I would get atleast one Kong so you can fill it peanut butter and let him chomp while you are gone.
That being said, dogs can't tell the difference between twenty cent toys and twenty dollar toys; you just have to know which ones are safe. My dogs favorite non-store bought toys are:
Ice cubes!!! Major fun.
Empty plastic soda bottles, he loves the small 12 oz and the large 2 liter ones. He will chase them forever, it's even better if you leave just a tiny bit of water in them. MAKE SURE you take the plastic label off first!
The little metal door stopper than go "TWWWWAAANNNGG" when you hit them. I'm convinced my dog has a moral objection to their existence.
A cheap leash with a bell tied to the end of it. He could chase that thing for hours. We let him win often, of course.
MAKE SURE that before you give your dog ANY homemade toy, recommended by me, anyone else on this site, or your best friend's mother, talk to your vet!!!!! Make sure that you clear all toys with a vet.
Good luck!! :)
2006-08-19 04:17:08 · answer #1 · answered by Maber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they actually EAT the toy they are playing with, you will have to buy them the indistructable stuff from a pet store. If they just want to shred things, go to a thrift store or goodwill and hit up their stuffed toy section. You can get a stuffed toy for a quarter. My dog loved to shred stuff, so I would get him a nice supply of old stuffed toys and give him one every couple of days. The first hour will be stuffing EVERYWHERE, but then you clean that up and they play with the poor mangled thing for a while. THis dog would eat some things but not others. Had to learn this the hard way after a 2500.00 operation. Watch em close and try to figure out a toy they will have fun with but not eat. Dex would eat plastic but not fabric.
2006-08-19 10:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Gatorgal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Toilet paper and paper towel roll tubes; and plastic water bottles are favorites of the dogs here at our shelter. Even when we give them the fancy toys, they prefer these "cheap" ones. Just be careful that your dog doesn't swallow pieces of plastic or fabric... these things can lodge in their digestive tract and do a lot of damage.
2006-08-19 11:15:52 · answer #3 · answered by Fetch 11 Humane Society 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Up to two years old they will chew on a variety of items:
sticks, cars, house siding, furniture, carpet, shoes, grass, rocks, fences, neighbor's property and neighbors, dog toys, cat toys, other dogs, cats, mailmen/women .
Get the picture?....they are just as happy to eat a rock as a $10 toy bone.
...jj
2006-08-19 10:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by johnny j 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I used to give my dogs plastic soda bottles to play with; can't remember, but I'm pretty sure I left the cap off.
2006-08-19 11:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by Jennifer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best and strongest dog toys are Kong. My dogs love them. they will destroy ANYTHING, but they can't get through a Kong.
Google for "Kong dog" or check out their website http://www.kongcompany.com
2006-08-19 10:47:40 · answer #6 · answered by who8mycookies 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to yard sales. Tennis balls are great and some will have old dog toys that can be disinfected.
2006-08-19 10:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nobbly wobblys are very cheap and last along time. They are very colorful and even I like them. (don't ask) They like to chew on them.
2006-08-19 11:18:55 · answer #8 · answered by *Natalie.* :P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tye up old socks and play tug of war. Old balls. Also you can make socks into balls.
2006-08-19 10:51:36 · answer #9 · answered by hello 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an old shoe, rope that's short, sock
2006-08-19 10:55:58 · answer #10 · answered by Caesar Chica is Sweet : ) 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋