As pet owners, we know how much you love your dog.
You buy him treats, you brought him only the best quality of food and grooming care.
There may even be times when you bought him a cake to celebrate his birthday!
Aside from these, you may have also bought him toys, which he chews on aggressively and ends up breaking.
Chewing things is normal for dogs, especially toys. But when the chewing becomes trouble, you can do a couple of things to train your dog not to destroy its toys.
Today, we will look at three ways on how you can train your dog so that it will not end up destroying his toys (all the time, sigh.)
The Importance of Giving Toys to Your Dog
You may be tired of coming home only to find out that your dog has destroyed the precious toy you bought for him.
You may also be wondering if there are any “indestructible toys” you can buy in the market so that they could last longer.
Yes, there are indestructible toys in the market, but the chances of your dog liking them are very slim.
After all, isn’t the purpose of a toy to let your dog have some fun?
If your dog always ends up destroying his toy, then that means that he likes it, especially squeaky ones, and is having a great time playing with it!
Toys play an essential role in the training, bonding, and in raising your furry friend.
Aside from being equated with “fun”, these toys can provide oral activity for your dog, relieve their stress and boredom, may serve as a reward for good deeds, and provide them with physical activity.
You can use some edible items like rawhides or raw bones for chewing and in helping them relieve their boredom.
Like for tennis or soccer, a ball may also be a good alternative for edibles and may provide an additional activity for your pets.
Just make sure to keep a close eye on your dog when giving them edibles like bones or toys like balls.
These edibles might break and may cause blockage in your dog’s intestines when ingested.
Many cases like this have happened already, so ensure that you will closely monitor them if you are giving toys such as this to your dog.
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Imposing Good Behavior
Just like anything else, your dog must earn the rewards and playtime.
Avoid keeping the toys at your dog’s level where they can access them anytime they please.
You can use these toys as a reward if your dog listens to your simple cues like telling them to sit, shake, or rollover.
If your dog fails to comply, you can try again later, and once they do, offer them their favorite toy.
Letting Your Dog Destroy Toys
There may be instances when you knowingly let your dog destroy some toys, and that is okay.
If they have a favorite plushy or squeaky toy, let them play with it under supervision.
Once they have taken all the stuffing of these plushy toys out, you can gather them and sew them back in or toss them in the trash when a repair is no longer possible.
Again, this may be okay at times, but ensure it will be under your supervision because your dog might go on a spree and destroy other things like your shoes or couch.
Teaching Your Dog Not to Destroy His Toys
There are various ways on how you can teach your dog not to destroy his toys.
Here are some of them:
1. Reward him with praise and treats.
First off, ask your dog to perform a specific command or trick that he knows.
Once he complies, give him the toy, and stay with him while he plays with it.
If your dog plays with the toy nicely, reward him with praises, compliments, and even a treat to enforce this good behavior.
If your dog starts ripping the toy or attempts to break it, call out his attention to interrupt him from doing so.
Once it resumes playing with the toy pleasantly, make sure to reward it again.
2. Monitor your dog
If you just bought your dog a new toy, it is not recommended that you leave him alone with it until you are confident enough that he will be playing with it nicely.
Once you see him doing well with his toys, you can leave him for short periods and check on him often to see how he plays with it without your supervision.
3. Give your dog the appropriate toys
Not all toys are created equal.
There are toys made for certain types of dog breeds.
you must consider this when buying your dog its toys.
Also, pay attention to the material of these dog toys.
Usually, soft toys will be targeted by your dog by going at its seams.
You can look for toys with good stitching, or you can double stitch your dog’s toys on your own to make them more durable.
Key Takeaway
Toys are not a luxury but a necessity for dogs.
These toys are fun and play a massive role in how their characteristics and attitude are formed over time.
Do not deprive your dog of these toys or punish them if they end up destroying their toys. It simply means that they are having fun or love the toy you just bought for them.
Dogs are not just pets but also part of our families.
Seeing them happy indeed makes our hearts warm and giddy too!
Just make sure to impose specific rules and keep a close eye on them whenever they are playing.
To ensure that they can be safe and healthy while they are having fun.
