A dog's daily needs include physical exercise and mental enrichment. While most of us rely on walks and time spent outdoors to meet these needs, bad weather and unexpected circumstances require creative solutions at home. The good news is there are plenty of opportunities to keep boredom at bay with interactive dog toys. Even a high-energy dog in a small apartment can be kept busy with the right toys, tools, and know-how.
We enlisted three experts to come up with the best solutions for providing a dog with mental and physical stimulation indoors: Stacey Campbell, a professional dog trainer and co-owner of Golden Gate Dog Sports; Shura Kelly, a professional dog trainer and owner of Bark to Basics dog daycare; and Chrissy Joy, a celebrity dog trainer. To round out their advice, we also included picks from contributor Shoshi Parks, who is a professional dog trainer, and our own editors and reporters' favorites. Plain Dog Clothes
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When it comes to stimulating indoor exercise for dogs, Kelly says that creativity is key. But learning what type of toys your pup enjoys may take a while. They might favor chew balls, ropes to tug, or something to chase. The important thing is to find one of the best dog toys that will excite your pup.
One of Joy's favorite ways to keep her pups busy during the day is by using one of the best dog puzzle toys. These toys encourage mental stimulation and problem-solving, which is a great way to engage a dog.
Supervision is important for any type of play, but Joy says it's especially vital with puzzle toys made of hard plastic. Heavy chewers may be able to break off bits of plastic and ingest them, so be sure to keep an eye on them during this activity.
Yes. Exercise and mental stimulation are essential for your dog's well-being and their relationship with you. "Play is great for relationship building and creating motivation, [but] play takes practice," says Campbell.
Both Campbell and Joy say that trial and error will likely be involved when you teach your dog how to play with you. Because dogs don't know how to inherently play with their humans, teaching them to do so using the best dog training treats and positive reinforcement methods can help alleviate boredom.
Dog toys are not one-size-fits-all, but most pups enjoy food-based toys. Treat-dispensing puzzle toys can often keep pups entertained longer than regular plushies or chews.
But Joy says to be careful when filling food-based toys with treats. "Don't just fill all of these with treats because, with that, we get issues of obesity and caloric overload," she says. Instead, Joy recommends switching up food-based activities by hiding a portion of a dog's meals inside rather than just high-calorie snacks.
The best dog toys for aggressive chewers are made of durable, long-lasting materials like natural rubber. We also recommend purchasing toys that are difficult to break into smaller pieces, which pose many hazards to your dog's safety. Our experts generally like toys that are tough but not so tough that you can't indent them with your fingernail.
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