Are the dog toys in your toy basket safe? If they are safe for your personal pets, are you sure they are safe dog toys for foster dogs?
There is a difference. I’m going to share my views on the top safe dog toys for foster dogs. I’m also going to opine on what I think are the top dog toys you need to put in the trash.
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Toys for foster dogs should be safe, fun, and long-lasting.
Your foster dog will likely need to start on a different pile of toys than the ones in your personal pet’s toy box.
You most likely don’t know their play habits. You don’t know how they chew. You don’t know if they’ve ever seen a toy before. Until you learn what their play preferences are, you are going to need highly recommended safe dog toys. When I’m fostering dogs, I look to long-lasting dog toys that meet a specific objective and help me avoid emergency vet care.
Supervision Makes Safe Dog Toys Safer
I recommend ALWAYS being present when your dogs (and foster dogs!) are interacting with dog toys. There’s hardly a dog toy out there that I would call 100% “safe” or “indestructible.” Until you are confident in your foster dog’s play behavior, any dog toy is unsafe. I’ve seen the tiniest Boston terrier shred some of the most durable toys on the market. That said, there are dog toys that are more durable than others. As a foster dog parent, be cautious, be observant, be safe, and be involved in your dog’s play! If you can’t supervise, put the dog toys away.
Top Safe Dog Toys For Foster Dogs – 5 Recommendations
I am a fan of dog toys that are multi-function or better said, dog toys that offer more than one way for the foster dog to interact with it. Here are my recommendations for 5 top safe dog toys for foster dogs:
- Interactive Toys: I am a fan of the Buster Cube and the Bob-A-Lot interactive toys. I have both of these dog toys and my foster dogs love them! I’ve had the Buster Cube for nearly 20 years and it’s still in great shape. Both of these toys provide mental stimulation through problem-solving while requiring physical activity.
These two safe dog toys also function as slow-feeders for dogs that eat their meals way too fast. BONUS!! - The Kong Genius: I love these dog toys for quiet time in crates! I can stuff pieces of hard biscuits or chunks of apple and it provides busy work. Because it has a great, rubbery bounce, the Kong Genius doubles as a great fetch toy. It also floats. The ‘Mike’ shape is Otis’ favorite. Consider also the ‘Leo’ shape that can connect to the ‘Mike’ and create a more challenging puzzle toy for your dogs.
- The Kong Classic: It is a basic must-have. It’s a durable dog toy and comes in an Extreme version (black color) for super-duper chewers. I have a half-dozen of these Kong Classics in various sizes. I use them for crate training, quiet time, “find it!” games, and of course for chewing and fetch/retrieve games. Otis is 28 lbs and the medium size Kong Classic is perfect for him.
There is a whole community of folks who publish recipes for stuffing your Kong Classic. Skip the Kong cheese paste in a can or safe that product for training activities. When stuffing your Kongs, you need to pay attention to calories! - The entire West Paw line is pure awesomeness! These toys are not cheap, but they last. One of my West Paw dog toys is 10 years old. It’s showing wear, but not too damaged to throw it away, yet. West Paw dog toys are great for your tough chewers, and they are multi-function! You can stuff a treat in some, use them as fetch toys, water toys, and they are durable for chewers. Not to mention, West Paw recycles their toys and has a replacement policy. Read up on this fantastic U.S. small company and add their dog toys to your collection. You’ll want a basketful of the West Paw.
Otis’s favorite West Paw toys are: the Qwizl, Tux, Tizzi, and Toppl.
The Toppl toy is extra special as it is a wonderful puzzle toy! If you buy both sizes, the smaller size, when flipped upside-down, fits inside the larger size, and the dog has to figure out how to separate them to get to the goodies inside.
The Tux looks weird (well, so does the Tizzi – what is that, anyway?!) but it actually mimics the shape of a knuckle bone. Flip it over, and there is a place to put yummies in there. - Balls: The Chuck It ball currently has a nearly perfect rating on pet supply sites, a rarity in pet toys. It comes in 5 different sizes, so it’s super easy to get the right size ball for your pet. It has a squeaker to enhance arousal, it floats, and it’s a durable chew. If your foster dog loves to fetch, get the Chuck It Ball Launcher.
I’ve also discovered the Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate dog toy by Planet Dog. It’s a ball and a treat-dispensing toy. Again, when I can find a safe dog toy that is multi-function, it’s a win! This awesome product is also made in the USA using high-quality TPE rubber. It’s mildly flavored with mint, so it freshens your dog’s breath as they play with it! TPE rubber is also recyclable. How cool is that.
Make sure you use balls for what they are intended for: play. Choose other dog toys that are designed for chewing.
Choose balls your dog cannot accidentally swallow. Consider the ball’s size and its surface. For example, don’t use a golf ball! The hard, relatively slick surface combined with dog slobber makes it super slippery and easily lodged in the throat. They are dangerous as a dog toy, in my opinion.
Keeping Tug Toys Safe Toys
Many dogs love tug toys. They also love shredding toys. Many dogs will shred a tug toy when there’s no one to play tug with.
So, put up your tug toys when you are not playing tug with your dog or supervising tug games between dogs.
Best Tug Toys For Dogs
Most tug dog toys available on major pet supply sites are way too short. According to dog training and dog sport experts, dogs like tug toys that are longer in length. Interesting!
Things to look for in a good tug toy are length, strength/durability and something interesting to grab. Etsy is a great source for safe, interesting dog tug toys. A good friend of mine who participates in canine flyball and who uses tug games all day every day during training likes the ITZA tugs. I think the bungee element is probably super fun for dogs! Remember: tug toys are for tug games. Put them away when not engaging in play with your dog. Do this, and they will last a long time.
My Top 5 “No, No, No!” Toys
- Nylabone Flexichew Bone: Don’t buy this bone. I’ve had three near-misses with this bone, even with a puppy, narrowly avoiding emergency surgery for intestinal blockage, and I have heard several stories of these bones causing blockage or choking in other pets. To use this bone safely, you have to closely supervise as the ends break off easily. Honestly, why set yourself up for trouble when there are better choices on the market? DON’T BUY.
Gut obstructions are life threatening, debilitating, and expensive.
2. Any Cotton Rope Toy: The problem with most of these toys is that the cotton fibers are too short, causing the toy to shred threads too quickly. One or two threads ingested may not pose a problem, but multiple threads quickly ball up into a wad in the gut, increasing the chance of obstruction. DON’T BUY
3. Squeaky Toys: Save the squeaky toys for other activities and for play later, after you know your foster pet better. For my fosters, I use squeaky toys to test hearing, gain attention, take photos, and assess arousal. When I’m done, they get put back up. Until you are sure that your foster dog isn’t going to disembowel a toy to get at the squeaker, don’t waste your money. The squeaker part is a gut clogger and a choking hazard. Buy with caution.
Addendum: I do think squeaky toys have a place in your arsenal of top safe dog toys. My current foster dog is soothed by squeaky toys. That said, I’m sitting right beside her while she’s enjoying these type toys and the minute I see any damage, I either patch it with needle and thread, or the toy goes in the trash.
4. Fluffy Stuffed Toys: I’m such a meanie! No fluffy bunny rabbit for snuggling? But here’s the thing: People spend a ton of money in emergency veterinary care due to the ingestion of foreign objects and gut obstructions. Your rescue organization is busting tail to secure donor dollars. And when it has to be spent on emergency surgery, another dog doesn’t get what they need because of emergency care that might have been avoided. Your job as a foster parent is the safety and well-being of this rescued dog. Until you are confident that you don’t have a toy destroying, fluff-eating pooch, don’t pile on the stuffed toys.
5. Antlers: Dogs can break their teeth on antlers. I cannot recommend them. The harder Nylabones (not mentioned above) reportedly are also a culprit, so purchase those with caution. If you want a yummy “edible” chew for your pet, consider made in U.S.A. Bully Sticks or Himalayan Yak Chews. I cannot give my dogs bully sticks. At all. While bully sticks are considered relatively safe and easily digested, swallowing a bully stick whole isn’t a good thing. Both of my dogs swallowed their bully sticks whole. Both were fine, but I won’t chance it again. No more bully sticks for them!
There you have it – my recommendations on the top safe dog toys for foster dogs and which ones I use with caution, and which ones I avoid altogether. Keep those precious foster dogs safe. Choose your dog toys wisely.
I have mentioned my personal experience with toys where appropriate. I make my recommendations and cautions based on my personal opinion and personal experience. I urge active supervision ALWAYS when your foster dog is engaged in play. If you have feedback on any of the toys I’ve recommended, I’d love to hear from you!
Do you have toys or chews that you love or reject? Drop me a line in comments or email!
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