Don’t forget to stock up on appropriate dog treats and toys for your new bundle of fur!
Preparing for your new puppy takes a bit of planning and knowledge. You’ve probably remembered the basics; you can doublecheck here with Chewy’s handy checklist: “Dog Supplies for the First 36 Hours.” Below let’s focus on the dog treats and toys you also need for your new pup.
Dog Toys Offer More than Just Fun
Of course, the right toys provide hours of physical exercise and mental stimulation for the young puppy who is learning all about his new world.
But toys also provide a puppy (and adult dog) with mental exercise and stimulation as well as motivation and positive reinforcement for wanted behaviors.
Toys like treat dispensers and snuffle mats engage your puppy to search with his nose and even solve puzzles with tasty rewards! (Check out the different dog puzzle games by Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound here.)
Toys Your Puppy Needs: 2 Types
Below, Brandy Girot of East Valley K9 Services explains the differences between the two types of toys for puppies:
- Engagement Toys
- Self-Entertainment Toys
Engagement Toys
These toys are meant for you to engage with your puppy. These toys also create easy training opportunities like:
- “Take it”
- “Drop it”
- “Get it”
- “Bring it”
The ChuckIt! Ball Launcher provides wonderful interactive play with your puppy (long after your energy has given out)!
Also, consider toys that are soft but not stuffed (like the ones listed below) along with tug-of-war toys to actively engage your puppy’s focus and attention.
These toys will become a “high-value” item to your dog. If your puppy is not food or treat-driven, a high-value toy can provide both the motivation and positive reinforcement in place of an edible treat.
Self-Entertainment Toys
These dog toys are meant for puppies to entertain themselves while in their crate, pen or bed. In other words when you are not directly supervising them. They help expend energy and are an acceptable toy for puppies to satisfy their need to chew (while helping to clean their teeth)!
• Chew toys like the JW Pet Chompion Dog Toy
• Chew toys like Starmark Everlasting Tough Dog Chew Toy (pictured)
Puppies are chewing fanatics for a few reasons. Chewing helps relieves the pain from teething but puppies also chew to learn about the world around them. Avoid unwanted destructive chewing by making sure your puppy has plenty of safe, size-appropriate toys to chew! Rotate the toys so they are always new and enticing for your puppy. This simple idea will help protect your furniture, shoes and clothes and other items you do not want to be destroyed by a curious, young canine.
Dog Treats Offer Motivation & Reinforcement
Treats are wonderful, positive rewards for reinforcing wanted behavior during training with your puppy. Find healthy treats that are of “high-value” to your dog to make training easier and more rewarding. Try foods like string cheese or hot dogs cut into tiny pieces. You can also use healthy and low-calorie fruits and veggies you already have as rewards (cut into small pieces).
Or another healthy choice like Merrick’s Power Bites Real Salmon.
Avoid using full-size dog treats to prevent excess weight gain and always use any treats in moderation and include the calories in your puppy’s daily caloric count.
ARKANSAS BEAR CREEK GOLDENS AND DOODLES
We are a small family breeder located in the heart of the Ozarks in Northern Arkansas. We strive to raise healthy, happy, well-socialized, quality Golden Retriever, Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, Mini Labradoodle, and Aussiedoodle puppies.
All our puppies come with a health guarantee for their first 12 months of age.
Please text or call us at 870-404-0127 or 870-404-1189 or use our Contact Form here for more information about upcoming litters.
