Did you recently get a pet dog? If you answered yes, then you’re in for a wonderful time. A dog is a great addition to any family, as they provide good company both for adults and children. However, if you want your dog to fully enjoy living in your home, you should get him the right toys and accessories.
Before you grab the car keys and head to the nearest pet supplies shop, however, you have to know what exactly you need to buy for your pet. There are a lot of dog toys and accessories to choose from, and not all of them are a perfect fit for your new canine buddy. Initially, you may want to limit your shopping list to items that are most important for you and your dog. Here are a few that are worth considering.
Hard Rubber Toy
Let’s face it: as much as we want to spend time and play with our dogs, we can’t be with them 24/7. Many dogs tend to be very active, and our pets can easily get bored if they have nothing to do. If the dog is also relatively young, he might likewise have a tendency to chew on things. A bored dog with an urge to chew on stuff will be your furniture’s worst nightmare. To prevent a dog from chewing on stuff he’s not allowed to chew on, get him an indestructible dog toy that he can play with instead.
Hard rubber toys can keep your dog entertained for a long time. They’re tough enough to withstand hours and hours of chewing, and they tend to be more attractive to dogs than shoes, beds, and couches. However, make sure that you get the right size of rubber toy for your dog. It must be small enough that it can fit your dog’s mouth but big enough that your dog won’t be able to accidentally swallow and choke on it. Consider getting your pet one of those Kong type dog toys, within which you can put dog treats or peanut butter to keep your pet occupied.
While some dogs can be left alone with rubber toys, it’s still best to watch over your pet just to make sure they don’t try to eat these objects.
Tennis Ball
A rubber toy is good for keeping your dog busy when you’re not around, but you also want something you can use when you’re playing together outdoors. A tennis ball is the perfect toy for dog owners and their pets who want to play fetch, as the bounciness of the ball can be an irresistible draw for most dog breeds.
You have to keep in mind that tennis balls aren’t as tough as some hard rubber toys, though, as they aren’t really made for chewing and biting. After some time, a tennis ball can break into smaller pieces, so you have to replace worn-out ones as soon as possible. To keep things safe, never let your dog play with the tennis ball unattended.
Martingale Collar
A martingale collar for dogs is a type of collar that is designed to tighten just a bit if your dog is pulling too much on the leash. This type of collar is highly recommended because it gives you a lot more control over your dog when you’re outdoors. If you think your dog is too unruly or he tends to wander off when you’re out on a walk, a martingale collar should help fix the behavior.
Speaking of control, you might be tempted to get a pinch collar or chain slip collar, which are also popular for curbing unwanted dog behavior. However, these are not typically recommended by knowledgeable pet owners because they work by punishing the dog with painful mechanical reaction. Proper training using a good-quality martingale dog collar should be more than enough to rein in a rowdy canine.
Dog ID Tag
No matter how much we pay attention to our dogs, there will always be a risk that they can go missing. You need to make sure that anybody who finds your dog will know that he’s not a stray and that you are the owner. Attaching a plastic ID card to a collar isn’t a good idea because these things are too flimsy, and the print on them can fade over time. What you need is something more durable like a dog tag or a custom collar with a buckle that can be engraved with important details.
A dog tag or customized buckle should have all the necessary information to make sure your lost dog can be returned to you ASAP. It should have the dog’s name, your name, and your contact information. Since the text on a dog tag is typically laser engraved, you don’t have to worry about the information getting erased.
After getting the most important dog toys and accessories, you can then move on to purchasing other must-have items for a successful pet parenting. Make sure to get only top-quality and durable products so you’ll get the most mileage for your investment.
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Thanks for these tips. The collar might help Dudley on his trips out.