Your Puppy Likes to Play; What Should You Give Them?
Getting to know a new puppy is an experience like no other. Devoting time to them not only shapes their behavior, but cultivates cognitive skills, trust, and confidence. The best way to accomplish this is to meet your puppy where they’re at. Chances are, your puppy likes to play. By furnishing them with age-appropriate toys, you are controlling their development (and saving a few shoes at a time).
Delightful and Sociable
Puppies act almost exclusively on instinct. Their nose, ears, tongue, and eyes guide every step of the journey from infancy to their first birthday. Normal puppy behavior involves a fair amount of running amok, biting or nipping, barking or growling, all with a goofy air that endears them to us. We recommend brushing up on appropriate canine body language to establish a baseline for certain aspects of play or aggression. Keep an eye on these to prevent injury or inadvertent reinforcement.
For best results, try to ignore unwanted behaviors and praise certain actions you want repeated. To reduce the chance of finding trouble, conduct a daily sweep of the home to remove items that could endanger them.
Let’s Talk Teeth
Teething puppies need to chew. Toys designed to provide a safe, desirable place to chew can help minimize their discomfort (like this freezable chew toy). These toys can provide them immediate relief from teething, and keeps your house and clothing safe from their curious mouths.
Teething toys are excellent to give puppies around the age of 4 months, or when their adult molars are breaking through the gums. It isn’t a good idea to furnish them with toys that resemble items you do not want them to chew on, like a shoe. Be sure that whatever your puppy chews on cannot become a choking hazard.
Always supervise your puppy during playtime, and store these items out of their reach when you’re not home. Inspect them every day for any damage and rotate toys out to protect your puppy from a foreign body obstruction or choking incident.
Puppy Likes to Play
Your puppy’s breed, age, and personality will influence which toys they like the most. Sometimes, depending on their mood, your puppy will prefer a food puzzle. Other times, they’ll jump at the chance to physically challenge themselves (and you, too!). Take your cues from them and never force them to engage in a style of play.
Long-Term Style
Your puppy’s play style may change as they age. This is perfectly normal and reflects their development. Be sure to constantly update their toy bin to meet all of their age-appropriate mental and physical needs.
If we can assist you with questions or concerns about what your puppy likes to play, give us a call at (615) 356‑8993. The Urban Pet is always happy to help!