The right toy suits both your dog's size and the way they play. Some dogs carry toys gently; others chase them or immediately pull at seams. Start with what your dog actually does.
Consider both size and shape
A toy should be easy to hold, but not small enough to fit entirely into the dog's mouth and be swallowed. Length alone is not enough: consider the width and shape too. Breed and body weight are only a starting point.
PuppyToys offers 36 cm and 47 cm mallard ducks and a 40.6 cm octopus. A longer toy is not automatically suitable for every large dog or for vigorous chewing.
Match the toy to the game
- Carrying and gentle play: a soft toy may suit a dog that holds it without tearing it.
- Fetch: choose something your dog can pick up and bring back comfortably.
- Gentle tug: choose a toy you and your dog can hold comfortably at the same time and follow the product instructions.
- Hard chewing: choose a product intended for that use. A soft play toy may not withstand it.
Introduce it calmly
Remove labels and packaging, let your dog sniff the toy and try a short supervised game. If they tear the fabric or pull off parts, stop and offer a more suitable activity.
Keep checking its condition
Reinforced seams do not make a toy indestructible. Check seams and protruding parts during play, and take damaged toys out of use. Check that the toy is still a suitable size as your puppy grows.