oh the toys and tribulations

So...it has been an ongoing trend here in the store and with some of my cronies in the biz that people assume that dog toys are indestructable.
I usually try and make it as clear as I can for those big guys...you know the ones...with affectedly low voices and with a swagger that might suggest a bit more bulk and masculinity than is really hanging from his 5'2'' frame..the ones who really,really have to have as mean as possibly allowable looking dog...you know the ones. They are the ones who say as loudly as they can "oh Killer would go through that in 2 minutes..heh heh heh". To which I respond..."yeh for 50 bucks so can I" which usually gets a giggle from their friends or girlfriend.
All kidding aside...dogs for the most part are working animals. From the small breeds who take after the task of ratting and or other vermin control to larger breeds who herd or guard there is a work ethic inbred in our canine friends. This leads to a few types of play with regard to "toys".
First of all...Rover doesnt know that the pink rubber football that you spent a good amount of money on is any different than ....say a smart pink pump that you might wear on the weekend unless you train him to know the difference. (more on that in other blogs) He also does not know the difference between a toy and a chew toy...but you do. Dogs don't know toys from tools to play with. To some dogs everything is a toy. For some dogs nothing is unless its interactive.
I always suggest and ask my staff to explain that dogs will want to get somewhere with a toy. That means either a game is involved or they want to destroy the thing which is doing some kind of work with it. Sometimes that means a repeated fetching excercise or frisbee play time or laying in his/her bed and chomping away at something that vaguely smells of rubber and bacon.
Now some toys are meant to be chewed for different reasons...like "bully bones' or as we like to call them the "peepee" bones (often made from from stretched and dried bull penis {hee hee he said 'penis'} which made up primarily of the spongiform tissue which breaks down easily with chewing and in their system..UNLIKE rawhide chews)
Other toys that are meant to be chewed are the "kong" type which you can put biscuits inside along with other materials for them to chew and get a treat while massaging their gums as well as the other types of organic chews like 'greenies".
Toys that are not meant to be chewed repeatedly and disemboweled are anything stuffed, upholtered or furry with a face (most especially kids dolls or teddy bears with eyes or other bits that can be chewed off and swallowed) One of the fun toys on the market it called Skinneeez which is a non stuffed animal that looks something like a pelt a trapper just skinned..without all the innards that Spot would just rip out anyway...very popular this last Christmas.
Good stuffed toys that are fun to play with from reputable pet stores are made of materials that are much safer that actual kids toys.
Most other types of toys are to be played with...and then taken away from the dog until next play time as ......there....is......no....such...thing....as an....indestructable toy.
I'll probably reiterate that point in many blogs at later dates.
Any question on the subject or tips please don't hesitate to email or comment on the blog.
Cheers.