One of our favorite activities is playtime! Labrador Retrievers are very playful and energetic by nature, since we love any activity involving toys.
The best toys for us are toys that are interesting, while providing a stimulating interactive experience.
Some toys are designed for human-and-dog playtime, while other toys are specifically designed to keep us entertained while being left alone.
Each dog is different, and may have different preferences for the type and texture of their favorite toy.
Toys are also very useful for preventing destructive behavior, since this can be a result of boredom or feeling neglected.
Choosing A Safe Toy Though many of the toys on the market today are specifically designed with your dog's safety in mind, it's very important to still use caution when shopping for a dog toy.
If you have a particularly strong or energetic toy, smaller or less durable toys may become broken, creating dangerous ingestible pieces.
Avoid any toys that are made of a potentially breakable material, as well as toys that may rip or tear into pieces.
When buying cloth toys, be sure that they are made with non-toxic materials and dyes.
Plastic dog toys may still contain potentially harmful toxic materials, depending on the dog toy company's safety standards.
The best thing to do is thoroughly research dog toy brands, and only purchase from trusted companies.
Playtime needs to involve safety cautions as well, and you want to ensure that your dog will be able to play without any potential hazards.
Comfort Toys Comfort toys are usually designed specifically for indoor playtime.
These types of toys are usually made of a cloth-like or nylon material, sometimes being stuffed with stuffing or other materials.
These are your Labrador's toys for shaking and carrying around the house.
Most Labradors have an instinctual desire to carry or shake stuffed toys, which is a result of their hunting instinct.
These types of toys are not as durable as outdoor active toys, since they are designed for indoors.
A comfort toy is also usually the best toy to place near your dog's sleeping area to help them feel more at home.
Active Toys This type of toy is designed for high-energy, energetic outdoor playtime.
This type of toy is great for dog-to-human interactive playtime.
These toys can be use for fetching, tug-of-war, or keep-away games.
Active toys are designed to be extremely durable, very resistant to breaking or being damaged outdoors.
Ideally, an active toy should last quite a long time.
Try to choose active outdoor toys that are made of durable rubber, or materials that can be left outdoors without being damaged by temperature and weather.
Edible Toys Edible chews are also called "Distraction toys" since they are usually designed to keep your Labrador Retriever busy without direct interaction.
These chews are ideal for times when you have to leave your dog alone for a period of time, since they can reduce instances of separation anxiety.
A good distraction toy can also help prevent the destructive behavior that some dogs will display when left alone.
Many edible dog chews are available at pet supply stores.
Depending on how long you want the toy to last, there are many different materials to choose from.
Small rawhide and meal-based chews are able to be consumed within a short amount of time, while bones, large rawhide toys, or other large edible chews will be able to occupy your dog's attention for a significant period of time.
If you wish to use an edible dog chews as a treat, it's best to use an easily consumable toy that will offer instant gratification.
Sometimes, you can create an edible dog yourself! The easiest way to use this is to use one of the durable "beehive-shaped" rubber dog toys that are popular at pet supply stores.
These toys are made of high-density rubber, and won't shred or break.
Most of these chews usually have a hole that goes through the center of the toy, which you can fill with meat paste, peanut butter, or another edible material.
Your dog will spend a significant amount of time trying to lick the edible substance, which may keep them entertained for hours! As with all edible chews, this can make a mess, so is best enjoyed outdoors.
The best toys for us are toys that are interesting, while providing a stimulating interactive experience.
Some toys are designed for human-and-dog playtime, while other toys are specifically designed to keep us entertained while being left alone.
Each dog is different, and may have different preferences for the type and texture of their favorite toy.
Toys are also very useful for preventing destructive behavior, since this can be a result of boredom or feeling neglected.
Choosing A Safe Toy Though many of the toys on the market today are specifically designed with your dog's safety in mind, it's very important to still use caution when shopping for a dog toy.
If you have a particularly strong or energetic toy, smaller or less durable toys may become broken, creating dangerous ingestible pieces.
Avoid any toys that are made of a potentially breakable material, as well as toys that may rip or tear into pieces.
When buying cloth toys, be sure that they are made with non-toxic materials and dyes.
Plastic dog toys may still contain potentially harmful toxic materials, depending on the dog toy company's safety standards.
The best thing to do is thoroughly research dog toy brands, and only purchase from trusted companies.
Playtime needs to involve safety cautions as well, and you want to ensure that your dog will be able to play without any potential hazards.
Comfort Toys Comfort toys are usually designed specifically for indoor playtime.
These types of toys are usually made of a cloth-like or nylon material, sometimes being stuffed with stuffing or other materials.
These are your Labrador's toys for shaking and carrying around the house.
Most Labradors have an instinctual desire to carry or shake stuffed toys, which is a result of their hunting instinct.
These types of toys are not as durable as outdoor active toys, since they are designed for indoors.
A comfort toy is also usually the best toy to place near your dog's sleeping area to help them feel more at home.
Active Toys This type of toy is designed for high-energy, energetic outdoor playtime.
This type of toy is great for dog-to-human interactive playtime.
These toys can be use for fetching, tug-of-war, or keep-away games.
Active toys are designed to be extremely durable, very resistant to breaking or being damaged outdoors.
Ideally, an active toy should last quite a long time.
Try to choose active outdoor toys that are made of durable rubber, or materials that can be left outdoors without being damaged by temperature and weather.
Edible Toys Edible chews are also called "Distraction toys" since they are usually designed to keep your Labrador Retriever busy without direct interaction.
These chews are ideal for times when you have to leave your dog alone for a period of time, since they can reduce instances of separation anxiety.
A good distraction toy can also help prevent the destructive behavior that some dogs will display when left alone.
Many edible dog chews are available at pet supply stores.
Depending on how long you want the toy to last, there are many different materials to choose from.
Small rawhide and meal-based chews are able to be consumed within a short amount of time, while bones, large rawhide toys, or other large edible chews will be able to occupy your dog's attention for a significant period of time.
If you wish to use an edible dog chews as a treat, it's best to use an easily consumable toy that will offer instant gratification.
Sometimes, you can create an edible dog yourself! The easiest way to use this is to use one of the durable "beehive-shaped" rubber dog toys that are popular at pet supply stores.
These toys are made of high-density rubber, and won't shred or break.
Most of these chews usually have a hole that goes through the center of the toy, which you can fill with meat paste, peanut butter, or another edible material.
Your dog will spend a significant amount of time trying to lick the edible substance, which may keep them entertained for hours! As with all edible chews, this can make a mess, so is best enjoyed outdoors.