Introducing Toys

[Bailey'sMommy]

Hello Guys!!!

Our mini doxie puppy does not come home until the week after Christmas and we are excitedly preparing for her (I CAN NOT WAIT)!!!

I have a "toy" question....when did you guys introduce your toys to your dogs? I know I need to have a few toys around when she first arrives (to teach her to chew on toys only, etc....), but did you just show a few to the dogs and leave them on the floor?

What did you have on hand when you first brought your Doxie home? I have read several posts re: mine didn't like kongs, mine rips the stuffing out of this....does this mean I should have a variety?

Any suggestions on specific brands/ types of toys would be appreciated!!!

[helen]

I have read several posts re: mine didn't like kongs, mine rips the stuffing out of this....does this mean I should have a variety?

I definitely think having a variety is a great idea. All dogs have different tastes, and that way you can see what she likes. (You dont' have to break the bank or anything, but maybe a plush toy, a chewy toy--a must, I think, etc.) Also, make sure to give her time, she may be too wrapped up in being a new place to take much notice of toys right away.

I'm sure others will have more suggestions. I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to see pictures of your new addition!

[Doxie Duo Mom]

We had several toys for Clay from day 1 (she was 6 weeks when we got her, bad now I know) soft, rubber, chewey things and a ball, Clay loved her ball as a pup, she never fetch it, but she'd hold it for hours. I would suggest several textures for the dog to get use to them.

[Schatz's Mom]

When we first brought Schatz home at 9 weeks old I had a couple of stuffies, a 3 pack of the nylabone puppy bones, a few of the mini tennis balls and a puppy kong. He played with them all. As he got older I stopped giving him the nylabones because he would bite off the ends but as a new puppy they were great. He especially liked the dark blue one with little nubs on it for teething!

[Bobbiesmom]

We have toys for different occassions...Small tennis balls or squeaky balls for fetching and running, twisted ropes for tugging and pulling, squeaky stuffed animals for destuffing, Nylabones and Kongs for independent play (when hoomoom and hoodad have to do chores!).

We never have any problems introducing new toys...Bobbie always automatically assumes everything is hers! :rofl:

Good luck with toy shopping...It's fun & addictive!

[Penny & Mags]

We picked up a couple of things ahead of time, but once Penny arrived she got lots of gifts from family, friends and people at work. Some she liked, some she never bothered much with, but she ended up with her own little toybox! You might want to wait and see if you get showered with gifts before you pick up more than a toy or two.

My paranoia forces me to post this frightening warning, be really careful to supervise Bailey with stuffed toys, at least until you know if she's going to be an aggressive chewer. Just before Penny's first birthday she chewed up a stuffed toy (good quality - well known brand) and somehow swallowed a small piece of fleecey fabric with a long string attached to it. She ended up with a bowel obstruction that required surgery, antibiotics and several nights at the animal hospital.

The problem isn't with stuffed toys - plenty of dachsies love their soft, plush pals. Penny's just a really aggressive chewer. I still get stuffed toys for Mags, but we keep them in her pen where Penny can't get at them.

[Heide]

chewy toyz and also some stuffy toys. But Kamper showed me right away, I AM THE MASTER of DESTRUCTION......so no stuffed toys here. They have teething rings and things like that. :dizzy: Very durable things.
We are excited for you. Cant wait till the baby is home :hug2:

[SirOliversMom]

How exciting for you! I can hardly wait to see your new pup!! I suggest small stuffed toys to start. They like to sleep with them too while they're getting over being separated from their siblings during nap time.

[zoeysmom]

chewy toyz and also some stuffy toys. But Kamper showed me right away, I AM THE MASTER of DESTRUCTION......so no stuffed toys here. They have teething rings and things like that. :dizzy: Very durable things.
We are excited for you. Cant wait till the baby is home :hug2:


Zoey might give Kamper at run at the MASTER OF DESTRUCTION title:)

I even got one of these (http://www.edogtoy.com/pages/tiger_play.htm) - supposedly takes a tiger awhile to destroy the toy.

Zoey had the edges chewed off and was destuffing it within 15 minutes - though in fairness to the toy, it lasted longer than any other stuffie has.

[Love My Doxies]

Coco's very, very favorite toy has always been the stretchy doxie looking stuffed toy that has a rattle on one end and sqeakie on the other. He has never destuffed them even though he could if he wanted too. His first one he slept with, dragged it around. It was the smaller one and now is retired in a keepsake baggie. PetSmart came out with a bigger one so he has 2 of those so while one is in the wash, he's never without it. And they come out of the wash always intact. Other stuffed toys usually gets stitches when he's done playing. Shadow doesn't seem to have a favorite, but seems to prefer anything rubbery to chew.

[zoomomma1]

You should definitely provide a variety of toys until you know what your puppy likes. I would stay away from rawhide, it is not good for pups and I have had dogs that would get diarrhea from the stuff. I would also recommend a small tray or box that she can reach into to keep the toys in, eventually she will learn that those are her toys and know just where to go to play. Please post pics when you get her, I need another puppy fix. :D