My sister’s dog has too many toys.

The dog, Dax, joined the family earlier this year. Since then, she has accumulated at least 30 squeakers, projectiles, and other dog-a-ma-things to keep man and beast occupied, with more materializing seemingly every day.

There’s the cow, the hedgehog, the giant stuffed snake; the treat-ball, the hot dog, the neon-furred fluffy ball … thing.

Dax’s favourite is a squishy yellow rubber lion named Lion, my sister tells me in an email.

“She’s never too far from Lion! I think she may think it’s her puppy or her friend.”

My sister said she has probably spent about $450 on toys for Dax so far.

“I need at least three different toys a day,” she explained, or Dax gets bored and makes her own toys out of socks or drywall. She rotates through the toys so neither of them gets bored.

Is she right? Or is Dax just spoiled?

I’m a squirrel fan, not a dog person, so I turned to some dog specialists for some answers.

Kaytie Stack of St. Albert’s K9 Awareness dog daycare chuckled when I described Dax’s toy collection, and said it is very common for owners to shower their pets with stuff.

“I have one owner and I think she has six collars for her dog.”

Christine Wales of CW Canine Consulting, which has a branch office at the St. Albert Mr. Pet’s, said the number of dog toys in a home is often inversely proportional to the number of kids.

“Dogs in homes without any kids, they get spoiled rotten!”

Stack said toys help keep dogs from getting bored and destroying your home.

But you don’t need a $158 Fausta dog toy to keep Fido entertained. Stack said you can get a decent toy for $7 to $80.

“Just like a cat loves a cardboard box, you can give a dog something that doesn’t cost very much,” Stack said — consider the simple ball, for example.

Your dog’s breed will shape what toys it likes, Wales said. Hunting breeds will prefer squeakers, as they sound like wounded prey. Clever ones, such as most poodle mixes, thrive on puzzles, while chewers want something durable to gnaw upon.

Dog toys generally fall into four categories, Stack said: chewable, for stress relief; throwable, for exercise; enrichment, for brain stimulation; and soft, for comfort. She recommended starting with one of each to see which ones your dog favors. Look for dense, tough, durable toys made by companies such as Kong or West Paw so your pet won’t accidentally swallow and choke on bits of them.

Never leave your dog alone with a toy, as they can easily destroy them, Wales said. Avoid toys meant for humans, as they can be easily shredded or swallowed, and stay clear of laser pointers, which can cause distress and injury.

It’s easy for owners to get carried away when it comes to buying dog toys, Stack said.

“The dog doesn’t care [about quantity]. They’re quite happy playing with toys they’ve had for 10 years.”

Instead of buying more toys, come up with new ways to use them, Wales suggested. Instead of just handing a toy over, for example, hide it under a basket or in a box so the dog can figure out how to get it. These activities strengthen your bond with your dog and exercise their minds and bodies.  

Wales said to keep no more than five toys out at once lest your dog become overwhelmed with choice. You can also cycle through your toys regularly so your dog will be surprised when an old favourite returns. If you have too many toys, donate some to other owners or dog rescue groups.

My sister says Dax will play with almost any toy and has recently learned to bury them in the snow.

Judging from my parents’ recent complaints about defective squeakers, I’m pretty sure Dax is getting more things to bury for Christmas.

About the Author: Kevin Ma

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