Dog toys must be safe and strong. They shouldn’t have sharp edges or little bits that can be easily chewed off and swallowed. They should be tough enough to hold up to aggressive chewing without splintering. Toys should also be the right size for your dog – not too small that they can swallow the entire toy and not too big that they can’t mouth it. Some good toys include:

Tennis Balls
Although rumor has it that these balls were invented for the game of tennis, they also make great dog toys. Tennis balls are easy to throw, bounce on landing and most dogs love them. Dispose of any balls that are getting torn, so your dog doesn’t swallow any felt or rubber pieces.

Other Balls
Play only with balls that are safe for your dog. Don’t play with golf balls (too hard and too small), wiffle balls (teeth can get caught in the holes and are easily chewed up) or baseballs (too hard and are easily chewed up). Make sure the ball is small enough for your dog to grab easily and large enough to prevent swallowing it.

Chew Toys
Most dogs can safely chew on rawhide bones, but still supervise your dog’s interaction with them. Some dogs are greedy and try to swallow pieces that are too large, possibly causing them to choke. Hard rubber or nylon bones make specifically for dogs to chew on are usually safe.

Kong Toys
These toys look like little snowmen. When thrown, they bounce in all directions, making retrieving games more fun and challenging. Kongs are also hollow, allowing you to stuff them with peanut butter, cheese whiz, etc., keeping your dog occupied and out of trouble for quite a while.

Squeaky Toys and Stuffed Toys
These toys are great fun as long as your dog isn’t destructive. Some dogs will play with these toys just for the enjoyment of listening to them squeak. Other dogs will immediately try to “kill” the squeaker, and in the process chew up the toy. Besides making a mess, your dog could choke on pieces of the toy if they happen to swallow them.

Rope Tug Toys
These toys are fun for two dogs to play with together or for you to throw as a retrieving toy. However, don’t use a rope toy and play tug-o-war with your dog. This teaches them to use their strength against you, which isn’t a good lesson for them to learn. Be cautious with this toy if your dog likes to chew things up as they can easily swallow strings chewed off the toy.