No matter how we may long for safety guarantees for our well-loved pets, life offers few guarantees. Or as my father used to say, “Death and taxes are the only sure things in life.”  However true that might be, there are certainly sensible things we can do to reduce the risks inherent in life without hysterically dwelling on hypothetical or vastly overblown hazards. Do toys for pets represent a safety hazard? Yes.  Should we ban pet toys from our homes? Absolutely not!

During the holidays, gift-giving is an enjoyable part of our celebrations, and, of course, we include our pets in the fun.  Who hasn’t been enchanted to see a puppy ripping apart the wrappings on a new squeaky toy or a senior’s old eyes light up when she digs a favorite treat out of the toe of her stocking.  While generally not as demonstrative, our cats leaping to catch a new wand toy or discovering a fresh catnip mouse to attack will always bring smiles to our faces. We love to give gifts to our pets, and they love to receive gifts from us. So to keep gift-giving as fun and safe as we can this season let’s observe some basic toy safety tips.

Tip #1

Know your dog’s play style. Is he rambunctious or quiet, an aggressive chewer or a mild chewer? Does he try to hide the toy and come back to it later when he isn’t under your supervision? Will he return a toy to you upon request or quickly try to swallow or run away with it? All of these styles will indicate appropriate toys for your unique pet. But remember, if your dog cannot be trusted to return a toy to you when asked to do so, that dog should never be left alone with toys of any type because sooner or later he’ll probably choak, chip a tooth, or have a nasty (and very expensive) stomach blockage. Training your dog to the command “Give” or “Drop it” is a very smart idea for pet safety.

Tip #2

It is always best to supervise even the most trusted dogs and cats with toys. Enjoy your playtime, have great games, and before your pet becomes bored take the toy away and put it in an inaccessible location. This heightens your pet’s interest in his toys and reinforces his belief that all great things come from you!

Tip #3

Ignore so-called experts that give blanket warnings, such as, all hard toys are bad, never let your dogs play with stuffed toys, all bones will kill your pet, sticks are forbidden, etc. Honestly, unless the toys are made with toxic materials (Watch out! Some are) or are obviously too small or too easily shredded and quickly swallowed, most toys are quite safe under supervision. My three dogs love to play three-way tug games with stuffed toys. I’ll be in the living room reading while they tap dance across the oriental rug growling, pulling and scattering fluff everywhere. At a certain point (I know my dogs) I glance over, put down my book, rescue what is left of the toy, pick up the fluff before they have a chance to eat it and now that they are tired it’s nap time.  And trying to tell my dogs not to play with sticks while they are rollicking under my cedar tree is laughable.

To keep our pets perfectly safe is an impossibility. Life simply doesn’t work that way. Pet toys provide needed mental stimulation. They help relieve anxiety and boredom by re-directing energy and satisfying the pet’s natural instincts to grab, chase, run, chew, and tug. Because some negligent people drive when they are intoxicated doesn’t mean we all give up driving. It’s the same with toys for our pets. Be aware of risks, be smart and sensible, and don’t let fear rule you and your pets’ lives.  To minimize hazards –know your pets.  That means choosing toys appropriate to their size and play style and entering into the pure, silly fun with them.  Channel your own inner puppy or kitty and have a great time playing with your pets and their favorite toys this holiday and every day.