Ideal Bite

The Tips suggested today for Pet Toys have some iffy Pros and Cons attached to them. Using socks as Dog toys CAN also encourage your pup to go after YOUR socks. They don't have the mental agility to always tell the difference. (Point in case: I used OLD washcloths, wet & frozen, for my Hannah's TEETHING. She still will pull ANY wash cloth from the clothes basket (or anywhere else) to lay and chew on) Also, packing Peanuts might be fun for your cat, but if you also have dogs, they will sometimes EAT the packing peanuts, often requiring surgery to remove them as they block the intestines. I don't know specifically what the recycled bottle stuffing is..the consistency of it, but this should also be checked out before you give it to your dog because if they love ripping up their toys, and if the stuffing (from recycled plastic bottles) is made of of thin, sharp bits...there could be a problem with the dog ingesting them, which might not bode well for the intestines, or stomach or bowel. These are probably great toys and these potential concerns may already have been addressed by the manufacturer. I have 30 years experience training dogs and horses, and I just tend to look at what could go wrong, before it does as preventative means. I want to try and set my animals up for SUCCESS. As you might guess, I would have to rethink the idea of using a frozen washcloth for teething!

Great store that carries tons of cat toys is Plain Brown Tabby. http://www.catniptoys.com/

lol! my dog has her very own towel that she loves dragging around and chewing on. I gave an old one to her bc she kept trying to steal the ones hanging up in the bathroom.

The only thing my dog will chew on are large bones like: http://www.merrickpetcare.com/store/treats_detail.php?c=22&s=78016 She isn't a big fan of toys and isn't very active due to getting kicked in the hip by a horse, about 8 years ago. She does however like to lay near the couch on her bed and chew on her bone. We've tried smaller bones but she is a 80 lb. Black Lab so nothing else lasts more than a couple of minutes.

My cat loves to play with the rings off of milk jugs or the plastic pull tabs in orange juice cartons. He will bat those all around the house.He also loves to get the light-we play with him using a mirror to reflect the sunlight on the kitchen floor.He goes crazy trying to get it. He's 14 this month but still plays like a kitten.

I had a hamster once, years ago, who got out of his cage and ate styrofoam packing peanuts. I held him as he screamed (I had no idea hamsters could scream) from the pain of the styrofoam expanding inside his little body for several hours and finally died. The new corn starch peanuts will dissolve, but styrofoam is extremely dangerous and NEVER a good idea to give any pet (or young child) to play with.

I found a source of good, loose catnip online, which I buy by the pound. My cats adore it! I stuff a handful into a clean white cotton sock, tie the open end in a knot and give one to each. They adore them and play with them until they look really nasty. Then I make new ones! Please don't give your pet of any kind anything unnatural.

Not to be a crab but many trainers recommend NOT playing tug of war games with your dog. I am sold on the training systems recommended by the Monks of New Skete ( How to be you Dog's Best Friend, The Art of Raising a Puppy) and they say that tug of war type games encourage agression in dogs and teach them to pit themselves against you rather than defer to your authority. Maybe this only applies to to large working dogs. I have followed their suggestions and have a HUGE shepherd that is very mellow and devoted. I do use recycled things for fetch toys and the "love toys" that he carries around. His fav is a plush soccer ball that I bought for my son 12 years ago. It is the size of a real soccer ball and it fits easily in his mouth! So if you want a mellow dog consider NOT playing tug of war. The cat nip in socks thing works great with our cats too. And by the way my big dog does not chase cats either.

My trainer and most things I've read, say do not play tug or wrestle with a dog. Wrestling is done to show dominance, even if in play. Tug should only be played if it is a forward-backward motion and the dog will release the toy when given a command (i.e., drop it). Tug should be stopped immediately if there is a side-to-side movement. This is a sign of aggression.

Actually it CAN foster some aggression. HOWEVER..that being said there are also BENEFICIAL factors to playing tug-a-war with some dogs! A very shy dog or one that lacks confidence will often respond favorably to playing this lively game. Sometimes they have to be encouraged to actively participate if they are REALLY SUPER INHIBITED...or have developed deeper fears. The trick to playing with this type of pup or dog...is TO LET THEM WIN most of the time...this boosts their self-confidence! When you play this game and then add Positive Reinforcement training (praise and treats) it not only gives the dog acceptable behaviors to do, it gives the dog opportunities to SUCCEED at life...this helps to remove the lack of confidence, build the self-esteem AND cut way back on a shy dog becoming a "fear bitter." With a pup that is overflowing with confidence, one who is fond of always having things his/her own way, one who is not quick to properly respond to commands that they have learned and mastered...I would NOT play this game...they are already full of themselves and so do not need a lot of "EGO BUILDING!" This type of dog needs positive reinforcement to becoming PART OF THE TEAM...of YOU and the dog! He or she needs to realize the VALUE of working WITH YOU to do correct, trained behaviors upon request! I would say that if your dog is quick to drop things ON COMMAND...(an advanced level of training!) then you and your dog have a GREAT relationship and a wonderful understanding in your communications. Your dog has learned that doing what is told results in some sort of REWARD, which means you've done a great job and have a bright, willing dog! (I would hope as opposed to some sort of punishment for not complying...the positive is always better, although the negative will often get results...the usual case is not as accountable as the positive!) I judge each individual dog before making any suggestions such as "never do or always do." Some dogs will benefit from this game...some will not...you have to look at the individual dog, in my opinion...if it will cause no harm or impede the dog's GOOD behaviors being done...I say have fun! Drop it is one of the BEST commands we can teach our dogs...along with LEAVE IT! Right up there with Sit and Come!