Dogs like treats – perhaps the understatement of the century? It’s really no secret that no healthy dog can resist a treat and when it comes to the sheer variety on the market, it’s almost impossible to find something they won’t wolf-down in the space of a few seconds. Needless to say, some doggy treats are far healthier than others, but what if there was a way of providing your dog with the treat of his dreams while at the same time giving him a little much-needed exercise? After all, there’s really no such thing as a dog that’s too fit and active, so how can you use treats to help?
Well, according to the experts at www.digbysdogplanet.co.uk the answer is simple – invest in a high-quality treat-dispensing toy and let the games begin! That being said, there are literally thousands of the things on the market and not all are cut from the same cloth…quite literally, in many cases. They’re all designed to make getting to the treats a challenge, but in terms of quality, convenience and even safety, there’s a big divide between competing products and producers.
So in order to help you make the right decision, here’s a quick rundown of what you should bear in mind when buying or ordering one of these ultra-beneficial dog toys:
1 – Durability Matters
First of all, if you think that the average dog toys endures a lot of punishment, just wait until you see what happens when there’s a treat hiding in there! The whole point of these kinds of toys is that the dog is encouraged to really go for it with his or her efforts to get to the good stuff on the inside. So naturally, they’ll do their best to tear it to pieces or at least bash it around the place a fair bit. As such, it’s of crucial importance to choose a toy that isn’t going to fall apart – those that do so somewhat defeating the primary purpose of buying one!
2 – Easy Cleaning
Be sure to see what’s said about the toy you plan to pick up as while it may do its job just fine, it may be nigh-on impossible to clean. Really the last thing you want is to end up with a toy that’s unusable having become so crammed with bits of rotten treats from days gone by, though this is indeed the case with some lower-end treat dispensers. Some are even dishwasher safe, so it’s a good idea to make sure it can be cleaned with ease for the benefit of both you and your dog alike.
3 – Healthy Treats
Something else to check is the exact kinds of treats that can or should be used with the toy, as it’s no secret that some are healthier than others. Just as is the case with humans, it’s never a good idea to overdo it with the calories or fat, so try to find a dispenser that’s been designed to work best with healthy treats. Of course, many are universally suitable to pretty much everything, which will mean it will come down to you to make the right choice.
4 – Size
Another matter of importance is that of size, as these kinds of toys are made in various sizes for the different sizes of dogs out there. Buy a toy that’s too small and they’ll either swallow or destroy it, while a toy that’s too big might make it far too easy for the dog to get the treats out with no real fuss. Check the specifications and recommendations that accompany the toy in order to ensure you make the right decision – it’s usually made pretty clear in the product description.
5 – Non-Toxic Materials
Last but not least, it’s almost unheard of these days for businesses to use even the slightest traces of toxic materials when creating toys for dogs. Nevertheless, some barrel-bottom brands continue to cut corners in order to save costs, which is why it’s of crucial importance to not only shop for brands you can trust, but also to make sure that assurances are made about the exclusive use of non-toxic materials. It’s simply a case of not taking anything for granted and asking the right questions if unsure – especially when buying online.
While even the best treat dispensing toys cannot replace a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, they can certainly make a difference to your dog’s health and wellbeing. If unsure as to which toy to buy, speak to a vet or contact a quality pet store online.