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Dog toys are often thought of as superfluous pet supplies. To the contrary, providing dog toys for your canine is as important as treating your dog with Frontline or even purchasing pet insurance! Not only can dog toys be used for training your furry friend, but they can be powerful aids in behavior modification, stress relief and even dental health.

The following are factors to consider when you are choosing dog toys.

Interaction
Having numerous specialized dog toys can increase the life of the toys in your collection and stimulate different types of interactions between your dog and other dog playmates, the dog and its owner, and the dog when it plays alone. A dog who plays alone will want his very own toy not to share; where as larger, robust toys are perfect for dogs to interact with each other with.

Environment Specific
Make sure you are providing your canine toys specific to the environments they will encounter. Dog toys that work well in water environments such as pools, lakes and streams will float and be easy for a dog to retrieve when the toy is wet. Colors that stand-out against the fauna of your local playscape is also easier for the dog to discover (or you to find if the dog "misplaces" the toy).

Breed Specific
Another factor in choosing dog toys is the breed of your dog. Different breeds have different needs and abilities and being aware of your dog breed's attributes is very important before you purchase its dog toys. A certain breed's strength, size, and mentality can dictate a perfect fit in the toys you choose. If you have a teacup yorkie, purchasing a 2 pound rubber dummy is not a practical toy for your breed but would be perfect for a golden retriever.

Stimulating the Senses
Senses stimulation is another characteristic of a dog toy that not everyone might think of. Some dogs like things that fly, some dogs like things that bounce in different directions, some dogs like puzzles and some dogs like the thrill of sniffing out their favorite toys. Sometimes you can define a dog's stimulation by breed, but personalities definitely show when it comes to a canines individual motivation.

Training Tools
Dog toys are powerful training tools. Whether you are trying to teach a dog to fetch, or trying to modify a behavior that is unhealthy to a dog or its environment, choosing the right dog toy can definitely speed up the process.