Why Do Dogs Love Squeaky Toys So Much?
Dogs are intelligent creatures that love mental stimulation and physical play. Giving your dog ample opportunities to engage in playful behavior and physical exercise is essential to keep it happy and healthy. Although walking your dog is essential to keep a dog healthy, it is the bare minimum, and many active dog breeds require more aggressive play sessions that satisfy their instincts. Squeaky toys are just perfect for satisfying the dog's play requirements and provide plenty of mental engagement to the dogs. If you want to make your dog's life more entertaining and healthier, then definitely consider buying some squeaky toys. In this blog, we will tell you why dogs love squeaky toys so much.
They Awaken a Dog's Hunting Instinct
Once upon a time, all dogs were wolves and totally wild animals. They hunted small game, for example, rats or rabbits, and were able to track the sound of their squeals amidst other noises of the forest. This urge to hunt is still present in modern dogs. It may sound quite appalling, but it is true and when your dog begins to pounce on the squeaky toy, it is fulfilling its predatory instinct as to him the squeak is like the terrified shout of a rodent or any other small mammal.
Boosts Self-Esteem with Hunting Achievement
Every time you listen to your favorite tune or have your favorite sweet, don't you feel a pleasure that is quite indescribable? Your dog gets the same satisfaction as it chews and bites into the rubber of the squeaky toy. Thus, when the toy produces the squeaking sound, the dog gets a sense of accomplishment of 'having caught the prey'. Squeaky toys are ideal toys for your dog and the fact that giving your pet an outlet to satisfy the wild urge makes the playtime even more enjoyable. I therefore believe there is a perfectly good reason why this particular toy is a favorite among dogs.
Sharpen Dog's Mental Agility
Dogs need to be engaged to be happy, or in other words, an occupied dog is a happy dog. Apart from that high pitch sound, these toys fascinate your pet and engage their mind in the process. The mental benefits do not only lie in the fact that it erases boredom; for the dogs, squeaky toys like these stimulate the problem solvers inside them, thereby enhancing their mental muscles, as quoted by Animal Wellness Magazine. The only thing that you need to ensure is that you monitor your dog as they play with it and remove it from them when it gets damaged.
Enable Socially Involved Play Session
Dogs are also social animals and like the company of human beings, especially if the human is the owner of the animal. Furthermore, dogs are very intelligent in the way they draw our attention towards themselves. A squeaky toy is rather noisy and as soon as you hear it you pay attention to it and the dog understands it as well. So, if a dog runs around with a toy that has a squeaker for the nth time then it is very probable that it is communicating that you join in the fun. This is especially so, if your dog is used to playing with you as opposed to, playing on his or her own. So, if you are relaxing on the sofa and your dog gets a squeaky toy and starts to play with it in your presence, then know the signal.
Bring Versatility to Play Activities
A squeaky toy is not just about offering an excellent opportunity to discharge a dog's wild spirit. Instead, they can also be thrown around to entertain your dog by fetching them on the floor or any other surface. Further, the squeaky toys come in different shapes and this makes it easy to bounce them around. To maintain its mental health, you can change the shape of the toy every time you play with your pet.
Choosing The Correct Squeaky Toys For Various Dog Breeds
Squeaky Toys for Puppies
Most squeaky toys types are suitable for puppies. However, keeping a close eye on the pup's playstyle is vital. If the puppy wants to rip the toy apart a different toy would be more suitable such as a toy which does not squeak.
Squeaky Toys for Terriers
Terriers are known for rough playing and have a tendency to tear the toys so for this dog breed squeaky toys that not stuffed are more appropriate. These toys are available in al sorts of shapes most popular are the octopus shaped ones.
Squeaky Toys for Spaniels and Retrievers
This particular dog breed has large jaws and so only large sized squeaky toys are the best for these dogs. Ducks and bird shaped squeaky toys that have large dimensions are more suitable for this breed.
Squeaky Toys for Tough Chewers
Many dog breeds are known for their powerful jaws such as bulldogs. These dogs can damge the normal squeaky toys and tougher toys are needed to withstand their crushing jaws. Hence opt for toys that are made of special materials that is really tough.
Conclusion
Squeaky toys stand out as adaptable and engaging pet entertainment. These toys serve as comprehensive tools for improving our pets' entire well-being, from giving mental stimulation to encouraging physical exercise and even contributing to dental health.
Remember that understanding your dog's preferences and demands is just as important as having a wide selection of squeaky toys. Finding the appropriate squeaky toy, whether it's a plush animal with an appealing squeak or a robust rubber toy built for eager chewing, adds a new layer of fun to your dog's life.
