For a long time, toys seem to be exclusive to children.

But in recent years, with the vigorous development of the pet market (China's pet market exceeded 170.8 billion yuan in 2018 and is expected to exceed 200 billion yuan in 2019), pet toys have become more and more popular among consumers.

Some people say that the cost of keeping a pet is not necessarily less than the cost of raising a child. For example, most dog shovel officers buy some toys for their dogs, so that the dogs will not be too boring. This article introduces the nine favorite toy categories of dogs, which may provide new ideas for toy manufacturers to open up the market.

Such a "dog toy" may not be suitable~

Playing and biting are natural behaviors of dogs. Some dogs need more play and bites than others, and toys are essential to all dogs. In fact, if the dog's instincts are not satisfied and the pressure is not expressed, behavior problems will arise.

There are many types of dog toys, and choosing a toy for your dog is a challenge. How to choose the toy he really likes for the dog? Dogs will choose different games and chew toys according to their own personality. Try different toys and see why dogs have a soft spot for such toys. If the toys have been piled up and the dog is not interested in them, put them away and introduce them to the dog again in the future. After a few months, the dog will think he has got a new toy.

It should be noted that all toys are dangerous once they are swallowed by the dog. Therefore, when the dog is playing with toys, be sure to supervise it, especially those dogs that bite fiercely. No matter how strong the toy is, it may still be bitten into small pieces and swallowed by the dog.

▌1. Ball toys

The ball is a must-have toy, and all dogs like to pick it up. There are many types of ball toys, from basic tennis or rubber balls, to balls that glow at night and shiny balls. Some balls make a sound or have holes for filling snacks, and some are used to practice picking.

When choosing a ball toy, be sure to choose the one that is too big for the dog to swallow. The size of the tennis ball is suitable for most dogs, but there are also extra-large balls for giant dogs and mini-balls for toy dogs. In general, don't let the tennis balls be scattered around the dogs, let them bite at will. Believe it or not, the material of the tennis ball can cause the dog's teeth to fall out, or small fragments are accidentally swallowed, which can block the digestive tract.

▌2. Frisbee and other retrieved toys

But dogs who like to play ball and pick up games must like Frisbee and other pick up toys. The frisbee is more diverse than the ball game. When the owner throws the frisbee at high speed, the frisbee will change direction, which makes the dog feel challenging. Frisbee has become one of dog sports. The material of the frisbee is also different, and now there are rubber, plastic, rope or other materials available for the owner.

▌3. Plush toys

Many dogs like soft toys. Dogs can treat stuffed toys as puppies or treat them as prey. Plush toys usually contain generators and are filled with polyester cotton. Dogs often take these out of toys and get them everywhere. Many dogs seem to try to bite out the sound generator to "kill" their "prey." After the "prey" dies, the dog will still put the toys around and shake them. When dogs play with plush toys, be careful not to let them swallow the sound generator or polyester cotton.

▌4. Sound-producing toys (non plush)

Sound-producing toys made of non-plush materials come in many shapes and sizes. Generally these toys are made of vinyl, rubber or plastic, so please choose according to your dog's biting habits. Generally speaking, the thick rubber material is suitable for biting fierce dogs. Vinyl or plastic toys can be provided for dogs with moderate biting power to play under the supervision of someone. Most of the light sounding toys are affordable. But it is easily damaged.

▌5. Knot toys

Knot toys are made of braided rope, sometimes with rubber or plastic parts. They can be used to drag, play wrestling games with dogs or simply bite. Many dogs like knots, but some are not. Chewing knot toys helps dogs clean their teeth. However, dogs that bite fiercely can easily tear the knotted toy into pieces and swallow it. Please be sure to supervise playing. And when the toy shows signs of damage, it must be replaced with a new one.

▌6. Drag toys

Many dogs like drag games. This is the natural hunting behavior shown by healthy dogs, and it is conducive to mental and physical exercise. There are many types of drag toys to choose from, various shapes, sizes and materials. Usually drag toys are made of rope and/or rubber. Choose toys that are comfortable for the owner to hold and easy to drag, and suitable for the dog to bite and drag. In addition, the drag toy should be strong enough to cope with the dog's heavy drag. Please pay attention to worn drag toys to avoid the danger of being broken during drag games.

▌7. Floating toys

Floating toys are a good choice when your dog is swimming. Usually they are made of foam, rubber or plastic, with floating balls, floating rings and other shapes, which are easy for dogs to find and get in the water.

▌8. Leaking food toys

Food and snacks can fall out of toys, which is what every dog likes. They are fun, mentally exciting, and can make dogs consume a lot of energy. Leakage toys vary in shape and size, and are usually made of rubber or plastic.

▌9. Interactive toys and puzzle toys

Similar to Leaky Toys, interactive toys and puzzle-solving toys for dogs can exercise their intelligence. Some interactive toys simply hide food inside. Others are designed on the basis of dragging and picking up toys.

Puzzle toys are a challenge for dogs. This type of toy uses compartments and mechanical devices to hide food or snacks, and requires dogs to use their brains to obtain food. Interactive toys and puzzle-solving toys can stimulate the dog's intelligence and teach the dog's cognitive skills. The puzzle-solving toys built on the reward mechanism make learning more interesting and easier for dogs.

(Editor: There is also a kind of chewing toys, which is not mentioned in the article. This kind of toys is specially designed for dogs to chew, such as antlers, horns, scented chewing toys, etc., which are also good choices.)