Keeping your dog happy and entertained

In the same way that playing with toys is an important part of child development, it can also play a key role in the life of pets.

According to The Humane Society, toys for dogs and other animals "are not a luxury, they are a necessity". Playing with toys provides a source of fun and an outlet for excess energy, which could otherwise manifest itself in difficult behaviours that can be hard to correct. Toys are also important for dogs which are occasionally left to their own devices at home - despite best efforts, work and family commitments do mean that dogs will occasionally have to be left on their own, so toys will help to keep your pooch entertained.

Dogs often find the strangest things entertaining, from one of your favourite socks to pretty much anything made of rubber, but if you want to keep your shoes out of your dog's mouth there are a wide range of dedicated toys you can buy which will hopefully be more enticing. We'll give you a brief overview here, but take the time to check out the full range available with retailers such as Pets at Home.

Balls and Sticks

Old tennis balls and sticks have always been popular for games of fetch, but they do present problems; the former is easily destroyed by an over-eager dog while the latter can cause serious injury if a pet runs into the pointed end of a bouncing stick. Modern replicas are more durable, and rubber safe sticks eliminate the risk of injury.

Squeaky Toys

If you can put up with the incessant high-pitched tone - some dog owners simply can't stand it! - Then squeaky toys can provide plenty of entertainment for dogs. But be careful - many dogs see it as a challenge to get at the 'squeaker' inside the toy, which can be a choking hazard if they do. So look for sturdy toys, while supervising play with these may be advisable.

Chew Toys

Dogs like to chew, as many owners of ruined trainers will testify! Rope toys knotted at each end to imitate the shape of a bone give something for dogs to get their teeth into, but you can also combine the chewing with a treat. Many pet food manufacturers produce ultra-hard chew sticks designed to occupy the dog, provide nutrition and even help to keep teeth clean. Other toys such as Kong-style products allow you to pack the chew toy with a tasty treat which the dog has to work hard to get to - just remember not to overfeed!