The excitement your dog feels when he plays with a squeaky toy is
instinctual - it goes back to a time when dogs had to hunt and kill prey to
survive. Hunting is just a natural part of being a dog. The squeaky noises of
prey animals would help dogs locate their prey - and the noises the prey animals
made during the kill were very satisfying to a hungry dog.
"Hunting" a squeaky toy gives your dog the same type of satisfaction. And
the more the toys squeaks, the more excited your dog becomes. That's why so many
dogs will try to "kill" the toy by destroying it and pulling out the
squeaker.
A good squeaky toy can provide lots of fun play and mental stimulation for
your dog. They're excellent toys. But when you purchase a squeaky toy for your
dog, make sure to put safety first.
Make sure the toy does not have a lot of pieces that can be chewed off and
swallowed. Look for features (eyes, nose, etc.) that are embroidered onto the
toy, not attached. Also, once your dog chews through the toy, he could swallow
the squeaker or the fiberfill stuffing inside. This can be very dangerous.
That's why it is so important to supervise your dog's play.
What is you dog’s favorite squeaker toy?
Alice England
