Are Pull Toys Safe For Dogs?
There are a very wide variety of different toys out there, designed to allow your dog to work off excess energy, get exercise and stay healthy, have fun, and relieve stress.
In addition to all the other types of toys on offer, however, many of the most popular dog toys on the market are specifically those that allow the owner and the dog to interact, play together, bond, and have fun.
Fetch toys fall into this category, but it is possible that pull toys – such as ropes that you hold one end of, while letting your dog pull at the other end – are even more popular.
Pull toys essentially allow you and your dog to “play fight” in a controlled and safe way, while helping both of you to get a bit of exercise and to enjoy a bit of light and friendly competition. But concerns have been raised about just how safe pull toys really are for dogs. Is there any real cause for concern here?
The material with toy is made of matters a lot (avoid rope)
Your dog will naturally tend to chew and swallow small pieces of various sorts of material over the course of everyday life, and in the majority of cases these things will pass through your dog without much trouble and leave them unharmed.
This isn’t true for all materials however – and as pull toys are specifically designed for your dog to chew and tear at, it’s very important to ensure that the material the toys are made of wouldn’t be a big problem for your dog if part of it was broken off and swallowed.
Unfortunately, rope may just be one of the most dangerous materials for your dog to ingest – even just small strands. If your dog swallows a piece of rope even just a few strands thick, the rope can be stretched and drawn out between the stomach and intestines and cause serious internal damage, a lot of pain, and can be very difficult to safely remove, as well. For this reason, pull toys that are rope-based should be avoided, unless they have been specially formulated to avoid this potential issue.
At Willy & Dilly, all of our dog toys are tough, antimicrobial and made from 100% natural rubber, this toy is safe for your dog to chew to their heart's content! No nasty bacteria build up or harsh chemicals, making our toys ideal for play time at home or for taking anywhere your dog loves to go!
You need to think about the health of your dog’s teeth
Dogs naturally explore and interact with the world through using their mouths, so their teeth are generally quite resilient.
All the same, pull toys might risk damaging the teeth, depending on the way the toy is designed, and the type of materials involved.
Willy and Dilly toys are made out of tough, flexible, natural rubber – meaning that your dog will be able to bite the toys without damaging their teeth. Pull toys which feature hard elements, on the other hand, might result in tooth injuries as your dog bites down during the game.
Be careful about the shape of the toy
Certain structural features of a pull toy might present a problem for your dog, while others would be quite safe. The things that are usually most attractive to dogs are often the very things that are the most dangerous, so make sure you buy toys that are the right size for your dog. Toys that are too tiny are easy to swallow or lodge in the throat of your dog.
It is also important to avoid any toys that aren't "dog-proof" by removing ribbons, strings, eyes or other parts that could be chewed off and ingested. Therefore, you should discard toys when they start to break into pieces or are torn.
To conclude, it is important to do your research and check that the shape of the toy is safe and easy for your dog to grab onto and let go of before purchasing a dog toy for your beloved canine. At Willy & Dilly, our solid dog toys are developed for the strongest chewers, this is the toughest ball in the range, standing up to the most eager gnashers. The multi textured surface satisfies their instinctive need to chew. It also comes in a range of exciting and delicious scents that will captivate your four legged friend!