Toys

I have seen a variety of dog toys over the years, including shoes or socks as chew or tug toys. You are sending mixed messages to your dog by letting her play with one of your old shoes or socks. Shoes or other personal items are not appropriate toys for two reasons. First of all a shoe is not made and tested for a dog to chew on. It will fall apart and your dog can ingest materials that can be harmful to her. Second, your scent is on the item and your telling your dog it's alright to chew your things.

There are two types of toys for dogs. Chew toys and interactive toys. Chew toys are made and tested for dogs to chew on. I prefer tough chew toys such as Nylabones and real bones. Rawhide's can be swallowed in large piece and can lodge in your dogs intestines, so I don't give my dogs rawhide's. Interactive toys are toys such as balls, Frisbees, Kongs, tugs, and rubber fireplugs. Interactive toys are just that, meant for you to play with your dog. Dogs should be monitored with the interactive toys. Interactive toys are not meant to be chewed on. Dogs can destroy and chew up interactive toys so once you are finished playing with your dog, put the toy up. A note on tennis balls. I know a lot of handlers who like playing with their dogs with tennis balls. If you let your dog play with tennis balls as an interactive toy you must put the ball up when you're finished and never allow your dog take the tennis ball into her kennel. Many dogs have ingested tennis balls which can cause death. My professional recommendation is to purchase your toys from a pet store and don't take the chance on tennis balls which are made for tennis and not dogs. With any toy you need to periodically inspect it. When its begins to break down it's time to throw it out and purchase your dog a new one.