Looking to get some interactive dog toys for your pup to stimulate their minds and tire them out? Look no further then Beck's Favorite Things!
When Beck was a young pup, I introduced her to interactive dog toys that would provide exercise, mental stimulation, and strengthen our connection. Starting a puppy early on certain tasks and interactive activities can enhance their development by nurturing their interests. Merely taking a walk may not be sufficient to tire out an energetic puppy. A walk where your puppy heels by your side lacks excitement and mental stimulation for them. Therefore, let's explore two of Beck's beloved toys to keep her engaged and enthusiastic!
Flirt Pole
A flirt pole is a great engagement tool for your puppy. It is a safe and controlled activity that allows puppies to have short bursts of high-energy intermingled with periods of rest. You control the pace of the game. The lure acts as a small animal, which appeals to your dog's prey drive. Lures come in many different styles and are easily interchangeable to keep your puppy entertained. You can find options on Amazon, Chewy, and especially Etsy (the furry ones are Beck's favorite!). It's an excellent, low cost option to exercise your puppy and burn off some energy!
A flirt pole can be a great source of fun and enrichment for puppies for several reasons:
Mental and Physical Stimulation: Puppies are naturally curious and energetic, and a flirt pole helps engage both their minds and bodies. Chasing the lure provides an exciting way for them to burn off energy in a controlled way, which can help prevent undesirable behaviors like chewing or excessive barking.
Instinctive Play: Puppies have strong prey drive instincts. The flirt pole mimics the movements of small animals or prey, and puppies can get a satisfying outlet for those natural instincts. It's like a game of chase that taps into their biological drives to stalk, chase, and capture.
Teaches Focus and Impulse Control: While the puppy is chasing the lure, you can teach them to "wait" or "leave it" before releasing the toy again, which helps with impulse control. This kind of play is not only fun but can also be a foundation for training.
Bonding Time: Flirt pole play is interactive, which gives you and your puppy a chance to build a stronger bond. It encourages cooperative play where the puppy learns to look to you for direction and cues.
Improves Coordination and Agility: As puppies chase, jump, and maneuver to catch the lure, they improve their coordination, balance, and overall agility. This is great for their physical development, especially for growing muscles and joints.
How to Use a Flirt Pole with your Puppy
Check out the video below on how to interact with your puppy and a flirt pole
Tearribles
I was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining this toy is! The first time I saw the Tearrible toys advertised, I was highly amused! They're adorable and destroyable, but quickly go back together for endless hours of play! This toy appeals to your dogs desire to tear something apart, but in a controlled way. Each limb (or tail) is connected with strong velcro which provides satisfying ASMR when puppy pulls the piece away. And trust me when I say they are incredibly proud of themselves when they pull a limb off!
I will never forget the look on Beck's face when she pulled off an arm for the first time on her Tearrible toy. She had this mixture of shock, curiosity, and alarm! Her little brain was exploding as her tail fiercely wagged. I took the arm out of her mouth and offered her another limb which she eagerly took as if to see if the same phenomenon would happen again. It did! And she was hooked!
This toy is intended for interaction with you, the handler. This toy should not be left in the toy box for easy reach since it can be damaged from improper chewing. This toy is a bit more expensive then your average toy, so make sure to keep it for specific interactive time. Beck knows where this toy lives and is eager to run downstairs and point to it when she wants to play. She often runs to the toy because she enjoys it so much!
How to Use a Tearrible Toy with your Puppy
Check out the video below on how to interact with your puppy and their Tearrible toy.
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