A History of Dog Toys

It is probably a common view that when dogs became companions and working partners to humans, there would have been a stick thrown or a piece of rag tugged playfully and, when available, the odd bone from the butcher. But how did we come to have the amazing array of dog toys that are available today? American writer Roxanne Hawn wrote an article 'Play Things Then and Now' (November 2008) which explored this subject. The first pet toys were actually designed for caged birds in the 1840's to entertain them in their confinement. The first balls for dogs were the original crude tennis balls of the 1870's. It wasn't until the 1950's that there was a real turning point in the dog toy market, when better rubber was produced, manufacturing became more sophisticated and families enjoyed higher incomes. The family pets also enjoyed this new age of consumerism. It was in 1955 that the first Nylabone (R) was created. Mid 20th century dog toys were often replicas of shoes, gloves and brooms - possibly causing a few problems when the pets confused them with the real things! In 1976 the Classic Kong was designed and put onto the market. This took a while to take off, however, and it was the veterinarians, dog trainers and other thought leaders who validated and recommended this toy as a good alternative to a dog wolfing down his food in one go. This dog toy also keeps the dog keen to obtain the food through his own effort. On the market today there is a huge array of stuffable food toys, catering for puppies through to senior dogs and different sizes depending on the breed. Plush dog toys are usually the top sellers, often down to impulse buys. Most dogs do like to have a soft toy they can cuddle up to or move about with (although many invariably end up in pieces as the stuffing is such fun to pull out). Bedtime Buddies Comfort Toy is a great plush buy as the fur is soft and retains the owner's scent for reassurance. Classic Sheepskin Teddy is a good size to carry around with the comfort of the faux sheepskin. But a new concept of dog toys are becoming increasingly popular - ones that are more like puzzles, games that require reasoning and dexterity from the dog, rewarding him for his hard work. The Dog Pyramid Treat Toy is a good example. The dog has to nudge and tip the pyramid over to receive the treat, each time the pyramid will make itself upright. The Nina Ottoson brand of wooden interactive puzzles have revolutionised this area, Dog Brick and Dog Smart toy being prime examples. In the last 10 years interaction between the owner and dog has been realised to be very beneficial, as ultimately the dog is happy to have his owners undivided attention. Ball and tug games have remained popular through the decades. Good Boy Ballistic Ball Thrower and Good Boy Ball and Rope Toy are consistent sellers and the Tough Tetra Grip is a really hard wearing toy that a dog can play with on his own or throw games with his owner. For the tugging, Puppy Wubba and Rope Ring Dog Toy do the trick. Agility equipment is becoming increasingly popular as this form of exercise is good for the owner, dog and is great fun and sociable too. Many forms of games and exercise enable the dog and owner to join specialist clubs such as flyball, agility and obedience, enabling both to meet likewise people and dogs in a social situation. Chuck Costello from the Kong Company divides dog toys into five categories: 1 Training toys which help dogs understand what is acceptable to chew. 2 Treat dispenser toys/enrichment toys to help fight boredom and provide mental stimulation. 3 Interactive toys which help build the bond between dog and owner, eg fetch and tug toys. 4 Self amusement toys. These need to be tough and not easily destructible if the dog is playing alone. 5 Comfort toys which the dog can bond and sleep with. At more4dogs we have a variety of dog toys for sale, most of which fit easily into these categories. Have a browse, we are sure there will be something you can't resist!