Interactive toys offer many benefits to your dog – they provide mental stimulation and combat boredom and satisfy his natural instincts.
Dogs need mental stimulation in order to thrive. Without it, they’re likely to become stressed, anxious, and bored. Eventually, these emotional imbalances cause dogs to seek other ways to occupy their time, and that often translates to destructive behaviors such as inappropriate urination, chewing, and digging. If any of this sounds familiar, don’t fret. Interactive toys offer a simple, effective and fun solution.
Top 7 benefits of interactive toys
Interactive toys are designed to stimulate a dog’s brain and satisfy natural canine behaviors. Toys designed to arouse your dog’s senses and engage his problem-solving skills are a great way to fulfill this need. Here are seven benefits of interactive toys:
1. Mental stimulation
Interactive toys encourage your dog to solve problems, which can strengthen his mental faculties and prevent dementia later in life.
2. Self-entertainment
Alleviate boredom by encouraging your dog to play by himself! Interactive toys are especially beneficial when you’re out or when the weather is too poor to be outside.
3. Weight management
While they’re no substitute for walks and romps in the park, interactive toys give canine couch potatoes a reason to move.
4. Stress and anxiety relief
When occupied, dogs are less likely to engage in potentially destructive behaviors caused by stressed or anxious emotions.
5. Satisfy natural hunting instincts
The type of play promoted by interactive toys enriches your dog’s life by stimulating the part of his brain his ancestors used when hunting and foraging.
6. Help slow down eating
If your dog inhales his food, he could be at risk for choking, vomiting and even canine bloat. Slow-feed bowls are one solution to this common problem, but interactive toys that dispense food or treats offer the same benefit in a much more entertaining manner.
7. Give him a job to do
Most dogs like to be busy, so it’s important to give him a job before he finds one of his own. In other words, interactive toys might help extend the life of your shoes and couch cushions.
