Kong
 Although
Kong is a brand when the name Kong is mentioned it is more likely
to be related to "The" Kong. The
Kong is a chew resistant object which hold food treats for
your dog. The idea being the treats come out slowly, either by licking
(filling the Kong with peanut butter do the dog gradually licks it
out) of small bits of dry food (i.e. kibble or dried liver) which
come out randomly over a period of time whilst the dog plays with
the kong.
For even a mildly food orientated dog a Kong can
provide many hours of interest. In this way a Kong can
stop your dog from chewing other items, or getting bored and
barking at everything, or escaping the back yard.
Kong's are made in the USA of 100% natural rubber. Kong dog
toys are puncture resistant and chewer friendly. Dogs love
them because they hold treats ...you'll love them because they
last.
Tug Of War
 Tug
of war ropes can be a great toy for your dog,
provided the dog is of the right temperament and you are
aware of what the game is telling your dog.
Tug of war is a game of strength. Two dogs playing tug of
war will soon learn which one is in control. WHen playing with
a human the dog will also quickly learn who is on top.
If you have a dog that tends towards dominant behaviour a
tug of war rope may create problems, but if you do decide to
use one I suggest you always win.
The flip side of this is also true, you can play with a more
timid dog and let that dog win some of the time, this can give
confidence to the dog.
Some
more reading on tug of war games / toys for your dog
Tennis Balls
 Tennis
balls are cheap and easy to find and can provide
fun activity in lots of situations. Their ability to float
means they are a great summer toy as well. You can use a
tennis racket to launch a tennis ball quite some distance
with relative ease, giving you the ability to play with your
dog for a longer period that if you have to throw the ball
normally.
Tennis balls are a low risk toy (providing
your dog is not so large that the ball can be swallowed), as
opposed to sticks which can easily cause injury especially
in the situation where the dog tries to scoop up the stick
from the ground whilst running.
And if you thought you knew what a tennis
ball for a dog was check out this range
Sticks
 Sticks are
the cheapest of toys but have a risk factor associated
with their ability to spear into your dogs mouth or body.
Many many people have over the years played fetch with
their dogs using sticks and never had
any problems. However many (all be it much fewer) people
have also lost dogs or spent a lot of money repairing dogs
injured by playing with sticks.
Whether you use a stick when playing with your dog ultimately
comes down to you weighing up that risk.
Frisbee
 Frisbees have
also been implicated in injuries with over zealous dogs
jumping high into the air and twisting their bodies around
to catch the flying discs.
I would suggest Frisbees pose a much lower
risk but it still bears saying that there is some risk.
A Frisbee can cover some distance (and therefore
give your dog a lot more running) with relatively little physical
effort, so it gives your dog the advantage of longer play sessions.
There are "DOG Frisbee" clubs you can join, it is
a sport in its own right! Frisbee
Dog Clubs
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