Puppy's Life
Romp & Roll
Choosing your pup’s toys!
When it’s playtime for Katie Merrill and her puppy, Luna, the first thing they reach for is a squeaky green ball decorated with little yellow bumps. “I’m not sure why she likes that better than the other ones—maybe it’s the texture,” Merrill says. “She just seems to like playing with that most of all.”
It’s enough to keep Luna, a terrier mix who lives with Merrill in Tallahassee, Florida, playing until she is ready to snuggle up for a nap with her playmate. It’s also fun for Merrill, who gets to run and romp almost as hard as Luna by tossing and rolling the ball to her during playtime. The two make a great team, and love their time together.
Most pups will find a favorite toy soon enough, but sometimes finding the right one means trying a few different ones. Finding the right toys for your pup is an enjoyable shared adventure in itself. The two of you can have a terrific time discovering what different toys do, and which ones you both like to play with most.
Fortunately, many toy manufacturers now make toys especially for puppies, so finding that perfect something for your puppy is easier than ever. And it’s also more fun than ever!
“Luna is very high energy and loves to fetch, so balls were a great match for her,” says Merrill. Puppies that aren’t big chewers might prefer lightweight squeaky toys, while others might automatically gravitate toward plush, stuffed toys. Heavy chewers such as Luna might naturally want hard rubber toys for playtime, and rope toys often are a favorite for hard-romping pups. In addition to playing with your pup’s favorite toy, try rotating a selection of toys to keep playtime exciting.
“The best thing I did was to take Luna to the pet store and see what she went for first,” Merrill recalls. “There was a lot of trial and error, but it was a lot of fun to see the different ways she reacted to different toys!”
And, of course, that allowed Luna to pick out the green ball that she has become so fond of.
