Dog toys should be fun, durable, and most of all safe. There are many factors that contribute to the safety or danger of a dog toy. Many of those factors, however, are completely dependent upon your dog's size, activity level, personal preference, and even your dog's environment. While we can't guarantee your dog's enthusiasm or his safety with any specific toy, we can offer the following guidelines.

Most dogs love any kind of activity that involves chasing, capturing and retrieving. This stimulates their natural retrieving instincts. Balls do the job beautifully, but make sure they are not poorly made or small enough for your dog to swallow. A Frisbee or a tennis ball sewn into a sock will send your canine running too. Toys with squeakers may appeal to a dog's hunting instincts, but it's best to avoid products that have small insides that he can eat.

Let your dog exercise his jaws to his heart's content with a hard rubber chew toy. Some of these toys bounce erratically, which may take your canine by pleasant surprise and stimulate him to perfect the art of the chase. Some toys allow you to hide treats within. The hidden treats will come out during play to keep your dog's interest.

Read more about dog toy safety.