what is yours dogs favourite toys?

[Louise Perry]

Hi I am constanly on the search for a toy that really gets Reuben interested and i can distract him with. I have noticed he prefers the soft furry kind and someone also told me to perhaps try a rabbit ball (ball covered in rabbit fur). 

Just curious what other people's dogs like?

[Jo Ottinger]

Hawk will play with anything. He really likes a tug toy that has fur or fabric at one end and a handle to hold on to I get them at the agility trials. Some of them have an opening at one end to put treats into.

[Louise Perry]

I have a long furry duck thing that I am getting Reuben interested in and save it for garden and walks to encourage play but he doesn't like to return it to me! So i had a long line on him in the garden earlier and would say fetch whilst giving the line gentle tugs to encourage him back to me with the toy. I presume this is the right thing to do? Obviously I also try and make it fun too but just want him to have a toy he really likes so I can use it for him to focus on me when necessary and see me as a fun person to be with.

[Louise Perry]

Haha Finn, i could picture your scenario completely and agree with you and Sue that why have a setter if you want things retrieved! I definitely need a Jack!
So this begs the question of is it really vital that a setter plays fetch? I mean I only try and get him to do it because the trainer says it is a good thing. When Reuben and I play tug (which he does like) this really enforces the 'Drop" command and is played in a controlled manner ie, wait etc. To me drop is more important and the retrieve only important if he has stolen another dogs toy (which he only does to instigate them chasing him! When i play fetch with reuben he has that real look on his face to say "its mine come and get it" as he comes close to me but diverts off at last minute. he is a real tease!
However when inside the home and he is having his funny fives "zooming" (stole that phrase from Liz) he brings his bithday pressie pig and jumps on my lap like a big baby saying play with me Mum - you cant win, lol

[Carmel Murphy]

Only two of my dogs like toys!! Luka(shepherd) loves any toy, plastic bottles or even a small log or piece of turf(from the bog)will do!! Abbey loves soft squeeky toys(pheasants, hares, ducks etc) or tennis balls!! She too likes plastic bottles or old socks with a knot in the middle;o)) Ropes are good too!!

[Ilona & Gina]

I don't think the preference for a toy is a breed thing. Anton (our boy) is obsessed with playing ball, while Gina is happy when we just go for our jog. Yes, she will play ball and drop or give, but after three minutes, she'll be bored.

As to their favourite toy - I have simple sisal ropes that I bought at a hardware shop (where they sell all the home improvement stuff). Knot them together, and voila, there is a cheap, good toy, and it's not dangerous. (Whereas I always have an eye on them)

Another one: Old knotted kitchen towels. Oh yes, and socks filled with a ball. And old bed linnen.

I'm so lucky. My two dogs are money conscious and don't like Kongs and other expensive toys :))

[Esther Siegrist]

Hmm. Glenns favorite toy is this rubber duck. It is a present to him from my mother :-)

Jamie favoret balls

[Esther Siegrist]

he he. No no, Glenn has the chicken becom bevor 3 years! absolutely favorite and must come also in holliday. When we go out for a long walk, he run around the house and pick it up :-)

[Louise Perry]

Love the pictures Esther, reuben has a rubber chicken too. The thing is reuben has favourite toys at home etc but just doesnt want to play with me particularly as the nose sniffing/leg cocking takes over outside. I have just come back from training and my trainer said on walks i must get a toy out, keep him on lead and play and eventually he will get it. Does this happen, is it that important that your dog plays with you when on walks?

[Louise Perry]

oh thank you again Finn, it makes sense now why my trainer says play for a few mins then take toy away and say nothing - hence leaving them wanting more. And yes I usually retrieve toys myself too unless a treat is involved.
Gosh i am sure i will be coming up with loads more questions in the future so don't go anywhere, haha
It makes you wonder what your dogs would be like with no training as I am sure years ago people just seem to get dogs, fed them, tapped them on nose and that was that!!! Not that I mind training as I really enjoy it (most of the time anyway) and love seeing the positive results

[Esther Siegrist]

Thnaks, Louise. A dog must learn to play with you ... ore you must learn to play with your dog. I prefer to have a ball with me outside to call my boys back to me in a critical situation. I play with my dogs every day and they have a lot of fun. starting when are puppies. to play with you can be great confirmation for the dog, YOU must be more interesting then all other dogs, peoples, odors.... so you can be sure, that you dog come back when you call him!
sorry for my English :-(

[Sue and Cash]

Cash loves his stuffed animals with squeakers in them. He runs to get one and usually has a toy in his mouth all the time he is awake. He greets you at the door with the stuffed monkey. He loves tennis balls with the squeakers too. Holds one while he bats the other one around like he is playing hockey. Pushing them under the dressers and couches all day long. We get so tired of retrieving them. Cash makes me the retriever, why should he do it? He will actually push one under the dresser and cry and whine, and does that over and over to get me off my computer and paying attention to him. Tennis balls are the hot commodity in the dog park so as puppies they learn that it has value to get one in your mouth. He will drop it in the water dish, to guard it while drinking, rather than lose it to another dog. He found one today with a squeaker, which is rare because most keep those at home. And he is still holding it in his mouth hours after we brought it home with us, since he wouldn't get in the car and leave it there. Normally he will just leave a regular one there. He spends lots of time in the tall grass searching for them. So proud when he finds one and runs to show the other dogs what he has. I was told to teach a dog to drop a ball use two of them. Throw one, we use a Chuck It launcher, and when they return you load another to throw and don't release it till they drop that one. The Chuck It sure saves you back from bending down all the time too!