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Pet Toys

I was going to devote this entire column to toys, but I need to add one more book for those who are interested in animal studies. Two weeks ago Scott Shalaway recommended this book, “How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog): Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution,” by Lee Alan Dugatkin and Lyudmilla Trut. Since I had read about this experiment in several dog books, I was eager to read more, and this book doesn’t disappoint. While there are discussions of the science behind the experiment, the writing is very accessible and for me, a real page-turner. It’s fascinating to me to read how just breeding for tameness produced such physical traits as floppy ears, curly tails and spotted coats. The second half of the book is a bit less interesting to me, but it’s still accessible reading, and worth owning.

When it comes to toys, some dogs like toys they can chase, and some enjoy a good game of tug-of-war. I recently read an article that said that you should buy yellow and blue toys for your dog because dogs see in that range of the spectrum.

One toy on the market, the Wham-O Pets Rubber Fetch Classic Dog Frisbee says it uses “photoreceptive technology that allows your dog to see the disc clearer and catch easier with its vivid yellow and blue colors.” If you’re being competitive, then yes, you’d want to give your dog every advantage, and maybe I should be using a blue ball when I play with Gael in the snow, but my dogs seem just as happy to play with a toy in any color, even if it looks gray to them.

Whatever color your dogs, or cats, toys are, supervise play. Even the best-made toy may get ripped apart by an enthusiastic dog and cats can be in serious trouble if they swallow a piece of yarn or string. Don’t let your dog swallow large mouthfuls of stuffing, or the squeaker inside a toy.

Maybe your pet would have fun with a snuffle mat. A snuffle mat is a mat covered with lot of fabric strips that make good hiding places for treats. The idea is that dogs (and cats) like to sniff out treats. A snuffle mat is also a good way to feed a dog who tends to gulp his food. Some mats have little pockets, too, for hiding snacks. The mats are a bit expensive, but you can make one yourself. One easy pattern is at www.thehonestkitchen.com/blog/diy-make-your-dog-or-cat-a-snuffle-matt/. As the author of this blog notes, never leave the mat down if you’re not supervising. Eventually, all those fabric strips will begin to smell like the treats and your dog or cat might just start gnawing on them. Swallowed cloth can lead to serious problems.

I did a brief search for any new toys on the market, but most seemed like variations on familiar toys. The catalog for Doctors Foster and Smith had several toys with a holiday theme, like a long-necked reindeer toy, and a toy shaped like a mug of cocoa, with a separate marshmallow-shaped toy. They also featured a ball that contained a toy bear. It didn’t say exactly how the ball came apart, but maybe it just opens when a dog applies pressure with his jaws.

For dogs who enjoy playing fetch, there’s a BazooK-9 Tennis Ball Launcher Gun. This gadget has a holder for two spare tennis balls, and you can drop one into the barrel. The description on www.thedogdigest.com says, “Pull back the rear rod for travel distance adjustment …” From the picture, it looks like this would really send the ball a long distance. Better have a large yard, or lots of wide-open spaces for this toy.

For me, a “Chuckit!” gives me enough distance. This throw stick allows me to send the ball to the far corner of our large yard, and, I love that when the ball gets icky with saliva, I can pick up the ball with the stick. It also saves bending over to pick up the ball.

For cats, a catnip-stuffed toy will appeal to most, and, for interactive fun, you can’t beat “Da Bird.” This toy resembles a fishing rod, with a clump of tempting feathers at the end of the line. Swoop the feathers through the air and your cat will leap and pounce, chasing the “prey.”

Your pets won’t know what day it is, but they’ll appreciate the toys, and your attention as you play with them.

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