Exercise, Play, and Toys
Topics covered on this page:
Exercise and Play
Safe and Sound - Environmental Safety
- Puppies should only be allowed off leash in enclosed spaces. Otherwise, consider using a long-line or retractable (flexi-type) leash in a wide-open area.
- Do not visit areas with unfamiliar off-leash dogs around (off-leash hiking areas, etc.)
- GDB puppies are not allowed in dog parks.
- Play on non-slip flooring (carpet, grass, etc.) to reduce the risk of injury.
PAWsitive Play Time - Appropriate Types of Play
- Discourage prolonged frenzied play such as wrestling, roughhousing, chasing, or racing through the house.
- Tug is a great game to play! To prevent injury, do not swing or lift the puppy off the ground.
- Running after thrown toys is great too! Hold the pup stationary while you throw to minimize risk of puppies tumbling or straining a muscle trying to catch a toy mid-air.
- Do not jog, bike, or skateboard with puppies. Jogging can injure young puppy joints.
Taking it Easy - Prevent Fatigue and Overheating
- Take frequent breaks. A break is likely overdue if the puppy becomes mouthy, vocal, or excessively excited.
- Build stamina slowly! If a pup is not accustomed to heavy exercise (and a friend comes over for a sleepover!) be sure to gradually build up play time.
- Ensure puppies always have access to fresh clean drinking water.
Going for the Gold - Fitness Prep for Recall
- Guide dogs are athletes! In preparation for recall and formal guide training, we highly encourage puppies to gradually work up to about 30 minutes at a brisk walk.
Toy Policy
Toys each day keep puppies at play! Toys are an important part of a puppy's development. They offer opportunities for mental stimulation, enrichment, problem solving, and an outlet for natural puppy chewing. Having easy access to a variety of different types of toys help puppies make good choices and reduce destructive chewing and other attention-seeking behavior.
Choosing Safe Toys
Materials
Look for toys made of natural rubber, high-quality nylon, non-toxic, food-grade plastic or silicone, or fabric.
- Avoid toys with BPA, PVC, formaldehyde, or other toxic chemicals.
- We do not recommend toys with small hard pieces like buttons or glass eyes; they are a hazard to puppies.
- No household items (socks, towels, shoes, children’s toys, etc.) as puppy play toys.
- No edible chews made from animal products – rawhide, bully sticks, pig ears, raw bones, and other popular chews can cause diarrhea or a blockage requiring surgery.
Size
Err on the side of too big! Puppies grow quickly.
- Choose toys that cannot be easily swallowed (wider than the dog’s jaw).
- Hard toys cannot have small holes or rings that might inadvertently get stuck on a dog’s jaw.
Maintenance
- Check toys regularly for wear & tear or signs of ripping/shredding.
- Wash toys regularly – a ride though the dishwasher or laundry machine can make boring old toys fun again!
Access
- Introduce all new toys while the pup is supervised to ensure they enjoy the toy safely.
- Dogs may earn unsupervised access to toys after demonstrating consistent safe behavior with the toy following Maximizing Puppy Wellbeing and Safety.
- If you observe or suspect the puppy is ripping, shredding, or eating pieces of a toy, they should not have access to chew that toy. It may need to be a toy saved for interactive play or discarded if it’s worn and torn.
- Pick up food-containing toys after they’ve been finished or abandoned. Consider it like a meal and keep people and pets out of the puppy’s space while they’re enjoying their food puzzle. Removing the food-containing toy after play keeps the toys feeling new and exciting for the puppy too!
Ideas to Get You Started
Note: Many of the following suggested toys are pictured in the Toy Gallery below.
Durable Chew Toys
- Kong brand toys (red for young puppies; we recommend the tougher black version as they mature)
- Ruff Enough Toys from their “Guaranteed for Life Collection”
- Benebone Products (size MEDIUM or LARGE)
Popular food-smeared or food-stuffed toys
- Kong Wobbler or similar puzzle feeders
- Gnawt-a-Cone™ from Ruffwear
- West Paw Design toys
- Outward Hound puzzle toys
Interactive Toys
- Tug toys (e.g., Ruffwear, JW pet, Tuffy, etc.)
- ChuckIt! Ultra Large Rubber Balls are 3" in diameter and a good size for most guide dog puppies, even when fully grown!
- Note: to avoid abrasion to the teeth, balls with fabric, like tennis balls, are not recommended
Independent Yard Play
- Jollyball with a rope through middle, sold as Romp-n-Roll.
- Gallons sized or larger plastic bottles: Thoroughly rinsed, lids, labels and tops removed (sturdy food-safe bottles only)
Great options for young puppies!
- Kong Wubba (regular or fleece “Snugga”)
- Multipet Lamb Chop®
- CycleDog Duraplush toys
Toy Gallery
Starmark Bob-a-Lot
Jolly Pets Romp-n-Roll Jolly Ball
Kong Wobbler
West Paw Tux
West Paw Toppl
Chuckit Ball
Kong Classic
Kong Extreme
RuffDawg Dawg Cube
RuffDawg Dawg Buster
RuffDawg Big Dawg
West Paw Hurley
Kong Wubba
Kong Wubba
Nerf Tuff Tug
Bull Fit Tug
Outward Hound Puzzle Feeder
Multipet Lamb Chop Plush Toy
Cycle Dog Plush Toy
Cycle Dog Plush Toy
Cycle Dog Plush Toy
Benebone Chew Toy
Benebone Chew Toy
Benebone Chew Toy
Benebone Chew Toy
TerraCycle offers a Benebone recycling program! Visit their Benebone page to learn more.
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