Fun For Small Puppies - Best Toys for a Chihuahua

The best description of a Chihuahua is "a small dog with a big personality". These tiny dogs bust with energy and curiosity. Their playful spirit can rival any dog in the canine world. Some Chihuahuas love to chase, others to cuddle, and then there are those who love to chew. Finding the right toy for a Chihuahua might be one of the biggest challenges. With the right toys, you can keep these puppies happy and engaged.

The Challenge of Finding the Perfect Toy for a Chihuahua

Why is it so challenging to find the right toy for your Chihuahua puppy? Well, their size makes it a struggle. Most toys are too big for their small bite. As a result, most Chihuahua owners forget about toys altogether.

But these high-energy dogs, known for their stamina and resilience, love to play as much as the Golden Retriever. Let’s pin down what might be the best toy for your Chihuahua.

Understanding Chihuahua’s Behavior – What Drives Their Playfulness?

Chihuahuas are among the smallest dog breeds in the canine world. Yet, they display confidence, loyalty, and cheeky behavior. Although they are small, they are very energetic and alert. Without patient training and consistent activity, Chihuahuas can get bored.

Playful and alert, they might are not as willing to partake in games with other dogs. Because of their small size, they view most other dogs as a threat. Instead, they form strong bonds with their owners and can be highly protective and jealous.

When they are not busy playing, they can be quite cuddly.

Best Toys For a Chihuahua

There are three types of toys you can get for your Chihuahua, including puzzle/interactive toys, plush toys, and chew toys. Being the smallest dog in the world, Chihuahuas have the smallest mouth as well. Most companies make generic toys. Their small dog toys might still be large for your tiny pup.

Chihuahuas can get frustrated trying to get a toy into their mouth. If they find the experience uncomfortable or unable to play with, they will disregard the toy. It ends up in a pile of toys that your pup doesn’t care for. Let’s take a look at the four toy categories.

Plush Toys

Plush toys are great when you have a Chihuahua that doesn’t want to rip everything. As one of the feistiest breeds, Chihuahuas might be interested in a plush toy for as long as they can rip it off. They are not Labradors that nib the plush toy and sleep with it.

When you are searching for a plush toy, pay attention to size. While it shouldn’t be the smallest one, it should have a spot that your pet can grab. Next, make sure it doesn’t weigh more than your dog. If your puppy loves carrying toys around, plush toys will work great. But you have to be careful that the toy itself doesn’t put too much weight on your pup.

Once you take care of size and weight, make sure the toy is washable, durable, made from non-toxic materials, and without loose parts.

Interactive Toys and Puzzles

These might be the best toys for a Chihuahua. Despite their small mouth, Chihuahuas can play with interactive toys for a long period. These toys provide mental stimulation to fight boredom.

Think sniffle mats, treat dispensers, and similar self-rewarding toys. Because these toys provide treat rewards for playing, your pup will be motivated and engaged to play. Other puzzles might require your pet to pull pieces out or move them around to get treats.

Chew Toys

Designed to promote oral hygiene, look for durability as the No.1 priority. Toys that break easily can cause more harm than good. Chihuahuas do not love playing with too-hard toys as well. Try to find that sweet spot that is soft enough, but not easy to break. Here is a fun idea. Try laundry dryer balls. They are small enough for your Chihuahua to play with, chew on them, and even play fetch.

Why Chihuahuas Need to Play With Toys?

There are clear benefits of playing with toys for any dog. No matter if you have the smallest dog in the world, or the biggest one, they need toys. Here’s why:

• Toys keep the mouth clean and promote dental hygiene.

• Help owners and dogs develop a healthier bond and relationship.

• Toys provide an outlet to exert physical and mental energy.

• Beyond everything, they provide fun. Dogs can get bored and destructive, but toys prevent that.

Top 3 Qualities of a Good Toy

When you are looking for a toy for your puppy, there are three things you have to keep in mind. These three elements define the perfect toy for your Chihuahua pup.

Calls for Attention

Only toys that get your dog’s attention will cure boredom. If your dog doesn’t notice the toy or doesn’t have the motivation to check it out, he will not play with it. First and foremost, toys can draw attention with their color. Do not get faded gray, brown, or pastel-colored toys. Too bright colors can fade out fast. Look for a toy that has a variety of hues and keeps things interesting. If the toy makes noise or moves when played with, it is even better.

Provides Incentive

Why would dogs play with a toy if they do not get anything in return? Buying a toy that doesn’t interest your dog is the No.1 mistake owners make. You can end up with a pile of toys that your furry friend ignores. The only thing they do is take up room in your home. A better option is to have three to five great toys, than 20 that your dog ignores.

As long as your dog gets some satisfaction from playing with the toy, it offers him a reward.

Quality

Last, but not least, toys should be durable, not a one-off. Yes, every now and then you can get your dog to play a few minutes with a cheap toy. But stay away from toys that fall apart or break easily.

If you find toys that can pass the durability test, you can even order doubles. That way, you always have one on standby.

How to Get Your Chihuahua to Play With Toys

Before we finish, let’s talk about some quick tips on how to get your Chihuahua to play with toys. Whether that is a squeaky toy, a ball, a tug toy, or anything else.

• It might sound absurd, but get down on your dog’s level.

• If your dog doesn’t go after a toy, try chasing it yourself, just as you were a dog. Your pup will see you interacting with the toy, and his instinct to join in will kick in.

• For a food-motivated dog, invest in treat-dispensing toys. They often come in different levels, so start with easy, and then move to harder levels.

• Try to physically show dogs how to play with puzzle toys. It will get them interested.

Final Words

If only buying toys for a Chihuahua was easy. Many owners stock up on toys for their puppies, but their pets ignore them. Or they do not hold interest for a long time. In the sea of cheap dollar-type stores, you might be better off buying nothing. A great toy doesn’t have to break the bank, but you should not waste money on something that will sit unused.

In some cases, Chihuahuas love to play with unusual toys, for example, the laundry dryer balls. However experience shows that the best toys for Chihuahuas are puzzle and interactive toys.