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• Dogs & Gardens
• Breed Characteristics
• Dog Training
• Play in the Garden
• Dog kennels & Runs
• Dog Names from the Garden

Play In The Garden

Providing suitable mental and physical stimulation is important in keeping your dog happy.
Encouraging positive activities is also a key factor in avoiding destructive behavior. Bored dogs will often find their own means of entertainment, which may well involve digging flower beds, chewing plants, and working on escape routes. All of these are not only detrimental to the garden, but more importantly, hazardous to the dog and its well-being.

Toys are important for the physical and mental development of your dog.

Chew toys can keep dogs occupied whilst owners carry on with other activities.
Chewing stimulates brain activity, helps with teething and jaw development in younger dogs, and helps keep teeth clean and healthy.
Dogs left alone for any period of time - in a dog run or inside the house - are usually happier if left with toys to chew on.

Leaving toys around the garden lessens the chance of dogs chewing on sticks, tree roots or other garden objects.
Sticks and branches may be toxic to dogs. Splinters of wood may cause problems if ingested. Timber may be treated with preservatives that can poison dogs.
It is altogether much more positive, for both your dog and garden, that they are encouraged to chew on suitable toys, rather than find their own objects to chew at random.

Kongs and Nylabone Toys provide heavy-duty options for powerful and determined chewers.
Kong Toys can be stuffed with favorite foods. Placing them in the freezer for a couple of hours before giving them to your dog makes it harder for them to get the food out.
Puppy Kong Toys and Nylabones for Puppies are recommended for the more active, energetic puppy. Again, placing them in the freezer before use is a good idea, especially for teething pups as the cold toys will soothe their sore gums.

Balls, frisbees and Rope toys can enable interaction between humans and dogs.
Rope toys are good for playing tug-of-war, and if you are lucky and to have a large enough garden, frisbees are great for games of catch and fetch.