How can I get my dog to like toys?

Some dogs need to be taught to like their toys. Kittleson recommends positive reinforcement training using these steps:

Hold a toy in one hand and a treat in the other. Encourage your dog to touch the toy and once they do, get excited and give them a treat. Repeat this exercise until your dog is consistently touching the toy for a treat.

The next step is to put the toy on the floor and encourage your dog to touch it. As soon as they touch the toy, get excited and give them a treat.

If at any point your dog picks up the toy in their mouth, raise your excitement level and give them additional treats. The goal is that your dog learns that playing with their toy leads to a yummy reward. Eventually, your encouragement and time spent together will be enough to keep your dog engaged in playing and you won’t need to use treats.

Another easy way to teach your dog to play with toys is to encourage playtime before feeding them a meal, says Kittleson. In this case, dogs look forward to playing with their toys because it’s always followed by food.

Finally, if your dog does start to show interest in toys, be aware that their preferences may change depending on their age, say experts at the American Kennel Club. Teething puppies might enjoy biting down on rubbery chew toys while adults may prefer chasing Frisbees, and senior dogs might opt for softer plush toys. It’s such fun when you find a toy that gets your dog excited, and playing together is a great way to bond with your buddy.

squeaky toy sound button

safest dog chew

vet-recommended dog chew toys