Any given pet store has aisle after aisle of colorful squeakers, balls, ropes, and stuffies. So, it’s hard to know exactly which toys will make your dog gag. But researchers at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School have discovered the science behind the perfect dog toy.
Research has revealed why puppies prefer certain dog toys
Their study appeared in the renowned journal of animal behavior Animal Cognitionn. It reveals the science behind why some toys become Fido’s favorites while others collect dust in the toy box.
The answer may lie in the habits of the closest ancestor of the domestic dog – the wolf.
“Because we think that dogs see toys in the same way that wolves see prey, they prefer toys that either taste like food or can be torn,” said the study’s co-author University of Bristol Veterinary School student and researcher John Bradshaw to Discovery News. “However, the latter can cause health problems if the dog accidentally swallows some of the pieces.”
Testing favorite toys
The researchers presented the dogs with a different toy at 30-second intervals until the dog stopped interacting with that toy. A lack of interaction indicates that the dog’s interest has waned. The team used many types of toys in different colors, smells, and materials. They make sure that each successive toy is unique. Subsequent toys showed a contrast from the previous toy.
The research team used Labrador Retrievers in their study. They did this not only because of Labs’ status as one of the most popular dog breeds in the world but because of their playful reputation. “We had to make sure that the dogs we studied would play with the toys for at least a few minutes,” Bradshaw explained. “Otherwise, we can’t measure what will get them to play again once they’ve lost interest in the original toy.”
What makes some toys better?
There is no single characteristic that makes one toy more desirable than another. However, the study revealed that as a dog becomes accustomed to the stimulus characteristics of the toy – its smells, textures, and sounds – the dog is likely to tire of that toy.
Most of the new toys presented by the researchers seem to spark intense but temporary interest in Labs. Researchers hypothesized that it may be instinctual for dogs to investigate unfamiliar objects.
Co-author Anne Pullen of the University of Bristol research team said ideal toys should be “soft, easy-to-manipulate toys that are easy to chew and/or make noise”.
“Dogs quickly lose interest in toys with hard, hard surfaces, and those that don’t make noise when manipulated,” Pullen added.
How to make toys more attractive
Dogs get used to toys quickly. Therefore, the best thing a dog parent can do to spark interest in their dog is to play with them.
“For an animal as social as a dog, toys get really excited when they’re part of a game with someone,” Bradshaw explains. “Few toys will keep a dog interested for long without the owner to provide encouragement.”
All researchers agree that dogs make wonderful companions because they never lose their desire to play. Even when they are adults, they still love to play. Many other animals only play when they are young. They grow in behavior as they get older — but not the pet dog.
So the next time you see Fido coming up to you with a tennis ball in their mouth, by all means, join the fun!
