Toys & Play
A good play session has some effort in the middle and a calm finish. For dogs, start with indoor games for dogs for cold, dark or rainy days, and toys for dogs who destroy toys to match toys to how your dog chews.
For cats, how long to play with a cat sets out short daily sessions that end with a catch and a snack. No toy is indestructible, so supervise play and retire a toy once it splits or loses pieces. The toys mentioned are in dog and cat toys.
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Guide
Are Ball Launchers Bad for Dogs? Joints, Adrenaline and How Much Is Too Much
A launcher throws further than your arm and lets a dog sprint and brake repeatedly until something gives. This covers what repetitive fetch does to a body, the adrenaline problem behind the dog who never seems satisfied, and how to use a launcher without the downsides.
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Guide
Is Tug of War Bad for Dogs? What the Game Actually Does
The idea that tug teaches a dog to challenge you has been repeated for decades and does not hold up. This guide covers what the game really does for a dog, the jaw and neck questions worth taking seriously, and the handful of rules that turn tug into training.
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Guide
Why Does My Dog Bring Me Toys? What It Means and How to Respond
A toy at the door is usually a greeting, an invitation to play or both. Learn to tell which, when to play, say hello or trade, and what to do when it turns into demand play or keep-away.
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Guide
Why Do Dogs Like Squeaky Toys? And How to Keep Squeaker Play Safe
A squeak sounds like small prey and goes off the instant your dog bites, so every chomp pays off. Why some dogs squeak for hours or whine with a toy, what to do about a dog who digs out the squeaker, how to choose a squeaky toy and how to live with the noise.
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Guide
How Much Playtime Does a Dog Need? By Age, Energy and Health
There's no fixed number of minutes. See how play needs change from puppy to senior and with energy and health, the signs of too little or too much play, and how to fit short games into a busy day.
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Guide
Enrichment for Dogs on Crate Rest: Quiet Jobs Within the Vet’s Rules
Strict rest after surgery or an injury is hard on an active dog. Here are quiet jobs that fit the usual vet rules, from lick mats and slow meals to scent games within reach of the bed, lying-down tricks and gentle toy time if allowed, plus the signs that mean it's time to call the vet.
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Guide
Can Big and Small Dogs Live Together? Play Rules and Separate Spaces
Big and small dogs can share a home if you plan for the size gap. How to judge the match, set play rules and time-outs, give the small dog a place to escape, keep toys, meals and beds apart, walk both dogs and know when to call a trainer.
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Guide
Backyard Games for Dogs: Nose Games, Fetch, Tug and Obstacle Courses
Letting your dog out isn’t the same as playing together. Start with a quick yard safety check, then rotate nose games, fetch variations, tug on dry ground, a low homemade obstacle course and summer water play that stays safe, matched to your dog’s age.
