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Buy dog toys like you are buying toys for your kids - always put safety first. Dog toys need not necessarily be expensive, nor should they be cute. Dogs do not care how expensive or how cute a toy is. What they need is something safe, interesting and durable. Dogs basically carry around their toys to areas they feel comfortable playing in. They bite and chew these toys, and very squeaky toys tend to scare them off. If you are to purchase a dog toy, just make sure that it is practical, safe and entertaining for your pet.

The size of the dog toy matters a lot. And because dogs chew and bite, it is necessary to make sure that the toy is not too big to hinder your pet from carrying it from one place to another (nor is it too small to get stuck in its mouth or throat).

Durable toys are the best. Dog toys that easily get torn apart pose great risk of injuring the gums, getting stuck on teeth, and give opportunity to cases of accidental swallowing and choking.

The variety of dog toys lining market shelves include both hard and soft rubber balls, dental health toys, rope, fetch toys, talking toys, rubber rings and the puffy and furry ones. They come in assorted sizes and shapes that your pet dogs will love. Whatever dog toys you prefer to buy should not in any way present a health hazard to your pet. If you truly love your dogs, put their safety as your top priority.

Obedience training is one of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself. In fact, a well trained dog is by far a happier dog! Why? Because a trained dog requires much fewer restrictions, so the more reliable the dog, the more freedom he/she is given.

Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave just like animals.(A dog is a pack animal. It prefers to be with companions) They can soil your house, chew your belongings, bark at everything that moves, dig up your back garden, attack other dogs and even attack you or your children! Training serves to strengthen the bond between a dog and his owner. It builds communication and mutual respect, and effectively demonstrates to your dog that you’re the leader of the pack without resorting to smacking or hitting. Dogs have their own personalities and mindset. They can be stubborn, dominant, submissive, or fearful, characteristics that can make them difficult to own and train.

Obedience training is also an easy way to establish the social hierarchy. Training can be accomplished at home, in an obedience class, or with a private trainer. When your dog obeys a simple command he/she is showing compliance and respect for you. A well-behaved, obedient trained dog is a pleasure to own because he can go virtually anywhere without being a risk or nuisance to others or themselves ( an untrained dog loose near traffic is an accident waiting to happen). At the end of the day dog obedience training really benefits everybody. Remember dog ownership is a big responsibility and there is nothing fast and simple about it, consistency is important in dog training, in fact patience, persistence and consistency are the most important concepts in any kind of teaching. Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for both you and your dog.

When searching for a trainer or instructor to help with training your dog there are different types of training available, remember an obedience instructor works with people not dogs, then the people work with their pets. Whereas a dog trainer teaches your dog to obey, then teaches you how to get the dog to listen to you.
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Author is a long term dog trainer and rescuer, see more of her articles on dog obedience training here, remember a well trained dog is a happy dog and happy dogs make happy owners!