Dogs are intelligent creatures. Much like children they need stimulation and education to grow emotionally and intellectually. Toys play an important role in this process. Different toys fulfill different canine needs. Some toys are designed for interactive play, while others entertain your dog while alone. Before you go dog toy shopping, take an inventory of the toys you already have and compare it to the 4 dog toy categories below. Understanding each toy’s purpose aids you in selecting the array of toys that’s right for your pet.

1. Enrichment or Cognitive Toys. The basic concept is active problem solving and positive reinforcement. These toys encourage thought and reward play by periodically releasing treats. This random, positive reinforcement keeps your dog entertained both physically and mentally. It's also great fun to watch your dog, deep in thought, solving the puzzle.

2. Interactive Toys. Interactive play strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Games like fetch, tug and disc toss focus your dog's attention to the task at hand. Interactive play is great exercise and expends pent-up canine energy.

3. Amusement or Self-Active Toys. Developing independent or self-activated play is very important. You can't always be available to play with your dog, so they need to be able to amuse themselves from time to time. A good selection of safe, amusement toys are a must. Some of the toys in this category make noise (i.e., include a squeaker) to entice your dog. Others have feel-good textures or erratic movements that appeal to dogs’ natural hunting instincts.

4. Comfort Toys. Soft-stuffed or plush products make great comfort, as well as indoor play, toys. Many dogs love having a familiar plush toy in their sleeping area. Add a squeaker and the story changes. With squeakers they become an active amusement/comfort toy. The squeaking noise activates most dogs' prey drive, which can trigger the instinct to quiet the plush prey. This translates to: destroy the toy. Be sure to buy dog-safe, non-toxic plush toys and supervise your dog with plush toys. Remember, for most dogs, these toys are temporary. It is important to note, soft-stuffed toys aren't appropriate for all dogs.

Information for this article was obtained from The Kong Company. They recommend the Classic KONG toy as “ultimate Swiss Army Knife of dog toys” and say that the KONG fulfills all four toy categories above. Every doggy toy box should have at least one. If you’d like to know more about canine play and toys, you can subscribe to the KONG e-newsletter by signing up at their website – www.kongcompany.com.