Myrtle has written about baby surgery before, how she sometimes has to make repairs to my babies because of my overly enthusiastic loving of them. Sometimes, she wearies of doing so. I know, because my puppy momma has the bothersome habit of tossing an injured baby atop the bookcase in the living room and waiting to tend to it until the pile of injured babies become visible to the room. That is not the IMMEDIATELY REPAIR MY BELOVED BABY approach I would prefer her to take. However, since I have no skill with a needle and thread, I must wait upon Myrtle for help.
When browsing the Internet over my puppy momma's shoulder, I found the article below. Myrtle had caught a lot of flack for the amount of babies she has bought for me. Well, for one, a fellow just cannot have enough babies and frankly I think Myrtle has been dropping the ball in this area over the past few months. For another, why in the world would anyone want to deprive a puppy dog of the comfort of his babies? Should there be a limit on comfort?? I say, "NO!"
So, to honor my puppy momma in her provision for my comfort, I thought I would post the text of the article here and provide the link for passing on just in case other puppy dogs need a defense for their puppy mommas or ... (hopefully not) ... need proof for their need of babies!
One of the biggest complaints I hear when it comes to dog toys that they just don’t last and that they are a waste of money. I would like to address these complaints with the following 5 reasons you should feel good about spending $$ on toys for your dog.
- Playing with toys stimulates your dog’s mind and can help promote problem solving skills.
- Toys keep dogs busy. And guess what? Your busy dog doesn’t have as much time to get into trouble.
- Toys help fulfill instinctive drives including: shredding/ripping, hunting/finding food, chasing and herding.
- Toys help expend energy. Fetching/retrieving activities expend pent up energy. If you are a part of the fun, then you get the added bonus of additional “bonding” time. So go ahead and play a game of fetch with Fido!
- Toys help with emotional balance: dogs that get adequate physical and mental stimulation tend to be healthier and more emotionally balanced.
Please don’t deprive your dog of toys because you think it is a waste of money. Consider how many children’s toys need to be replaced because of damage over time. Toys are made to be played with….and with dogs, that often means annihilation . So, with that in mind, determine how much you can spend on toys each month and consider it an investment in your dog’s emotional well-being.
These are a few tips on making the toys you choose last a little longer:
1. Change out toys every week. Novelty seems to be something that many dogs love when it comes to toys.
2. Keep at least one interactive toy out of reach and use it for special occasions. Pull it down and use it for a reward during training or to help keep your interactions with Fido “amazing” in his eyes.
3. Some toys are tougher than others….Kongs, Marrow Bones, and many food dispensing toys should be around awhile.
4. Toys made from material will have a shorter life expectancy, especially if you have a “shredder” on your hands. Just sit back and enjoy watching your dog rip it to pieces (make sure he doesn’t ingest any of it) and properly dispose of any small pieces.
5. Appropriate chews will help fill the gap when it comes to expense…..back straps, pig ears, deer antlers, bully sticks, and Himalayan Chews are all great choices for filling your dog’s need to chew.
Some dogs need a little help when it comes to toys, so try a variety. You should eventually find something that your dog likes! And remember that the small investment in toys is worth a happy, mentally healthy dog!
by Amy Weeks
So, all your puppy mommas and puppy papas out there, feel free to pick up a baby (or three) for your puppy dog in good conscience this week, knowing the purchase is priceless!
This is my life with Myrtle. Amos Adams signing off!
