By Laura Kennedy, Apprentice Puppy Raising Supervisor CNIB Guide Dogs
Playtime with toys is an important part of keeping our future guide dogs happy and healthy – both mentally and physically – but it’s important to note that there are certain toys often used by pet dogs that are not encouraged for these “pups with a purpose.”
Balls and frisbees are not to be used by pups in training. 
While it may seem unfortunate that our dogs don’t get these items, there are very valid reasons for each (plus, the pups don’t know what they don’t know!). As many of us know, dogs are inclined to chase fast moving objects such as balls and frisbees. Chasing can easily turn into an obsession, which is not a healthy behaviour. Balls and frisbees are also often seen in public. If a guide dog were to develop an obsession with chasing balls or frisbees, they could very easily pull their handler off balance and pose as a danger. Keeping frisbees and balls out of the lives of our future guide dogs allows us to prepare them to be successful guide dogs.
Play time with toys is very important for our future guide dogs’ development. Interactions with toys help build their confidence and alleviate stress or discomfort from teething. We strongly encourage our puppy raisers to include regular play time with any of the following types of toys:
- Rubber toys, including Kong and Westpaw brands
- Food dispensing toys, such as Kong, Kong wobbler, and puzzle feeders
- Rope toys
- Soft/plush toys
It’s important to note that no toy is 100 per cent indestructible. Therefore, play with toys should always be supervised – particularly rope and soft/plush toys as these can easily rip and become a safety hazard if pieces are swallowed.
Pups will often want you to be part of play time with the toy, which is not only beneficial to ensure their safety, it can also be an opportunity to make a fun game out of it by incorporating some training. Ask them to sit, down, or wait, while you withhold the toy. Once they respond to the training cue, you can let them play with the toy!
Happy playtime!