Should i leave my dogs toys out?

A dog with toys

Ultimately this decision comes down to you and your dogs personality or your dogs needs.

If you have a dog who is obsessed with their toys and cant calm down around them then it may be best that the toys are kept away. A dog who has a good toy drive is great but it may also mean they struggle to concentrate in their presence.

It also works in the opposite way, by leaving their toys out all the time we could influence the dog to lose interest in the toys and lose their drive to get involved with them. The option to have them when they please could mean they they become disinterested.

There are certain times, types of dogs or reasons i would potentially leave them out. Hard toys like Kongs can provide enrichment for dogs who are left alone. Toys which can potentially be shredded can pose a danger to the dog should they swallow any of the toys.

In general i try to stay away from rope type toys as the fibres can come out and potentially wrap up in the dogs stomachs should they swallow them.

Toys like tuggy toys or balls i try to keep for play or training sessions, so that i can ensure the dogs always has a play drive when they're present! Now if you have a dog who is disinterested in toys unless you're choosing to play with them, then leaving toys out isnt too big of an issue.

Again it all comes down to the dog. I try to leave a variety of toys out available for my 5 month old puppy so that when he is roaming the house he has access to these toys, but when we leave the house he is crated so that he can nap safely.

Safety is paramount when it comes to dogs and their toys and this is something we need to consider. As a general consensus i try not to leave any dog toys out for my older boy, as he loves his toys so it means we can make playtime worth his while. However as previously stated i do leave some toys out for the puppy to play with to keep him occupied when he has time outside of his crate.

So it is down to you as an owner do choose what works best for you and your dogs, just consider the safety aspect of things. If your dog is likely to chew/shred/swallow toys then leaving them out may not be the best option.