You’ve headed outside, either to the garden or an enclosed field, with an inventory of toys, but how are you going to make it the most fun for your dog?

Water play

It can be surprising to find that dogs that are reluctant to retrieve from outdoor ground surfaces can really enjoy fetching things out of small areas of water such as paddling pools. Sometimes they will eventually progress from there to fetch on land as well, but not always – as with any non-essential skill, we ought to take what we are offered by the dog rather than feel we should pursue goals set by somebody else.

With a paddling pool, we can start to build their confidence with a shallow splash of water initially, and over a longer time progress to making it deeper. Certain breed types adore water and can barely be kept out of it once they realise that the paddling pool is there, while others can have a fit of the vapours at the mere thought. We need to listen to their preferences.

The pool itself should be easy to clean because dog plus water equals mud, and I remember a client describing to me that some of his garden had turned into a swamp since he had provided his dog with a pool. My suggestion that he maximised the opportunity by planting rice was not taken up. However, his dog was so happy that he put up with the new landscaping effects.

Suitable pools for dogs need to be convenient to drain and close or cover when not in use, because you don’t want slugs, snails, and insects to colonise them, birds to drown in them or other animals to contaminate them when you are not there. Nor should a dog ever be left to play in them unsupervised. Whatever they are made of must be impervious to risk of damage from claws and teeth, and tolerant to sun and frost, or else easily moved to somewhere weather won’t cause damage.

For some dogs, playing in pools is a summer exercise, whereas others are more than happy to splash about in them whatever the time of year. If you don’t have a garden, check if any nearby dog exercise fields offer a play area equipped with a pool, or if they would object to you bringing your own small portable one. Playing in water doesn’t necessarily need a big area. But out of consideration for wildlife that depends on water, avoid allowing your dog to bounce around in natural ponds. This also sidesteps potential contact with parasites or the toxic green algae that can be a big feature of some areas of standing water.

Water toys for dogs

Many dogs get a lot of fun playing with toys that are specially designed for water play. These are made to float and bob, the movement attracting dogs to ‘catch’ them, thus fulfilling their prey drive in a kind environment. Such toys should be big enough for the dog to hold in his mouth and never so narrow or small to risk being jammed in his jaws, because dogs will grab a floating toy with more decisiveness than one on ground surface. Long jaws present different risks from wide jaws, so make your decisions for your own dog rather than taking generic advice that is supposedly for all types, because one size (and shape) most definitely does not fit all.

Toys for outdoor play on land 

A toy must be of a sensible size for safety, and you’d be amazed how widely even a Terrier (or especially a Terrier!) can open its jaws.

Not every dog wants to play ‘fetch,’ though, and some can give their owners lots of healthy exercise because they will chase a toy with the utmost glee, but once it stops moving, they lose interest. A toy that will bounce and then change direction unpredictably can create great pleasure in dogs that like to chase, and most dogs do.

Outdoor toys can also be part of a ‘search and find’ exercise to enjoy with your dog, where you put the toy out in the garden first without the dog seeing, and then you look for it together. This is best started by using a long line until your dog realises what is wanted, and a tiny smear of something suitably foody, such as meat paste, on the toy will encourage the dog to use his nose. Soon he will understand what is wanted, and you can dispense with the line if you want, but it is always more fun for the dog if you work as a team, and it can be very bonding if you sometimes ‘find’ the toy and point it out to him. Dogs are very good at following a pointing signal.

Many dogs will enjoy tug games, too. It’s important to find tug-friendly toys that will withstand the pulling and won’t damage your dog’s teeth. Ensure games don’t just build frustration – don’t play for too long and let your dog win!

The best toy for dogs 

We used to be told that dogs could only see in black and white, but nowadays we know better. They do have a degree of colour vision, but not the range that we have. This is important with regard to outdoor toys if we want to exercise the dog’s visual perception as well as his sense of smell. Toys that are bright yellow are going to show up on green grass much better than other colours, and will increase your dog’s confidence when you ask him to ‘find’, and the more confident he is, the more he will enjoy this activity with you.

Any toy, as well as being safe, should have good ‘mouth feel’ for the dog. This means that it is soft enough to provide ‘give’ but not so soft that it squashes flat or he might catch a tooth in it. It should be weighted to make it easy to carry, but does not need to be symmetrical. In fact, dogs seem to enjoy carrying items where they have to find how to balance them in their mouths, so what to us might be an untidy shape is to them much more of a ‘prey feel’. Here, the toy fits an instinctual satisfaction that in real life we don’t want them to experience, so it’s a win for both of us.

Questions to ask about your dog toy: 

l Is it the right size and shape for this particular dog?

l What game are you planning to play?

l Does it have ‘mouth feel’?

l Do the colours stand out to the dog?

l Is it tooth-safe?

l Is the toy easy to clean and keep hygienic?

Zeus Nitro

Zeus NITRO dog toys are engineered with advanced technology inspired by professional sports gear, combining exceptional durability with a soft, flexible feel. Designed for intense, high-energy play, these toys are extra-strong yet highly adaptable — perfect for safe games of fetch on land or in water. Their ideal weight enhances performance, while their resilient construction ensures hours of active fun for you and your dog. Unleash the inner athlete in both of you with Zeus NITRO.

•  FDA-approved
•  Ideal weight for safe play
•  Buoyant
•  Flexible
•  Bouncy
•  Designed for all seasons

Visit zeuszoe.com/zeus/products/nitro-dog-toys or scan the QR code: