What kind of toys do Bernedoodles like?
If your dog is anything like our Cooper, then he or she must LOVE to play. Cooper has a wide range of toys to play with, but there are a select few that are definitely his favorites. We can make some recommendations on which kind of toys Bernedoodles like the best, but every dog is different. One type of toy might be the absolute favorite for one dog, but it may not hold another dog’s interest. Below we’ll talk about the kind of toys Bernedoodles generally like.
1. Tug Toys
Our Cooper isn’t in love with fetch. While he will go get a toy that we throw, he doesn’t like to give it up. He prefers to play tug of war. And that’s why we recommend a tug toy for your Bernedoodle. You’ll want to look for a toy that’s durable and has a rope as part of the toy’s design. Or you could just purchase a toy that’s a rope.
Let your dog get one end of the toy in their mouth, you get the other end, then start pulling. If your dog gives up, then tug of war may not be their thing. But if they’re pulling back, you found a toy that’s sure to keep your pup entertained, as long as you’re willing to pull the other end.
That said, Make sure when you play tug of war that you don’t pull too hard. While a Bernedoodle’s teeth and jaw are strong, you don’t want to inadvertently injure them by pulling too hard or trying to yank a toy out of their mouths. You can be firm in your tugging, without being overly aggressive. Tug ropes are better suited for dogs that won’t destroy the rope and pull it apart as that can lead to the dog ingesting the string. You should always inspect the dog’s toys for wear and discard any that are too damaged to be safe for play.
2. Squeak/Crinkle Toys
Cooper loves squeak and crinkle toys. Just one crinkle or squeak of the toy will practically give him whiplash. These toys definitely hold his attention. And once he gets ahold of one, he plays with it for quite a long time chewing on it and pawing at it.
But what is it about these types of toys that get a dog’s attention? Well it comes down to instincts. The squeak and the crinkle sounds stimulate your Bernedoodle’s hunter instincts as the sound of crinkle and squeak simulates prey. Admittedly, this instinct is inherent in all dog breeds, but it’s more dominant in certain breeds. Given the hunter/herding nature of Bernese Mountain dogs, it’s no wonder that Bernedoodle would love the crinkle/squeak types of toys.
3. Chew Toys
Chew toys are great options if you want to keep your dog occupied on a drive or you need to step out to do some grocery shopping. Chew toys can be either soft or hard. Which one to get really depends on how your dog reacts to them. We recommend you give your dog one of each kind of chew toy to see which one her or she likes best.
In Cooper’s case, he’ll get interested in a soft chew toy but they don’t really hold his interest. Some of these types of toys even have holders where you can hide treats. But still, once he gets the treats, he’s not really interested in the toy anymore. On the other hand, when he gets a hard chew toy, he becomes obsessed with it. He could chew on it for hours and occupy himself! The only problem with the hard chew toys is that he starts to destroy them such that the surface becomes a bit shredded and he’s ingested those shreds a time or two causing him to cough a bit. So we monitor the toy regularly to make sure that as he’s gnawing on it, it doesn’t have anything that could rip off and cause him to choke.
4. Puzzle Toys
Finally, we wanted to mention puzzle toys. Your Bernedoodle is an intelligent breed of dog. That’s in large part due to the Poodle side of the breed. Poodles are considered the smartest breed of dog second only to the Border Collie. Therefore, you can expect that your Bernedoodle will want not just physical stimulation when they play, but mental stimulation as well.
There are a bunch of different types of puzzle toys, but the main idea is that the toy has compartments and other areas where you can hide treats. For instance, we have this toy that’s about the size of a dinner plate and a couple inches high. It has a bunch of compartments that slide back and forth revealing a compartment. You’ll fill each of these compartments with a treat and then set the toy down in front of your dog. You’ll want to open one of the compartments the first time your Bernedoodle plays with the toy to show them there’s a treat in there. From there, their nose and instinct will do the rest as they hunt and search for the rest of the treats.
We also have a snuffle mat for Cooper. This essentially looks like a shaggy rug where you hide the treats in the fibers and the dog has to again use its nose to search out. Again these are best for dogs that aren’t destructive chewers as you don’t want them tearing into it and ingesting the mat.
Puzzle toys are great for long rides, as a reward for your pup or to keep them distracted when you leave the house to help reduce separation anxiety.
Overall
That wraps up the main types of toys that we recommend for your Bernedoodle. Don’t forget that there are a lot of cheap types of dog toys out there. Some that will fall apart after a few uses, so make sure you do your research and purchase a toy from a reputable brand. This will improve the chances of the toy remaining intact longer. Further, you can be more confident that the materials used to make the toy are of good quality and safe for your pet. As always, use common sense with what toys you buy and allow your puppy to play with.
