Did the holidays result in a basket of new toys for your dog or cat? If your home is overrun with dog and cat stuff, animal shelters will often accept some of the things you no longer use. You’ll find wish lists on the Animal Rescue League of Boston and MSPCA websites. In addition to unopened bags of food and treats, they can use clean blankets, towels, sheets, and bedding.
We miss our old pal Odis who moved away. He was mad for new toys. More photos here.
Neophilia - A Love of New Toys
Does your companion animal like new toys better than old ones?
Scientific American published a review of recent studies about dogs and neophilia (what scientists call a preference for novelty). In one German study, the results were so strong that it was reported that, “the unfamiliar object was chosen first in 38 out of 50 tests.”
The studies confirmed what most of us know, that our furry friends love new toys and that new lasts a matter of minutes. You may find the much loved, new toy abandoned within days. Having a practical nature, the author, Julie Hecht, went on to suggest ways to keep your dog or cat enthralled with toys, new or old.
This beagle loved his toy so much he took it for a walk. More photos here.
Keep it Interesting
Her first suggestion is rotating the toys available. You can keep one group of toys out in a basket where your pet can choose what he or she likes. Then switch out the toys with some that are kept out of sight and out of scent. (Remember, our pets have a far keener sense of smell than we do and can root out hidden objects with ease.)
A natural love of smelling things was another suggestion from Hecht, “You might even consider adding a new scent to the toys, rolling them in leaves or grass, or finding another way to change their olfactory composition.”
Perhaps her most important suggestion was for you to become part of the toy. Any toy you are holding, tossing, or keeping away will become an instant object of desire. Even in our tiny home, my husband and our dog Poppy have daily play sessions with him tossing toys and her fetching them and then trying to keep them away from him.
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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino - Updated and adapted for BostonZest from our previously published material.
Photos: ©2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino