Toys That Your Medium Dog Will Love

All dogs are playful creatures by nature, I think there is nothing that your dog would like more than to be in your company and play with you. But sometimes, you can't be around to play with him or her so why not give your dog some toys that will keep him entertained for hours on end when you are not around to play with him. Such a toy should be hardy enough to withstand a lot of chewing and pulling and yet be attractive to your dog.

Here are some toys that we think that your medium-sized dog will love:

Aspen Soft Bite Plush Hedgehog Dog Toys
An adorable soft toy for your dog that gives a cute squeak when squeezed. It is also long lasting and durable as it is made with extra strong stitching that can withstand the jaws of medium-sized to large-sized dogs.




Multipet Terry Loofa Dog Toy (12" Length; 12" Length; Assorted; Assorted)
This terry covered toy can be used not only as a retriever but also a back scratcher! Squeaker included.

Nylabone Galileo Bone Souper (14.3 oz.; Souper; 8.25")
This tough dog bone toy is made of virgin nylon that is highly durable. You only need to throw it away when it is chewed till it is small enough for your dog to swallow whole. It is also an effective teeth cleaning aid and gum massager for your dog.


Aspen Soft Bite Floppy Disc (10")
This soft floppy disc can fly and float. It can fold up to fit easily in a back pocket or purse.




Talking Fleece Dog Toys
Dog toys that look and sound like real animals - the cow moos, the monkey screeches and the frog croaks!




Kong Biscuit Ball Dog Treat Holder
This ball cum dog treat holder has a hollow center and 4 bone-shaped openings to dispense treats, food or biscuits. Designed for medium dogs and large dogs.



Your medium dog will love these entertaining toys :-)

But no matter how interesting the toy, the best playmate for your dog is still YOU. So try to play with your dog as often as you can!

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Dog-Proofing Your Home

Here are some tips on how to dog-proof your house before bringing your medium dog home to stay:

1. Inspect each room in your house carefully and ensure that the following items are kept well away from the reach of your dog:


• Anything that is sharp.


• Anything that could cause choking, including any metal or plastic toys, chicken or fish bones. (Note: bones should not be given to dogs for any reason as they are a choking hazard!)


• Anything that could be poisonous if eaten, including batteries, coins, mothballs, fertilizer, insecticide, cleaning liquids etc.


• Any kind of human medications, for example, pain killers or cold medications, as these could be poisonous to your dog.


• Anything that could cause intestinal blockage like string, dental floss, rubber bands or plastic bags.


• Any moldy or spoiled food.


• Any household plant that is poisonous to pets. For a list of the more common toxic household plants, check out this site.



2. Check that all electrical cords or outlets are properly covered to prevent electrocution.


3. Ensure that all cabinets that store the above items are securely latched to prevent your dog from getting to it.


4. Check that all trash cans have secure lids.


5. If you have both a dog and a cat, keep their food dishes away from each other as cat food is not suitable for dogs and vice-versa.


6. As dogs often like to dig and climb, ensure that your fences are deep and tall enough to prevent your dog from digging or climbing out.


7. Ensure that lamps or fragile items like porcelain vases are either kept far out of reach or are placed in such a way that they cannot be toppled over by a frisky dog.


8. Socks and shoes are favorite chewing toys, keep these items inside safely secured in a shoe cabinet at all times.


9. If your dog is not housebroken yet, remove all rugs, floor cushions and carpets temporarily until he is properly housetrained.

It takes some adjustment but it is usually just a matter of getting used to it. Once your home is dog proofed, you can feel secure in knowing that you have done your best to keep your pet safe from harm in the house. Btw, a great site on how to keep your dog safe in the house is the ASPA Animal Poison Control Center, do check it out.

Tags: dog-proofing, pet-proofing

Life Span Of Medium-sized Dogs

Generally medium-sized dogs have an estimated average life span of between 10 to 15 years. This is less than toy breeds which can live to be 15 to 19 years old but more than large breeds such as the St. Bernard or Great Dane which generally live up to only around 8 to 10 years of age. The life span of dogs in general decrease as their body size increases.

Why do larger dogs have a shorter life span? According to this research paper, it could be due to the fact that larger dogs experience an exceptionally high growth rate in their early years. This growth spurt may cause greater cellular damage in their bodies compared to smaller dogs which do not experience this immense growth spurt. It could also be because of the fact that large dog breeds were bred to become big sized by man and such "artificially created" sizes may place an excessive amount of strain on their skeletal systems.

Although medium dogs live to between 10 to 15 years on average, some medium dog breeds have a genetic predisposition to contract certain kinds of diseases which may shorten their life span. For example, Bulldogs are succeptible to heat strokes and respiratory problems due to the shortness of their muzzle, male Samoyeds may be affected by a genetic predisposition to renal failure, and hip dysplasia is very common in Chow Chows, Golden Retrievers, Samoyeds and English Springer Spaniels.

Thus, it is important to be aware of what are some of the common genetic diseases for the breed of your medium dog so that the disease can be detected and treated early. And do not hesitate to bring your dog to the vet if he is not feeling well. Remember to ensure that your dog is well vaccinated against contagious canine diseases as well.

Also, do check out Medium Dog Health in Medium Dog Guide for more useful health tips for medium-sized dogs :-)

Tags: life span of medium dogs, medium dog health.