Thinking about Getting an Akita? Already have one and wondering what the best toys are for your furry friend? Look no further, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the best toys for your Akita or Akita puppy!
Did you know that the global market for pet toys is valued at 2.5 BILLION dollars? That’s a lot of dog toys. That means the options for your Aktias are nearly endless. But with a market that big, there is likely to be a lot of less than ideal toys for your Akita. When you’re shopping for a toy for your Akita, the MOST important thing is that it’s safe. Secondly is that your Akita actually enjoys playing with it, otherwise, you’ll just waste your money.
It’s important to remember that dogs (especially puppies) explore their surroundings with their mouths. They rely heavily on their mouth to interact with the world, eat, and play. There will likely never be a single best toy for your Akita, which is why it’s extremely important to have a variety of toys for your Akita to choose from. But having a good selection of toys will help keep your Akita from chewing on things they aren’t supposed to!
Here are some of our picks for the best toys for your Akita!
1. The Jolly Ball
Our Akita, Haga, absolutely LOVES the Jolly ball. Made out of a durable rubber, you don’t have to worry about your pup tearing this thing to shreds the first day. The Jolly ball has a good amount of bounce which makes it fun for your Akita to chase, and the handle at the top of the ball makes it easy to throw, and perfect for your Akita to latch on to, to carry around or whip back and forth.
Another great benefit of the Jolly Ball is that it floats, and it can get punctured without deflating. Meaning you can take this toy with you to the beach or use it in the pool with your Akita.
The Jolly Ball comes in four different sizes (we use the X-Large for our Akita) and six different colors: Green, purple, blue, blueberry orange, and red
If we had to pick Haga’s absolute number one most favorite toy, it would be the Jolly Ball.
2. Rope Toys
Our second pick for a great Akita toy is a knotted rope. The reasons for this are two fold. First your Akita will LOVE to play tug-of-war with you, but they’re also extremely durable. Akitas have powerful jaws and love to chew, so a durable toy is a must. Although many different rope toys will work, this one on Amazon has excellent reviews and is quite affordable.
Please note, that you want to buy a rope toy specifically made for dogs. Regular utility rope can fray and cause your dog to choke, orit can be coated with a chemical or agent that is not safe for your dog.
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The Starmark Sprocket is a great option because it serves as a toy AND a treat for your Akita. The rubberized sprocket bounces and rolls which makes it very appealing for a playful Akita, and you can buy treats that go inside to keep them entertained for longer periods of time. The treats are fairly durable and will take even large Akitas some time to chew through.
The best part is because the sprocket will have the scent of the treat, your Akita will take an interest in the sprocket even after the treat is gone. The sprocket itself makes for a great every day toy, but we use the treat inserts as a special occasion, as they are pricey at $3-6 for two, depending on the size of your sprocket. With three different sizes to choose from we recommend the medium or large for your Akita.
What about Plushes?
When you go to the pet store, a large majority of toys you see will be stuffed animals and similar type plushes. In our opinion, most of those are not worth buying. As previously mentioned, Akitas have a strong bike, and are avid chewers, most plush toys simply won’t last very long in a household with an Akita. What’s worse is the stuffing can come out, and your Akita could swallow it and choke, or have the stuffing get caught in their stomach or intestines not good. If that happens it could be a medical emergency. These toys can be better for puppies since an Akita puppy is less likely to tear one open.
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Some stuffed toy brands claim their toys are “indestructible” and while they may hold up for longer that other stuffed toys, I’ve never seen one not eventually get destroyed by an Akita, so if you do decide to go with the stuffed animal route, make sure you’re monitoring how the toy is holding up, and as soon as the seems break, or stuffing starts coming out, make sure to toss the toy in the garbage before your Akita swallows some of it.
Every Akita is Different
We hope this article has been informative, but there are two very important things to remember: First is that every Akita is different, and secondly, always remember to have a variety of toys available for your Akita, so they don’t get bored. It’s not uncommon for our Akita, Haga, to play non-stop with a particular toy for a few weeks, and then lose interest and move on to something else, only to come back to that toy later on.
And as always, don’t forget to check with your vet before introducing a new toy to or treat to your Akita.
Thinking about Getting an Akita? Already have one and wondering what the best toys are for your furry friend? Look no further, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the best toys for your Akita or Akita puppy!
Did you know that the global market for pet toys is valued at 2.5 BILLION dollars? That’s a lot of dog toys. That means the options for your Aktias are nearly endless. But with a market that big, there is likely to be a lot of less than ideal toys for your Akita. When you’re shopping for a toy for your Akita, the MOST important thing is that it’s safe. Secondly is that your Akita actually enjoys playing with it, otherwise, you’ll just waste your money.
It’s important to remember that dogs (especially puppies) explore their surroundings with their mouths. They rely heavily on their mouth to interact with the world, eat, and play. There will likely never be a single best toy for your Akita, which is why it’s extremely important to have a variety of toys for your Akita to choose from. But having a good selection of toys will help keep your Akita from chewing on things they aren’t supposed to!
Here are some of our picks for the best toys for your Akita!
1. The Jolly Ball
Our Akita, Haga, absolutely LOVES the Jolly ball. Made out of a durable rubber, you don’t have to worry about your pup tearing this thing to shreds the first day. The Jolly ball has a good amount of bounce which makes it fun for your Akita to chase, and the handle at the top of the ball makes it easy to throw, and perfect for your Akita to latch on to, to carry around or whip back and forth.
Another great benefit of the Jolly Ball is that it floats, and it can get punctured without deflating. Meaning you can take this toy with you to the beach or use it in the pool with your Akita.
The Jolly Ball comes in four different sizes (we use the X-Large for our Akita) and six different colors: Green, purple, blue, blueberry orange, and red
If we had to pick Haga’s absolute number one most favorite toy, it would be the Jolly Ball.
2. Rope Toys
Our second pick for a great Akita toy is a knotted rope. The reasons for this are two fold. First your Akita will LOVE to play tug-of-war with you, but they’re also extremely durable. Akitas have powerful jaws and love to chew, so a durable toy is a must. Although many different rope toys will work, this one on Amazon has excellent reviews and is quite affordable.
Please note, that you want to buy a rope toy specifically made for dogs. Regular utility rope can fray and cause your dog to choke, orit can be coated with a chemical or agent that is not safe for your dog.
View this post on Instagram
3. Starmark Sprocket
The Starmark Sprocket is a great option because it serves as a toy AND a treat for your Akita. The rubberized sprocket bounces and rolls which makes it very appealing for a playful Akita, and you can buy treats that go inside to keep them entertained for longer periods of time. The treats are fairly durable and will take even large Akitas some time to chew through.
The best part is because the sprocket will have the scent of the treat, your Akita will take an interest in the sprocket even after the treat is gone. The sprocket itself makes for a great every day toy, but we use the treat inserts as a special occasion, as they are pricey at $3-6 for two, depending on the size of your sprocket. With three different sizes to choose from we recommend the medium or large for your Akita.
What about Plushes?
When you go to the pet store, a large majority of toys you see will be stuffed animals and similar type plushes. In our opinion, most of those are not worth buying. As previously mentioned, Akitas have a strong bike, and are avid chewers, most plush toys simply won’t last very long in a household with an Akita. What’s worse is the stuffing can come out, and your Akita could swallow it and choke, or have the stuffing get caught in their stomach or intestines not good. If that happens it could be a medical emergency. These toys can be better for puppies since an Akita puppy is less likely to tear one open.
View this post on Instagram
Some stuffed toy brands claim their toys are “indestructible” and while they may hold up for longer that other stuffed toys, I’ve never seen one not eventually get destroyed by an Akita, so if you do decide to go with the stuffed animal route, make sure you’re monitoring how the toy is holding up, and as soon as the seems break, or stuffing starts coming out, make sure to toss the toy in the garbage before your Akita swallows some of it.
Every Akita is Different
We hope this article has been informative, but there are two very important things to remember: First is that every Akita is different, and secondly, always remember to have a variety of toys available for your Akita, so they don’t get bored. It’s not uncommon for our Akita, Haga, to play non-stop with a particular toy for a few weeks, and then lose interest and move on to something else, only to come back to that toy later on.
And as always, don’t forget to check with your vet before introducing a new toy to or treat to your Akita.