The best type of toys for a Japanese Spitz are the ones that cater to their natural traits and personality. The Japanese Spitz is a high energy dog and is very smart, playful and curious. They also need toys that are tough and durable as they can often be rough on their toys. In addition, the Japanese Spitz have a high prey instinct and like to chase.
The best type of toys for a Japanese Spitz help to burn energy, cater to their natural chase instinct. and provide mental stimulation and challenge.
The Japanese Spitz is an energetic dog and requires daily exercise to release pent up energy. Failure to provide adequate exercise and keep them occupied can result in behavior issues. This can include nuisance barking, destructive behavior and even escaping. For a guide to exercise for a Japanese Spitz see here.
They also enjoy a good chew and would be categorized as a moderate to aggressive chewer. This means their chew toys need to be tough and durable.
Here are our recommendations for the best toys for Japanese Spitz.
The must-have toy for all Japanese Spitz
Kong Extreme
If you don’t know what a Kong for dogs is it is a tough rubber dog toy with a hole in the center so you can stuff it with treats or even flavored paste. The Kong is actually three dog toys in one.
- Food and treat stuffing puzzle toy. You can even freeze the Kong for a hot weather treat.
- Chew toy – made of safe near-indestructible rubber
- Fetch toy – due to its unique shape it bounces in unpredictable directions making a game of fetch more fun.
Although the standard red Kong Classic would be fine for Japanese Spitz I recommend using the black Kong Extreme. These are near indestructible and will last your dog’s lifetime.
They come in a range of sizes from XS to XL. For the Japanese Spitz, I recommend using the medium or large Kong as the smaller sizes don’t hold as much food or treats as you would think.
For a Japanese Spitz puppy, you should choose the Puppy Kong. These are made of softer more flexible rubber so they don’t do damage to their young and developing teeth and jaw. See Puppy Kongs on Amazon here.
To learn more about how to use a Kong for dogs see here. If your Japanese Spitz doesn’t have a Kong, get them one or even two. See the Kong Extreme on Amazon here.
Exercise toys for Japanese Spitz
Toys are a great way to provide additional exercise and energy-burning activity for your Japanese Spitz. Toys that involve chasing or fetching are ideal for this.
Wicked Ball
If your dog is ball mad then the Wicked Ball is the ultimate moving dog toy for them. The magic ball runs and bounces all by itself and the LED light adds another level of engagement for your dog. No App or remote controller required.
It has several settings such as the Intelligent Companion mode. In this mode, the Wicked ball has 10 minutes of play and 30 minutes of rest. If your dog pushes or hits the ball it starts the play cycle again. It also has three reaction modes (gentle, normal, active) so you can set it to suit your dog’s mood. Due to its obstacle avoidance system (collision sensor), it doesn’t get stuck in tight spots.
The Wicked ball is durable and dog safe and is also waterproof so it can be played with when swimming. It also has a treat hole for dogs that are food motivated.
View the Wicked Ball on Amazon.
Flirt Pole
A Flirt pole is like a giant cat tickler for dogs. It has a long handle with a bungy type rope with a lure or toy attached to the end. You simply move the lure along the ground around in circles or in different directions as your dog chases it.
This activity is ideal for a Japanese Spitz as it works directly with their natural prey instinct. Be sure they have a good “leave it” command and don’t allow them to destroy the toy. It is important that this be a controlled exercise. This is also a good training exercise for Japanese Spitz as it teaches impulse control. See the video for more. For a full guide to flirt pole exercise for dogs see here.
View Flirt Poles on Amazon
Varram Pet Robot
The Varram Pet Fitness Robot is the newest of the automatic chase toys for dogs and cats. This device is super smart and ideal to keep your dog active when home alone. Using an app on your iPhone or Android you can schedule when to activate or have it in sleep mode. It also can sense when your pet is near wanting to play. It also has an obstacle avoidance ability and can learn where obstacles are.
The Varram Pet Robot has a few more functions than the other smart chase toys shown below, and as a result, is a little more expensive. It has a built-in treat dispenser to reward your dog for playing. It also provides all the stats and reports on the smartphone app such as monitoring your dog’s activity and how many treats were dispensed.
View the Varram Pet Fitness Robot on Amazon.
In addition to the Varram Pet Robot, there are several other moving chase toys available. This includes the GoBone, the Wicked Bone or the Petgeek play bone. To learn more about these dog toys that move on their own see here.
Automatic Ball Launchers
Fetch is the favorite game of the majority of dogs. I am sure you have had the experience of your dog wanting you to throw the ball just a few more times. With an Automatic Ball Launcher, they can play fetch by all by themselves. This will require training them to put the ball in the funnel initially, but once they know what to do they are away and fetching. Read “Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs” to learn more
Manual Ball Launchers
Handheld ball launchers are an excellent way to exercise your dog. Obviously, the further you can throw the ball the more your dog has to run.
They also make life easier for you as the long handle lets you pick up a ball without having to bend over to the ground. It also prevents you from having to touch a slobbery ball.
The best quality and well-known brand are the Chuckit. These are also extremely inexpensive and well worth having. Check out the Chuckit ball thrower on Amazon.
Chew toys for Japanese Spitz
When it comes to getting the right chew dog toys for a moderate or aggressive chewer like a Japanese Spitz, it’s important to keep size in mind. Toys that are too small can easily be choked on.
The most ideal material for chew toys designed for aggressive chewers is rubber. Rubber is durable and virtually indestructible, so this material should be your first pick in a dog toy. Look for soft, malleable edges that are smooth and not sharp.
Here are recommended chew toys for Japanese Spitz;
Gough Nuts Indestructible Chew Toy
The Gough Nuts chew toys are my number one pick for aggressive power chewers. Extremely popular with people with power strong dogs for their toughness.
Extremely tough and a good size and shape (11.75 inches long). Dogs like stick-shaped toys because they can hold them between their paws while they work on the end. Also great for a game of fetch.
View Gough Nuts Maxx Stick on Amazon
The Gough Nuts ring is 5″ in diameter with a 1.75″ cross-section. Virtually indestructible, guaranteed! If your pet can chew through the outer layer to expose the inner red layer, GoughNuts will replace your toy.
View Gough Nuts Chew Ring on Amazon
Deer Antlers
If you are wanting a more edible dog chew, deer antlers are one of the toughest and longest-lasting. These are available in a range of different sizes to suit your dog. Antlers are a source of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. And many dogs seem to really like the taste.
View Deer Antlers on Amazon here.
For more chew toy recommendations see here.
Toys for Japanese Spitz that shred
Many Japanese Spitz like soft plush toys. However, most plush toys would be shredded in minutes by many Japanese Spitz. The key is to select plush toys that are tough and indestructible. These types of toys are also ideal for Japanese Spitz puppies.
Tuffy plush toy range
The Tuffy range is known as the toughest soft toy for dogs. Tuffy plush toy range combines durability with softness. This is accomplished with seven-layer stitching, multiple tough outer layers of material and a fleece inner lining. They are also machine washable and float.
(available in a range of animal shapes)
See the full range of Tuffy Plush Toys on Amazon
For more suggested plush toys for shredders see here.
Mental stimulation toys for Japanese Spitz
Japanese Spitz are smart and are excellent at solving problems. When selecting puzzle toys for your Spitz it is important to choose toys that are challenging and not to easy to figure out.
iFetch Frenzy
The iFetch Frenzy is the only dog puzzle toy that doesn’t use treats. The ball itself is the reward. Your dog drops the ball into the top and scrambles to find it as it randomly rolls from 6-12 feet out of 1 of 3 chutes at the base.
There’s no launching, like our other iFetch ball launchers. This product allows dogs to quickly return to the real challenge: the mental game of guessing where the ball will appear next.
Tornado Puzzle
The Tornado puzzle has three layers that spin with four compartments on each level. It also comes with bone puzzle pieces you can place over the treats to add an extra level of difficulty.
The constant movement and spinning action keep your dog engaged. This puzzle is also great to feed your dog their dry kibble to slow them down. Especially if they are fast eaters or to make mealtime last longer if they are on a diet.
The only downside is your dog may cheat and flip the puzzle over so the treats drop out. In that case, you may need to teach let to use it properly.
View Tornado Puzzle Toy on Amazon
Snuffe Rug
A Snuffe Mat is another great way to provide for your dog’s natural digging instinct and to provide mental stimulation and relieve boredom. A Snuffe mat is a mat that is made of fleece and you can hide dry food or treats into it. If you are someone that is good at crafts you can try to make one yourself or check out the range of Snuffle Mats at Amazon.
For more puzzle toy recommendations see here.
Toys for Japanese Spitz puppies
When selecting the best toys for a Japanese Spitz puppy it is important to consider several things. Firstly, they should not be too hard and should have some give. This prevents damage to the jaw and the new teeth. It is also important that they do not shatter or break into small pieces. This is to prevent the risk of your puppy choking on any fragments that come off the toy.
Kong puppy chew toys
As mentioned at the top of this article, The Kong for dogs is a must-have. In addition to the classic shape Kong, there are other shapes available such as the Kong teething stick and the Kong Goodie Bone. These have grooves on the side so you can spread a little paste into them to make the toy more interesting than your shoes.
Tuffy Junior dog toys
For puppies that love plush toys but tend to pull apart normal plush toys like Japnese Spitz puppies tend to, The Tuffy Junior range is ideal. They are more durable than other plush toys and are machine washable. These are for puppies mainly as an adult dog would be more than likely to be able to destroy them. They are available in a range of sizes to suit your puppy.
Let us know if your Japanese Spitz uses any of these suggestions or what their favorite toys are.
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