If you’ve recently introduced a young four-legged pet into your home, you’d want them to feel at ease with their new environment.
Every pup reacts differently to a change in its surroundings. For many puppies who’ve been recently separated from their kin, they may still feel attached to their litter and find the transition to their new home a challenge.
As a new pet owner, it’s in your best interest to help them smoothly adjust to their new home. One way of doing that is by giving them comfort toys that can soothe their anxiety and calm them down.
One such toy that fits this description is a heartbeat puppy toy. This toy is a plush that’s specifically designed to rhythmically pulsate for a set amount of time, replicating the heartbeat of a living creature—like the pup’s mum or siblings.
A heartbeat toy is one that many pet owners should get for their newly adopted puppies. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why this toy is a no-brainer addition to your catalogue of puppy toys.
Let’s look into these reasons in more detail.
One of the top reasons why puppies need a heartbeat toy is to soothe their separation anxiety. It’s common for some puppies to feel attached to their mum and littermates, especially if they’re on the younger side and just newly weaned.
Anxious dogs can act out destructively, scratching, howling, and leaking uncontrollably until they’re reunited with their kin or no longer left alone.
Puppies can feel anxious when separated from their owners too. This will require conditioning and training on your part to help them gain independence and confidence while in solitude.
But in the journey to helping your puppy become more independent, you should provide them with some items that can provide them comfort, such as one of Zach's Pet Shop's heartbeat toys.
These heartbeat toys help your pup feel relaxed any time of day. In particular, they allow them to relax and sleep more soundly, which is crucial for growing and developing pups.
Furthermore, the soft plush exterior of the toy makes it easy for your pup to gnaw and chew on. This helps them easily bring their toy around while simultaneously gaining the benefits of a calming sensation—which can work wonders in reducing their separation anxiety.
Your pet’s first outing will likely be a trip to the vet clinic. Everything will be unfamiliar to your puppy—the scents, the sounds, the sights—and this can be too much for your little one to bear in one trip. And don’t get us started with the needle shots and latex-gloved hands they’d have to endure!
If you don’t want your pup to get overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, a heartbeat puppy toy can be just the thing to help calm them down. This toy provides a sense of familiarity in a place unknown to them, which can help make the vaccination and medication process much easier for everyone involved.
These toys can have a positive association with visiting the clinic with your pup as well. This is because these toys rhythmically beat, providing a calming and predictable sensation that can ease your pup’s nerves wherever they are. This can make future trips more bearable for your pup and the veterinarian.
Just like humans, dogs need ample amounts of sleep. But unlike us, the majority of their day revolves around it. Growing pups need about 18 to 19 hours a day, in fact, and they need every second of it for their development.
That said, puppies that have been newly separated from their parents or kin may find it difficult to get enough rest. This can interfere with their ability to attain quality sleep, which can disrupt their development. It can also bring about a slew of unwanted symptoms, like weight gain, lethargy, and a weakened immune system.
With a heartbeat puppy toy, your dog can reach a state of slumber much more easily, leading to better growth and health outcomes and a more peaceful abode. They can also become less anxious and restless throughout the day, which can help make them grow up to become confident and independent dogs.
Young pups can be quite full of life, and they can project their energy to their toys and playthings. Some toys may tear and break apart with their constant roughhousing, but not heartbeat toys.
Heartbeat puppy toys are designed to withstand chewing and rough play from dogs of all sizes, especially puppies. These toys are built from high-quality plush materials and a covering that doesn’t tear and expose its insides easily.
Furthermore, the battery-powered pulsating heart is also enclosed around hardened plastic, which makes it nearly impenetrable for your puppies to access and chew on. These properties allow them to play with the item without you having to worry about their safety and the safety of the household.
Dogs are naturally social creatures, and if they’re left alone for extended periods, they can act out by whining and barking.
This is universal across all dog breeds, and if you want what’s best for your dog to go through lonely times, then a heartbeat puppy toy is one you should get.
These toys can help your puppy feel at ease even if they’re left alone in a room away from others. It also helps them feel comfortable when being put in a temporary crate or cage.
Whether your dog is left at home during a workday or placed in a crate, the soothing pulse of the toy mimics the warmth and presence of a companion, reducing their feelings of isolation.
This can help prevent destructive behaviours often triggered by loneliness or boredom. So if your dog often acts out when they’re left alone, this toy could be a great purchase to minimise these unwanted behaviours.
When a puppy is stressed or anxious about their environment, this can impede their ability to engage with their surroundings and learn. This can cause them to miss the period of their lives when they learn best—which can make it harder for them to listen to your commands when they’re older.
To illustrate the point better, some dogs may feel fearful of being placed in a crate or a cage, even with reinforcement with treats. This feeling of anxiety can carry on to their older years, which can prevent them from benefiting from the training at all.
With a heartbeat toy, they’ll be more at ease and receptive to training. Their minds will become less anxious and have the space to focus on the commands and rewards, thanks to the calming presence of the toy. In turn, your guidance can make the training process more fruitful for your puppy.
Puppies and dogs displaying anxious behaviour may be prescribed anti-anxiety medication such as benzodiazepines, SSRIs like fluoxetine, or tricyclic antidepressants.
These medications are often used in short-term settings, such as during vet visits or training periods. However, in some severe cases, doctors may prescribe the medication daily to help them deal with long-term and chronic mental health problems.
Acquiring these medications and having your dog take them frequently can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Some of these medications may even come with side effects such as vomiting, seizures, and tremors that can be harrowing for your little one to face. It is always best to consult a veterinarian for expert opinion.
Fortunately, there’s a natural alternative remedy to ease the dog’s worries, and it comes in a playful bundle: heartbeat puppy toys. These toys can naturally alleviate stressful situations by giving your pup something to cling to during stressful and anxious situations.
The beating heart also replicates another dog, making them feel less isolated and more at ease with their surroundings, even without needing medication. For pet owners who don’t want to rely on medication, this alternative is a viable one that’s both cheap and effective.
We hope we’ve convinced you to consider heartbeat puppy toys!
