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Brauchen Hunde wirklich Spielzeug? Eine ehrliche Einordnung aus Trainersicht

Do Dogs Really Need Toys? An Honest Assessment from a Trainer's Perspective

by BUDDY. Hundezubehör in BUDDY. Dog Toys - The Guide

Balls, tug toys, squeaky toys – for many dog owners, toys are a natural part of everyday life. But a closer look raises a legitimate question: Do dogs actually need them?

Or are toys ultimately more of a human concept?

Dog trainer Ellen Marques, owner of the Martin Rütter Dog School Cologne and known from TV shows such as "Der Hundeprofi" (The Dog Pro) and "Die Unvermittelbaren" (The Unadoptables), offers a nuanced perspective here.

Toys are not a basic need

"Dogs don't need toys in the human sense," explains Ellen Marques.

This statement initially surprises many dog owners. After all, toys are often seen as an integral part of a happy dog's life.

But from a professional perspective, toys are not among a dog's basic needs.

What dogs really need instead are:

  • social interaction
  • orientation and structure
  • species-appropriate activity
  • opportunities for regulation

This means: A dog can lead a fulfilling life even without toys – provided these needs are met.

Why toys can still be useful

Nevertheless, Ellen Marques does not speak out against toys – quite the opposite.

Used correctly, they can be an extremely helpful element in a dog's daily life.

"Toys can be a really good tool," says the trainer.

The decisive point is therefore not "whether" but "how".

Toys can help:

  • promote interaction between humans and dogs
  • make training more varied
  • build motivation
  • specifically support certain behaviors

They thus become a nice extra to a functional training tool.

The focus is on interaction

A central idea in Ellen Marques' approach:
The object is not the focus – but the relationship.

A ball or a tug toy has no intrinsic value for the dog if it simply lies around.

Meaning only arises through shared use.

This means:

  • Toys do not replace a relationship
  • Toys do not replace exercise
  • Toys do not replace structure

But: They can support all of this.

Or in other words:
The actual added value does not come from the toy itself, but from the shared activity.

Toys in everyday life: A versatile tool

In practical everyday life, it becomes clear how flexibly toys can be used.

Ellen Marques emphasizes that it can play an important role, especially in a dog's daily life.

Depending on their use, toys can:

  • increase motivation in training
  • provide targeted activity
  • serve as an outlet for energy
  • strengthen the bond

It is crucial that they are used consciously and are appropriate for the individual dog.

Between "nice to have" and real added value

Toys thus operate in an exciting area of tension:

On the one hand, they are not a must.
On the other hand, used correctly, they can offer real added value.

Many misunderstandings arise because toys are either:

  • overvalued ("my dog absolutely needs this")
    or
  • used incorrectly (uncontrolled, constantly available)

Both fall short.

The most sensible perspective lies in between:
Toys as a purposefully used tool.

Conclusion: It's not about the toy

The question of whether dogs need toys can best be answered as follows:

No – but it can be very useful.

Or in Ellen Marques' words:

"Dogs don't need toys in the human sense – but they can be a really good tool."

For dog owners, this primarily means one thing:
The focus should not be on the toy itself, but on the quality of the time spent together.

Because in the end, it is not the ball or the tug toy that determines how happy a dog is –
but the interaction, the relationship, and conscious engagement in everyday life.

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BUDDY. Hundezubehör

Ellen Marques

Ellen Marques is a dog trainer, owner of the Martin Rütter dog school in Cologne, and shares her passion for dog training and play ideas. Known from TV shows such as "Dein perfekter Hund" (Your Perfect Dog) or "Der Hundeprofi" (The Dog Professional), she regularly provides practical tips in the BUDDY. Guide on how playing and learning can be even more fun for both dogs and humans.

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