What Pet Retailers Want and Need in the Dog Toy Category

More/affordable options in dog flirt pole, self-play toys outside. — Tonya Christiansen, Must Love Dogs, Grand Haven, MI
It would be nice if all the toys didn’t come wrapped in plastic bags in even more plastic bags. — George Beebe, Pawki’s, Eastsound, WA
Things for small dogs. I feel like all of the interactive toys are for medium or large dogs, at least the pricing is. — Keith Zeiler, Paws on Chicon, Austin, TX
Packaging … The bulky oversized cardboard that some toys are attached to takes up too much space, and it’s wasteful. — Denise Strong, Pawz On Main, Cottonwood, AZ
More tough little dog toys and more big dog (over 120 pounds) stuffable toys. — Melissa Wiltse, Happy Pooch Styling & Spa, Lynden, WA
Better POP displays! We educate our customers on how to use enrichment toys, but we’re not always right there to explain. West Paw does a great job of this with cards, 4 by 6 inches, showing toys in use and describing the benefits. We laminate them and display them near toys. We wish all brands would offer the same! — Katherine Ostiguy, Crossbones Dog Academy, Providence, RI
It would be nice if there was a way to repurpose all of the stuffed toys that are torn up by our customers’ pups. — Ruth Sturgis, Dog Daze, N. Syracuse, NY.
More toys made from natural materials. If we can drink out of paper straws to help save turtles and the planet, we can find safer toys that don’t contain plastic, synthetic stuffing, a dangerous squeaker, and chemicals. — Amber Sutfin, Pet Wants South Hills, Pittsburgh, PA
I’m still looking for a dual snuffle mat puzzle. Something that’s got a hard base, but has snuffle mat qualities and also other toys. Almost like a kid’s play center, but for dogs! And also ones for cats! — Rebecca Glen Nicholson, Yarn and Bone Pet Supply, Milford, DE

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