Hunting dog breeds such as Labrador retrievers, vizslas, hounds and pointers still maintain their hunting instincts, even if they never go hunting in their lives. You can stimulate their hunter's nature and help train them to hunt by providing them with interactive toys that will curb boredom.
Hidden Toys
The "Hide A" line by Kyjen is a great choice for hunting dogs. It consists of a stuffed animal family, such as squirrels, that all have squeakers hidden inside. The stuffed animals reside in a home; the squirrels come with a plush log. You squeak the squirrels and hide them inside the log. The dog's job is to find them and retrieve them, as they would if they were hunting. Kyjen also makes these toys with birds, bees and balls. They are available in different sizes for small hunting dogs to large.
Plush Squeaky Toys
Toys that resemble a duck or a goose are great fun for hunting dogs. These come with a squeaker inside. Squeak the toy, throw it and have the dog retrieve it for you. Most retriever-type dogs enjoy this game and track the stuffed animal around the yard.
Select a plush toy of the appropriate size for your dog. If you have a 100 pound Labrador, don't buy it a small stuffed squeaky animal meant for a cocker spaniel. A large dog can easily chew through the stuffed animal and swallow the squeaker, choking the dog. The same goes for any ball; Oprah Winfrey's Golden Retriever, Gracie, choked to death on her cocker spaniel's plastic ball.
Remember to always supervise dogs when they are playing with small balls and squeaky plush toys. If you cannot or will not supervise, don't buy these toys.
Toys for When You're Away
Many hunting dogs are prolific chewers. If you must kennel them or leave the home, provide them with an amusing chew toy. One of the most popular is the Kong toy. This is a very hard rubber hollow dumbbell-shaped toy and you can stick treats like peanut butter into it. The dog must chew and work to get the treats out. Again, buy the appropriate size Kong for your dog; the sizes are listed by breed on the package. This toy won't necessarily help them be better hunters, but it will keep them amused for an hour or so.
Babble Ball's Talk to Me treat ball is another toy designed for bored dogs. It lets you record a message to your dog; as the dog rolls it around, the ball also randomly pops out treats and talks to the dog. These are available in different sizes as well.
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