Dog toys are truly the best way to keep your puppy happy, mentally stimulated, and out of trouble. But, it’s tough finding the right toys that can actually survive playtime and extra-bitey chewers.
Here, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite dog toys and included some DIY ideas too. A cardboard box can only last for so long before it’s shredded! But, a ball in a sock can definitely survive the week.
When you’re done with this post, be sure to check out my other ideas for throwing your dog a great birthday party. For name suggestions, stop by my girl dog names and boy dog names lists too.
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Why dog toys are pretty important
When it comes to puppy development, playtime is pretty important for a whole host of reasons. Chew toys are such helpful tools for teething pups, but as they get older, the toys can help remove plaque build up and so improve their teeth and gum health.
Fetch and tug toys are all about exercise. They help build and maintain muscle, burn energy and keep the joints active. They’re also good for improving awareness, coordination and bonding with their humans.
Plushies and squeakers are all about comfort and fun. The softness of stuffed toys certainly help to calm anxious and reactive dogs.
Lastly, puzzles improve your dog’s problem solving skills. They make them think, and keep their mind active and away from doing boredom-driven mischief.
There’s a saying, a tired dog is a happy dog and I absolutely agree. Having all my dogs play, especially with hard puzzles, makes them appear happier and more contented.
Safety
Before getting into the best dog toys, I should mention safety! Toys shouldn’t have small, detachable pieces that can be swallowed. They should also be made with materials safe for dogs -like rubber.
Size appropriate toys matter too. A large breed with high jaw strength will need more durable and larger toys. Similarly, smaller breeds would have more fun with tinier toys.
Always check and clean the toys regularly. You don’t want any exposed stuffing or bits of plastic being eaten by your pupper. Retire and replace damaged toys too, no matter how much your dog loves them.
The best dog toys
You’ve seen there are types of toys that help with different aspects of the dog’s physical and mental health. Let’s get into my favorites.
1. Chew toys
While chew toys made of nylon are incredibly popular, I prefer rubber toys. Nylon is a type of plastic that is pretty hard and could affect your dog’s teeth. But, rubber is considered safe for dogs to chew on without any issue.
The Kong stuffable dog toys are a classic and one of my favorite chew toys for dogs. I’ve been using them for decades and they have never disappointed. I add a little dog-safe peanut butter to the insides and give my pups to lick for hours.
I’ve also added water and froze them during summer. They’re fun, bouncy and great for gentle and aggressive chewers.
Here’s another great rubber chew toy. This one comes as a ball with a honeycomb pattern on the outside and a squeaker on the inside. It’s pretty durable and perfect for all types of chewers. The rubber makes the ball a bit heavy so you probably don’t want to be hit in the legs with it.
Oh, I also had the Kong ring dog toy before. It wasn’t as big of a hit as the stuffable one, for obvious peanut butter reasons, but my dogs enjoyed playing with it often.
2. Fetch toys
When it comes to fetch, nothing beats the Chuckit! ultra ball. It’s a best seller for a reason! It’s made of rubber and is incredibly bouncy, durable, and even floats in water. This 4-pack will last you a couple years, way more than regular tennis balls. Save your arm and get the ball launcher too!
Oh, and the company also has a rubber fetch stick that’s pretty awesome.
Flying discs are great fetch toys too for younger puppers that love running and jumping. Most lightweight ones are made of nylon and plastic. So, you may want to stop your dog from chewing on them.
There’s also the Kong rubber flying disc, though it’s a tad bit heavier and doesn’t float. But, it is ideal if your dog loves to chew on the disc as he or she runs back to you.
3. Tug toys
Tug toys help build the dog’s jaw strength. And, if they are playing with other dogs or with you, the push-and-pull playtime can definitely be a bonding activity.
I really like the tug toys made of natural fibers, especially cotton. This heavy duty rope is cotton, fun for dogs, and machine washable. Oh and pups can bite and chew on the rope which actually help clean his/her teeth and prevent plaque buildup.
4. Plushies and squeaky toys
For all dogs, especially puppies and senior doggos, plush toys can be incredibly soothing. Most come with a squeaker inside too for extra entertainment.
This crinkle duck is by far the most popular plushie toy for dogs. It crinkles and squeaks, has no stuffing so you don’t have to worry about cleaning it up if it’s torn, and is machine washable. What’s not to love?
This squirrel puzzle plush toy is also great too.
For a little more high-tech toy, the Snuggle Puppy is great, especially for young pups and anxious dogs. It comes with an electronic component that imitates a heartbeat, so it can be incredibly soothing when crate training or if there are storms or fireworks. Remove the electrical stuff and you can pop it in the washing machine.
5. Puzzles
There are tons of puzzle toys for dogs, nowadays. This classic treat toy is pretty popular and requires dogs to push, pull, slide, and rotate lids and buttons to get treats. Oh and it squeaks too.
Snuffle mats are also great, enrichment puzzle toys. This one simulates foraging through grass and is easy to move about and wash.
DIY dog toys
You don’t have to spend a lot to keep your pupper entertained. You can repurpose and reuse so many things in your home right now and turn them into cheap and durable homemade dog toys.
Sock toys
Got old socks with holes in them? Perfect! They make great, DIY dog toys.
Pop a ball into the sock and knot the open end. It’s as easy as that for a brand new, dog safe, tug toy. He or she will have fun swinging it around and tossing it in the air.
Don’t have a ball? No problem! Stuff the sock with other old socks. The more socks you stuff in there, the firmer the toy will be and your happy pup would enjoy chewing on it. When it’s dirty, you can pop it in the laundry.
Fun Sock City has more DIY sock toy ideas in this Youtube video.
T-shirt toys
Like old socks, you can use old tees to make your dog some homemade toys. Tug toys are the easiest and simplest to make.
Cut an old tee into long strips and braid them together for a super durable and easy toy. Here’s a great tutorial video on making one.
With a tennis ball, you can make a tshirt octopus too! Helping Animals with Christine has an easy video that even your kids can follow along to make the toy.
Snuffle mat
If you are a bit more crafty, you can explore making snuffle mats. Most tutorials usually require fleece and a kitchen rubber mat as the backing. But, you can use scraps of fabric too.
Here’s a pretty simple video to follow along to get started.
You can try your hand at making a snuffle ball too!
Bottles
My pup absolutely loves chewing on an empty plastic bottle with the cap on. I’ve seen her work her magic to remove the cap many times. Once the cap was off, she was done.
So, empty plastic bottles (with the labels off) are a great toy. Pop some kibble inside and watch your dog try to figure out how to open the bottle to get the treats.
Monitor him or her to make sure he/she doesn’t bite through the bottle and ingest plastic. To prevent that, you can pop the bottle inside an old sock for a crinkle, sock toy. Give up the kibble once playtime is over.
The DIY dog toy options are endless!
Those are all my thoughts on the best dog toys and DIY options to make. If you enjoy pet related content, be sure to check out my posts for throwing a dog birthday party, along with ideas for boy dog names and girl dog names.
