Playtime! Best Puppy Toys
Play Is Important for Puppies
By Pet Shopping Guides Research Team
You can’t help but smile when you watch puppies at play as they fetch, tug and scamper with wild abandon. Play is a way that puppies develop the physical and social proficiencies they need to be an adult dog. Many of the most critical aspects of play occur in the first eight weeks of life as puppies interact with their litter mates and mother. Through play, they learn what is socially acceptable to other dogs, such as when their bite or nip is too hard to another dog, and similar boundaries for play with humans.
Not only is play important for physical development, but also for mental health. Bored dogs can cultivate behavioral problems such as destructive chewing and much more. Puppies need to be active. Toys and games provide mental stimulation through exercise and challenge them to run faster, jump higher, or find the hidden treat.
Veterinarians remind pet parents that, in general, a tired dog at the end of the day is a happy dog!
What Makes a Good Puppy Toy?
The best puppy toys have the following attributes:
- Fun: The best toy is one your puppy loves. Different dogs love different types of play. Some like to tug, some fetch, some chomp on squeaky toys, and others work on getting a hidden treat out of a rubber toy. It may take some time and experimenting to figure out your pup’s preferences.
- Durable: This is probably the most important attribute of a puppy toy. Between two and six months, puppies are acquiring their adult teeth (teething) and they become incessant chewers. Lots of things go in their mouth and if they are able to break a toy apart, some dogs will ingest it. This can lead to a life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction, which can require expensive surgery to remove. Hard rubber toys, such as those made by Kong®, are good choices. They make durable, soft teething toys that can be a favorite of puppies. Some toys allow for treats to go inside to make it a real game for a puppy to get it out.
- Washable: Dog toys can get pretty dirty, so it’s great if they can be tossed in the washer or cleaned in the sink with a good brush and soap.
- The Right Size: Don’t pick toys that are too small as they can become a choking hazard or get stuck in their mouth. Sometimes you need to monitor the toy size, especially for large breeds that grow fast. A ball that is a good size for your puppy at eight weeks may not be a good toy size when he is six months. For example, a ball should be large enough to be carried but not swallowed.
Choosing Toys Your Pup Will Love
Finding a toy your dog loves really comes down to how your dog likes to play. While some are wild jumpers and fetchers, others like to snuggle with their toys. Here are some examples of matching the type of toy to your puppy’s play style:
- Snugglers: Some dogs love to snuggle and carry around their toys. If this is the case, there are tons of plush soft toys on the market.
- Squeakers: The sound brought on by chewing on a toy drives some dogs absolutely crazy! They love to find the squeaker. While some dogs are content to just make the toy make noise, others aren’t happy until they “kill” the squeaker— which means they rip the toy apart until they find the squeaker and tear a hole in it. This can lead to the potentially life-threatening ingestion of an undigestible object. There are durable squeak toys, like those made by Tuffy®, that come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They often have a “tuff” score of 1 to 10 on the label, with 10 being the most durable.
- Retrievers: Running to retrieve a toy is a favorite game for many breeds. The ChuckIt!® brand makes a ball that is easy to throw and great fun. Frisbees and tennis balls are other great options.
- Jumpers: For dogs that love to run and jump, rubber balls that can be bounced and frisbees or rings that can be tossed into the air provide great entertainment.
- Investigators: The past decade has led to the development of dozens of puzzle toys. Most of these have parts that a dog needs to move in order to reveal a treat. Nina Ottosson makes a high quality line of interactive puzzle toys for dogs. You can also place a treat or something like peanut butter inside a Kong® to keep some pups busy. This can be nice as it also acts as a chew toy, which is great for teething dogs.
- Tuggers: Some dogs love to play with tug toys. They play tug-of-war with another dog or use the tug toy to play fetch. Many of these toys are made of rope so be especially careful to monitor for loose strands or unraveling.
Puppy Toy Safety
When introducing any new toy to your puppy, monitor how your puppy is playing with it. Make sure he is not trying to eat it! Also monitor all the toys around the house. If you start to see tears, cracks or rips, discard them. Avoid toys with excess ribbon, string or dangly eyeballs that can be ingested. They can cause big medical problems. Avoid rawhide-based toys as they can become lodged in your puppy’s esophagus causing discomfort or even choking.
Puppy Toys to Avoid
There are some features or types you should avoid when choosing toys for your puppy:
- Avoid toys that are cheaply made with soft plastic or flimsy seams on stuffed toys
- Any toy with strings or buttons that can be chewed off
- Rawhide-based toys
- Human toys are generally made for babies and are not durable enough for an energetic, teething puppy
- Cow hooves can damage teeth in some puppies
Final Thoughts on Best Puppy Toys
The best puppy toys are ones that are safe and that your dog loves. Ideally, you'll want different types of toys for variety. You can excite your pup by hiding some toys and reintroducing them later down the road when they haven’t seen them for a while.
While playtime is important for your puppy’s development, what is even more special is the quality time spent playing with your growing pooch. It’s a great way to train and bond, while also giving your puppy much-needed exercise and mental stimulation.
- 10 Hours of Research
- 15 Products Reviewed
- 3 Top Picks
Our Top 3 Puppy Toys
Playtime is fun and important for your puppy's development! There are so many safe, durable, entertaining toys available. Here are a few of the best puppy toys we recommend.
Our experts independently review and recommend the best products. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen products and links.
Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Smart Puzzle Game Dog Toy
This entry-level dog puzzle challenges your pup to uncover treats through problem-solving, while also helping him to develop new learning techniques.
- Entry-level dog puzzle, perfect for puppies.
- Stimulate your pup's brain and development.
- Excellent for training, plus great for feeding your pup his dry kibble at dinner.
This entry-level dog puzzle challenges your pup to uncover treats through problem-solving, while also helping him to develop new learning techniques.
- Entry-level dog puzzle, perfect for puppies.
- Stimulate your pup's brain and development.
- Excellent for training, plus great for feeding your pup his dry kibble at dinner.
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KONG Puppy Teething Stick Dog Toy
The Kong Puppy Teething Stick is perfect for a puppy’s mouth. The Teething Stick is extra-effective and fun with a KONG Puppy Easy Treat inside the grooves.
- For use with dogs up to nine months of age.
- Exclusive Denta-Ridges gently clean teeth and soothe sore gums.
- Soft puppy rubber formula is great for soothing gums.
- Color ships at random.
The Kong Puppy Teething Stick is perfect for a puppy’s mouth. The Teething Stick is extra-effective and fun with a KONG Puppy Easy Treat inside the grooves.
- For use with dogs up to nine months of age.
- Exclusive Denta-Ridges gently clean teeth and soothe sore gums.
- Soft puppy rubber formula is great for soothing gums.
- Color ships at random.
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Your Price
You Save
KONG Floppy Knots Dog Toy
Kong's Floppy Knots Dog Toy is made with internal knotted rope and squeaker to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation. The varied textures and squeakers, make it even more fun for your dog to play.
- Designed to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation.
- Floppy design allows for hours of thrashing fun and entices your pup to play and chase.
- Minimal stuffing means less mess.
Kong's Floppy Knots Dog Toy is made with internal knotted rope and squeaker to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation. The varied textures and squeakers, make it even more fun for your dog to play.
- Designed to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation.
- Floppy design allows for hours of thrashing fun and entices your pup to play and chase.
- Minimal stuffing means less mess.
List Price
Your Price
You Save
Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Smart Puzzle Game Dog Toy
This entry-level dog puzzle challenges your pup to uncover treats through problem-solving, while also helping him to develop new learning techniques.
- Entry-level dog puzzle, perfect for puppies.
- Stimulate your pup's brain and development.
- Excellent for training, plus great for feeding your pup his dry kibble at dinner.
This entry-level dog puzzle challenges your pup to uncover treats through problem-solving, while also helping him to develop new learning techniques.
- Entry-level dog puzzle, perfect for puppies.
- Stimulate your pup's brain and development.
- Excellent for training, plus great for feeding your pup his dry kibble at dinner.
List Price
Your Price
You Save
KONG Puppy Teething Stick Dog Toy
The Kong Puppy Teething Stick is perfect for a puppy’s mouth. The Teething Stick is extra-effective and fun with a KONG Puppy Easy Treat inside the grooves.
- For use with dogs up to nine months of age.
- Exclusive Denta-Ridges gently clean teeth and soothe sore gums.
- Soft puppy rubber formula is great for soothing gums.
- Color ships at random.
The Kong Puppy Teething Stick is perfect for a puppy’s mouth. The Teething Stick is extra-effective and fun with a KONG Puppy Easy Treat inside the grooves.
- For use with dogs up to nine months of age.
- Exclusive Denta-Ridges gently clean teeth and soothe sore gums.
- Soft puppy rubber formula is great for soothing gums.
- Color ships at random.
List Price
Your Price
You Save
KONG Floppy Knots Dog Toy
Kong's Floppy Knots Dog Toy is made with internal knotted rope and squeaker to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation. The varied textures and squeakers, make it even more fun for your dog to play.
- Designed to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation.
- Floppy design allows for hours of thrashing fun and entices your pup to play and chase.
- Minimal stuffing means less mess.
Kong's Floppy Knots Dog Toy is made with internal knotted rope and squeaker to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation. The varied textures and squeakers, make it even more fun for your dog to play.
- Designed to satisfy the natural instincts to chew and the need for noise stimulation.
- Floppy design allows for hours of thrashing fun and entices your pup to play and chase.
- Minimal stuffing means less mess.
List Price
Your Price
You Save