Pets

Anyone who has a dog knows how rewarding it is to see him playing. Seeing your dog happy can just brighten up your entire day. That’s why it’s definitely worth the time to look for the best dog toys available.

Dog toys don’t just make playtime fun. They can be really good for your dog in a variety of ways. So, it’s a great idea to get toys that will provide your dog with all sorts of positive stimulation.

It can be difficult to decide which dog toys to buy, however. There are so many from which to choose. If you’re looking for the best dog toys, it can help to learn a little bit more about them.

Comparison Table for Best Dog Toys

Product	Image	Our Rating	Price
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel and Puzzle Plush	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Our Pets Smarter Interactive IQ Treat Ball Dog Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Kong Classic Dog Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Otterly Pets Puppy Dog Pet Rope Toys	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Chuckit! Ultra Ball	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
KONG Wubba Friend Dog Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Nylabone Power Chew Wishbone	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
ZippyPaws – Skinny Peltz No Stuffing Squeaky Plush Dog Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon
Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Dog Chew Toy	Image via Amazon		Buy on Amazon

How We Came up with the Following List

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In order to come up with the following list of the best dog toys you can buy, we looked at multiple dog toy review sites. We chose the dog toys that received multiple positive reviews from different reviewers.

We also made sure to include a variety of the best dog toys on the list. There are many different types of dog toys, and different owners and dogs have different sets of needs. We wanted to create a list of the best dog toys that would provide something for everyone.

10 of the Best Dog Toys Available

If you’re looking for the best dog toys available, you have many options. There are all sorts of dog toys you’ll love that will provide your furry friend with endless hours of entertainment.

Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel and Puzzle Plush

The Puzzle Plush is a great option for any dog that loves plush toys. It’s a plush tree with several plush squirrels hidden inside. 

Your dog will enjoy playing with each individual piece, not to mention that you can provide him with stimulation by putting the squirrels back into the tree and letting him get them out.

Our Pets Smarter Interactive IQ Treat Ball Dog Toy

You can fill this ball with treats and adjust the feeding difficulty levels to keep challenging your dog as he learns how to use it. The treats will reward your dog for being active, and it’s great mental stimulation as well. 

Kong Classic Dog Toy

You can use this toy to play fetch with your dog, and it’ll help clean his teeth and soothe his gums when he chews on it. It’s also a great toy for anyone who wants to put peanut butter or other treats on the inside to enhance playtime and possibly help with training.

Otterly Pets Puppy Dog Pet Rope Toys

These rope toys are great for tugging and tossing. Also, they help clean your dog’s teeth and massage his gums. You can also use these to help discourage biting other things. 

Chuckit! Ultra Ball

This is a great ball for anyone who likes playing fetch with their dog. It’s not exactly an ordinary ball, either, as it’s extremely visible and buoyant. You can bounce it really high, and it’s extremely durable, so it can withstand the force of even the most exuberant dog’s jaw. 

KONG Wubba Friend Dog Toy

This dog toy is great for a few different purposes. It’s a soft toy that you can use for both tugging and tossing. Your dog will love both the squeaker inside and the flapping tails that he can latch onto to shake the toy back and forth.  

Nylabone Power Chew Wishbone

The Nylabone is a wishbone-shaped chewable and long-lasting toy for even the most aggressive dog. It’s strong and durable, so your dog will be very unlikely to damage it even with constant and vigorous chewing.

Dogs love the flavor of this bone and it’s good for them as well. Because the bristles raise while they’re chewing, it’ll help clean their teeth and minimize tartar and plaque. 

ZippyPaws – Skinny Peltz No Stuffing Squeaky Plush 

These squeaky plush toys come in a variety of fun characters that you can enjoy while your dog plays with them! 

Each of these toys has three round squeakers that can keep your dog entertained for a long time. They don’t contain stuffing, which will make them last for a longer time without a mess. 

Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy

The Paraflight is basically a special kind of frisbee for dogs. It’s aerodynamically designed for flying long distances. It also floats on water, so if you have a dog who likes to swim, you can take it to the water as well.

The Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy comes in bright colors, so your dog will be able to find it no matter where it lands (and you can too.) It’s also safe and comfortable for your dog’s mouth, due to the smooth rubber edge. It’s also durable.  

Benebone Real Flavor Wishbone Dog Chew Toy

This Benebone is a great choice among the best dog toys. This wishbone-shaped chew toy has real bacon flavor that your dog will enjoy chewing. It’s easy for your dog to grab and bite because of the curve of the wishbone.

You should just make sure you don’t buy this product if anyone in your house has a nut allergy since it’s made in a facility where it could potentially come in contact with nuts. It’s also best for dogs who are under 70 pounds.

Best Dog Toys: Types of Dog Toys

If you’re looking for the best dog toys, there are many categories that you can consider. Each of these categories comes with a different set of benefits for your dog.

Image via Pixabay

Balls

Many different types of balls are made for dogs. These are great for playing fetch with your dog, so he can get great exercise and develop his motor skills.

They also provide a good way for you to teach your puppy or dog other skills. These include retrieving an item that you throw to a different spot.

Image via Pixabay

Soft toys

Just like a little kid who loves his or her stuffed animals, a dog can love soft toys. They give your dog a sense of familiarity and comfort. Dogs love carrying around plush toys.

You can make car trips more pleasant for your dog by bringing his favorite soft toy. You might see him taking it to his bed pretty often at home, too.

Image via Pixabay

Interactive toys

Mental stimulation is great for your pup, and these are great for that purpose. Some toys make different noises when touched in different ways, as well as hard toys that dispense treats when your dog moves them a certain way. 

In some cases, your dog will have to solve some sort of a puzzle to get to the treat.

These interactive toys will keep your dog busy and make him less likely to wreak havoc on your house while you’re gone. They also help with separation anxiety when you leave.

There are also interactive toys that require your participation. These include flying balls and disks that you have to throw for your dog to fetch, and rope toys that are great for tug-of-war games. Your dog will enjoy playing with you in addition to the toys!

Noise toys

Toys that make noises when your dog squeezes them will teach him not to be scared of strange noises. They also help your dog understand the concept of cause and effect; when he squeezes the toy, it’ll make a sound.

A lot of dogs love squeaky toys. Many believe that these toys activate their natural hunting instincts.

When your dog chews on the toy and hears the resulting squeak, he loves it because the noise is similar to what he’d hear from a smaller prey animal in the wild.

Chew toys

Chew toys are some of the best dog toys. They help your dog during the teething process. They’re useful in the development of his teeth, as well as the development of strong neck and face muscles.

Also, chew toys will be good for you, since your pup will focus on chewing on the toys rather than chewing up your shoes and other things in your home!

Things to Keep in Mind When It Comes to Dog Toys

Even with the best dog toys, there are a few things that you should keep in mind for your dog’s well-being.

Best Dog Toys: Safety first!

Make sure any toys you buy are appropriate for your dog’s size. If you buy toys that are too small, your dog can swallow them or choke on them.

Keep in mind that toys, even the best dog toys your dog played with as a puppy may not be appropriate for him in terms of size when he grows up.

Image via Pixabay

If any of your dog’s toys have plastic eyeballs, ribbons, strings, or any other components that could be dangerous to your dog and present a choking hazard, remove these pieces.

You should also get rid of any toy that starts to break into pieces that could present a choking hazard.

You should also be wary in some cases of toys that have squeakers. Most dogs love these, but some dogs will think they need to find the squeaker and could even end up choking on it.

You should be familiar with the chewing habits of your own dog. Some dogs aren’t inclined to rip toys apart and turn them into choking hazards, while some are.

When it comes to pig’s ears, rawhides, bones, and other such toys, you should ask your vet if they would be suitable for your dog. In some cases, very hard rubber toys that your dog can’t break pieces off of would be a safer choice.

Best Dog Toys: Using toys properly

It’s a good idea to only make a few toys available to your dog at a time. You should keep a variety of types of toys available to your dog; for example, one ball, one chew toy, one soft plush toy, et cetera.

The idea is to give your dog multiple options for playtime. If you have a huge selection of dog toys, it would be good to only make a few available at a time and rotate through them, so your dog doesn’t get tired of any one toy.

If your dog has one favorite toy, you can leave that one for him all the time.

Image via Pixabay

Interactive toys and games are great for your dog. One great idea is playing hide and seek with your dog and his toys. You can have traces of kibble on the floor leading to your dog’s favorite toy, for example.

Interactive play is great for your dog on many levels. If you’re playing with your dog, this enhances bonding, and he’ll enjoy spending time with you.

Also, when you play games with your dog and have him do work to get to a toy or treat, this is a great way to use up your dog’s pent-up physical and mental energy in a constructive way.

You also want to make sure that your dog knows the difference between his toys and other items that he can’t be so rough with.

For example, if you’re going to play tug-of-war with your dog, choose one toy that is reserved exclusively for this activity. Your dog needs to know that tug-of-war is only acceptable in this context.

Go Play with Your Dog!

Maybe you didn’t know that dog toys are so important for your dog, but the truth is that they are. Your dog could do without them, but he’d be deprived of some pretty great benefits.

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These toys are great for creating a happy life for your dog. In addition, they provide your dog with a type of stimulation that’ll make him less likely to destroy your house.

The interactive toys, in particular, make it easy for you to play games with and bond with your dog.

If you have an interest in the best dog toys for your dog, it’s hard to say which one would be best for your particular pooch. Different dogs have different needs, which is why you should take his personality into consideration when choosing toys.

Does your dog have a favorite toy? Let us know by leaving a comment!