The Best Toys to Keep Your Dog Busy All Day
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This blog post is part of our Complete Guide for New Dog Owners in 2021. Check it out for all of your essential dog items!
Most of us have spent a lot of time at home this year. I don’t know about you, but this has caused me to see just how much attention our golden retriever, Summer, really needs throughout the day. I know she loved attention but I never knew it could be this much! I love giving her all the love and attention she needs but when we start to be away from the house again, she’s really going to want something to keep her occupied throughout the day.
I’ve compiled a short list of some of the best dog toys available today. These are good for all breeds and ages of dogs no matter how they like to play. Check them all out using the links included in this article to see which one might be the best option for your pup!
Best Non-Toxic: West Paw Design Hurley Dog Toy
This bone-shaped toy is easy for your pup to hold onto and play with. It’s made from recycled non-toxic materials like BPA-free plastic so you can be sure your dog will be safe while chewing on it. Many reviews on this toy state that super durable and great for strong chewers. “I'm shocked that they barely look worn after over 2 weeks!", said one reviewer. “Still providing TONS of pleasure and energy outlet for our fur babies.” If Summer was a heavy chewer I’d be picking up one of these for her. Especially since it’s non-toxic. I love that it’s dishwasher-safe, too!
Buy it! West Paw Design Hurley Dog Toy, $7.15 - $15.95; amazon.com
Most Durable: Mammoth Cotton Dog Rope Toy
Rope toys for dogs have long been a reliable standby. Dogs love them for playing fetch, tug-o-war, and just to chew on. This one from Mammoth is a great option since it’s made from 100% cotton. They also don’t have any artificial fibers, colors, or dyes. One reviewer said, “These rope bones are tough and, despite being her favorite toys, last quite a while.” Summer isn’t much of a tug-o-war player but if she were, we’d certainly have a few of these around the house.
Buy it! Mammoth Cotton Dog Rope Toy, $4.98; amazon.com
Most Affordable: Hartz DuraPlay Bone
If saving money is your main goal here, this may be your best option. It’s less than $4 and still has 4.5 stars out of over 13,000 reviews! This bone is made from firm, natural latex. Soft and flexible, it’s great for dogs of all ages but recommended for pups under 20 pounds. It’s lightweight and even floats so it’s great to play around the water in the summertime. One buyer had this to say about this toy: “If your dog loves this as much as Taz you will need zero other toys.” This particular model is even bacon scented so I’m sure Summer would love that!
Buy it! Hartz DuraPlay Bone, $3.49 - $11.99; amazon.com
Best for Puppies: KONG X-Small Teddy Bear
Everyone knows KONG brand dog toys to be very durable. What better brand to get for your new puppy? You know it will last at least as long as he’s a puppy. This particular KONG toy is a teddy bear, the perfect first toy to give your new puppy. It’s nice and small for them, too, but still very durable. There’s no messy filling or stuffing in this bear, though. It does have a squeaker, though, but KONG was smart enough to cleverly make it easily removable and replaceable. “I know Kong toys can be a bit pricey, but they really are worth it because of the good quality.”, one reviewer said. We adopted Summer when she was already grown but if we had gotten her as a puppy I would have loved to have gotten her this as her first toy.
Buy it! KONG X-Small Teddy Bear, $10.99; amazon.com
Best for Exercise: Chuckit! Dog Ball Thrower
If your dog loves to play fetch then this toy will be just as much fun for you as it is for your pup. Summer doesn’t really love to play fetch but when I’ve played fetch with other pups with this toy, they really loved it. Especially since you can really launch the ball a lot further than with just your arm. Make sure you find a big, wide open dog park for this one. Your pup will be wanting to really run after this ball! The launcher and ball are both really durable, too. One reviewer mentioned, “Love that I no longer need to bend over to pick up the ball or have to touch a slimy, sandy, filthy ball!” That’s actually one of my favorite parts about this toy, too.
Buy it! Chuckit! Dog Ball Thrower, $9.95; amazon.com
Best Multi-Pack: ZippyPaws Squeaky Plush Dog Toys
Summer loves to try and chase squirrels and raccoons, and other woodland creatures. I think most dogs probably do so these are perfect! They've got multiple squeakers that dogs love. Each toy has three of them. There’s no messy filling but the seams are still really strong so your dog will probably have a harder time tearing them up. “Lasted way longer than any other toy we have gotten and paid a lot more for”, said one purchaser. These come packaged as a set of three, too, and for a great price. This is one of Summer’s favorite kind of toy so I’ll be picking some up for her real soon.
Buy it! ZippyPaws Squeaky Plush Dog Toys, $12.44; amazon.com
Best for Strong Chewers: Petstages Dogwood Mesquite Stick
Like I said, Summer isn’t much of a chewer. If she were, though, I’d get her one of these. She’d probably love the mesquite flavor at least! (They also make a non-scented stick) If your dog loves to chew, they probably love chewing on sticks. This is suppose to be a better, safer, longer lasting, and cleaner version of the good ‘ol outside stick. This toy is actually made of wood but it’s much more durable and doesn’t splinter which can easily harm your dog’s mouth. They’re also a great shape for throwing if your pup likes to play fetch. One buyer said, “She loves it and she has not chewed any wood off the house since we got the first one about a month ago.”
Buy it! Petstages Dogwood Mesquite Stick, $3.82 - $20.46; amazon.com
Best-Selling: KONG Classic
The classic KONG. I feel like every dog needs at least one of these in their toy box! They are great for both fetching and chewing. Their shape causes them to have a sporadic bounce when you throw them, giving your dog an extra little thrill as he tries to chase it down. And since they’re so durable, they will stay intact for a good long while, even if your dog loves to chew on their toys. Another great feature is the ability to stuff a treat inside the KONG. That will really make them go crazy. They’ll spend hours trying to get it all out as they lick and chew it. “Kongs are to dogs what Candy Crush is to humans.”, one owner said. “No, seriously. You pull the Kong out and they get this crazed hyper-focused look on their faces and you know the fun is about to start!” I know exactly what he means. Dogs seem to really love KONGs! Summer loves hers stuffed with dog safe peanut butter.
Buy it! KONG Classic, $7.99 - $23.45; amazon.com
Best Overall: Nylabone Flavored Dog Chew Toy
This tough, durable nylon bone will keep your dog happy for hours at a time. And since it’s so durable it should last weeks; not days. It’s a long lasting chew toy for even the most aggressive chewers. They even come in a few different flavors that you dog will love! “I have two 35lb pit-mix pups. They just turned a year old. They absolutely LOVE chewing these bones down.”, said one reviewer. Summer doesn’t need one but I know plenty of pups who love these things! Nearly 5500 reviews and it’s got four and a half stars, too.
Buy it! Nylabone Flavored Dog Chew Toy, $2.17 - $9.99; amazon.com
Summer’s Favorite: Wangstar Mallard Duck Dog Toy
This is Summer’s new favorite toy! We just got her one for Christmas. Her second favorite thing in the world, besides getting all the pets, is trying to catch birds. So we finally got her a bird toy that’s actually about the size of an actual bird. She loves this thing! We will play with her with this toy and she gets almost as excited as when she sees an actual bird. It’s so fun how excited she gets! If your dog loves birds as much as Summer then they will surely love this bird toy.
Buy it! Wangstar Mallard Duck Dog Toy, $13.99 - $17.99; amazon.com
What kind of toy does your dog love the most? Are they a chewer, fetcher, tug-o-warrer? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear what you have to say!