The Best Dog Toys For Puppies

Getting a puppy is as exciting as it is scary. Caring for a new dog comes with a heap of responsibilities, not least of which is getting the right toys for your baby. From teething to loneliness and adjusting to the change of space, there are lots of growing pains for young dogs. But thankfully, there are special toys designed to alleviate those pains. Below, we've combed through the competition to find the best ones out there today. Find our favorites below to help keep your puppy happy and healthy from day one.

What to Look For

Above all else, a good dog toy should be safe, stimulating, and durable. Each toy offers these qualities to different degrees, so it’s important to consider what you find most important before making your decision. If you’re looking for a tough toy that will last a long time, Benebone’s chew toy is a great pick. American-made, long-lasting, and ultra-affordable, this bone will keep your dog entertained for weeks on end. But for something more mentally stimulating, Outward Hound’s interactive puzzle toy is a fun pick. Of course, playtime is one of the greatest times to bond with your pooch, so a toy like Chuckit’s ball is worth considering, too. It’s perfect for a game of fetch, and thanks to its bright colors, it won’t get lost easily. There are more where these came from, so keep reading to discover the rest of our favorites.

SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy

Let stressed dogs lie

The plush design and pulsing heartbeat feature on this puppy toy are perfect for calming down an anxious pooch.
Best For Anxiety

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Regardless of whether you’re a human or a dog, joining a new family can be stressful. And if you’ve owned a puppy before, you’ll know the struggles of night-time whining and barking. Instead of getting frustrated, help your little one sleep easier with an anti-anxiety plush toy like this cute one by SmartPetLove. This super snuggly design of this sleepy dog toy is perfect for cuddling at night. You can even put in a “real-feel” pulsing heartbeat insert or disposable heat pack to help them feel close to their mothers once again. Make your furbaby feel better and get yourself a good night’s sleep, too, with this comforting canine companion.

Pros:

  • The warmth and heartbeat produced by this toy are comforting for young puppies. After being separated from their mother and siblings, they will feel more secure knowing they aren’t alone in their bed at night.
  • Once your puppy is more comfortable in its environment, the heartbeat can be removed and the warming pads no longer need to be used. At this point, it will become an actual toy that your pup can play with.

Cons:

  • This specialty plush toy is more expensive than alternative options.

Benebone Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy

Chow down

Your puppy will love the flavor and easy-to-handle design of this sturdy chew toy.
Best For Chewing

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As frustrating as it is when your puppy bites, they really can’t help it when they have painful new teeth coming in. But fortunately, with the right chew toy, you can stop them from chomping down on every shoe, hand, and piece of furniture in sight. We love this particular teething trinket from Benebone because of its flavor, durability, and puppy-friendly design. Choose from real bacon, real chicken, or real peanut taste to encourage your pup to take the first bite and stay latched on. No matter how powerful their chomps are, this small-mouth-friendly bone is designed to last.

Pros:

  • This heavy-duty bone is a great option for even the most destructive chewers. It will protect your furniture from being destroyed and give your pup an outlet for the pain that comes from new teeth.
  • Available in bacon, chicken, or peanut flavor, this bone is sure to be a new favorite and will continue to be durable, even after a few months of use.

Cons:

  • The edges of the bone will become sharp as your pup chews, making it dangerous for them if left unattended.

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Dog Toy

Probe for the prize

Keep your puppy entertained and sharp as they figure out where the treat is in this brain-training puzzle toy.
Best Interactive

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Puppies, just like human babies, need mental stimulation to fully develop into their best adult selves. Using their paws or their nose, young dogs explore the world around them, problem-solving along the way. And now, with this clever puzzle toy by Outward Hound, you can help them get a treat for their hard work. With nine hidden compartments to exercise your dog’s mind in different ways, this interactive toy is perfect for helping your pup fight boredom and reduce destructive behavior while you’re doing other things. That sounds like a smart solution to us.

Pros:
  • This is the perfect product to introduce your new puppy to puzzle toys. It can take some training and skill to understand how they work, so this is a good one to start with.
  • For many young dogs, mealtime can be difficult because they eat too quickly and upset their stomachs. Using this toy instead of using a regular bowl would help with this, teaching them that eating more slowly is just as enjoyable.
  • This toy is made of durable plastic that is easy to set up and clean.

Cons:

  • The plastic shell makes a lot of noise on hardwood and tile floors while in use.

Chuckit Indoor Ball for Puppies

Get the ball rolling

This brightly-colored ball is designed for riveting games of fetch indoors.
Best For Playing Fetch

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When it comes to human-dog bonding experiences, few beat the sheer fun and benefit of fetch. Fido tires himself out while you hype him up during a great afternoon outside. But when your puppy is still quite small, playing fetch outdoors can be a dangerous activity. Instead, we recommend starting with safer, indoor play with a lightweight ball like this one by Chuckit Designed to protect your interior surfaces, this ball is small enough to fit in your pup’s mouth with strings for added grip. And thanks to the bright orange and blue design, your pup will always have his eye on the ball.

Pros:

  • This is a great indoor toy for puppies that aren’t big enough to play fetch with a full-size tennis ball. The soft texture will be gentle on their teeth and it will be a lot safer to throw around your house where there are likely breakable items.
  • The bouncy yet soft design of this ball makes it both durable and machine washable, so you won’t have to worry about using it outside from time to time.

Cons:

  • Hard chewers might be able to pull off individual strings and swallow them.

PetSafe Sheepskin Toy

More play for less pay

This puppy toy has all the same great features as other classic dog-training toys but at half the price.
Best Value Toy

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Let’s be honest: we go through a lot of dog toys before our puppies even reach their first year. And while it’s fun to shop for them, this endless supply of puppy playthings also costs money. That’s why we prefer to start with a few super affordable toys like this sheepskin one by PetSafe. Soft and cozy for nighttime cuddles and shaped like their favorite items from a bone to a ball, this puppy toy has all the features you could want. It’s even machine-washable for versatile indoor and outdoor play. Most importantly, though, it costs less than half the price of other toys.

Pros:

  • New puppies are usually more nervous when they join their forever families, so making sure they are comfortable is a must. This plush toy makes the perfect addition to their crate since they can use it as a pillow or as a chew toy.
  • This toy is perfect for heavy chewers because it is made of durable sheepskin fabric and has strongly reinforced stitches to keep it from falling apart at first chomp. To make it more fun, it even has a squeaker inside that squeals when it is tossed in the air.

Cons:

  • This toy is slightly larger than it appears in the picture.

Our Tips and Tricks

Finding the perfect toy for your puppy can be tricky when you first bring them home. Every dog is going to react to their new situation differently, so it is important to be prepared. Most puppies enjoy playing with something cuddly, something more durable that they can chew on, and most importantly, a ball. Both the size and breed of your dog will determine how hard they will want to chew or play when they are still young so you’ll have to do some hands-on research. Are they constantly wanting to chew on your hands and furniture? Get them a few bones and other chew toys that you can place around your home to distract them from other objects. Do they seem bored in their environment? Try out a few new puzzle toys that will be interactive and give them a chance to think through a difficult situation. Are they always running underfoot? Play fetch with them indoors and out so they have a way to use up that extra energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many toys should my puppy have at once?

While it’s tempting to go toy-crazy when you first get your new pup, experts recommend going slow when it comes to introducing new toys. Your pup should have access to about four or five toys at a time, and they should each offer a different use, from comfort to chewing to mental play. Rotating the toys out weekly can also help keep your dog entertained while not wearing out their senses.

Is it bad if my puppy destroys his toys?

This can be happening for a variety of reasons. Your puppy may have a stronger prey drive than other dogs, which leads them to hunt and kill their toys. On the other hand, if your dog is very bored, they can be destroying their toys as a way of entertaining themselves. They also may not like the toys you give them. In these latter two cases, try switching up their toys or spending more time with them to see what’s really going on.

About the Author

When Sasha isn’t writing or happily lost in an art museum, you’ll find her walking her Beagle through a London park. Whether it’s finding the right dog food or figuring out what toothpaste to buy, Sasha has you covered. Sasha’s specialty is researching new products and finding the best ones, and she has done all the leg work so you don’t have to.

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