The Best Puppy Toys
Growing puppies need to chew. To help keep our homes from being destroyed, it's a good idea to provide young dogs with some puppy toys. While some toys help satisfy that need to chomp, others help to keep them from getting bored or lonely. Some puppy toys are designed for you and your pup to play with together. We searched the market to find the best puppy toys in a variety of categories and help you find your furry friend's next favorite. Read on to check out our top picks and learn more about what to look for.
What to Look For
We want our puppies to enjoy quality toys, so we scoured the market for the best options. We looked for designs with high-quality materials, high safety standards, and fair prices. SmartPetLove came out on top, with a well-designed toy that may get more snuggles than chewing. Still, it can stand up to a puppy’s playful teething, so you don’t have to worry about replacing it. But for those interested in something more active, the treat-dispensing activity ball from Kong is an excellent choice. There’s a lot to consider, so read on.
SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy
Are you struggling to crate-train your puppy? This Snuggle Puppy toy has been helping to comfort pups for over twenty years. This soft toy has a “real-feel” heartbeat that pulses. You can set the pulse to go for either 8 or 24 hours. It also features a heat pack. These features are thought to help naturally calm your young dog by appealing to her instincts. Your puppy may even sleep better in her crate after being presented with this puppy toy. If this puppy toy gets a lot of love and winds up dirty, you can wash it in the machine on a gentle cycle — just be sure to remove the heart portion before you toss it in.
Pros:
- The built-in heartbeat works wonders for calming nervous pups. For even more soothing comfort, you can rub this toy with a familiar scent to help make your canine companion feel more at home.
- The optional heat pads are not chew-proof, but they use only non-toxic ingredients to ensure your dog’s safety.
Cons:
- The heartbeat function is a definite plus, but it goes through batteries fairly quickly.
Kong KP32 Puppy Activity Ball
Are you looking for a toy that will keep your puppy busy? This activity ball is a great option. You can stuff it with your pup’s favorite treat, such as peanut butter or a dog biscuit. The treat helps motivate your puppy to keep playing with it, trying to get their reward. This puppy toy is made from soft rubber, which can soothe your puppy’s teeth and gums. It is designed for puppies up to nine months of age or up to 35 pounds. This toy comes in either pink or blue.
Pros:
- We’re always on the lookout for multifunctional products, so we love this ball’s versatility. There’s little chance our pups will get bored when we can keep switching up the treats on the inside.
- The texture of the rubber is a big part of what makes this toy so satisfying — it’s soft enough to chew safely but hard enough to give teething pups some much-needed relief.
Cons:
- It takes some trial and error to figure out how to fit the treats inside, but if all else fails, you can buy varieties that are designed for this kind of toy.
Outward Hound Plush Dog Toy Puzzle
Occupy for hours
Even the most domesticated canines need different types of stimulation than people. This line of clever toys from Outward Hound brings interactive play to the next level to provide them with physical and mental stimulation. The included bees can be stuffed inside the hive, at which point your dog will stick their snout inside in an attempt to sniff and hunt them out. The hive itself serves as an excellent fetch toy, too.
Pros:
- We love the many ways this toy lets you play with your dog. Use the hive for fetch, stuff the bees inside for hide-and-seek, or let your dog chew on the squeaky bees themselves.
- If you hide a few treats inside before stuffing the plush toys in, your dog will have even more fun trying to pull the contents out.
Cons:
- If your dog is an aggressive chewer, this toy may not last as long as others. It’s made of soft, plush material, so it’s not the most rugged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualities should I look for in puppy toys?
Puppy toys are going to be in your puppy’s mouth, so they need to be safe for them to chew on. Look for natural and non-toxic materials. You also want durable puppy toys. They should be made from materials that are going to withstand chewing. There are several different types of puppy toys, and not every dog will enjoy all of them. You may need to experiment with a few to see what ones your puppy enjoys the most.
How do I clean my puppy’s toys?
Your puppy’s toys can get pretty grungy. Regularly cleaning them is a good idea. When you purchase puppy toys, think about how you will clean them. You can clean some soft toys in the washing machine. Hard toys can often be soaked in a solution of fifty percent vinegar and fifty percent water. Once they’ve soaked, make sure you rinse them thoroughly. Before giving them back to your puppy, make sure the toys are completely dry.
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