These Are the Only Toys That My 90-Pound Dogs *Cannot* Destroy—Plus 11 More That Vets Recommend for High-Energy Pups
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Keeping your pet occupied (and out of mischief) is easier said than done. Whether they’re in the puppy stage, teenage era, or adult years, whenever boredom strikes, bad behavior comes calling. That’s why finding the best dog toys to keep them busy is key. Whether they like to chew, fetch, or find, there’s a toy for every breed. We spoke with veterinarians who guided and educated us on what to look for when buying dog toys and the best picks to shop. Keep reading!
Best Interactive Toys for Dogs at a Glance
Best Subscription: BarkBox Super Chewer Tough Dog Chew Toy, $12Best Hide & Seek Toy: Frisco Baseball Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy, $11Best Ball Toy: Ethical Pet Sensory Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy, $7Best Soothing Toy: Boots & Barkley Pacifier Chew Bone Dog Toy, $7Best Editor-Approved Toy: ALLRIER Store Interactive Dog Toys Tug of War, $15 (originally $16)Best Parent & Pet Toy: Wild One Triangle Tug, $16Best Sniff Mat: DogNmat Taco Snuffle Mat, $33Best Automatic Fetch Toy: Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher, $100Best Classic Toy: Kong Classic Dog Chew Toy, $17Best for Treats: Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball, $11Best Puzzle Toy: Outward Hound Brick Puzzle, $10Best Summer Toy: Top Paw Pineapple Summer Splash Pad, $20 (originally $40)
How to Find Toys That’ll Keep Your Dog Busy (& What to Look for), According Experts
When looking to keep your dog busy, first consider your dog’s size, behavior, and preferences. What is interesting and motivating for one dog might not be for another. “The ideal dog toy needs to be catered to a specific dog, ,and important considerations about their size and chewing behavior need to be considered,” explains Dr. Paola Cuevas, veterinary consultant at Petkeen. “Toys for strong chewers need to be made from very durable material, which is resistant enough that they can not break but not so hard that they can break their teeth.”
And if your dog like to bring their toys everywhere, and tends to not destroy them, Dr. Cuevas shares. “In the case of stuffed toys, they need to be made of durable materials and need to be regularly checked to ensure the fillings stay inside, avoid polystyrene bead fillings or shredded nut shells.”
Now onto the best materials that toys are made from.
Veterinarian Dr. Alex Crow and says that he’s seen a fair share of destroyed dog toys. “But durability is crucial when selecting dog toys, as it ensures your pet’s safety and saves you money in the long run.” Here are some key factors that make a toy durable, according to Dr. Chow:
High-quality materials like rubber, nylon, or hard plastic
Reinforced seams and stitching
No small parts that can be easily detached and ingested
A sturdy design that can withstand your dog’s chewing and biting
Ahead, see the best dog toys to keep them busy.
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Experts in This Article
Dr. Paola Cuevas: Veterinary consultant at PetkeenDr. Alex Crow: Veterinarian and consultant at Pet Health Guru
BEST OVERALL
BarkBox Super Chewer Subscription
$12 Buy Now
Our senior commerce director, Gina Vaynshteyn, has been a BarkBox Super Chewer subscriber for over a year — Super Chewer is one of the only brands that consistently makes toys durable enough to withstand the enthusiasm of her two 90-pound GSDs (one of them pictured below with one of her newest Super Chewer toys). “It all started when I bought a single Super Chewer toy online — and it lasted for over a year. That NEVER happened with other toys. They’d last for, oh, maybe two weeks? It became really expensive entertaining my dogs, who are large breeds, have large jaws, and endless energy,” Vaynshteyn shares. “I learned it was BarkBox (Super Chewer specifically), and that I could get a subscription to come every month, and that it included snacks, which the girls also plough through. Instead of going to the store and spending a bunch of money on toys and snacks and disappear in a week or two, I get the BarkBox Super Chewer box delivered once a month, and the toys last forever, the treats are high quality and plentiful and last all month.”Vaynshteyn adds, “I still have Super Chewer toys the girls got a year ago, and they’re still in great condition (and they go in the wash every couple weeks because they love to drag the toys outside and bury them). I love how chew-friendly these are, because I can give them one of these toys and they’ll play with them for at least the duration of a Zoom call, which is more than I can ask for.”Every month, you get two toys and two full-sized bags of treats, and each delivery is a different theme, which is really fun for everyone involved. Choose a curated plan based on their gender, size, breed, and how often you want the delivery. Subscribe to a six or 12-month plan to save money, starting at $12 a month.Material: VariesType of Toy: VariesSqueaker? VariesPros:AffordableBest for all life stagesComes with high-quality treatsNew theme every monthCons:None!
BEST HIDE & SEEK TOY
Frisco Baseball Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy
$11 Buy Now
Divert your dog’s attention from chewing things they shouldn’t do to this mentally stimulating hide-and-seek game. The toy includes three durable baseballs they can hide in and a plush stadium with which they can also play or cuddle.“Vader loves this toy! Digging out the balls keeps him occupied and once he has them, it’s time for fetch. Great purchase!” a shopper wrote.Material: Polyester, synthetic fabricType of Toy: Hide-and-seekSqueaker? YesPros:For small breedsMentally stimulatingCons:Squeaker is a choking hazard for some breeds
BEST BALL TOY
Ethical Pet Sensory Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy
$7 Buy Now
This colorful ball is packed with fun. It features durable materials, so it gets destroyed in several uses. It also has a beef scent that pups will love, bells, and a sleeker to excite them even more. It’s best for small breeds at all life stages.Material: Durable TPR (thermoplastic rubber)Type of Toy: Fetch and chewSqueaker? YesPros:Flavored beef scentDurable for small breedsFun bell and squeakerCons:Smaller toy
BEST SOOTHING TOY
Boots & Barkley Pacifier Chew Bone Dog Toy
$5 Buy Now
Dogs love this soothing pacifier. It is made from rubber that feels great against their gums as they chew for hours. The toy has ridges that spark joy as they try to figure out the various feels on the pacifier. Better yet, you can play fetch with it when they’re tired of chewing!Material: RubberType of Toy: Fetch and chewSqueaker? NoPros:Easy to cleanDogs can chew for hoursCons:Might not last long
BEST EDITOR-APPROVED TOY
ALLRIER Store Interactive Dog Toys Tug of War
$15 $16 6% off Buy Now
This tug-of-war toy is one of the most impressive ones we’ve found! It easily suctions onto the wall, floor, or other durable surface so dogs can have lots of fun. At the opposite end, there’s a ball that they can buy, spin, and tug for hours. The toy also helps curb destructive behaviors that result in boredom. It also has a TPR granular cleaner around the outside, which cleans their teeth without them even knowing. Bonus: You can fill the ball with treats!Material: Thermoplastic rubberType of Toy: Tug-of-warSqueaker? NoPros:Can fill with treatsBest for biting, chewing, and pullingCons:Suction cup can wear out
BEST PARENT & PET TOY
Wild One Triangle Tug
$16 Buy Now
Spending time with your pet is rewarding for both and helps create a deep bond with your four-legged best friend. This tug toy from Wild One offers a fun game of tug- of-war and fetch when your dog needs to get some energy out. Made with is made with pet-safe rubber and cotton and includes two shapes and two textures. And if you have multiple dogs in your house, they can easefully challenge each other to tugging matches.Material: Pet-safe rubber and cottonType of Toy: Pull and tugSqueaker? NoPros:Includes multiple textures for chewingTriangle is soft on teethCons:How long they last will depend on your dog’s size, chew strength, and play style
BEST SNIFF MAT
DogNmat Taco Snuffle Mat
$33 Buy Now
“Sniff mats can provide a great time for some dogs, but they also need to be regularly cleaned,” Dr. Cuevas says. “You can find the commercially available sniff mats, but these are also easy-to-do DIY projects that use clean towels. Again, these are only safe for dogs who can interact with them without ragging and potentially ingesting them.”Material: FabricType of Toy: Sniff matSqueaker? YesPros:Vet-ApprovedDurable edgesNumerous hiding spotsCons:Expensive
BEST AUTOMATIC FETCH TOY
Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher
$100 Buy Now
Dr. Cuevas also noted that “I am fascinated by the automatic fetch machines, I think they are a genius way to keep dogs engaged and moving when their owners are busy working to get money to pay for their dog’s food.”Material: PlasticType of Toy: InteractiveSqueaker? NoPros:Launches ball 10-40 feet1-button startCons:Requires standard 2.5-inch tennis balls
BEST CLASSIC TOY
Kong Classic Dog Chew Toy
$17 Buy Now
“Some of my favorite toys that keep dogs busy include the Kong Classic Dog Toy,” Dr. Chow says. The toy has multiple uses for dogs, including chewing, chasing, and snatching. You can even hide their favorite treat inside, which teaches them how to seek.Material: RubberType of Toy: Chew, chase, and fetchSqueaker? NoPros:Comes in multiple sizes“Lasts forever” according to shoppersCons:Dogs can destroy improper sizes
BEST FOR TREATS
Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
$11 Buy Now
Dr. Chow also recommends the Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball for pets. “Treat-dispensing mechanisms that challenge your dog to figure out how to get a reward,” he says. All you have to do is insert your dog’s favorite treats into the ball and let them have at it. As your dog plays with the ball, treats will come out, which keeps them entertained for hours.Material: Vinyl textured surfaceType of Toy: TreatSqueaker? NoPros:For medium breedsExtremely durable Cons:Some treats fall right out
BEST PUZZLE TOY
Outward Hound Brick Puzzle
$10 Buy Now
Vets also recommend the Outward Hound Brick Puzzle to enhance your dog’s sense and skill to beat boredom. “Textures and smells that stimulate your dog’s senses,” Dr. Chow explains, and that’s precisely what this affordable puzzle does. The puzzle also includes additional obstacles and combinations of steps to help them focus.Material: PolypropyleneType of Toy: InteractiveSqueaker? NoPros:Hand washableMade for all size breedsCons:Not extra sturdy
BEST SUMMER TOY
Top Paw Pineapple Summer Splash Pad
$20 $40 50% off Buy Now
Don’t let your dogs miss out on all the summer fun! Pick up this doggy splash pad so they can take a dip and cool off. As soon as you hook it up to a house, it turns into your pet’s personal water park.Material: Plastic, nylonType of Toy: InteractiveSqueaker? NoPros:Adjustable water heightsConnects to garden hoseCons:Can pop on the hot ground
Before you go, check out Amazon’s best under-$10 cat toys below.
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