2 days ago
27 Tough Dog Toys That'll Save Your Furniture
A snuggle puppy stuffed toy for pups who suffer from separation anxiety and need a hint of extra attention. Be still my heart, but this stuffed animal is designed with a heart that beats to make them feel less alone. And I'm sorry but now I can't stop crying.
A hanging tug rope that's retractable and can be hung from any tree in your yard, i.e., any tug-of-war obsessed pup will no longer be scratching at your shins when you're in the middle of a work-from-home call on your backyard patio.
Promising review: "I have a 4-month-old terrier mix that is obsessed with tug of war. This is set up on our tree, and she loves it! Makes us laugh every time she plays." —JenniferGet it from Amazon for $19.39+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save 10%; available in three sizes/styles).
A giggle ball that emits a bunch of different sounds to keep 'em curious and entertained. (Important: the sounds are pretty subtle and won't annoy you.)
Promising review: "This is such a funny toy. It keeps my puppy entertained. It makes the funniest noises; I laugh every time I hear my dog playing with it. At first, my pup was kind of scared of it, but now he's super curious and loves to push it around with his nose to hear the sound. It's hilarious!" —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four styles).
A puzzle treat ball to keep 'em entertained and nosing around for hours on end, therefore sparing the (expensive) Birkenstocks you splurged on from their restless chewing.
Promising review: "He loves this, he will roll it around for ages, nose to the floor right behind it waiting for the treats to drop out." —Lorraine BGet it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 13 other styles).
A tooth-cleaning toy perfect for slathering a hint of toothpaste on and voilà — you won't have to spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to clean plaque.
Promising review: "I was amazed at how much my dog loves this. I spread a little dog toothpaste on it after brushing his teeth and gave it to him as a reward. He can't wait to get the reward, so he comes running and jumps up into my lap every night when it's time to brush teeth, then spends about an hour chewing and playing with it while I relax and enjoy a Netflix TV episode." —Annie1RNGet it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four sizes and two styles).
A light-up ball for pups with poor eyesight who sometimes struggle to spot regular balls. This is easy to find *and* virtually indestructible.
Promising review: "My dog is very picky about toys. He absolutely loves this thing! He's figured out how to pick it up and toss it so the lights come on (and I don't have to constantly throw it for him). He runs to it first thing in the morning and starts playing. It seems very sturdy and well made, and it is easy for him to pick up due to the cutouts. It's a little heavy for a smaller dog (he's 25 lbs.) but he figured it out and just doesn't carry it far. Great little interactive toy." —twinkleshopsGet it from Amazon for $11.99.
A flopping fish toy that is actually created for cats, but according to Amazon reviewers? It's great for doggos too.
Promising review: "Got this for my 2-year-old Bernedoodle for Christmas (yes, I buy my dogs Christmas presents 😂). Anyway, my dog is very particular about his toys, and he LOVES this thing. Hasn't put it down since I gave it to him. It flips and flops every time he touches it. He prances around the house with it flopping in his mouth all day long, he's very proud of his catch." —Melissa OdsatherGet it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in six different fish).
A rubber football treat dispenser that's a total ~touchdown~ for homes where the Super Bowl (and halftime performances, okay?) is basically a national holiday.
A soccer ball to make every second feel like the FIFA World Pup. This ball is cleverly designed with chew tabs that make it easy for your doggo to pick up and transport it from point A (their bed) to point B (your bed).
Promising review: "My dog loves this thing. She immediately knew to use the straps to pick it up, which I thought was very cute. I did tell her to use the straps, and she does fully understand English, so I don't know what I was surprised about. She loves grabbing it by one of the straps and shaking the s*** out of it before bringing it back to me. It's much smaller than an actual soccer ball, probably about 6 inches in diameter." —Jeremy BGet it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in a variety of colors and and styles).
A large duck chew toy that reviewers (myself included) rave about for its durability. This lil' guy is truly the gift that keeps on giving because you won't have to replace it after a mere few days — my Frenchie has been chewing on the same one for ~five months~ now and it's still going strong.
Promising review: "My English mastiff (and the biggest baby ever) loves his ducky. He has ripped up other toys, but not his beloved duck. He has had it for a few months now and brings it everywhere around the house with him, even sleeps snuggled up with it. I don't know why dogs seem to love this toy so much, but I would highly recommend purchasing." —KristenGet one from Amazon for $7.90.
A Lamb Chop toy that reviewers swear is beloved by all doggos, regardless of age or breed.
Promising review: "I love giving gifts, especially when they're unexpected. This toy — no matter what size I've gifted — has been absolutely priceless to my heart. It's been welcomed by elderly dogs who use it as a pillow, and it's become the 'keep away' toy during group play sessions. Sometimes it can be a pricey gift, especially when I go for the largest size I can find. But no matter the size of the dog or pup, I've had the best experiences giving these as gifts. It's adorable to see a toy breed make a bed out of the largest Lamb Chop, or a mastiff keeping guard over it during a group snooze with little dogs." —GrAnnieSmith03Get it from Chewy for $3.99+ (originally $5.39+; available in three sizes).
An interactive treat puzzle complete with mini obstacle courses to keep your dog focused and curious — perfect for the pet who is obsessed with treats (aka mine) and basically inhales any freeze-dried sweet potato morsel without actually appreciating it.
A treat-dispensing snuffle ball for any treat-obsessed pup who gets bored super easily. This elevates "sit! stay! roll over!" to independent play. Plus, this thing is machine washable!
Promising review: "They are a great puzzle for them to do with just a small amount of treats needed. I can put a few treats or kibble inside each ball, and both my dogs will be busy with them for 45–60 minutes. Great for mental stimulation and the dogs get really excited whenever I pull them out." —Rebekah it from Crackerz Corner on Etsy for $25.
A snuffle mat with carrots your dog can "plant" throughout the house, all of which can be used to hide little treats and keep 'em entertained.
Promising review: "This is my Chihuahua's favorite toy right now. I take one big jerky and break it into little pieces, put some in the little pocket openings of each carrot, larger pieces in the bottom of each big felt hole, and then stuff the carrots in the holes at different heights — it takes him a good 10-15 minutes to get all the little pieces of treat and keeps him busier than any other puzzle toys we've tried before. I love that you can play with this in a few different ways to keep it tricky and interesting; it's a little different every time. My dog is obsessed! P.S. My dog is an old little Chihuahua, not interested in chewing on things or ripping them apart. He's not a huge slobbery chewer or a puppy — not sure how durable this would be for other dogs. This will last us a long time, though, and the felt cups have held up to him scratching/biting at them quite a lot." —Shannon JenningsGet it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in small or large).
A hide-and-seek plushie that encourages curious doggos to dig around. And the design? Let's just say it makes playtime even ~sweeter.~
Promising review: "My dog loves the little bees. However, I don't think she's quite clever enough to get them out of the burrow. My kitten is the one who retrieves the bees, and the dog gets excited to steal them from her! Overall, I love this for both of my fur babies." —scarevansGet it from Target for $14.59.
An interactive treat dispenser that bobs from side to side, giving your dog the impression that they are "hunting" for food. (It seems funny to even use the word "hunting" in the context of my lazy French bulldog, but I digress.)
Promising review: "I have been saying 'I should go on Amazon and give this toy a 5-star review' since I purchased it in 2016, just over four years ago. Well, today's the day. Purchased when she was only a 4-month-old pup, this is one of Lucy's favorite all-time toys. She loves playing with it when we are busy, when she just wants a snack, or when she just wants to make some good, loud, rattly noises. Kibble is all she needs in there to keep her happy. She learned quickly to use her head and feet to push it around, though as an impatient pup, she tried chewing it open at the top to no avail; henceforth, all the toothmarks. This toy is VERY durable; I expect we will never have to buy a new one. The added texture from her chewing helps to collect all the long hair off the carpet, too — mine and my daughter's — BONUS! At first, she would roll it over the vent and then stand there and do her cute little puppy bark at her lost treats, but soon she learned to gently pick it up and carry it away from the vent to avoid such disappointments. She will also carry it to us to fill it when it's empty. And of course, we do because that face! Oh my goodness, she's so cute." —LudwigGet it from Amazon for $7.86+ (available in small or large).
A bite-activated animated toy that I am honestly considering purchasing for myself and propping on my bed due to how cute it is. TL;DR: Every time your dog bites into this frog, its little legs will flop up and down.
Promising review: "My dog has a tendency to chew through squeaky toys within an hour of receiving them. My dog still has this dragon over a year after purchasing it for him. It has obviously worn down over time, but this dog toy has remained intact so far." —Amanda it from Amazon for $14.99.
A teaser pole reviewers swear by for rainy days, in which your energetic pup can't be taken outside for very long. It's a great indoor play option, so they can still get their exercise in.
Promising review: "I am blown away by how much my dogs love this toy. I have two boxers that are very high energy, so I was looking for something that could wear them out quickly on days I don't necessarily have a lot of time to devote to playing with them out in the yard. This definitely does the trick. I'll play with them for 10 minutes, and by the time we come back inside, they're both lying on top of the air vents with their tongues hanging out the side of their mouths. They would literally play until they passed out if I'd let them. It is probably the only toy I've ever had for them where I am able to play with both of them at the same time instead of having to alternate which one I play with. The little animal at the end of the rope is torn up, smelly, and so covered in slobber that it is now permanently crunchy-feeling, but they still love it. We have to keep it up on a shelf in the laundry room when I'm not outside playing with it." —Tyne it from Amazon for $16.99.
An octopus nesting toy with eight legs, i.e., if your dog loves to chew up and destroy pretty much every toy he's ever gotten. This gives him eight chances.
Promising review: "The dogs are really enjoying this toy. Very durable. Even standing up pretty good to my super chewer." —Sue BinghamGet it from Amazon for $16.99.
A training toy that can be slathered with peanut butter to get your pup more comfortable in their crate, encouraging them to relax and self-soothe.
Promising review: "Our puppy loves this! We used it to lure her into her crate and make her comfortable spending time in there. The licking is self-soothing, and it is great to have something cold for her sore mouth while she is teething. She hasn't been biting or chewing on it, but having something cold has stopped her from chewing up other items! We are also in a humid climate where the average temperatures have been in the high 90s and low 100s, so having something cold to cool her off really helps. We purchased other similar items (like lick mats), but they have not worked nearly as well, and they don't have a cover! The cover is key to being able to freeze this and keep it clean between uses." —LadyToddGet it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in six colors).
A fuzzy ball with a tail that makes noises *and* moves on its own, with the intention being that they feel like they're (*ahem*) hunting.
Promising review: "It's a unique toy. Bounces, makes sounds, and skitters around. My Aussie puppy loves it, and the sound is not annoying." —JillGet it from Amazon for $17.95 (available in two other styles).
A burrow(ito) toy packed with a ton of mini toys that your doggo will have to unpack at their own pace. And functionality aside, their design options are adorable, from a burrito buffet to a little jar of pickles.
A touch-activated squeaky toy that's rechargeable and essentially means your pup can play fetch for hours on end — all without nudging at you when you're in the middle of a work-from-home day.
Promising review: "Just received our ball last night, and we LOVE it! I have a 3-year-old Rottweiler/Australian Shepherd, and recently got a pibble puppy. They play rough, but the R/AS poops out sooner than the puppy. This ball keeps them both occupied and helps with the puppy afterward. It twirls and spins just as advertised and makes a cheeping sound if left alone to get their attention again. I was afraid it would annoy us, but the sound was just enough for me to hear it. Love, love, love!!" —Jean McAllisterGet it from Amazon for $19.98.
An activity mat designed with puzzles that require solving in order for your pooch to get their treat, helping them to remain boredom-free *and* hone their foraging skills.
A silent chew toy if you've ever chucked a stuffed toy into the depths of your closet due to mid-day naps being interrupted by *squeak squeak squeak*. You'll get your nap in, doggo will get playtime in, everyone wins.
A Pupsicle treat toy starter pack so playtime can last for hours on particularly hot days when walks need to be short and sweet. These toy balls are designed to fit one frozen treat, keep your pup occupied for at least 30 minutes, are long-lasting, and easy to clean, too!
A 2-in-1 burrow-and-snuffle toy made with two hidden squeaking fishbones and a treat pocket in the trout's belly, ideal for energetic dogs who expect you to throw their toy over and over when it's covered in slobber.
Promising review: "Our dog brings his trout toy everywhere with him. We constantly fill the pouch (fish guts!) with fun snacks, and he can spend a long time trying to 'fish' them out (pun intended). Really durable toy too, and has outlasted so far many other toys that get less regular use. Definitely recommend to all other dog owners out there!" —Manuel C. Get it from Lambwolf Collective for $32.
