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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, $26+
Best Hide & Seek Toy: Frisco Baseball Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy, $11
Best Ball Toy: Ethical Pet Sensory Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy, $7
Best Soothing Toy: Boots & Barkley Pacifier Chew Bone Dog Toy, $7
Best Editor-Approved Toy: ALLRIER Store Interactive Dog Toys Tug of War, $15 (originally $16)
Best Parent & Pet Toy: Wild One Triangle Tug, $16
Best Sniff Mat: DogNmat Taco Snuffle Mat, $33
Best Automatic Fetch Toy: Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher, $100
Best Classic Toy: Kong Classic Dog Chew Toy, $17
Best for Treats: Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball, $11
Best Puzzle Toy: Outward Hound Brick Puzzle, $10
Best Summer Toy: Top Paw Pineapple Summer Splash Pad, $20 (originally $40) Related story This Portable Slow Cooker Is the Summer Pot Luck Essential You Never Knew You Needed & It's Nearly 50% Off at Walmart

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. Related story This Portable Slow Cooker Is the Summer Pot Luck Essential You Never Knew You Needed & It's Nearly 50% Off at Walmart

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Experts in This Article

Dr. Paola Cuevas: Veterinary consultant at Petkeen
Dr. Alex Crow: Veterinarian and consultant at Pet Health Guru

Best Overall

BarkBox Super Chewer Subscription

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: Varies
Type of Toy: Varies
Squeaker? Varies
Pros:
Affordable
Best for all life stages
Comes with high-quality treats
New theme every month
Cons:
None!

Best Hide & Seek Toy

Frisco Baseball Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Dog Toy

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 fabric
Type of Toy: Hide-and-seek
Squeaker? Yes
Pros:
For small breeds
Mentally stimulating
Cons:
Squeaker is a choking hazard for some breeds

Best Ball Toy

Ethical Pet Sensory Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy

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 chew
Squeaker? Yes
Pros:
Flavored beef scent
Durable for small breeds
Fun bell and squeaker
Cons:
Smaller toy

Best Soothing Toy

Boots & Barkley Pacifier Chew Bone Dog Toy

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: Rubber
Type of Toy: Fetch and chew
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Easy to clean
Dogs can chew for hours
Cons:
Might not last long

Best Editor-Approved Toy

ALLRIER Store Interactive Dog Toys Tug of War

$15 $16 6% off

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 rubber
Type of Toy: Tug-of-war
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Can fill with treats
Best for biting, chewing, and pulling
Cons:
Suction cup can wear out

Best Parent & Pet Toy

Wild One Triangle Tug

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 cotton
Type of Toy: Pull and tug
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Includes multiple textures for chewing
Triangle is soft on teeth
Cons:
How long they last will depend on your dog’s size, chew strength, and play style

Best Sniff Mat

DogNmat Taco Snuffle Mat

“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: Fabric
Type of Toy: Sniff mat
Squeaker? Yes
Pros:
Vet-Approved
Durable edges
Numerous hiding spots
Cons:
Expensive

Best Automatic Fetch TOy

Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher

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: Plastic
Type of Toy: Interactive
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Launches ball 10-40 feet
1-button start
Cons:
Requires standard 2.5-inch tennis balls

Best Classic Toy

Kong Classic Dog Chew Toy

“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: Rubber
Type of Toy: Chew, chase, and fetch
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Comes in multiple sizes
“Lasts forever” according to shoppers
Cons:
Dogs can destroy improper sizes

Best for Treats

Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball

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 surface
Type of Toy: Treat
Squeaker? No
Pros:
For medium breeds
Extremely durable
Cons:
Some treats fall right out

Best Puzzle Toy

Outward Hound Brick Puzzle

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: Polypropylene
Type of Toy: Interactive
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Hand washable
Made for all size breeds
Cons:
Not extra sturdy

Best Summer Toy

Top Paw Pineapple Summer Splash Pad

$20 $40 50% off

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, nylon
Type of Toy: Interactive
Squeaker? No
Pros:
Adjustable water heights
Connects to garden hose
Cons:
Can pop on the hot ground

Before you go, check out Amazon’s best under-$10 cat toys below.

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