The Best Puppy Dog Toys

This can make choosing the best puppy toys quite a challenge, but help is at hand.

I've put together a selection of some of the best choices on the market, taking into account durability, safety, play-value and value-for-money.

Check out these recommended puppy dog toys before you decide what to put into your new pups' toybox and you'll save yourself both time and money.

Puppy Dog Toys - Treat Toys

Of course, you don't want to give your new 'baby' totally edible chew toys on a regular basis as that will stop him being hungry enough to eat his 'proper' puppy kibble at mealtimes and may even result in some puppy diarrhea

But, puppy toys that are flavored, or contain treats that your little guy (or gal) has to work hard to get at, are top of my list of favorites (and my puppy's too!)

Here is one that every puppy will enjoy - and it stands up to the majority of large breed pups or 'power chewers' too...

Consists of a sturdy rubber 'ball' (actually it's more like a tire) which holds two tasty treat blocks firmly in place (one either side of the 'tire').

Your puppy can chomp down happily on this toy but isn't able to actually eat the treats.. the best he can do is scrape at them with his teeth and these tiny tastes are enough to keep him motivated to play with this particular puppy dog toy for a l-o-n-g time!

The ball comes in a variety of sizes so that there's one to suit every age/size/breed. I'd recommend choosing a size that's too big for your puppy to get in his mouth, both for safety and entertainment value.

The treats themselves come in the same variety of sizes and also in a range of flavors that your puppy will love - including liver, chicken, veggie, barbeque and vanilla mint.

Another variation on this theme is the.......

This ball is strong, light and pretty durable - it may not stand up to the powerful jaws of some adult dogs, but it's fantastic for puppies. It even bounces and floats.

There are two ways to use this puppy toy... one, you can insert one or two of the everlasting treat blocks (the same ones as listed above for use with the everlasting treat ball) and let your puppy gnaw on the whole thing.

Or, you can fill the toy with kibble pieces or any type of dog treat and let your little guy spend ages figuring out how to get them out!

The treats/kibble need to be big enough that they won't just fall out or it defeats the whole purpose, but it's easy enough to find the right size. You can break up larger treats too, or use the ones that were especially designed for this toy such as Every Flavor Treats

A classic dog or puppy chew toy that can be used with treats or peanut butter is a 'Kong'.

Any practiced dog owner will tell you that a Kong is one of those 'every dog should have one' toy!

Made from super-tough, puncture-resistant natural (red) rubber (X-treme Kongs are black and designed for the most aggressive of chewers), these chew toys can stand up to a LOT of chewing.

In our home they're one of the few toys that can survive the abuse that Rottweilers and a Bulldog can dish out! They're played with every single day and last almost forever (one even survived being a run-in with the riding lawn mower!)

These virtually indestructible puppy dog toys become even more interesting when filled with peanut butter or with the special KONG Stuff'N Easy Treat Paste, which comes in a variety of flavors.

X-TIP: A teething puppy will appreciate a peanut-butter stuffed Kong that's been put in the freezer for a few hours or overnight

One of the most popular, interactive, treat-dispensing puppy dog toys around, the 'Tug A Jug' has huge play value and is a favorite with puppies of all sizes.

The clear jug is made from non-toxic, extremely durable material (similar to that used to make bullet-proof glass!)

Your puppy will get super excited about the treats he can see, hear and smell, rattling around inside.

As if that wasn't enough, there's a textured rubber wrap and a sturdy rope attached that will help keep little teeth clean and provide a bit of extra sensory stimulation.

Available in 2 sizes, with the Small size being suitable for most puppies as it's recommended for dogs weighing under 40lbs. The Large size is for dogs over 40lbs and is the best choice for adults, older pups, or large/giant breed puppies.

Puppy Dog Toys - Soft Toys

However, when it comes to soft, stuffed puppy dog toys it's easier to find some excellent choices.

There are a few things to look for when you're choosing soft dog toys as poorly made stuffed toys can be dangerous to your pup.

These include: reinforced seams and/or double-stitching, extra-durable fabrics, minimal stuffing, and eyes/ears/whiskers etc. that are very firmly attached

Here are my top choices.....

Once again the indominitable Kong toys feature high on the list. The Kong 'Cozies' range is relatively new but already proving to be very popular with both dogs and owners.

These are cuddly plush toys that your puppy will love to carry around, chew on, play tug with and then cuddle up with to take a nap!

They have an extra layer of fabric that makes them stronger than your average soft dog toy, all extremeties are securely attached, and they have minimal stuffing.

Available in 10 adorable, colorful and cute designs including King the Lion, Rosie the Rhino, Spunky the Monkey, Tupper the Lamb and more.

Tough, stretchy toys whose bodies are made from tightly-braided non-toxic material, with fuzzy, 'dangly' legs/arms which are irresistible to puppies!

Again, minimal stuffing in these well-constructed toys. Available in lots of different designs, colors and sizes

Another range of plush, sturdy yet soft, puppy dog toys - this time with NO stuffing - that means less mess if your pup does manage to rip a hole in his favorite, and nothing for him to ingest either.

Puppies of all ages (ahem, that means ALL ages) seem to love playing with these toys and they can stand up to a fair bit of chewing.

There's are 2 squeakers in each design (one at each end ie head and tail) for added fun.

Available in a number of different animal designs including a squirrel, fox, chicken, raccoon, skunk, sheep, giraffe and more.

The AKC (American Kennel Club) have a range of officially licensed products including a selection of toys.

These beautiful plush puppy dog toys are made to provide hours of safe fun for your pup.

Strong, durable plush fabric, double-stitching and all extremities are firmly attached. There are good quality squeakers inside each design too.

Available in a range of attractive designs including a rabbit, mallard duck, pheasant, otter and more.

Simply Fido puppy dog toys aren't just cute to look at, and fun for your pup to play with, they're environmentally friendly and guaranteed to be free from harmful chemicals and toxins.

These puppy toys are made from organic cotton fabrics (including plush, hemp and canvas finishes) and rope, and use only natural organic materials, colors and manufacturing processes, so they're non-toxic and safe for your little one to chew on.

Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors.

Puppy Dog Toys - Chew Toys

Between 3 and 6 months of age puppies are 'teething' which makes things worse. Many owners don't realize that chewing actually plays a useful role as it's an outlet for pent-up anxieties and energy. Sort of like the doggie equivalent of a stress ball!

Naturally this can lead to trouble... in terms of damage to your possessions, and damage to your puppy's insides.

There are many, many puppy chew toys on the market, but quite a number of them are just well... boring to your puppy. That means they're short on play value and consequently not good value for money.

To help keep your little guy/gal focused on chewing his toys rather than your antique table legs, here are a selection of puppy dog toys that have proved popular in our home.....

Zogoflex ® is a unique, one-of-a-kind material which is non-toxic and totally recyclable, super-tough yet pliable, it's irresistibly chewy and even bounces and floats!

There are a range of puppy chew toys made from this fantastic material, in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. There's literally one to suit every dog, regardless of age, size and chewing ability.

Includes the Hurley (featured above)

The Tux - another 'Treat' puppy toy

The Huck - a floaty, bouncy super-fun ball

The West Paw Design Zogoflex Dog Toy, Zisc, Colors Vary - a soft yet tough Frisbee-type disc

The Bumi Dog Toy - a bendy, stretchy, all-but indestructible dog toy for throwing, tugging, chewing.....

If you're looking for puppy dog toys that can stand up to the jaws of a large/giant breed or aggressive chewer, then this Zogoflex dog chew toy is pretty much guaranteed to fit the bill.... West Paw Design Guaranteed Tough Large Tux Dog Toy, Tangerine

Puppy Dog Toys - Rope Toys

You don't have to settle for just a plain length of woven rope either! There are all sorts of variations on the theme, including flavored ropes, knotted ropes, rope balls, rope 'figures' or animals, rope 'tugs', ropes threaded with hooves, rawhide, bones, rubber shapes and more.

Here are some of my favorites...........

Another variation on the Kong theme (this company has just about every type of dog toy covered!)

This one combines one of Kong's super-durable rubber, dental chew toy designs with durable, diamond-braid cotton floss rope.

The combination of the ridges on the rubber 'bone' and the abrasive nature of the rope make this toy a great way to help your puppy, or dog, keep his teeth clean and tartar free. Dental care that's fun - who'd have thought it :)

Another 'famous name' toy that provides that 'bit extra'!

This dog rope toy is made cotton rope that is reinforced with nylon mesh to give it extra durability.

Brightly colored, sturdy and generously sized, this will be one of the puppy dog toys that your pup goes back to over and over again.

Great for 'tug', 'fetch' or simply a quiet afternoon's chewing.

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The all natural cotton rope used to make this puppy chew toy has real mint-flavored dental floss woven in with the cotton fibers.

Also contains baking soda to give an extra boost to the rope's teeth-cleaning and breath-freshening capabilities.

Available in a variety of sizes so that you're bound to find one that fits your puppy's mouth.

Puppies love rope toys and they love balls, so it's not surprising that combining the two results in a winning formula!

The brightly colored 'Nuts for Knots' ball isn't bouncy, or 'floaty', but it IS FUN. Your pup can chew it, toss it, play 'fetch' with it and more.

Although it's lots of fun, it's not one of the super-tough puppy dog toys (plus it's not that big) so do supervise any power-chewers or medium/large breed puppies playing with this toy.

If you DO have a large/giant breed puppy or a dog who is a very dedicated chewer, there's another 'Nuts for Knots' rope ball that's perfect for him/her....

This heavy-duty rope tug toy for is specifically designed to stand up to power chewers.

It's significantly bigger than the colorful 'Nuts for Knots' woven ball above, and is made from heavy-duty, natural colored rope.

There's a integrated rope 'handle' as well which makes it a great choice for a bit of 'tug-o-war'.

Another popular dog rope toy is combination is a soft, plush body with sturdy rope limbs.

There are quite a few of these around, so you won't have trouble finding cute and chewy puppy dog toys in this style. This monkey is a good example of rope/plush puppy toy that your puppy can have lots of fun with.

The plush body satisfies your puppy's love of soft toys, while the sturdy, knotted rope arms and legs provide his jaws and teeth with an abrasive, textured chewing surface.

The best of both worlds really. This is also available in other animal styles including a dog and a bear.

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