Puppies need lots of playtime—and that means lots of toys. Are all dog toys created equally? Not exactly. Toys are essential for your puppy’s development. The right toys manage behavior, increase mental and physical enrichment, ease anxieties and soothe sore gums during teething.
So, how do you know which puppy toys are perfect–and completely safe–for your new best friend? To help you find the best puppy toy for your new fur baby, we spoke to a veterinarian to narrow down what features to focus on when shopping for dog toys. Plus, we’ve rounded up top-selling, top-rated puppy toys for chewers, fetchers and cuddlers. Designed specifically for puppies at different stages and ages, these customer favorites are a great addition to your puppy's toy box.
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How To Find the Best Toy for Your Puppy
“Toys are critical to a mentally happy dog,” says New Jersey-based veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Feeney, DVM, pet behaviorist and owner of Build a Better Bond Pet Behavior Management. “Your dog’s favorite toy is you, but if you aren’t around, there are lots of things that can keep your pet happy on their own.” Plush, rubber, dental, squeakers—the number of puppy toys on the market is impressively overwhelming. While it’s tempting to gather a collection of the softest and squeakiest toys you can find, buying your new puppy their first toys isn’t so simple if your goal is creating healthy play for both bonding and home alone time.
Before you buy, consider the following:
1. Your Puppy’s Size
If you have a 2-pound Chihuahua puppy, a giant plush toy lobster or a huge ball that they can’t fit in their mouth won’t be useful; your puppy will lose interest quickly. On the other end of the scale, toys that are too small for large dogs are a choking hazard. You’ll want to pick a toy that’s appropriate for their sides: small enough that your puppy can pick them up and move them around, but not too small that they can be swallowed and become a choking hazard, says Dr. Feeney.
2. Your Puppy’s Breed
Certain dog breeds are prone to like certain types of playtime. Herding and working dogs love to run and chase so a fetch toy would be a good pick. Dogs with short, pushed in faces (brachycephalic breeds) like Pugs and Bulldogs are less able to run hard and often prefer to lounge around with a food toy. For mixed breeds and adopted dogs, a pet DNA test kit identifies the dog’s combination of breeds to give insight into your puppy’s tendencies.
3. Your Puppy’s Age
Knowing your puppy’s developmental stage leads you to appropriate toys that your dog will quickly claim as favorites. Teething happens in your puppy’s first year of life, so a teething toy would be ideal for puppies up until they are about 8 months old. Very young puppies (8- to 12- weeks old) sleep for a large portion of the day, so a plush toy to snuggle with would be in order. As your puppy grows, they will be able to run faster, chew harder and play tougher. Enter more durable chew toys and fetch toys. Not certain? Many puppy toys include information on the packaging, such as recommended weight and age. Or, talk to your veterinarian about appropriate toys for your puppy’s age.
4. Your Puppy’s Personality
Observe your dog as they go about their playing, napping and eating-filled day, and after a short time it will become clear what their tendencies are. Knowing whether your puppy prefers to sniff and search out food or run in circles knowing their preferences will help you choose the best toys for your unique pup as they grow.
5. Your Lifestyle
Interactive toys, like flying discs, are great ways to work on your dog’s coordination and to encourage active playtime. But dogs also spend a lot of time alone. Be realistic: If your dog will be spending most of the day by themself while you’re at work, opt for toys that engage your puppy long-term, such as food puzzles, frozen treats for licking and durable chew toys.
7 Best Puppy Toys
To help you choose, we’ve rounded up the best puppy toys as tested and approved by Chewy customers. These top-selling, top-rated puppy toys get two paws up from dog parents like you.
Best Overall Puppy Toy
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Great teething tool
We bought this for our puppy who is teething. He loves it with the puppy stuff n easy treat puppy recipe. So far, it has been a success! It also works well when transitioning him to his kennel
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Good puppy toy
My 4 month old puppy has sharp puppy teeth and though sdlge has put some punctures in it, it has held up to her abuse. Also I've been filling it with wet puppy food and freezing it. Keeps her busy for 20 minutes
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Durability
Our big puppy loves the Kong he chews on it as well as uses it as fetch when he plays. We got it because he acts like he is teething or something so it was either a toy or our hands. Lol I had also ordered the puppy version of the can cheese to put it in and he loves both and it occupies him for a while.
Best Puppy Teething Toy
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One of Max favorites
My yorkie puppy Max loves this teething toy. Nylabone make great teething toys for puppies. I will be buying more.
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Don't tell my puppy
She is no longer a puppy but loves her pacifier so much that i am compelled to buy her another.
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Nylabone Puppy Pacifier is great for teethers!
Has 3 surfaces to chew: the green ring, the pink pacifier & the blue bone so it’s bright & attractive & adequate teething ring to small & maybe medium-sized puppies
Best Chew Toy for Puppies
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She LOVES it !!
Poppy Lou is soon to be 3 yrs old BUT she loves that particular chew bone so we get it for her as a treat.
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Great tough chew
Our puppy has enjoyed this chew and its shape helps the young pup enjoy it even more. She keeps this nearby all the time
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Puppy Loves Them
My puppy loves the Benebone chew toys. I have purchased them for her twice. They are her number one go to for chewing.
Best Puppy Heartbeat Toy
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Unexplainable Love Affair with this sweet dog!!
Since bringing home our 7 wk old Westie and she’s now 5 months, she’s never whimpered one single night. I do T know if Snuggle Puppy is the sole reason, but she lays on her every night and sleeps great!!
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Everything!
Adorable/great size/heartbeat works well/COMFORTING: my 8 week old Maltipoo slept all through her first night home(10 hours!!)
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EXCELLENT
this product is wonderful. I have not used it with the heat packet but heart beat sound is great for foster - puppies, dogs, and kittens.
Best Puppy Puzzle Toy
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How inventive!
This pup lives this toy! Sometimes he shakes the whole spaceship to shake out the aliens. The aliens are perfect for indoor fetch.
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Durable and fun
My wild puppy loves this and has yet to tear it apart. It keeps him entertained for a whole 20 minutes, which is like 2 hours in puppy time.
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Super cute!
Cute fun puzzle toy. My dogs like getting the little aliens out of their spaceship - can also put treats inside for more of an incentive for them to dig in!
Best Puppy Fetch Toy
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Durable
Honey is a frisbee fanatic and the frisbee is her best friend (besides me) doesn’t like to give up the frisbee
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Even my tiny puppy can carry it!
I bought this for my 11 week old, 5.25 pound puppy. She LOVES it. I’m impressed that she carries it around. The material is easy enough to clean and we keep it outside.
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Soft Rubber and great toy.
My dog is getting old and this is softer and easier to grab than the regular Kong flyer. He loves it.
Best Plush Puppy Toy
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Chiweenies love it
My two chiweenies love this toy set. It’s super soft and they haven’t tore it up yet. A definite favorite for them.
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So cute!
My dog is obsessed with these! He just turned one and has had them since we got him at a couple months old
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Soft Giraffe
My puppy brothers love this Giraffe, I stand it up and squeak it and they both come running! Definitely one of their favorites!
Safety Tips for Puppy Playtime
Swallowing parts of or whole toys (if too small for your large puppy) is the main safety concern when introducing a new toy. Follow these tips for fun and safe playing:
- Make sure the puppy toy is the right size. Some dog toys come in a range of sizes, and others are designed specifically for small-, medium- or large-breed dogs. Dr. Feeny says to make sure it’s big enough so that they can’t swallow it but not too big that they can’t actually play with it.
- Keep durability in mind when choosing a toy. This is especially important if you have aggressive chewers. “Dogs who love to chew can chew for hours, so make sure you have a strong product that can withstand that kind of activity,” Dr. Feeny says. But you don’t want it to be too tough. Some bones are so hard they can break your dog’s teeth, says Dr. Feeney. They should be soft enough that you can make an indent with your thumbnail.
- Always monitor your puppy during playtime. Never leave your dog unsupervised with toys, especially if they are prone to playing rough or destroying them.
- Keep tabs on the wear and tear. Visually inspect even the most durable toys before play to make sure there are no loose bits that can fall off, no rough or frayed edges or stuffing coming out that could be swallowed and no sharp edges.
Best Puppy Toys FAQ
Q: What are the safest puppy toys?
A: Safe toys for puppies are made with nontoxic ingredients (like natural rubber), appropriately sized and can’t be swallowed whole or ripped apart (stuffing, squeakers and bells can be a choking hazard). Always monitor your puppy whenever they are playing with toys.
Q: What are safe puppy chew toys?
A: Puppy teeth are more sensitive than adult teeth and can chip if the toy material is too hard. Rubber toys and nylon bones are safer than antler and beef bones, says Dr. Feeney. Chew toys should be durable, but soft enough that you can make an indent with your thumbnail, and made with natural, non-toxic ingredients.
Q: What toys can keep my puppy busy?
A: Think mental stimulation. Toys that involve searching for food or solving a puzzle to find food can keep dogs occupied for extended periods of time. Dog Puzzle toys or interactive dog toys range in levels and difficulty, starting with a snuffle mat for hiding kibble and progressing to a system where dogs push a lever and open a latch to get a treat. To get your puppy started, fill a KONG Classic toy with dog-safe peanut butter for them to lick out.
Q: What toys are best for an 8-week-old puppy?
A: Young puppies benefit from teething toys, which should be durable, but not too hard. Some chew toys can be stored in the freezer to numb sore gums, relieving pain. Eight weeks is typically the youngest age a puppy will leave their littermates to join their new home, so behaviorally, it’s go-time for teaching what’s right and wrong. Soft toys and stuffed toys that mimic body heat or their mama’s heartbeat ease anxieties during crate training or home alone time.
How We Chose These Products
Having the right toys for your new puppy makes those first few months of pet parenting less stressful and a lot more fun. We delved through Chewy’s best-selling puppy toys to bring you only the top-rated (at least a 4-star rating) products. These puppy toys are pet-parent approved by hundreds of Chewy customers so you can feel confident in your purchase.
Talk to Your Veterinarian
You and your puppy are just getting to know each other, so if you have any health or dental concerns, check in with your veterinarian for safe toy suggestions based on your puppy’s age, breed and personality.
Next Steps: What More to Expect With Puppy
Now that you’ve conquered playtime with the best puppy toys, find out what else to expect during your puppy’s first year so you can keep your new furry friend happy and healthy .
Expert input provided by Dr. Jennifer Feeney, DVM, UW-AAB, Elite FFCP, LSHC-S, CVF, veterinarian, pet behaviorist and owner of Build A Better Bond Pet Behavior Management in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
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