If your dog gets stressed out when you’re apart, one way you can help them out is with separation anxiety dog toys. From soothing softies for snuggling to puzzles and games that keep their brain enagaged, dog toys for separation anxiety can help your pooch feel more relaxed while you’re away. To get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best dog toys for separation anxiety as tried and tested by Chewy pet parents like you. These top-rated, best-selling toys for dogs with separation anxiety are specially designed to help anxious pups cope better with time away from their favorite humans.
Just remember, always consult with your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist as well—dog toys for separation anxiety are one tool to help with separation anxiety, but anxious dogs may need some medical help and dog training to work through their anxiety.
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Snuggle Puppy Original Snuggle Puppy Plush Dog Behavioral Aid Anxiety Relief $40 at Chewy.com
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Classic--for sure! Great product!
As a regional animal shelter, we are always looking for enrichment for the animals in our care. Classic is the best word to describe the original Kong! Stuffed with yummies, then frozen--these nearly indestructible toys provide long lasting entertainment for the dogs. That they are easy to clean makes them our top choice!
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It's a Kong
If you know dogs you know about kongs. You can stuff them with practically anything pet edible and freeze for longer entertainment. This is one of the 1st toys I always get my dogs.
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The best
All of our dogs over the years have always loved these kongs. I fill them with peanut butter and they are quite for a while, or if I know I’m going to be out of the house for a while I give it to them.
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Long lasting toy!
I purchased one of these YEARS ago in a store and it is still going strong. I have 2 medium-sized pit mixes, one of which destroys “tough” toys within minutes. It keeps them both busy for about an hour depending on the treat sizes. Helps tire them out too!
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great, durable
Great toy for our pup who loves to chew! She loves to play with it and not just chew which is a win win!
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GREAT toy for a chewer
So, full disclosure, my 3 yo pitbull chewed off the little 'stoppers' that would keep the treats inside, so we don't typically use it as an engagement toy anymore. She LOVES chasing & chewing on this ball though. It's got a pleasant vanilla flavor and other than the little spokes that SHOULD trap any treats, it has proven to be very durable.
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This is the only toy that Jack has not been able to destroy in a single day. He plays with his toys every day and these were recommended by a friend.
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Best Toy
My dog is OBSESSED with this bone. She is a super super chewer even having destroyed other Kong toys but this one she can't seem to put a dent in. I put peanut butter in the ends and freeze it. Even after she's got all the PB out she still carries it around in her mouth until I can get it away from her.
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highly recommend!
I have hard core chewers. Toys don’t last a day. These extreme kongs are still in one piece! 5 stars from me!
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New pup mastered
New pup Karli has mastered this in 2 weeks. She is our 5 month old aussie mix rescue and sooo smart!!
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My girl loves it!
I love the Nina Ottosson collection! I wish there were more advanced puzzles for my smart girl! I feed her exclusively with these puzzles and it's so enriching for her. I love that the material is safe for her to chew on because she loves to chew!
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my dogs love this!
This has become one of my pups fave items. I use it now to feed at least one meal a day so they get some mental stimulation and slow feeding. It’s interesting to watch them execute and conquer the challenges. My dogs are 60 and 100+ pounds, and these have stood up against them easily.
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Snuggle Puppy works like a charm!
From the very first night, our new 8 week old puppy laid right down, curled up next to snuggle puppy with the beating heart and slept all night long.
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Great purchase
We got a new puppy and she wasn’t sleeping through the night. I was getting up 2 or 3 times during the night. I saw Snuggle Puppy on the Chewy website and decided to try it. When it came I put it in her crate that night and she has been sleeping through the night. This was a great purchase!
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Fantastic!
This Snuggle Puppy was a Godsend for us and our new puppy! Made crate training soooo easy. I really thought it was just one of those items to suck people into laying out money for just another dog toy...boy was I wrong. I'm so happy we took a chance.
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Perfect for Callie
We have an older cat and we wanted to find something to help keep her stimulated. She loves this puzzle. Took her a few days to figure it out but she enjoys finding the treats.
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Cute and fun
This puzzle is sturdy and cute. I actually like seeing it on the floor. My cats enjoy playing with it. It’s a simple puzzle but does the job.
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Sushi puzzle
My cats love it! Keep in mind the small temptation treat may get stuck under the top where the sushi sliders are
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Hours of Fun
I got the small and large so I could fit them together like it shows in the pictures. My boy (30 lb mini goldendoodle) loves worrying at it but can’t quite get them apart on his own. If his mouth were a bit bigger I think he could manage it. But he loves working at it until he finally gives up in frustration and brings it to me. If I open it up just a bit he can take it from there. He also likes it when I put peanut butter and treats or yogurt and fruit in one half and chill or freeze it for him to lick it out. Keeps him busy while I’m working. Plus they go through the dishwasher.
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Love this toy!
We purchased this toppl as well as the smaller one, and our dog absolutely LOVES it. He will play with it for a long time whether there are treats inside or not. We have put ours through the dishwasher with no problem, and we love that these toys are durable, non-toxic, earth-friendly, and sold by a B corp.
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Best stimulus
My golden doodle loves this! I bought the large and small to snap together and he enjoys trying to get them apart. It has been better than his Kong.
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my dog is OBSESSED
I got this for my 9 year old chihuahua who doesn’t really like to play anymore but the moment I showed this to her she was HYPED. She spent nearly an hour trying to get the treats out and then took a nap afterwards. This was my first chewy purchase, and i HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
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My pup loves this
This is my puppy’s favorite thing to do. She’s a puppy ands has really sharp teeth. I inspect this every day to make sure she hasn’t chewed thru it. It’s very strong. There are lots of places to hide the treats. It provides her with lots of fun and enrichment through out day.
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Fun and yes, large!
I didn’t realize quite how big this mat is but my dog loves it. We bring it out, hide some treats and then he goes digging for them. A fun alternative to tug of war type play.
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Love it
Since out Theo was a pup we gave him one of these. Now 4 yrs later still carries it everywhere. This is his 3rd one. Thanks Chewy
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Really good toy from kong
This brand seems to offer great stuffed toys. My dog is fairly large (135lbs) and likes to shred and dismantle toys, but these toys seem to hold up really well despite her best efforts to tear them up.
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Great toy
My dog loves Kong toys. They are very durable when you have a dog that loves to chew a lot.
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Tough chew toy
I have 2 chewers. This bacon flavor wishbone has been very durable. Both dogs actually play with it at the same time.
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My dog took this toy out of the box first and started chewing I have always bought her knuckle bones but she likes this better and I don’t have broken bones on the floor
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Awesome Chew Toy
I'm so glad that I purchased this for our 7 month old Lab(rador Retriever). Olivia is a real chewer and very hard on toys. She absolutely loves this and it occupies her for hours. She carries it with her from time to time and then lays down and chews. I can't believe that it has made it 2 weeks so far and it hardly shows any wear. I will order another one for our other 7 month old.....you know how they always want what the other one has....hahaha.
What are the signs of separation anxiety in dogs?
Signs of separation anxiety in dogs that you should be on the lookout for, according to Dr. Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA, a veterinarian and professional dog trainer:
- Potty accidents that only happen when you aren’t home
- Destructive behaviors like chewing on things or pawing at walls or doors
- Reports from neighbors that your dog is barking, whining, howling or making other noises while you’re away
- Treats or food that aren’t eaten while you’re gone—that your dog may then eat right away when you get home
- Excessive drooling when you’re gone
- Pacing or restlessness
If you’re concerned that your dog may have separation anxiety, Dr. Summerfield recommends using a dog camera to watch or record what your dog is doing while you’re gone. She says recording your dog’s actual behavior rather than relying on whatever circumstantial evidence you find when you get home can help distinguish between a pup with true separation anxiety and a dog who might just be bored and destructive.
How do toys help with separation anxiety in dogs?
Certain dog toys, like those you stuff with treats, can be helpful for many dogs with separation anxiety issues because they “help keep the dog happily occupied for a while, and also start teaching them that staying home alone isn’t such a bad deal since that’s when the really good stuff comes out,” Dr. Summerfield explains.
She often recommends some sort of extra-special, long-lasting treat like a stuffed KONG or Twist’nTreat filled with peanut butter, spray cheese or canned dog food whenever they leave the house. Freezing these types of toys after stuffing them helps them last longer.
Be aware, though, that many dogs will initially be too anxious to have any interest in toys or treats while they’re home alone. In these cases, Dr. Summerfield says anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian can make a big difference, so she always recommends getting your dog’s veterinarian involved as part of the process.
Tips for Introducing a New Dog Toy for Separation Anxiety
You should always supervise your dog when giving them a new separation anxiety toy. Start by giving your dog their new toy while supervised, then take short trips away to get them used to the idea of you being gone.
Keep in mind that different types of separation anxiety toys will be better for certain pups—snuggle bugs who aren’t big chewers may love a soft plushy or easy lick mat while frisky pooches with lots of energy to burn may need a more challenging puzzle game or durable chew toy.
What are other ways to help separation anxiety in dogs?
1. Talk to your veterinarian about medication for separation anxiety.
According to Dr. Summerfield, medication is one way that you can really help your dog work through their separation anxiety. “Separation anxiety is one behavioral issue that’s really, really hard to make progress on without some anti-anxiety meds on board, since your dog is essentially having a panic attack every time you leave the house,” she says.
When your pup is super upset because of a stressful situation, they’re not able to learn new or better behaviors, so Dr. Summerfield says she often finds medication is a helpful part of the initial treatment plan to help make headway on changing their feelings. Pet parents can consult with their veterinarian or set up a consultation with a veterinary behaviorist to talk through the different options available, and help you decide if medication would be a good idea for your dog.
2. Keep comings and goings as calm and low-key as possible.
Don’t make a big production of saying goodbye to your dog or make a huge fuss over them as soon as you get home. According to Dr. Summerfield, “That just highlights the contrast between how fun and awesome it is when you’re home, and how quiet and lonely the house is when you’re gone.” Instead, keep calm when leaving or returning home to help your dog get used to the idea that this is a normal, everyday activity.
3. Don’t punish or scold your pup for potty accidents or destructive behavior.
“Dogs are very literal—they live in the moment and don’t understand the concept of being scolded for something that happened hours, or even minutes, ago,” says Dr. Summerfield. Additionally, if your dog learns that you’re upset with them when you get home, this can increase your pet’s anxiety and make them feel more concerned about the whole situation. Instead, practice rewarding calm behavior and set up a training schedule to help work through the events that trigger your dog’s anxiety—like the sound of your car keys or the sight of you putting on your jacket.
4. Create a safe zone for your dog to relax when you’re away.
Dr. Summerfield says that in her experience, most dogs with separation anxiety do better with less confinement. “If you can safely leave your dog loose in the house or even in a gated off portion of the house, this is often a better option than crating,” she says. Set up their safe space with a comfy bed, fresh water and their favorite calming dog toys. Start with short trial runs, with a camera set up so you can see what your dog is doing. If they start to become destructive or get into trouble, you can come back and help positively redirect their behavior. Practice short absences first and slowly build up to longer times away from your dog.
Looking for other ways to help you anxious pup in addition to the best separation anxiety dog toys? Check out our comprehensive guide on separation anxiety in dogs for more tips and pointers on how to help your dog stress less and relax more—even when you’re not at home.
Learn more about how your best bud can keep calm and tail wag on:
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