Fetch is always fun and certainly a “Classic Doggo™” playtime option, but puzzle games are also worth investing in for their ability to cause our doggies to think and problem solve. Outward Hound has created a super fun, hide-and-seek style Interactive Puzzle Toy in the themes of: squirrels in a tree stump, bees in a hive, birds in a birdhouse, hedgehogs in a log, and some plushie cute cartoon characters in a rainbow. In each respective set, a single purchase will include the chosen theme’s base (stump, hive, house, log, rainbow) and three of the correlating characters.

With a puzzle toy like this one, the characters are placed in the base, and our doggos are recruited for the mission of retrieving them. Treats can be placed in the base to help encourage digging exploration, but some pups may head straight for the three squeaker-packin’ inserts right away!

Shaking the base vigorously is some pup’s attack of choice, and as such, it has been realized that the base may suffer with this rougher type play. Similarly, this toy is not recommended for heavy chewers, and the character inserts may become defunct or gutted depending on your doggo’s playstyle.

This is a typical consideration to be made for any dog toy, however, and for mild to moderate playstyles (and especially for doggos who also love squeaky toys and digging), Outward Hound has created a hit! As an added bonus, the character inserts are all completely removable and can be used to play traditional games of fetch, as well.

We’ve all been there; we get home from work, turn a corner or look out into the yard — and find ourselves staring out across a fluffy stuffing massacre. After the initial shock has passed and the culprit has been identified, we mutter a soft “RIP” for another dog toy lost and another ten bucks down the drain.

Even among dogs who don’t compete for the “aggressive chewer” title, playtime with a stuffed dog toy can often easily result in seam ripping that leads to the eventual snowstorm of toy innards, and the cycle can really start adding up in some negative ways. (This not to mention what a choking hazard it presents!)

ZippyPaws has created the ultimate toy for dogs who love to play tough, squeak the hecc out of their prey, and feel the reward of a good old-fashioned floppy shake down. Skinny Peltz No Stuffing Squeaky Plus Dog Toys come in the shapes of a fox, a raccoon, and a squirrel, which amplifies playtime for many of our little hunting-doge buddies. Best of all? We no longer have to worry about the perils and misfortunes of toy stuffing.

These toys are best suited for play with medium-sized dogs, and they come with a squeaker in the head, torso, and tail of each animal for extra wild squeaking across all three designs. Skinny Peltz are quality-made, with seams that hold up for some fun tug-of-war rounds and fleece that doesn’t shed easily in our little frens’ mouths.

If your pup loves to free squeakers from their “prisons,” this may not be an ideal dog toy selection for him or her; aggressive chewers may also have an easier time breaking seams and flattening or puncturing squeakers through the pelt, causing them to no longer function properly. However, for medium dogs and moderate play, ZippyPaws’ Skinny Peltz are an absolute hit with the doggos and a top-notch decision for the sanity of their hoomans!

Before you have a dog, it’s almost impossible to imagine all that they can do and all of the lightning fast energy and vivid, meaningful personality they thunder around with. One of the most fascinating and rewarding facets of bonding with a dog is seeing and encouraging all that they can do for the better, and playtime is a huge factor in this area of their development.

We soon come to realize that our doggies can play anywhere, and just about any time! They seek adventure and thrills, be it in the apartment, in the yard or at the lake, and in response, we need dog toys that can keep up with their versatile needs. The ChuckIt! Ultra Ball is an ultimate dog toy option for all-around play. It’s super bouncy and functions in water as well as on dry land. It can be tossed, rolled, or launched with the ChuckIt! ball launcher (purchased separately and must be size-compatible for your ball).

Although it emulates the look of a tennis ball, the Ultra Ball is an upgrade from this dog toy classic; the rubber surface of the Ultra Ball is created to be easy on dogs’ mouths, protecting their teeth and gums from the damage that traditional tennis balls bring. The flipside to this is that the combination of a rubber surface and a thick rubber center makes for a significantly weighty ball, which may be more difficult for some dogs to handle.

Still, ChuckIt! offers four different ball sizes in single and double pack options, providing an appropriate toy for a range of good bois and girls — it’s definitely worth a try if your spunky pupper loves to play fetch!

One of the very interesting things about the evolution of the dog is that some of them have been bred for their natural talents, creating bloodlines of super abilities, such as strong sniffers, excellent digging skills, or superior athleticism and intelligence. Some doggos are naturally more energetic, more prone to self-cleaning, or reckless with their accidents. Some spuds continue to feel a desire to chew into adulthood (wreaking havoc on our shoes, furniture, trash, and so on), while most heavy chewing strikes during puppyhood.

Whatever the case, if you’ve got a power chewer in your home, you’re undoubtedly constantly in search of dog toys that will channel that need to chew, consequently saving your possessions, dollars, and emotions. Nylabone has created the Dura Chew Power Chew Dog Toy as a potential solution for aggressive chewers.

This nylon ring is textured and flavored, enticing dogs to chew away. The strong material provides a long-lasting objective for your good boi or girl, alleviating anxiety, boredom, a desire to eat, and even plaque buildup on the teeth.

It is incredibly important to always supervise your doggos during playtime, chew time, and meal time, as choking is always a risk. Take caution that all nylon-based dog chews are very hard and may splinter or break off in ways that could put your dog in danger if we aren’t paying attention. Hard chews are recommended for doggos with very strong, healthy teeth, as well, so be sure that your pupper won’t be at risk for dental damage from a nylon dog chew.

For power chewers, however, this ring can provide immense relief and hours of entertainment and healthy activity for your big doggo! Since this product is quite heavy and large, it is suggested for dogs of 50+ pounds.

We love our dogs, obviously. For many of us (myself included) they’re our kids. We spoil them, teach them things, feed them, walk them, give them love and heckin’ good pets, and engage in as much playtime as we can manage. But we’re also human, and inevitably have other responsibilities, engagements, relationships, and perhaps also live, human children to tend to, so we may not always have all the energy in the world for the high energy play that our pups are craving—and, let’s face it, deserving.

The Talking Babble Ball Interactive Pet Toy from Pet Qwerks is an amazing solution to help us be the best dog mom or dad around, even on our busy days. This ultra-sensitive motion-activated ball runs on a replaceable battery and uses an inner speaker to emit sounds and “wisecracks” when your doggo is in the ball’s vicinity or actively playing with it.

Thanks to the variety of sounds and phrases coming from the Talking Babble Ball, it is captivating and stimulating for our fluffy frens with less effort on our part, if we so choose. Interactive playtime can take on a more independent (but supervised) role as our doggos prod, nudge, paw, and otherwise propel the Ball around, provoked by its sounds.

The Talking Babble Ball is also a great staple for apartment living, or during times of hazardous weather. As much as we’d love to be able to get outside and play fetch in the yard or at a lake every day to give our pups the best bang for their buck at playtime, it’s not always feasible due to living conditions. Making sure our doggos still get enough playtime and activity is important, though, and this dog toy is a top-tier solution!

Arm & Hammer is one of the few brands that still seems left over from a different time, with a reputation trusted based on duration, if nothing else. Their logo seems like a memory I’ve always had, and I’ve always associated them with baking soda and the idea of cleaning things “gently,” be it exfoliating your skin, brushing your teeth, or deodorizing the drain. Their company is over 100 years strong, and they’ve earned their cross over into the pet market.

Arm & Hammer For Pets has created this Super Treadz Dental Chew (in the shape of a gorilla or a gator) as a dog toy chew that can withstand aggressive chewing. Treadz are also equipped with a few extra perks, setting them apart on the market: first, the toy can also serve as a treat dispenser for training or intellectual stimulation, and secondly, it’s infused with baking soda to help combat plaque, minimize tartar, and keep our pup’s breath fresh.

The rubbery, textured toy may be a more pleasant chew for some doggos than alternative products for power chewers, which are often made of unyielding nylon. Consider your dog’s preferences, as always, when selecting new toys. Also be mindful that a baking-soda infused toy will have a bit of a taste to it, so if your doggie has a picky palate, they may be discouraged from such a toy.

On the other hand, for many aggressive-chewing doggos, this toy promotes oral health, mental engagement, and positive chewing behaviors. It’s a multifunctional dog toy that benefits you and your pup across the board!

Bones may be second only to sticks when it comes to “Classic Doggo™” accessories. Pet Qwerks has upped the game on the traditional bone with the creation of their Dinosaur BarkBone, which they’ve infused with real bacon, to help entice the pups. This chew toy is designed specifically for aggressive chewers and specifically for large dogs, as well, making it a great, obvious choice for this sector of the market.

The Dinosaur BarkBone is made in the USA and created with FDA-approved nylon; regardless, this material still shares the same issues that all nylon chew toys do, where splintering and rough or sharp edges may become hazardous to our frens if the toy is not well-supervised and taken care of.

These massive bones can also be quite weighty, so if your pup is prone to drop their bones or chew on hard surfaces, you may want to consider ways to prevent potential damage to your flooring. However, these are an excellent choice in their category, as they are nontoxic and of a high quality. These types of stiff dog chews naturally help remove plaque buildup from teeth, improving oral hygiene along the way.

Bones can be an excellent way to direct our doggies’ chewing urges towards something rewarding for them and helpful for us. Sometimes mischief becomes the main goal, however, so if your fren buries and/or dirties up their BarkBone, fear not! This dog toy chew is dishwasher safe, keeping it sanitary throughout its long life.

Since ancient times, wishbones have symbolized luck, hope, and, of course, a single granted wish. At some point in time, the crossover between this distinctive bone shape and the industry catering to dogs’ natural love for bone chewing happened, and products like Benebone’s Real Flavor Wishbone Dog Chew Toy began making waves as a fun option for a dog toy.

This bone is an exceptional option for heavier chewers, as it is made from a hard nylon, which offers more longevity than a softer dog toy or chew. Benebone’s Real Flavor Wishbone is available in bacon, chicken, or peanut flavor, and the iconic shape makes for easier gnawing and handling for your doggo, which is important as nylon chews can be rather heavy!

As with all nylon dog chew toys, supervision and regular maintenance checks of the product are necessary; large chunks should not be swallowed, as these chews are never edible, and fracturing of the bone may cause sharp edges that could potentially harm your pup’s mouth.

These are features unique to nylon dog chews, NOT specifically to Benebone and the Wishbone. Among its competition, the Wishbone also offers the assurance of being 100% sourced, made, and packaged with quality ingredients in the USA, as they proudly advertise.

If you know your pupperino’s mouth and habits can handle a toy like the Real Flavor Wishbone, it’s a quality selection! Benebone is also a committed and conscious company, providing product donations and helping doggos around local communities. We’re happy to support that!

Fearsome as they can sometimes seem to be, pretend to be, or earnestly be when protecting us, many of our doggies also have an incredibly gentle side that earns them the title of “biggest baby in the house.” You know the moves: splayed legs for belly rubs, tongue-lolling and head tilting, and cuddling or pawing for pets. Our babies just want some love!

If you’ve got a gentle giant or a gentle jelly bean, you may want to consider this iconic, plush Gumby Dog Toy from Multipet. This 9”, soft little guy makes for a great snuggle buddy and tiny fren for your best little fren. It has a relatively low-toned squeaker inside, which may stimulate some dogs to attack and gut Gumby on sight; if this sounds like your dog, scroll on! Gumby is definitely not made for aggressive chewers or for rough play. Large dogs may also need to be supervised, due to the toy’s relatively small size.

However, this dog toy is a great comfort item, providing a sleep buddy, something for our doggos to protect, as well as a positive reminder of home. Some dogs are able to ease their anxiety with such a toy, which may lead to better behavior, so long as they have their toy to themselves. Encouraging their gentle use of Gumby will ensure a longer lifespan for the toy.

Always remember to consider the purpose of the toy you are looking to buy, the size of your doggo, and their preferred chewing habits. If your pup is one who could use a Gumby buddy, you’ll both get immense satisfaction from this classic and cute character.

Many of us are familiar with the Groan Tubes that were popularized in the 1960s and have provided accessible entertainment for generations since; these plastic sticks are often lightweight, neon-colored, and produce a very distinct, somewhat silly sound when the tube is turned upside down in either direction. Wobble Wag Giggle has reimagined this vintage hooman toy technology in their self-titled Wobble Wag Giggle Interactive Dog Toy.

As this toy is gently tossed, rolled, or shaken, it will tilt the sound mechanisms within, creating unexpected and fascinating sounds for your doggo to enjoy, fetch, and fight off! Thanks to the cool use of tech, this toy does not require any batteries to provide more variegated sounds than your average squeaker toy.

It is worth noting that this toy is created from a vinyl material that is significantly sturdy, and while the toy is formulated with holes designed for easy grabbing for the doggos, not all of our best frens like hard-textured toys. The unique and interesting noises may be enough to grab our pup’s attention, but if they don’t enjoy how it feels to pick it up or cannot figure out a comfortable way to do so, they may be discouraged from using it.

Still, the unique sounds are mentally stimulating for interested pupperinos, encouraging them to participate with very interactive play! The Wobble Wag Giggle ball is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making it a huge asset for apartment living, formidable weather situations, and year-round entertainment no matter where you and your doggo go.