I’m a dog owner of 3 and these are the dog toys that my pooches love

From soft squeaky toys to indestructible chew toys, we've rounded up the best dog toys we think your pooch will love.

Dogs playing with dog toys

by Rosie Floyd |
Updated on

When welcoming a furry friend into your home, the best dog toys are as essential as a comfy bed, a secure crate and delicious dog food to keep their tail wagging. As a devoted dog owner, it's your duty to keep your four-legged pal entertained, steering their enthusiasm (and their teeth) away from your furniture and shoes and onto some fun and exciting toys instead.

With options ranging from fetching toys that will give your pup (and you) an energetic workout to cuddly soft toys that are made for nuzzling and snuggling, and even interactive toys that reward their intelligence with tasty treats, there are lots of different types of toys out there to suit the needs of your pooch.

Best dog toys UK at a glance:

Best overall: Kong Classic Dog Toy – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best teeth-cleaning dog chew toy: HETOO Dog Chew Toy – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best interactive dog puzzle: Outward Hound Treat Maze – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best durable dog balls: Chuckit! Ultra Balls – Buy now on Amazon UK

Of course, every dog is different so their needs for toys will depend on their size, breed and overall personality. Larger dogs may benefit more from tough toys that are built to withstand their powerful jaws, while smaller hounds might appreciate toys that they can easily carry around with them.

To help you discover the perfect plaything for your pooch, we’ve brought together a selection of the best dog toys available in the UK that are designed for hours of tail-wagging delight, ensuring your canine companion stays content and engaged.

How we tested these dog toys

Our Digital Writer Arabella Horspool has always had pet pooches. She has three dogs: two Jack Russell Terriers called Bailey and Toby (who are 14 years old) and a Dachshund called Otis (aged 1), who have tested out these toys for dogs.

Arabella has selected a list of toys based on how often her dogs played with them; the features they have; the size and material they're made out of, as well as their overall appearance. As they vary in age, she has been able to identify the best toys for puppies, as well as adult and senior dogs.

Best dog toys UK

Best durable dog balls

Chuckit Ultra Ball

Rrp: $13.99

Price: $9.95
Alternative retailers
Blain Farm & Fleet$6.74View offer
Walmart$8.95View offer
Target$8.99View offer
Tractor Supply$8.99View offer

Sometimes the more simple toys are the best and if your pooch just can't get enough of ball throwing, we think they'll love these Chuckit! Ultra Balls for your games of fetch. With a thick natural rubber core, these tough dog balls are super durable so they should last you a while and can be used for both playing in the park and swimming in the sea as they bounce and float.

Customer review: "Fantastic balls! Until the end of May this year, we'd had the same two balls since 4 September 2016. During those 9 months they had been thrown, chased, caught, bounced on concrete surfaces, and chewed, yet they were still in 'as new' condition. In March I wrote 'I don't know how the manufacturer makes money because they are truly virtually indestructible'. And two months later I lost one! I threw it into the sea in Cornwall, for Polly to retrieve, and the tide took it away. We still have one of the originals, plus two new ones - ordered the night it was cast out to sea, because my ball maniac could not do without it (we'd left one at home 300 miles away). These balls are more at risk of loss than splitting or being chewed into pieces. Love them."

Pros

  • Durable
  • Bold colours for high visibility

Cons

  • They don't squeak

Best dog ball for chasing

Boomer Ball

Rrp: $13.78

Price: $12.76
Alternative retailers
Walmart$15.99View offer
PetSmart$16.99View offer

Does your dog have bags of energy that you don't know what to do with? The hard-wearing and durable Boomer Ball is designed for them. It isn't made to be carried around in your dog's mouth but it's great for dogs that love to run and chase. Coming in four different sizes, you can find the perfectly sized ball for your energetic friend.

Customer review: "I heard about this ball from someone recommending it on Facebook. I thought I'd give it a go because our dog destroys toys and softer balls far too quickly! Well... What a great investment! Took her a little while to get the hang of it but now she loves it and chases it around the garden. It really tires her out! I sometimes have to force her away from it so she can take a break because she'll be so out of breath. We've had this for some time now and still hasn't been broken. So glad we got it. Our Dobermann requires a lot of exercise and this definitely lives up to that!!"

Pros

  • Great for tiring out your dog
  • Available in a range of sizes to suit different breeds

Cons

  • Some dogs may not be interested as they can't pick it up

Best stick toy

GoodWood Chewable Stick Coffee Tree Wood Small
Price: $11.20

What dog doesn't love a stick? This GoodWood Chewable Stick Coffee Tree Wood is better than anything they'll find in the park as they can chew it to their heart's content without the worry of it splintering. This natural chew is great for your hound's dental hygiene, and it's particularly great for overweight dogs or pooches with allergies as it contains no artificial ingredients or additives.

Customer review: "A large stick that any stick loving dog will love. Leaves very little mess and is safe for them to have and keeps those teeth clean to!"

Pros

  • Safe for chewing
  • No artificial ingredients or additives

Cons

  • Basic

Rosewood TOUGH ROPE CORE COW with its labelRosewood/Amazon
Price: $24.49

This toy is sure to be a soon beloved comfort toy for your dog  as it promotes their natural behaviours such as foraging, exploring and playing. The tough rope core helps to satisfy chewing desires and as a soft toy it hold scents which can help aid separation anxiety.

Best interactive dog toy

Arabella Horspool, Yours.co.uk

Rrp: $19.99

Price: $14.61
Alternative retailers
Target$16.99View offer
Kohl's$16.99View offer
Wayfair$21.00View offer
Petco$21.02View offer

Puzzles make great boredom-busting, interactive toys for dogs, and the Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Hide N' Slide is one of my and Bailey's favourites. Bailey is a senior Jack Russell who is sadly losing his sight, but when it comes to puzzles, he's a pro!

The aim of the game is to slide the blocks and swivel the flippers to retrieve the food - something which he (at 14 years old) picked up pretty quickly. He used his nose, paws and mouth to move the pieces on the board (which aren't detachable) and they still look brand new.

I was initially surprised at how big the puzzle is, but my small dogs manage to use it fine and if anything, it adds more mental stimulation for them as they have to move round the board (or occasionally stand on top of it). It's made from food-safe, eco-friendly material and it feels very durable. Plus it's more aesthetically pleasing compared to some of the options on the market.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Eco-friendly, food-safe material with no removable parts
  • The blocks and flippers move with ease

Cons

  • Large size, which could be tricky to store or overwhelming for tiny dogs
Material:BPA, PVC, lead, and phthalate free
Size:‎29.46 x 29.46 x 5.08 cm
Suitable for:All breed sizes

Best squeaky dog toy

Arabella Horspool/Yours.co.uk
Price: $16.67

At less than £3, this Petface Fluffy Carrot Dog Toy is a bargain! It's lightweight and highly portable, making it ideal for play time both at home and on the go. Plus, it's bright orange colour makes it easy to find!

As soon as my dogs got hold of it, they found the squeaker right away and decided to continuously squeak it, which can get a bit tedious after a while, however, they loved the toy so much, so it's worth it if it keeps them entertained. My youngest pup uses it as a pillow too, which is super cute!

Despite being super soft, it's rather durable and has been able to withstand some chewing, but I would say that it's more suited to smaller breeds, as it's not the biggest dog toy in the world.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Soft and ultra lightweight, making it easy for dogs to carry around
  • Bright orange colour is easy to spot if it gets dropped or lost

Cons

  • Not very big, so it may be too small for some big dogs
Material:Soft fleece, embroidered eyes and mouth
Suitable for:All ages and breed sizes

Best soft dog toy

Arabella Horspool/Yours.co.uk

All three of my dogs are a fan of the Just For Puppy Squeaky Chloe Caterpillar Toy, but my 1 year old Dachshund Otis absolutely adores it. The toy itself is designed to be super-soft and comforting for puppies and younger dogs, and this is certainly the case for Otis, as he carries it around the house and curls up with it in his bed.

It's quite long, which makes it great for cuddles at nap time. For playtime, every other section has a squeaker in it and he has quickly worked out which ones these are! As far as durability is concerned, it's been played with everyday for months now and hasn't been broken, but I wouldn't recommend it for dogs who are quite rough with their toys, as it's soft and plush.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Long and super soft, so good size for dogs to carry or cuddle with
  • Contains multiple squeakers

Cons

  • Not suitable for dogs who are "destructive" with their toys, as it's plush
Material:Soft and plush
Size:H40 x W10 x D7.5cm
Suitable for:Puppies and dogs of all ages

Best luxury dog toy

Arabella Horxspool/Yours.co.uk

If you're after some luxury dog toys to spoil your pampered pooch with or to gift to a friend's pet, check out this Barbour Wellington Boot toy. My little one enjoyed playing with the welly and it kept him entertained for a good while as he struggled to locate the squeaker initially.

After persistent chewing, digging and biting from Otis, I would say that it's very well-made and well filled, making it able to withstand a game of tug of war. However, it may be more suited to medium/large dogs, as although he engaged with the toy, he did struggle to get his mouth round it to squeak it.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Well-filled and padded
  • Neatly stitched and well made, with the Barbour brand name embroidered onto it

Cons

  • It's quite wide, which makes it hard for some dogs to squeak
Material:65% Cotton 35% Polyester (outer layer),  100% Polyester filling

Best dog enrichment toy

Arabella Horspool/Yours.co.uk

If you're seeking interactive toys to encourage your dog's natural sniffing and foraging behaviour, I'd recommend the Play Time Snuffle Ball from Pets at Home. It's easy to fill (though it can be time-consuming if you add a lot of them), and the treats stay securely inside, ready for your dog to find them.

My Jack Russell Terrier, Toby, who loves round-shaped toys, absolutely adored this one! Even at 14 years old, he played with the snuffle ball like a puppy. He rolled it around on the floor for ages, delighting in pushing his nose into the fabric to find the bits of kibble.

The only pitfall is that it can get a bit smelly quite quickly, but you can put it in the washing machine (after shaking out any crumbs or treats) and let it air dry.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Different colours and crinkly fabric to encourage engagement
  • Lots of sections to hide food in and the treats don't fall out easily

Cons

  • May need regular washing if you're adding food to it
Material:Crinkle fabric
Dimensions:H14 x W14 x D14cm
Suitable for:Aldut dogs

Best dog toy ball

Single Wilko Farm Animal Ball in Assorted stylesWilko

My Jack Russell Terrier Toby has always loved playing with tennis balls, so was delighted when he could get his paws on the Wilko Farm Animal Ball, which is pretty big. It's essentially like a beach ball inside, with a soft horse or sheep covering (depending on which one you get sent).

It's about the same height as him and it's quite wide - but it is light - so he pushes it with his mouth and carries it proudly around the house by its sticky-out legs and ears (as it's l; I also gently kick it over to him and he kicks it back to me. He has both versions of the toy and I'd say that the horse is the best one, as it's a darker colour, so it doesn't show up dirt or slobber as easily as the sheep does.

Reviewed by Arabella Horspool, our Commercial Content Writer.

Pros

  • Ball is lightweight and easy to kick or throw and bounces
  • Has limbs and ears which stick out, so that the dog can carry it around

Cons

  • Slobber, water or dampness may cause it to discolour
Size:26.6cm
Suitable for:Dogs

Best overall

KONG Classic Dog Toy
Price: $11.99
Alternative retailers
Petco$7.99View offer
Blain Farm & Fleet$8.39View offer
PetSmart$8.49View offer
Target$8.99View offer

The ever-so-popular Classic Kong Dog toy has been a hit with dogs and their owners for years now so it just has to take our top spot for the best dog toy. Not only is it super durable and fun to chew, but you can also pack it with their favourite treats or soft pastes so your dog will spend hours trying to get to their treats.

Customer review: "I love this product and so does Jet!! The material is strong, especially for dogs who don't stop chewing. It takes time for her to eat her treats to stop bloating as she just swallows and doesn't know how to chew 🤣 can fill this with anything but I usually put peanut butter and kibble inside or her wet food with treats and freeze it to last longer. Brilliant for mild separation anxiety to pass time in her crate."

Pros

  • Extremely durable
  • Great for holding paste and wet food

Cons

  • Tricky to clean

Best teeth-cleaning dog chew toy

Does your dog love to chew everything? This HETOO Dog Chew Toy is made for aggressive chewers so it should be able to withstand your dog's chomping. It's made of 100 per cent natural rubber so although it's strong and durable, it will feel soft against your dog's gums and help clean their teeth while they're chewing.

Customer review: "I am so surprised that my dog has had this two months now and is in one piece still! Loves it with peanut butter smeared in the teeth! And it squeaks! Which I didn’t realise, but he obviously thinks is brilliant. My dog is a toy destroyer, so def recommend this to anyone with anxious, destructive dogs."

Pros

  • Great for dental health
  • Milk flavour to entice them to chew

Cons

  • Not suitable for puppies

Best interactive dog puzzle

Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Treat Maze Interactive Treat Puzzle Dog Toy
Price: $12.99
Alternative retailers
Kohl's$12.99View offer
PetSmart$12.99View offer
Walmart$14.99View offer
Scheels$17.99View offer

This interactive Outward Hound Treat Maze toy is designed for solo play and is ideal for giving to your pooch when they need a little distraction. This toy is great for providing mental stimulation for your dog and gets them working on their problem-solving skills as they try to figure out how to get the treats out.

Our review by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "My cocker spaniel Dash is always entertained by this toy. It does tend to end up at the other side of the room quite quickly as he flips it and shoves it with his paw and snout because he can't quite hold it in his mouth, but he will always succeed in getting those treats! I only tend to pop in three or five small pieces of his food as any more and they fall out before you get to give it to the dog to play with."

Pros

  • Hard to chew on
  • Designed to keep dogs engaged and satisfied

Cons

  • Treats fall out easily

Best chewing bone toy

This TastyBone Chicken Nylon Trio Dog Bone is full of tasty chicken flavours so we're sure your dog won't want to wait to get their teeth around it. It features knobbly bits throughout to give your hound different textures to explore, and as it's made from 100 per cent virgin nylon, it's made to last from all that chewing and gnawing.

Customer review: "I bought this about a year ago for a husky cross pup whose bite is good enough to shred plastic bottles in a few minutes and therefore most chews have a limited lifespan, regardless of how tough they're supposed to be. She wasn't fussed about it for a few weeks and I thought it had been wasted money, but she slowly started to chew on it more and more and now it's the only toy that's managed to last. It's handled dedicated chew sessions and the shape seems to be easy for her to balance between her paws. The ends are being whittled away, but all pieces seem to be absolutely tiny It is solid enough that it could be considered a suitable weapon in a game of Cluedo, so this is definitely one not to throw."

Pros

  • Very sturdy
  • Makes gums and teeth stronger and healthier

Cons

  • Scent not realistic

Best soft tug-of-war toy

Sometimes, all your doggy wants is a fun game of tuggy with their owner. This Beco Rough and Tough Fernando Flamingo Soft Dog Toy is the ultimate rope tug toy. It's durable and tough, meaning your strong-willed canine will be hanging on for hours until one of you gives in, and it's cute! Even better, it's made from recycled materials so it's kind to the planet, too.

Customer review: "Bought this for our 8-week-old lab mix puppy and it's her absolute favourite toy! We bought the medium one and it's a bit on the big side for her but she has taken great delight in dragging it around the living room. It's stood up to her very determined efforts to rip it limb from limb and the rope/hemp legs are a big hit on those tiny puppy teeth. It's a great tug of war toy for her and we'll definitely be placing a repeat order so she has a spare. It's a well-made high-quality toy, really like that the fur is so short and she's in no danger of pulling it out. Also, it looks amazing, and absolutely love the fact it's made from recycled materials!"

Pros

  • Ideal for tug-of-war
  • Made from recycled materials

Cons

  • A soft toy may not be the best for chewers

Our verdict: What is the best dog toy?

The best dog toys need to ideally be as indestructible as possible to give us owners peace of mind that our dogs won't be able to pull any pieces off. It's also an added bonus when toys make room for our hound's favourite treat too.

In our opinion, we think a classic Kong toy is the best dog toy. It can be used for throwing and fetching, it'll withstand a good chewing from your pup and you can stuff it with many tasty treats to keep them occupied.

FAQs

What are the benefits of playing with dog toys?

There’s no doubt that playing with toys is fun, but did you know that there’s a whole host of things you and your dog will benefit from through a bit of playtime with your pooch? Toys provide mental stimulation, which helps to keep your dog busy and occupied so they’ll be less likely to resort to destructive behaviours, such as chewing furniture or eating your shoes.

There are, of course, physical pluses to playing with toys as they make sure your hound gets plenty of exercise, especially when playing throwing and retrieving games with ball launches and other fetching toys. This all helps to maintain their weight and keep them healthy. If your dog plays regularly with chew toys, these can be good for their dental health too, as many are designed to clean teeth and gums.

Toys are also great tools for training as you can use them when teaching commands such as “fetch”, “drop” and “come” as well as reinforcing positive behaviour. Some toys, like puzzle toys and other interactive toys, are designed to challenge dogs to get them working on their problem-solving skills. They’re ideal for boredom-busting and keeping a dog’s brain busy.

Can I leave my dog unattended with toys?

Keeping your furry friend safe during playtime is of the utmost importance to all responsible dog owners, so you should always keep an eye on them whenever they’re playing with toys. To keep them as safe as possible and avoid any choking hazards, you should make sure they can comfortably carry their toys but not fit the whole thing in their mouth. You should also try to get durable options that are made without small parts.

We also recommend checking your dog’s toys regularly for signs of wear and tear to prevent them from ingesting stuffing, squeakers or any other parts that could be dangerous if swallowed.

Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.

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