Puppy toys are probably the most fun purchase you will make for your new puppy. There are tons of options out there, but picking the right toys for your puppy sets you up for a great first year together.

Quality puppy toys will do something helpfulfor you. They can help you bond with your puppy, keep your puppy occupied, or give your puppy something appropriate to chew on.

Puppy Toys Aren’t One Size Fits All

It’s important to think about the size and growth of your puppy when choosing toys. Puppy-sized toys get a lot of play with smaller breed dogs, but quickly turn into choking hazards for other puppies. If you are unsure how quickly your pup will grow, start with just a few toys that are small enough for your puppy to carry them around.

Most puppy toys will not last until adulthood, especially if your puppy is active and playful. Even durable toys can’t stand up to sharp puppy teeth without sustaining some damage. Once your puppy’s adult teeth come in, their toys will likely last longer.

Oftentimes puppies have toy preferences by the time they get to their forever home. You will need to figure out your puppy’s preferences for yourself, but you can help your puppy develop new preferences. This can help you teach your pup what you want them to play with and keep them from destroying your things. To do this, give your puppy treats for playing with appropriate toys.

Toys to Keep Your Puppy Busy

Toys that promote independent play are vital for getting anything done with a puppy in your home. Food-stuffed toys, doggy puzzles, snuffle mats, and slow-feeder toys are all great options. These toys are great for crate, playpen, and tether training.

The best to start using treat-stuffed toys is by filling them with peanut butter, yogurt, or softened dog food. Putting the toys in the freezer before giving them to a puppy can help make them last longer. Treat dispensing toys can hold food or treats and are easy for puppies to push around and get the goodies out.

WestPaw, Kong, and BarkBox have a variety of treat dispensing and food stuffed dog toys. They all have a reputation for creating durable toys.

Puppy Chew Toys

Puppies need to chew, and will often find things to chew on if nothing is provided. While many puppies have learned to chew on soft toys like ropes or stuffies, I don’t like to let them do this as they often break pieces off and ingest them. Any chew toy will eventually be destroyed, but good options will break into tiny, digestible bits or can be removed once they start showing too much wear.

If you have a puppy who prefers to chew and rip stuffies, you can adjust their preference by giving them treats any time they play with other types of chew toys. It can be helpful to start with softer rubber chew toys that squeak or crinkle and work your way up to actual chew toys.

My Recommendation:

• ~5 chewie bones – It can help to have an adult dog chew them before giving them to a puppy.
• ~5 rubber chewy bones, balls, or sticks.

Benebone, Nylabone, Kong, and Barkbox have reputations for creating solid, durable chew toys.

Interactive Puppy Toys

The most fun puppy toys foster interactive play. These include tugs, frisbees, balls, and stuffies. Often, these are the types of toys that puppies can break and ingest, which is why it’s important not to leave your puppy with them unattended.

Playing with your puppy is great bonding, as it fosters trust between you and your puppy. Play is a great way to help your puppy overcome fears and can be extremely helpful in puppy training. When you play with your puppy, you increase your puppy’s motivation to be with you. This can be invaluable as you live life with your puppy.

You can find fleece ropes and flirt poles can on Etsy.

Top Puppy Toy Recommendation:

My all time favorite puppy toy is JW Hol-ee Roller. I got a large for my puppy, and even though it was about as big as he was when I picked him up, he could still grab it and carry it with him. It was his favorite toy and got daily play, as it was good for chewing, fetching, tugging, and could easily be turned into a puzzle toy. The first Hol-ee Roller I got for my puppy lasted well over a year. It would have lasted longer if my puppy’s needlelike puppy teeth hadn’t punctured it.

Other toys that have seen a lot of use include fleece tug toys, our WestPaw Toppl, and a Benebone fish bone.

I hope this helps you set your puppy up for success in your home, for more articles about essential dog gear or getting started with a new puppy, check out my tips and resources page!