Dog Toys That are ACTUALLY Safe and Beneficial for Your Furry Friend

You don’t want your dog to play with whatever he or she find available. Instead, you want playthings that are safe while enhancing your dog’s physical and mental growth. Below is Green Paws Chicago’s guide to safe, educational toys that both you and your dog will approve of.

How to Choose the Best Dog Toy for Your Dog

When choosing toys, consider your dog’s unique personality, circumstances, and age. Puppies may need teething toys while adult dogs will need toys that can withstand rough play. Dogs left alone and clever dogs might prefer playthings that trigger either thinking or relaxing.

Safe Dog Toy Materials

Use caution when buying dog toys. Specifically, toys that contain BPA plastic can over time be ingested by your furry friend, therefore causing possible long-term health conditions. 

If you need a plastic-like item, look for toys that are made of food-grade silicone, which is safe for dogs that prefer gnawing and chewing. Other safe materials include toys that are made from organic fibers and natural rubber.

Dog Toy Recommendations

First and foremost, it’s important to diversify your toy assortment to understand the types of toys your dog prefers. Each dog is different, and has their own unique preferences.

In this next section, we explore different types of dog toys that are both fan favorites AND suitable for your pet’s health!

Indestructible Dog Toys

Tired of your pet destroying toys before you can remove the price tag? The following items are just what you need. Each of these three indestructible dog toys are non-toxic and get praise for their ability to endure powerful jaws. A bonus? They are long-lasting!

•  KONG Extreme
  • This is a great toy for chewers and gnawers that also love a little surprise. Hide treats inside this best-selling toy to keep your dog enthralled for a sustained period of time.
•  Goughnuts Maxx Stick
  • If your furry friend is more of a water enthusiast, this is the perfect fetch toy for them. Perfectly buoyant, strong, and easy to throw, get ready for hours of playtime! A great bonus: each Maxx Stick offers a lifetime replacement guarantee
•  West Paw Zogoflex Tux
  • Another great option for dogs that play for hours on end, this treat and enrichment toy is a great way to keep your dog engaged. Pack the toy with hard treats, or freeze wet food for a dog-approved popsicle. It’s also small, compact, indestructible, and perfect for traveling or on-the-go enrichment. 

Interactive Dog Toys

Interactive dog toys are toys that often involve technology and/or unique combinations of objects + materials that makes them “interact” with the respective toy. Entice your dogs off their dog beds with these toys that will get them moving.

• iFetch Automatic Ball Launcher
  • We get it: Some dogs have seemingly unlimited energy. For those whose dogs can’t seem to get enough playtime, try this automated ball launcher. Perfect for the fetch-obsessed dog, you will finally have a toy that can keep up with your pup. Be cautious of your dog’s exertion level, however, especially in warmer weather. Make sure your furry friend has plenty of rest, water, and shade in between automatic “throws,” and set a suitable timer to ensure that they don’t get too tired, thirsty, or overheated.
• Squishy Face Studio Flirt Poles
  • For dogs that prefer the proverbial chase, this is a great toy option. It’s also a fantastic toy for pet owners that are tight on space, have limited mobility, and/or prefer toys that are always in their control. Simply move the pole around, and watch your dog chase the bungee-cord induced lure. 

Puzzle Toys for Dogs

Puzzle toys are a fantastic solution for those looking for dog enrichment while they are indoors or not actively walking/outside. Boost your dog’s ability to focus, or lower its stress, with these puzzle-based items.

• Stellaire Chern Snuffle Mats 
  • Another great option for dogs that prefer to investigate is this wonderful indoor toy. Your dog will smell the treats, but they have to do the work in order to find their hiding spots.
• Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Puzzle
  • If your dog is more of a detective, then this toy is for you! Perfect for anxious or active dogs, simply place multiple treats in each section, and watch your dog go to work.
• West Paw Toppl: 
  • If your dog is too smart for an introductory puzzle feeder, complicate the matter by connecting two of them. Perfect for dogs that love variety, enhanced stimulation, and a continued challenge. 

Enrichment Toys for Dogs

Enrichment toys are great multi-sensory toys and objects that ensure your dog stays engaged, alert, present, and mentally sharp. Raise your pup’s sensory engagement with these toys that tap into a dog’s instinctive behavior.

• Pawstruck Stuffed Bones
  • Keep your dog licking and chewing for hours with these stuffed bones. Each product also contains ethically-sourced animal materials so that you can feel good about connecting your dog to their natural world.
• Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat
  • Another great treat hiding toy, this diverse toy can be filled with smears, hard treats, or soft treats. Plus, each treat is durable, hard, and can bounce. 
• Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop
  • This is a fantastic toy for dogs that need added stimulation during their daily routine or eat too fast. This slow-dispensing treat and enrichment toy also has the potential to improve your pet’s digestion. 

Toys for Puppies

Select toys specially designed for puppies will help your pup enjoy its play and grow into a well-developed dog while also helping and supporting natural bodily processes such as teething. 

• KONG Puppy Toy
  • For puppies that are teething or in their puppy gnawing phase, this appropriately sized puppy toy is perfect for chewers that need added stimulation. 
• Nylabone Puppy Chew Teether Rings
  • Sometimes, your puppy needs some “teeth relief”. These textured rings help take the sting out of aching gums and the teething process. 
• Petstages Cool Teething Stick
  • Another great option for teething pups, freeze these unique toys and your teething pup will thank you (especially on those hot summer days in Chicago!)

There’s more to selecting your dog’s toys than just finding something to keep your pet busy. Consider your pup’s personality and its stage of life. Then, choose engaging, educational, non-toxic toys to make your dog’s life an enjoyable one.