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We (and our canine friends) tested top dog toys from brands like Kong, Chuckit!, Outward Hound, and others to find the most enjoyable products for your pups
We bought and tested the top dog toy models available for our extensive paws-on review.
The dogs of GearLab and their parents got together to find the best dog toys. We bought and tested 15 top-rated products on the market for head-to-head comparisons. With so many choices out there, it's challenging to figure out which toy is the most durable, the right size and material for your dog's breed, and which will be the most engaging for your particular pooch. Our canine testing crew includes nine dogs of different sizes and breeds that chewed, fetched, and snuggled these toys while their human companions paid close attention in order to help you determine the best option for you and your four-legged friend.
We know your dog is a member of the family. Ours too! We want to make sure they've got what they need to be happy, which is why we've tested a variety of pet products. To keep your furry friends cozy, we've tested the top-rated dog beds and cat beds. A pair of dog clippers can be handy for the DIY groomers among us, while the best dog harness paired with one of the best dog leashes can make a walk that much more enjoyable for you and your pup.
Editor's Note: Our dog toy review was updated on July 3, 2024, sharing more info on how we test these products.
The Kong Classic is super versatile, pulling triple duty as a fetch toy, a chew toy, or a treat holder. It comes in multiple sizes and rubber thicknesses, ensuring that there's an appropriate option for every dog breed. The amorphic shape bounces around erratically, creating a captivating experience for high-energy and prey-driven pets. If you have a strong chewer, the tough rubber construction holds up well, and you can stuff the hollow center with various goodies like treats, kibble, peanut butter, or even yogurt (freezing it makes for a more drawn-out experience). A stuffed Kong can grab the attention of a high-maintenance dog and keep them engrossed in a problem-solving exercise. The Kong is dishwasher safe, so it's a cinch to clean up any excess peanut butter or treat residue.
With a variety of sizes and material thicknesses, tough construction, and a wide array of play options, the Kong Classic is a toy that most dogs are sure to enjoy. This model's tough rubber will hold up to your average chewer well; however, for those with super jaws that need more resistance, you may want to upgrade to the heavier-duty Extreme version with denser rubber. Kong also makes softer Puppy and Senior versions for less powerful and more sensitive mouths. Another option you may also want to consider for a power chewer is the bacon-scented Benebone Wishbone.
Available Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
The Kong Classic triples as a fetch toy, a chew toy, and a treat dispenser.
Ideal for: High-energy ball chasers | Squeaker: No
REASONS TO BUY
Launches balls with minimal effort
Hands-free pickup for clean hands
Works with any tennis ball
Comfortable handle
REASONS TO AVOID
Included felt ball is not very durable
More durable rubber balls are sold separately
For the dog owners seeking the perfect tool to keep up with ball-infatuated tail-waggers, the Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is the answer. The classic design makes retrieving and loading a ball simple without putting your hands on the dirt or slobber-caked toy. Also, the springy slingshot construction that allows you to throw balls repeatedly ensures you don't get worn out before your dog does. We tested the 26-inch length with a medium size launcher with the Ultra ergonomic rubber grip, which was perfect for collecting balls off the ground and for comfortable long-distance launches. This toy also comes in a few different lengths and handle varieties for ease when carrying or traveling, and there are different diameter balls and launcher sizes to suit your pooch. The Medium size launcher comes with a 2.5-inch diameter felt ball, which is also conveniently adaptable to the classic 2.7-inch tennis ball.
We didn't have any major gripes with the Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher. It keeps your hands clean and your tossing arm fresh, allowing for long-lasting games of fetch for even the most high-energy of dogs. The launcher includes a felt ball, but we recommend upgrading to more durable rubber balls that will withstand more chewing and biting. You can purchase these tough Chuckit! Ultra Balls separately. The Chuckit! is a highly popular toy, and we often see them in action on trips to the beach or dog park. If you want a durable toy that lets you play with your pup as well as keep them busy while you're away, we recommend the Kong Classic.
Available handle lengths: 12", 14", 18 “, 25 ”, 26"
Available launcher/ball sizes: Small(2"), Medium(2.5"), Large(3.0"), X-Large(3.5")
The Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is a must-have for fetch-loving dogs.
The Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer is our favorite flying disc for dogs. With a flexible multilayer nylon interior body and soft rubber edges, it is gentle on gums and teeth and is easy to throw and catch. This disc carries most of its weight around the perimeter, and its unique lightweight design provides excellent aerodynamics — evident as this disc glides smoothly through the air and makes a gentle descent for easy grabbing. This toy even floats, a benefit if you frequently hang out in or around water with your pup. The bright colors make it easier to spot once it gets dirty or if it gets caught up in trees or bushes. On top of it all, the price is right.
Despite how much we love that the Paraflight Flyer is easy to throw and floats through the air, the lightweight construction isn't the best for windy conditions. If the disc becomes a chew toy, the soft materials that are comfortable in your hand and your dog's mouth can also get torn up quite quickly, so we recommend close supervision if you want it to last. Beyond these critiques, the gentle padding and great flight characteristics make the Paraflight Flyer our favorite flying disc. If it is too windy outside for tossing discs, entertain your pup indoors with the mentally stimulating Trixie Flip Board Level 2.
The soft rubber around the edges of the Paraflight Flyer makes for an easy yet gentle mid air flight catch.
Ideal for: High Energy Ball Chasers | Squeaker: No
REASONS TO BUY
Much more durable than tennis balls
Medium size works with most standard-sized launchers
Easy to clean
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricier than tennis balls
Larger sizes require a ChuckIt! Ball Launcher
Heavy
If your dog keeps destroying tennis balls, the Chuckit! Ultra Ball will likely outlast them by a long shot. We will admit that some dogs immediately dismantle just about every toy. Still, we found that our fuzzy testers caused minimal damage to this ball even after hundreds of tosses and chew sessions over several weeks. If you purchase the medium option, the Ultra Ball will work with most tennis ball launchers and fits perfectly with Chuckit!'s medium version launcher. Unlike tennis balls, whose fabric tends to gather slobber and mud, the Ultra Ball's smooth rubber is exceptionally easy to clean with a quick dip in the creek or splash of the hose.
At the dog park, balls are notoriously prone to disappear or get borrowed. If your pup tends to lose their toys, purchasing a pricey ball rather than a run-of-the-mill tennis ball might not make sense. Pet owners who want a larger version and intend to use a launcher must also purchase the appropriate size Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher. The medium Ultra Ball weighs more than double that of a standard tennis ball, and the larger models weigh even more. During testing, we found the slight increase in weight makes them a little less bouncy and ever so slightly harder to launch than a tennis ball. Minimal shortcomings aside, the Ultra Ball is the one you want if you're looking for a durable ball. If you want to play fetch without making an additional purchase, the Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer is a great lightweight and inexpensive toy.
Available sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large
The medium-sized Chuckit! Ultra Ball is the same size as a tennis ball but is substantially more durable.
Ideal for: Intelligent and curious dogs | Squeaker: No
REASONS TO BUY
Three puzzle types for various challenges
Simple design is easy to clean
Can be run through the dishwasher
REASONS TO AVOID
Might be too small for larger dogs
May not provide much challenge once mastered
For intelligent pups that always seem to get themselves into mischief, the Trixie Flip Board Level 2 puzzle is a great tool to harness and focus their curiosity in a safe and productive way. The simple design comes with three different types of puzzle challenges, including discs to slide to the side, cones to lift straight up, and levers to flip to open a lid. Filling a few or all of the compartments with treats or kibble provides different levels of challenge for your pup.
We appreciate the Trixie Flip Board for its versatility with three different puzzle challenges, but smart pups might master it pretty quickly. The duration of the challenge and entertainment may dwindle as time goes on. The Flip Board puzzle we tested is considered a Level 2 in difficulty, and Trixie makes different puzzle products from difficulty Levels 1-3. The overall small size and smaller features are best for puppies or small dogs, but may be more challenging for larger paws to maneuver. We should also note that the puzzle pieces are not indestructible, so we recommend keeping an eye on your pet as they work through, not chew through, the puzzle. As far as dog puzzles go, though, our canine testers showed the most signs of mental stimulation and engagement with this model over any other. If you're shopping for a large dog breed, the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss is one of the better picks.
Available difficulty levels: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
Trixie's Flip Board Puzzle has three different types of challenges to keep your pup on their toes.
One of the cutest plush toys that we've seen is the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle. A unique combination of a puzzle game and a soft chew toy, the Hide-A-Squirrel includes three small stuffed squirrels (with squeakers) housed inside a plush treehouse. It provides a fun challenge to see whether your pup will use delicate finesse or brute force to pull the animals out of their home while activating their hunting and prey instincts. Once the squirrels are liberated from their log, they each become a squeaky chew toy or can be quickly returned to their home to reset the challenge. This cute toy is available in four different sizes and with a handful of different animal types.
The Hide-A-Squirrel is a fun and cute challenge for your pup. However, the whole set is constructed from soft plush material, so dogs with destructive tendencies can tear through it quickly if given the chance. These little squirrels will certainly tempt dogs that like to remove squeakers from toys. Nevertheless, this cute animal set can be a great problem-solving exercise and includes a handful of cute little plush toys, making it a terrific combination. But if you know your dog will destroy it in an instant, consider our more durable contenders like the Kong Classic.
Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
Available characters: Squirrel, Bee, Bird, Doug the Pizza Pug, Hedgehog, Rainbow
The Hide-A-Squirrel is an adorable plush puzzle that satisfies the curiosity of prey-driven pooches.
If your furry friend loves chewing sticks and bones, but you're not big on wood splinters or bits of marrow inside your home, the Benebone Wishbone is the ideal alternative. The nylon blend is flavored with the real ingredient of your pup's choice –- bacon, chicken, or peanut butter. This burly dog toy holds up better than most synthetic models we've seen, and the flavor keeps dogs entertained for many hours.
After several long chewing sessions, our testing pups eventually began wearing down the material of the Benebone Wishbone. As a result, it leaves a little mess of chipped-up pieces that will need to be vacuumed up or washed out with reasonably minimal effort. We also can't rule out the possibility of some of these small chips ending up permanently embedded in certain types of material or getting swallowed. Despite these drawbacks, this tasty toy is our top pick for a bone or stick substitute. If you're shopping for a dog toy that's more focused on exercise and less on chewing, we think the Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is a fun way to spend the afternoon with your pup.
Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Giant
Available flavors: Bacon, Chicken, Peanut Butter
The Benebone Wishbone provides hours of satisfying chewing without the splinters from sticks or the nastiness that comes along with natural bones.
Credit: Penney Garrett
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The Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss provides hours of hilarious entertainment for dogs and owners alike.
Credit: Penney Garrett
How We Test Dog Toys
We rounded up a diverse testing team of colleagues and their furry friends for a total of ten different dogs to test these toys. Our pack included everything from sub-10-pound lap dogs to 130+ pound mountain dogs and everything in between. We have cuddly gentle giants, prey-driven hunting breeds, and high-energy ball chasers. We gave each pup a variety of toys and compared how each breed and personality responded to each product. We paid attention to how stimulating each toy was, how well they held up to all the chewing and slobbering, the amount of physical exertion they entailed, and whether there were any additional special features. After weeks of running, chasing, biting, chewing, cuddling, and puzzle-solving, we have a comprehensive evaluation of the best options for you and your four-legged friend.
Our dog toy testing is divided into four different metrics:
Interest & Mental Stimulation (30% of overall score weighting)
Durability (30% weighting)
Physical Exertion (25% weighting)
Special Features (15% weighting)
Why You Should Trust Us
This dog toy review is brought to you by GearLab Editors Nick Bruckbauer and Ross Patton. Nick has been with the GearLab team since early 2019 and is an expert across a wide variety of consumer goods and outdoor products. As a proud dog-father of a 4-year-old Weimaraner, Nala, he is very experienced with high-maintenance and high-energy dog breeds, having previously also had a German Shepherd mix and a Husky. Nick is very analytical with a background in engineering and has a habit of analyzing his own personal expenditures on everything from big-ticket items to everyday household products. In his fifth year with the GearLab team, Ross has a formal education in Environmental Science and a knack for identifying subtle details that set high-quality products apart from rubbish. His 80-pound hound, Broadus, infamously destroys toys, making him a perfect addition to this category's product testing team.
Our lineup of dog toys ready for action.
The Skinny Peltz trio is ideal for smaller dogs with smaller mouths.
The Paraflight Flyer was really easy to throw and had great range for long-distance games of fetch.
Analysis and Test Results
Our crew of canine companions happily put our lineup of dog toys to the test under our close supervision and curious observation. Our diverse pack of testing hounds showed us which toys are the most durable, most fun, and provide the best mental stimulation and physical exertion.
What's the Best Value?
We've found that the value of dog toys has a large degree of variability and that a higher price does not always equate to a higher worth. If you're looking for cheap entertainment and your pup isn't a tough chewer, the Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer is a budget-friendly soft disc that flies exceptionally well. If you don't mind spending a few extra bucks for added longevity, the Kong Classic is a durable yet flexible rubber toy used for playing fetch, chewing, or stuffing treats in the hollow center. The Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is a bit more expensive than many products in our review but will last for years as long as your furry friend doesn't confuse it for a chew toy. If your dog is the type that likes to keep the same ball around for weeks or months, the Chuckit! Ultra Ball is much burlier than a tennis ball and works seamlessly with the corresponding launcher.
Rope toys like the Mammoth Pets Rope Tug are often affordable and fun, but be prepared to clean up lots of little strings around your house.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Interest & Mental Stimulation
It's fun to see how different dogs with different personalities have unique preferences regarding their entertainment. Some are obsessed with chasing and fetching balls, while others couldn't care less. Some love to simply cuddle a cute stuffed animal, while others have the instincts to pull it, tug it, or rip it apart. Some are driven by food or treats, and others just like to chew on anything they can get their paws on. By having a canine test crew of ten different dogs with different interests and personalities, we found trends in which toys are the most popular, interesting, and stimulating for different temperaments.
For curious pups who otherwise like to snoop around and might tend to get themselves in trouble, puzzle toys are a great option to challenge them and keep their minds occupied. The Trixie Flip Board and Outward Hound Dog Tornado are intermediate-level options with an assortment of different treat compartments and varying methods of solving them. The Flip Board puzzle has containers that are opened by sliding a cover, lifting a cone, or pushing a lever, and the Tornado puzzle has compartments that are reached by spinning a tray or lifting a lid. Both puzzles can be played at different difficulty levels, depending on how many compartments you include in the fun.
The Outward Hound Tornado Puzzle provides three layers of treat compartments and a handful of bone-shaped covers to increase the challenge.
Credit: Jenni Snead
Similarly, the Kong Classic is a great option to keep curious pups occupied by filling its hollow center with kibble, treats, or peanut butter. This particular model also bounces erratically when tossed, making it a fantastic model for playful puppies.
An insider secret is to add peanut butter to the inside of the Kong Classic and then freeze it before sharing it with your pup for an even longer-lasting session.
Stuffing the Kong Classic with treats, kibble, or peanut butter is a great way to keep your dog's attention.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Another exciting toy that is a stimulating blend of a puzzle and a squeaky plush animal is the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle. This adorable plush game places a handful of small stuffed squirrels inside a soft log and challenges your dog to remove them. Some dogs carefully and methodically extract each squirrel from their home, while others use brute force to pick up and shake the whole thing. The challenge of hunting these animals can stimulate the prey drive in particular dogs, making the game irresistible. Once the squirrels are removed from their home, it's easy to put them back in and reset the game. The little squirrels are pretty cute, so some dogs might want to hang out and cuddle with them, while others might be tempted to remove the squeakers.
The tiny squeaky squirrels inside the Hide-A-Squirrel puzzle are cute companions for your pooch, or might end up being his or her prey.
Curious dogs love a challenge, like investigating the inner workings of the Hide-A-Squirrel plush puzzle.
The rest of the dog toys in our lineup may interest your pup, depending on their energy level and personality. Power chewers will be drawn to the natural scents in the Petstages Deerhorn and Benebone Wishbone chew toys, while frisbee lovers will enjoy chasing the soft gliding Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer
Arlo loved carrying the Paraflight Flyer around. The multilayer nylon interior even held up to some serious chewing.
Credit: Bligh Gillies
Ball-obsessed pooches will find endless joy with the Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher and accompanying Chuckit! Ultra Ball. Ball launchers provide lots of entertainment and exercise for your dog and save your arm by allowing you to send the ball further with a fraction of the effort of throwing without one. As a bonus, you don't have to bend over at the waist to pick up a slobber-covered ball.
The Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is perfect for high-energy dogs that love playing fetch.
Credit: Ross Patton
If your furry companion prefers larger ball toys that they can kick around, chase, and wrestle with, the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss has a handle for dogs to bite, and the Wobble Wag Giggle Ball has an internal noise maker that functions without the use of batteries. Our pups didn't find much interest in the Giggle Ball, but we are confident it's the perfect toy for the right dog.
The hounds found the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss to be a very fun and entertaining toy.
Credit: Ross Patton
Rope toys are a great way to play tug-of-war with your dog or get a great laugh watching them play with each other. Our dogs also like throwing rope toys around, chewing on them, and sometimes presenting them to guests as gifts. The Feeko Rope Toy is only offered in one enormous length, but the Mammoth Pets Flossy Chews Rope Tug is available in a variety of sizes and colors.
Broadus immediately took a liking to the Feeko Rope Toy and carried it around for hours.
Credit: Ross Patton
Durability
Almost any toy or stuffed animal theoretically could be used as a dog toy, but as many dog parents with high-energy rippers and tearers have found, most toys simply don't last very long. Curious dogs love to chew, pull, and rip things apart, so durability is quite crucial for the longevity of a fun and exciting toy. In this testing metric, we let our dogs have at it. We gave them free rein on these toys (with appropriate supervision) and watched how long each product lasted under normal and reasonable use before it needed to be retired.
We strongly recommend closely monitoring your pet's use of any type of dog toy. Bored dogs may tend to destroy their toys, and even the safest-looking options could present a choking or swallowing hazard if they are taken apart. Monitor your dog's play to ensure that they are appropriately using their toys, and consult with your vet if you have any questions or concerns.
The Benebone Wishbone is a synthetic toy that gives dogs the feeling of chewing on a stick or a natural bone.
Credit: Penney Garrett
The most durable options that stood up to our toughest testers' teeth are the Kong Classic, the Benebone Wishbone, and the Petstages Deerhorn. The Kong is made from durable rubber, while the Wishbone and the Deerhorn are made from nylon with traces of natural materials. All three are quite robust and are built to help satisfy the urges of the most powerful chewers. While these products have some of the most robust materials of the options in our lineup, please note that they will still show some wear and tear, so your chewer should be supervised to reduce any choking or swallowing hazards.
The Kong Classic makes a great chew toy in addition to being a treat holder.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
We had mixed reviews with the Kong Wild Knots Bear. One of our tug-of-war lovers enjoyed the texture and the strength of the internal rope reinforcements, while one of our hunting breeds made quick work of removing the ropes, stuffing, and squeaker.
The Kong Wild Knots Bear is more durable than some plush toys thanks to its rope skeleton, but not by much.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
For the rest of the toys in our lineup, it's more important to use them correctly in order for them to remain durable. The Trixie Flip Board Puzzle and the Outward Hound Dog Tornado will likely last longer if you clean them regularly and don't let your dog treat them like chew toys. The West Paw Zogoflex Zisc flying disc is much more durable than the Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer, but both should provide plenty of throws when used properly as a flying disc and not as a chew toy or tug-of-war toy.
The West Paw Zogoflex is made of durable rubber and is heavy enough to withstand a good amount of tugging or chewing.
Credit: Penney Garrett
The Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is also well constructed, although the stock felt balls it comes with would wear out quickly — especially if you have a pup that likes to eviscerate tennis balls. Thankfully, you can replace the balls with the much more durable Chuckit! Ultra Ball.
The rubber Chuckit! Ultra Ball withstands a lot more abuse than a tennis ball.
Credit: Ross Patton
The Wobble Wag Giggle Ball is made of hard plastic and isn't easy for most dogs to grip with their mouths, so we expect this toy to be around for a reasonably long time. The other larger-sized ball in our review, the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss, holds up well when it comes to getting tossed and rolled, but the handle started to show some teeth marks after a few weeks of playing. This model is probably best suited for dogs that are gentler on toys.
The Jolly Ball won't be long for this world if your dog is a chewer, but the Wobble Wag is practically chew-proof.
Credit: Ross Patton
Physical Exertion
Let's face it, a tired dog is a good dog. We love our furry friends, but curious, nosy, or restless dogs can often get into mischief. Sometimes they just need to get the wiggles out, and having the perfect toy for active play can increase the fun and quality of life for your high-energy pooch. Our canine testing team has several high-energy breeds that can seemingly play forever, and we evaluated which toys are the best way to harness their energy.
The Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher is the classic fetch toy that should be in the arsenal of any parent of a ball-obsessed dog. The Chuckit! is available in various handle lengths and corresponding Chuckit! Ultra Ball sizes to help you find the perfect match for you and your pet. The simple design lets you pick up the ball without bending over too far or getting your hands dirty and lets you effortlessly launch it for an endless game of fetch. The Chuckit! Ball Launcher is a staple at dog parks and is the favorite of our two lead test dogs, Nala and Broadus.
A tired dog is a good dog after playing fetch with the Chuckit.
Nala has been jealous of all the Chuckit Ball Launchers she's seen at the dog park, and was thrilled to be able to test one for herself.
Broadus can't get enough of the Chuckit! Ultra Ball Launcher.
For athletic and agile dogs that like chasing flying discs, the Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer is our favorite choice. Its lightweight design is easy to throw and glides exceptionally well, making for a smooth, gentle descent and easy catches. It will also float in the water. While the Paraflight Flyer's lightweight construction struggles in higher winds, the heavier-duty West Paw Zogoflex picks up the slack.
The Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer is great for dogs that love chasing toys.
Credit: Ross Patton
The Zogoflex doesn't glide as smoothly and gently as the Paraflight Flyer, but it cuts through the air better when the wind picks up and is more durable. However, not all pups are fans of the Zogoflex because to throw it accurately, you have to throw it with some force. Some dogs weren't excited about it due to the heavier weight and the required faster throws.
Sometimes, games of fetch with a flying disc can turn into a tug-of-war competition or a chewing session. Bringing two discs is a great way to get your pup to drop the first disc and preserve the lifespan of both.
The Paraflight Flyer is light and flexible, allowing it to glide very well, and making it gentle on mouths.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Our team of expert testers found the Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss to be a favorite for larger dogs. It's easy for owners to toss or kick around, and many dogs like to wrestle with it, kick it like a soccer ball, and toss this model up in the sky on their own when their human is too slow.
The Jolly Pets Tug-n-Toss is one of the favorites among large playful dogs.
Credit: Penney Garrett
Depending on your dog's personality and energy levels, the rope toys can provide a good amount of exercise. We found the longer Feeko Rope Toy to be great for tugging and the more modest-sized Mammoth Pets Flossy Chews Rope Tug to be suitable for an indoor chew toy.
Rope toys do not offer the highest degree of durability. If your dog tends to be hard on their belongings, we recommend supervising their playtime with this type of toy to ensure that bits of string aren't swallowed.
The Kong Classic gets an honorable mention in this category since it can be used as a fetch toy, and its asymmetric shape makes it bounce around unpredictably for a fun game. The Benebone Wishbone and Petsages Deerhorn chew toys also get a mention since they have natural scents and flavors that activate some dogs' natural primal instincts and can occupy their attention and energy for long periods.
The Benebone Wishbone is meant for hours of constant chewing either indoors or outside.
Credit: Ross Patton
Special Features
Some dog toys have standout features that may not be reflected in other performance metrics but made a particular impression on our furry friends or us. For example, we think that the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel toy is just ridiculously cute. Many of our test dogs agreed and loved to carry it around and snuggle all the squirrels. The Hide-A-Squirrel is also available with other plush animals like bees or hedgehogs that are equally adorable.
The Trixie Flip Board puzzle is unique because it has three different types of puzzles that each challenge and stimulate your dog differently. You can use one or all of the compartments to vary the challenge and the overall degree of difficulty. The Kong Wild Knots Bear is an innovative plush toy with a rope skeleton that adds extra durability to help withstand rough tug-of-war games while keeping a soft and cuddly exterior. The Kong Classic is a simple yet versatile toy that can be used as an unpredictable fetch toy, a durable chew toy, or a handy treat holder. If your dog is perceptive to toys that emit sounds, the Wobble Wag Giggle Ball makes playful noises as it rolls around.
We like the durability and multi-use nature of the Kong Classic.
Credit: Jason Peters
Conclusion
Our experienced testing crew and their canine companions had a blast bringing you this review of the best dog toys. Our test pups came in all different sizes, shapes, breeds, and personalities and gave us a diverse audience to help you find the best options for you and your furry friend. We hope this guide helps lead to many happy and healthy days with your dog.
Most of our test dogs loved the Wild Knots Bear, but some curious hunters were able to extract the internal ropes pretty quickly.
