The 12 Best Dog Toys, According To Our Pups

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Giving your dog a new toy is an exercise in natural selection. No matter how cute or pricey it is, there’s some chance that your pup will ignore the new plaything or rapidly tear it to shreds, either way leaving it for dead. Here we present the survivors: the toys that our pups have verified to be good for hours, or even years, of play that’s engaging, ferocious, and cute.

Since dogs have their own preferences—and enjoy variety—take this list as a starting point. If you’re preparing for a new dog or assembling a gift, we suggest presenting the canines in your life with a few to put to the test for themselves.

Tougher than a tennis ball

Chuckit Ultra Ball

Bone (pit bull, 40 pounds) loves to retrieve and chew tennis balls, but tears into them within minutes. The Chuckit Ultra Ball in medium is the same size as a standard tennis ball but made entirely of rubber. It’s much more difficult to chew through, so she’s able to chomp on it for a while (with supervision); the balls have lasted for up to a year. Plus, the Ultra Ball is bouncier on turf than most tennis balls, which makes for more stimulating games of fetch. The bright orange hue makes it easy to spot—even in tall grass. And the Ultra Ball floats in water, so she can fetch it from a lake, too.

—Tracy Vence, supervising editor

Soundless squeakers

Hear Doggy ultrasonic squeaker toys

Some days Sutton (Chihuahua mix, 8 pounds) has so much puppy energy left over from dog-park play that she just runs around the apartment, digs out all of her toys from the toy bin, and squeaks anything she can find for hours on end. I may be the worst pet caretaker ever, but all that squeaking can get annoying. So I was happy to discover Hear Doggy ultrasonic squeaker toys, because they use squeakers tuned to an ultrasonic frequency between 24 and 28 KHz that’s silent to people but still makes a fun noise for dogs. To people it sounds like the squeaker died and there's just a little trapped air being pushed out, but apparently to a dog it still sounds like their favorite toy. Sutton gets just as excited when squeaking this thing as she does her traditional squeakers—fun times for her and a lifesaver for my ears.

—Kaitlyn Wells, senior staff writer

Earn those treats

OurPets IQ Treat Ball

The food-dispensing OurPets IQ Treat ball has been a favorite in our home for years and keeps our dog Pinky (pit mix, 60 pounds) mentally and physically active as well as entertained for a half hour or more at a time. To get kibble or treats out, she has to roll the ball or pick it up in her mouth and throw it. We can easily adjust the opening of the interior compartment to dispense less readily if she's up for the challenge (or go in the other direction if she’s not). She loves this toy so much, she prefers eating her meals from it rather than from her bowl. This ball is also one of the longest-lasting dog toys we've owned; it gets a beating but has stood up to more than four years of near-daily use.

—Winnie Yang, former supervising editor

The chew toy that survived

Nylabone Dura Chew

Soon after we adopted Ada (beagle mix, 16 pounds), we learned we had a serious gnawer on our hands. Of all the elaborate toys we’ve impulse-bought to deter her from eating our belongings, the inexpensive Nylabone Dura Chew is one of the few that have withstood her teeth for more than a week. While the toy looks scraped-up at the edges these days, none of the plastic is actually coming off, as happens with most stuff she puts in her mouth (RIP to all the animal-shaped toys). The Nylabone’s slim shape tucks easily into her travel carrier when we head out to visit family, and it keeps the peace while we’re there. The classic design makes for some pretty adorable moments, too. It comes in a couple of flavors, but of the two we’ve bought, the original flavor is the one in heavy rotation. Don’t overthink it.

—Shannon Palus, former staff writer

A long-lasting distraction toy

Woof Pupsicle

The Woof Pupsicle has quickly become my dog Dave’s (mutt, 65 pounds) new favorite food-filled thing to gnaw on. And because it’s a cinch to unscrew it and throw the pieces into the dishwasher, it’s become our favorite, too, when it comes to cleanup. Made of natural rubber, the Pupsicle opens up so you can stuff it with either the pre-made balls that Woof sells or with a tasty concoction you whipped up yourself. I often just slop together some dog-safe peanut butter and greek yogurt, shape it into balls, and pop them in the freezer overnight (otherwise it’ll make too much of a mess). One ball usually keeps him busy for up to a half an hour. We use the black “power chewer” version of the Pupsicle, and it’s held up to Dave’s powerful jaws. He’ll even continue to chomp on it long after the treat is gone. And after nearly six months of regular use, it still looks nearly new.

—Mel Plaut, staff writer

More squirrels, more engaging

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel

I was dubious that we really needed yet another plush toy, but after Gus (Chihuahua-poodle mix, 18 pounds) loved playing with the Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel at a friend's place, I had to get one. He typically has trouble paying attention to squeaky toys for more than a few minutes at a time, but the more challenging setup of three squeaky squirrels in a tree-trunk-shaped pouch will keep him going for hours. He fishes squirrels out, then runs around like crazy with whichever one is left in his mouth last. I can send the next one sailing the moment he's back with the first, making it easy to tire him out. He also loves to chew on and shake the tree stump. The pieces are relatively tough too: After three months of near-daily playing, I have yet to do any mending to sew up holes (your mileage may vary—it’s still a plush toy).

—Amy Roberts, former staff writer

An inexpensive plush your pup will adore

Multipet Lamb Chop Squeaky Plush Dog Toy

The Multipet Lamb Chop Squeaky Plush Dog Toy is a household staple for my French bulldogs. First gifted to my oldest dog Winston, “Lamby” is a simple, soft dog toy that squeaks. Shortly after we brought it home, my youngest dog, Parmesan, claimed it as her own. For the last few years, Lamby has endured countless bouts of zoomies, snuggles, and trips to the washing machine. Parmesan loves her toy so much that when Lamby finally bit the dust (that fluff isn’t meant to last forever), we rushed to buy a new one before Parmy even knew she was gone.

—Haley Sprankle, former updates writer

A durable Frisbee that withstands rough play

Tuffy’s No Stuff Ultimate Ring Dog Toy

This is a plush, Frisbee-like ring that comes in different sizes and colors, with some heavy-duty stitching around the edge and multiple squeakers inside. My dog Audrey was fascinated with this toy from the moment it was unwrapped. It’s slightly too big for her, which makes for some goofy poses and comedic struggles, but she still proudly brings it from room to room to show it off. It’s tough enough for powerful chewing and, after several months, has avoided the violent fate of other plush toys. It’s also still soft enough for some light fetch inside our Brooklyn apartment without breaking anything (so far).

—Michael Renehan, former chief digital officer

A two-in-one toy that won’t make a mess when destroyed

Bark Super Chewer rubber dog toy

Kona loves chewing the Bark Super Chewer rubber dog toy and using it for tug-of-war. I love it because it has no stuffing for him to accidentally inhale. Even if he does tear the fabric exterior, it still functions as a rubber toy, so there’s no waste (unlike with other toys, which need to be thrown away once there’s a tear).

—Amie Wong, senior analyst

A flying ring that’ll outlast countless hours of play

Nerf Dog Atomic Flyer

The Nerf Dog Atomic Flyer is a durable, dog-friendly alternative to the classic, hard-plastic Frisbee. Since purchasing one for my dog Hobbes, I’ve found that it’s held up admirably to daily chewing and countless rounds of fetch in the backyard. The open center makes the Atomic Flyer easier for Hobbes to catch, and because the toy is made of a soft, bendable rubber material, I don’t have to worry about it becoming sharp or splintering into small, potentially hazardous pieces. I love watching Hobbes get great enjoyment from this simple toy, and the fact that it’s saved my own Frisbees from slobber and puncture holes is a nice bonus.

—Beth Niegelsky, software engineer

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Further reading

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  26 Best Gifts for Dogs and Dog Lovers

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  The Best Dog Harnesses

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  The Best Dog Beds

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  The Best Pet Subscription Boxes

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