Best Dog Toys of the Year For Dogs and Puppies

What Are Some of the Best Toys For Dogs in India?

As a dog parent,  especially if you have a new born puppy at home, it is essential to understand the importance of having good quality dog toys to stimulate your dogs brain and have a good energizing play session with them. Dog toys come in a variety of types like fabric, plush, dental, training, tug and fetch types. 

Important Discussion Points In This Guide

  • Types of Dog Toys
  • Top 10 Dog Toys
  • Why Dogs Need Toys
  • Some Games to Play With Your Dog
  • Some Toys To Use During Playtime

Types of Dog Toys

Dog and puppy toys come in all sizes and shapes and its important to know each dog toy type and its importance. Additionally, dog toys stimulate learning and keep our canines from becoming bored and depressed. So knowing which dog toy performs which function is critical in ensuring a happy puppyhood for your dog. Just like you would choose the right set of toys for your human kid, similarly you should spend time in understanding the best toy for your dog type. 

"Choosing a great toy plays an important role in your dogs happiness. For example, boxers love to play tug, and retrievers love to play fetch."

Rope Dog Toys

Tug-of-war is a fantastic game to play with your dogs. It’s a great way to bond and it’s a fantastic way to help your dog burn up extra energy and reward him during training games by keeping his attention focused on working with you. Rope toys, ropes with tennis balls, knotted fleece and tugs with fur ends are all great toys for tugging with your dog. Want to take your dog’s tug game to the next level? Flirt poles and tether tug dog toys, which are freestanding tug toys, are great options for treating a dog who enjoys a game of tug!

Rope toys are a must have for all dog breeds, because a good game of tug helps strengthen jaw muscles and helps the dog's natural tendencies to tug and play.


Chew Dog Toys

Is your pup a heavy chewer? Then Chew toys are great for your dog. These toys also help with training your dog to divert its attention from household items such as slippers, shoes and furniture. You have to be careful that you only get your dog a high quality chew toy, which are made from healthy digestible natural materials. You dont want your little furball swallowing any toxic materials!

Treat Dispensing Dog Toys

Treat-dispensing toys are a fantastic way to exercise your dog’s mind and keep her occupied. These types of toys are also great to give your dog while she’s in her crate, providing a slow release of treats the more your dog plays. Some of these toys act as puzzles with difficulty settings, so the better your dog gets at playing with the toy, the harder she has to work for the treats to release.

Plush Dog Toys

Different shapes, levels of stuffing and fabric textures create unique play experiences when it comes to plush dog toys. Additionally, varying squeaks, grunts and crinkle sounds are sure to inspire your dog to play away!

Plush toys are also great for Little Puppies who long for something to comfort them, especially at night. Just like a young boy or girl would have a superhero or a barbie doll, plush dog toys are extremely comforting for young puppies. 

Fetch Dog Toys

We’ve come a long way from throwing around an old tennis ball! There are lots of great ball options to spoil your dog for indoor and outdoor play. From small to large, scented balls to squeaking balls, hollow balls to solid balls to floating balls — all are great options for a dog who loves ball toys. Extra-large ball toys are a particular favorite with dogs, who enjoy pushing them around in a miniature version of the dog sport Treibball.

Top 5 Dog Toys

1) The Snuffle Mat

Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1
Dog Snuffle Puzzle Mat Toy + Feeding Mat 2in1

Engage your pup with this one of a kind puzzle toy. This snuffle mat stimulates a dog’s natural foraging instincts by mimicking the hunt for food in grass and fields, stimulating their noses and brains to earn their meals. This mat is made using non-toxic and safe materials and also very durable. Keep your puppy or dog engaged for a long time by providing a hunting experience for your furry friend with the Poochles Snuffle Dog Feeding Mat.

Key Benefits

  • ENGAGE YOUR DOG’S SENSE OF SMELL - Puts your dog’s nose and brain to work by mimicking the hunt for food in nature.
  • SIMPLY CHALLENGING - Encourages natural foraging skills and Stimulates your pup’s nose and brain to find the food.
  • Ecofriendly Repurposed Materials.
  • EASY-TO-FILL MAT - Fun-to-use design and durable construction.
  • PERFECT FOR ALL DOGS - Any breed, any age, any size, and for all dogs and even cats will love it!

How To Use?

  • Just Put a handful of dog food, cut veggies, treats, biscuits on the snuffle mat.
  • Your Dog Will take its time to eat through the treat, and thoroughly enjoy his time trying to find the food and treats.
  • Known to make even stubborn eaters like their food because of the nature of hunting and searching for food.

2) The Organic Rope with Handle Dog Toy

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3) The Ultra Tough Animal Shaped Dog Toy, Imported from US

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4) The Cotton with Rubber Chew Toy For Stronger Teeth

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5) Latex Hedgehog Chew Toy

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How Should I Regulate My Playtime with my dog? 

Here’s a few tips to keep playtime fun and balanced:

1: Is your dog in a calm but alert state of mind before you throw the ball? Is she trying to grab it out of your hand? Jumping up? Or is she sitting and staring at the ball? Make sure she’s sitting and give you eye contact. This establishes control and your dog will know that the reward for her attention being on you is the ball.

2: What is your energy level like? Are you hyping up your dog by speaking in an upbeat, excited tone? Or are you using a calm tone? Make sure that you are using a calm tone that’s playful. You may need to practice this for a bit to make sure you have it down. Once you and your dog have this connection where she makes eye contact, and you control the excitement level, it’ll make ending playtime, going on walks, and making sure your dog listens to you improve as well.

3: Is your dog ball obsessed? If so, work on desensitizing her. Allow her to play with the ball at home in the yard without interaction from you. Let her carry it around, sit with it, or whatever she likes to do. At some point she will get bored and drop it. It helps over time to make the ball less enticing and not as much an object of worth as she thought or felt it was before. You may want to also introduce other toys so your dog understands that there are plenty of other toys out there to play with and the ball is just one of many.

4: Make play time not as high energy by taking your dog on a long walk or jog beforehand. Some of the pent up energy will have been spent sniffing, walking, and exploring the streets. She’ll have enough energy to play but won’t be as nutty as usual. This also helps condition your dog to know how to play and not run over and knock you down. Also try playing games with the ball or frisbee, such as hiding it and letting her find it or tossing it different ways so it’s not always a long pass. Take breaks and play with other toys as well. It’ll keep the play time fun, light, and help dissipate any obsession over one toy and break the mind from obsessing.


A Magic Trick : Using Food in Combination with Play!


Our resident Pet Behaviourist explains why find’n’seek food games are so much fun. Your dog will also love playing these games as part of dog playtime – after all, every clever animals loves a challenge.

In short, your dog has a lot of natural intelligence that need to be exercised in order to keep them satisfied – and one of the best ways to do this is by making them ‘hunt’ for their food.

A dog that has their food given to them in an easy or ‘boring’ way will want to occupy themselves in another manner – perhaps by chewing the sofa, vying for your attention, or playing with things you don’t want them to, all of which might develop into a behavioural problem without care. Bored pets may also sleep a lot – which makes them more lethargic, which in turn makes them want to exercise even less, leading to more weight gain. Rather than enter that vicious circle, a good find’n’seek food game will combine eating with exercise, just as your dog would do in the wild.

In fact, making your dog’s meal a form of playtime means they’ll never be bored by their dinner – and you’ll probably have tonnes of fun into the bargain!

Protect Your Dog During Playtime


Protect your dog during playtime. Supervise play until you know how your dog reacts to a toy. Some dogs can play with a stuffed toy for years, gently mouthing it or just carrying it around. Other dogs will destroy a stuffed toy immediately. Chew toys are the same. Some dogs can get hours of enjoyment and never destroy the toy. Other dogs rip out pieces, which may present a choking hazard. If your dog doesn’t choke, he might still ingest part of a toy, which could lead to intestinal blockage.

See how your dog plays with a toy before ever leaving him alone with it, and even then, check the toy’s condition periodically. A determined canine may still be able to destroy a toy labeled “indestructible”.


Technically no toy is indestructible. But some toys can last longer depending on how you use it during the playtime and the breed of your dog. For example, rottweilers and pittbulls have incredible jaw strength and no toy will last too long. 

Some Simple Games to Play With Your Dog

GAMES FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG

Here are a few recommendations for playtime that will really set tails to wagging for most dogs:

Fetch.
An age-old favorite. For some dogs, fetch comes naturally. Others need to be taught. And the toy you use can make all the difference. For some dogs an old stick will do just fine. Others will really perk up with something like a Frisbee or a tennis ball. (But don’t use a regular Frisbee or tennis ball; they can hurt your dog’s teeth. Buy one made for dogs.)

Tug of war.
Most dogs love this game, but you have to enforce some ground rules to make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. Before you play, teach your dog to release upon command. Watch your dog’s behavior while playing. A tail-wagging growl is OK; a more serious growl isn’t. If the dog’s teeth accidentally touch your hand, stop immediately. And it’s OK to let your dog win!

Hide and seek.
Grab a treat – a really good treat – and hide somewhere. But don’t make it too hard; ‘hide’ someplace fairly obvious, like a chair, an open door, or a small bush. Now call your dog and wait for it to find you. When it does, praise it and give it the treat. With patience, you can also teach your dog to find hidden objects other than yourself.

Chase.
If you’re physically up for it, most dogs love to be chased and play keep-away. But your dog will likely last a lot longer at this game than you will!

Keep in mind that not all dogs enjoy every form of play. They’re just like people in that respect; each dog has its individual likes and dislikes.

So experiment with different games, and learn which ones your dog seems to enjoy most. If your dog doesn’t really seem to enjoy a particular playtime activity, there’s no point in continuing to play that game. Just pick another.

HOME ALONE ENTERTAINMENT

If you’re away from home for long periods, then your dog needs to be able to entertain itself. But the majority of dog toys are not safe for unsupervised play. Some chew toys and plush toys, for example, should only be given to your dog when you’ll be around to keep an eye out for problems.

There are some categories of toys, though, that are perfect for the purpose of doggy home alone play:

Food dispensing toys.
Toys that contain a tasty treat can keep your dog entertained for hours. You can buy toys that you can stuff with a treat, and that the dog will chew and lick to get to the treat. And you can buy toys that hide a treat, requiring your dog to solve a puzzle to get to the goody – sort of a doggie Rubik’s Cube.

Very hard chew toys.
Toys like Nylabones (nylon) or Linkables (hard rubber) are unlikely to splinter or come apart in large chunks. But don’t leave your dog alone with toys of this type UNLESS you’ve already observed your dog at play with them. If you’ve learned that your dog is a very aggressive chewer, even these hard chew toys aren’t suitable for unsupervised play.

Be sure to bring out the these toys ONLY when your dog is home alone. Don’t have them available to your dog all the time. If your dog has continuous access to the toys, they will soon become commonplace and boring, and lose their effectiveness as home alone time fillers.

Choose Some Toys For Your Playtime.

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