Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

14 best dog toys to entertain pups and banish boredom

Keep your four-legged friends physically and mentally stimulated with these fun games and puzzles

Clare O'Reilly
Thursday 04 May 2023 10:42 BST
<p>We called on our three furry friends to test these toys </p>

We called on our three furry friends to test these toys

Our Top Picks

Anyone with a four-legged friend will know how much they like to play. Whether that’s digging in the garden, playing catch or finding the squeak in a toy they then don’t want to relinquish. And a happy dog, is a playful pup.

But dog toys aren’t just good for those with fur, dog owners’ spending contributes massively to the UK economy. With an estimated 13 million dogs in the UK, the furry friend industry is worth over £10bn a year in the UK and over the last five years gift spending has increased by £286m.

If you want to treat your dog with a toy it can be hard to know where to start. Firstly it’s worth considering what activity you want to do with them. Maybe they love playing fetch, or are they more into tug of war? If they have destructive tendencies at home, maybe some mental stimulation and search-type toys will keep them entertained and reduce any negative behaviours.

Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work to come up with the best dog toys, no matter what breed, size or temperament you have. There are squeaky, floaty, interactive, crunchy, digging and cuddling toys and everything in between in our round-up below.

How we tested

Three diligent testers, Luna and Huccaby the labrador’s and Bluebell the springador put our toys through their paces. They were given each in isolation to play with and presented with all in a box for them to pick their favourites.

Some of the toys that survived the testing period and made it into this round-up

The best dog toys for 2023 are:

  • Best overall dog toy – Nylabone power chew shish kebab alternative mess free chew: £7.45, Petplanet.co.uk
  • Best dog toy under £10 – Pup Suds tug toy: From £10, Pupsuds.co.uk
  • Best dog toy for active dogs – Dr Zigs doggie bubbles peanut butter scented: £27.99, Drzigs.com
  • Best treat dispenser – Paws Only dog treat toy: £8.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best eco-friendly dog toy – Resploot tuffles dog toy: £9.99, Nordalefarm.co.uk

Nylabone power chew shish kebab alternative mess free chew

Nylabone power chew shish kebab alternative mess free chew.png
  • Best: Overall
  • Type of toy: Chew
  • Suitable for: Medium and large dogs, up to 23kg
  • Benefits: Promotes clean teeth and fresh breath

This chew comes in small, large or extra large to suit dogs up to 50lbs. It’s chicken-flavoured but leaves no splinters, no grease and no stains and has plenty of textures to promote fresh breath and clean teeth by controlling tartar and plaque buildup. Despite three testers giving it their best go, this toy lasts and lasts.

Advice is to rough up or scuff the smooth surfaces with a fork to release the flavour and when the testers were taking a break, it rinsed perfectly under warm water ready for another session. Nylabone also makes ergonomic chews in the same durable range so dogs can hold their chew down while they give it a go. If you have an incessant chewer, this is the one for you.

Back to top

Cheerble interactive dog toy ball

Cheerble interactive dog toy ball.png
  • Best: Luxury toy
  • Type: Ball
  • Suitable for: Small to medium dogs
  • Benefits: Rolls itself and has obstacle avoidence

Made from natural rubber and with three programmable settings and a light-up centre, not only is this one of the most stylish toys on the list, it gave our testers the perfect balance between rest and play. Safe for teeth and easy to clean with a rinse under a warm tap, this ball can be programmed to roll, bounce and jiggle and the light-up centre changes colour to attract their attention during the chase to retrieve it. It has automatic obstacle avoidance so shouldn’t knock any vases off tables. It’s also silent when it’s on and charges fast.

  1. £34 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Dr Zigs doggie bubbles peanut butter scented

Dr Zigs doggie bubbles peanut butter scented.png
  • Best: For active dogs
  • Type: Chasing toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs
  • Benefits: Keeping active and training puppies to not play too rough

While our testers took a while to figure out the fun of these bubbles, once they did, they enjoyed hours of chasing, leaping and trying to pop them. These are great for active dogs, but it’s one of the most interactive toys on the list too. The bubbles really are peanut butter scented, vegan and don’t actually contain any nuts so they’re perfect for anyone with a nut allergy too.

Dr Zigs also supports children displaced by war, conflict or poverty across the globe with its #bubblesnotbombs program which has seen them send child-friendly bubble kits to Libya, Calais, Romania and orphanages in Delhi and Goa so your pet is helping others while popping their bubbles too. They’re not the cheapest on the list but the bubble mixture comes concentrated and creates a litre of solution when mixed with water.

  1. £27 from Drzigs.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Pup Suds tug toy

Pup Suds tug toy.png
  • Best: Under £10
  • Type: Tug toy
  • Suitable for: Available for small, medium and large dogs for varying prices
  • Benefits: Cleans teeth and gums

Handmade from 100 per cent recycled cotton, unlike some others on the market, this tug toy is machine washable, biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. Its vibrant colour makes it a more attractive version of a popular style of toy and the recycled cotton isn’t as harsh on human hands as some other tug toys on the market. It also didn’t come undone or start to fray even after hours of play with three testers and while our four-legged playmate’s might not care about the planet or “green” toys, as dog owners, being able to give them what they want without harming the environment is a huge plus.

  1. £5 from Pupsuds.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

Paws Only dog treat toy

Paws Only dog treat toy.png
  • Best: Treat dispenser
  • Type: Puzzle toy with treats
  • Suitable for: Puppies and small dogs, medium dogs and large dogs
  • Benefits: Mental stimularion and dental care

A toy and treat dispenser in one, this ball helps with mental stimulation, the grooves help with dental care, the extra strong elastic rubber is bite-resistant and it comes in three sizes, 6cm x 6cm for puppies, 7cm x 7cm for medium dogs and 8cm x 8cm for bigger breeds. The slits on the side fill with smaller treats and kibbles while stick treats and chews fit into the hole in the centre.

Unlike a lot of other treat dispensers on the market, this is a ball too and throws really well and is lightweight. The 7cm size even fits into a thrower as long as there aren’t any chews sticking out the middle. Our testers loved it and it washes with soap and warm water to come out as good as new.

  1. £8 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

New Look green avocado dog toy

New Look green avocado dog toy.png
  • Best: Cute toy
  • Type: Soft toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs, as long as they don’t prefer tearing into toys
  • Benefits: N/A

We fully expected a toy from a fashion brand to end up bitten to smithereens in minutes, but our testers seemed to enjoy carrying this around rather than ripping or biting it. Make no mistake if you have a dog who enjoys ripping or very active play, this isn’t the one for you but even after two weeks of testing ours was still in one piece and washed brilliantly, keeping its shape really well. Ideal if your pooch likes to take care of their toys.

  1. £9 from Newlook.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Pup Suds eco snuffle mat

Pup Suds eco snuffle mat.png
  • Best: For foragers
  • Type: Puzzle/treat toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs
  • Benefits: Helps dogs eat more slowly and can help keep them busy when away

Not only does this toy look beautiful, it’s also environmentally friendly. It’s handmade in Essex from recycled fabrics and you can even choose your colour scheme so it can match even the swishest interior. Our testers loved digging at this on its own, but they also really loved having their kibble poured into and onto it for them to forage around for. The rubber mat stuck in place perfectly with excellent grip on varnished wood floors too. Plus, you can also send it back once it’s been ravaged and the kind people at Pup Suds will revamp it for you.

Back to top

Resploot tuffles dog toy

Resploot tuffles dog toy.png
  • Best: Eco toy
  • Type: Soft toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs
  • Benefits: N/A

Made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles and with a natural rubber squeaker with no plastic, this is a perfect choice for the eco-friendly dog owner. This cuddly hawksbill turtle comes with a label explaining how they’re critically endangered so there’s learning for dog owners as well as fun for their four-legged friends. It’s multi-layered and double-stitched for extra strength and even the cardboard it’s attached to is printed on recycled paper. The testers loved the furry body and the hard-folded seams mean it’s lasted way beyond testing and is still washing well. It became a particular favourite to sleep with too.

Back to top

Kong squeeze confetti stick

Kong squeeze confetti stick.png
  • Best: Squeaker toy
  • Type: Squeaker toy
  • Suitable for: Medium dogs
  • Benefits: N/A

A list of the best dog toys wouldn’t be complete without at least one appearance from Kong. Synonymous with pet toys and famed for its durability, the confetti stick not only looks bright, glittery and fun, it’s also the only toy on the list that’ll continue to squeak even when it’s punctured – a must for owners whose dogs make a beeline to demolish anything with a squeaker. It comes in a choice of colours including green, orange, purple and blue and our testers proudly carried it around with them on walks for weeks.

Back to top

Cadbarky doggy milk fruit and mutt dog toy

Cadbarky doggy milk fruit & mutt dog toy.png
  • Best: Quiet squeaky toy
  • Type: Squeeky toy
  • Suitable for: Small, medium and large dogs, but not for strong chewers
  • Benefits: N/A

While there’s a lot to be said for a toy with a squeaker, when it comes to relaxing and watching TV, the last thing any owner wants is the constant squeak of a toy your dog is definitely not going to relinquish without a game of “catch me if you can”. This is where the Cadbarks doggy milk fruit and mutt dog toy comes in. The whimsy faux chocolate bar is a crinkle toy rather than a squeaky one and made from a really durable fabric. This toy is sizeable enough for big breeds but squashy enough that smaller breeds can get the joy out of it too. It washed brilliantly and has become a firm favourite of our testers. It’s fun and stimulating while being quiet too.

Back to top

Kong puppy chew treat toy

Kong puppy treat toy.png
  • Best: Puppy toy
  • Type: Treat toy
  • Suitable for: Puppies (beginning to light chewers)
  • Benefits: Mental stimulation

This treat toy for puppies from Kong didn’t disappoint. Perfect for fitting dog treats inside, our testers had hours of fun chasing it and trying to get at their treats. We’re not sure it’d stand the test for hard, obsessive chewers, but for puppy teething and gentle biting, it’s perfect. It‘s recommended for beginner to light chewers and the treat inside offers mental stimulation too, so there was lots of licking as well as chewing. It rinses perfectly and even went through the dishwasher OK.

Back to top

Ruffer and Tuffer let’s play nibble and chew toy

Ruffer and Tuffer let’s play nibble and chew toy.png
  • Best: Interactive dog toy
  • Type: Tug, fetch and chew toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs
  • Benefits: N/A

Designed with restless dogs in mind, this tug toy is exceptionally hard-wearing, even after weeks of testing it didn’t yield at all or break. Dogs only see in yellow and blue and this striking block colour and bulky triangular design not only looked good but performed well in play. The experts at Pets At Home worked with dog behaviourists to design the toy too so it’s perfect for playing tug of war, fetch and for having a good old chew on. A diverse toy for all kinds of play.

Back to top

Pets at Home crunchy branch squeaky dog toy

Pets at Home crunchy branch squeaky dog toy.png
  • Best: Soft chew toy
  • Type: Squeaker toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs, unless they’re aggresive chewers
  • Benefits: N/A

Perfect for a long and exhausting game of fetch, while this toy looks like it wouldn’t be out of place in a live action Stick Man show, it crunches, squeaks and is ergonomic so throws brilliantly. It went through the washing machine fine and while it didn’t last as long as some of the others on the list before starting to fail, our three testers’ ears pricked up every single time they caught sight or sound of it.

Back to top

Nina Ottosson lickin' layers dog puzzle and feeder in one

Nina Ottosson lickin' layers dog puzzle and feeder in one.png
  • Best: For fast eaters
  • Type: Puzzle toy
  • Suitable for: All dogs
  • Benefits: Helps dogs eat at a slower pace

Her name might not be instantly recognisable but Nina certainly knows how to keep dogs busy. Her mantra – “dogs have four legs and one head and all five need activity in different ways” – rings true to any owner and her lickin’ layers puzzle and feeder is fantastic. It kept our testers entertained for hours.

Whether it’s peanut butter spread onto the layers or kibble put into the compartments, this spinning feeder has over 100 treat compartments in three layers that will take even the brightest mutt a while to get to. It separates and goes through the dishwasher and the colours are just as engaging as the activity – not to mention the fact it spins silently without a squeaker or crackle in earshot so four-legged friends can entertain themselves even during the quiet parts of a movie.

Back to top

The verdict: Dog toys

While your choice might depend on the game you’re trying to play with your pup, for us the Nylabone power chew and Cheerble interactive dog toy ball were hard to beat. They’re both very different toys and stimuli but both test fantastically with our enthusiastic four-legged friends. The only reason that the Nylabone slightly pinched the top spot is that it is still going strong seven weeks after testing and required no set-up compared to the Cheerble.

Special mention has to go to the Pup Suds tug toy. With very competitive testers, this lasted incredibly well and is washing brilliantly. With dogs having pretty sizeable carbon paw prints this one also ticks every sustainable credential out there so your pup can have fun without worrying about the impact they’re having on the environment.

Keep your four-legged friend safe and stylish with the best dog collars

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
Up to 7% off all online bookings at TUI
ASOS Discount Code
20% off everything with this ASOS app discount code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount
The Body Shop Discount Code
20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code
Domino's Voucher Code
Get 40% off mains, sides, and desserts - Domino's voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in