Best Dog Toys by Chew Style: How to Choose Safe Toys Your Dog Will Love

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Toys aren’t just a treat for your dog. They give a dog something appropriate to chew, burn off energy, ease boredom and give you a way to play together. But the right toy for a gentle Cavalier is the wrong toy for a determined Labrador. The easiest way to choose is to start with how your dog plays. This guide sorts toys by chew style, covers the safety rules every owner should know, and explains how to keep toys interesting.

Start with your dog’s play style

Watch your dog with a few different toys for a week. Most dogs fit one or two of these groups:

• Gentle chewers and cuddlers carry toys around, lick them and sleep next to them. Soft plush toys often last.
• Tuggers love a game of tug-of-war with you. Rope toys and long rubber tug toys suit them.
• Fetchers live for the chase. Balls, flying discs and floating toys are their thing.
• Power chewers destroy plush in minutes and gnaw for long periods. They need tough rubber toys, and supervision.
• Sniffers and problem solvers love to hunt for food. Snuffle mats, puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys give them a job.

Toy safety rules

Size matters

Choose toys that are too big to fit fully in your dog’s mouth or throat. A ball that’s fine for a terrier can be a choking hazard for a large dog. When in doubt, size up.

Not too hard

Very hard items, like antlers, hooves and some nylon bones, can fracture teeth. A common rule of thumb from vets: if you can’t make a dent in it with your fingernail, it may be too hard for chewing.

Supervise and inspect

• Check toys regularly and throw away anything cracked, split or coming apart.
• Remove squeakers, eyes and stuffing that come loose before your dog swallows them.
• Watch your dog with rope toys and put them away when they fray. Swallowed strings can cause serious intestinal blockages.
• Never give cooked bones, which can splinter.

If your dog swallows part of a toy, or starts vomiting, straining or refusing food after chewing, call your vet right away.

The best dog toys by chew style

For gentle chewers

Soft plush toys, crinkle toys and squeakers are great for carrying and cuddling. Look for reinforced seams and avoid small parts that can be pulled off.

For tuggers

Rope toys and rubber tug toys give you both something to hold. Play tug with simple rules: your dog takes the toy on a cue, lets go when you ask (“drop it”), and the game pauses if teeth touch skin. Tug is a great way to practice impulse control, and our obedience training guide explains how to teach “drop it”.

For fetchers

Pick balls sized for your dog, and consider rubber balls over tennis balls for dogs who chew them, since the fuzzy covering can wear down teeth over time. Keep fetch sessions moderate, especially for puppies and older dogs, and avoid hard sticks, which can splinter.

For power chewers

Choose thick, durable rubber toys made for strong chewers, and always supervise. No toy is truly indestructible, so check it often.

For sniffers and thinkers

Food puzzles, snuffle mats and lick mats turn mealtime into a game. They’re especially useful on rainy days, for dogs on crate rest (with your vet’s OK), and for dogs who eat too fast. Scent work is a natural outlet too; see our post on training sniffing dogs.

Toy rotation keeps things fresh

Many trainers suggest dividing toys into sets and swapping them every few days. Your dog gets “new” toys without you buying more:

1. Keep two or three toys out at a time, including one chew toy.
2. Store the rest out of sight.
3. Swap every three or four days.
4. Keep a special toy, like a tug or a favorite ball, for games with you.

Toys and behavior

Many unwanted behaviors, like chewing shoes or furniture, come from boredom or excess energy. A good chew toy is the easiest fix: when your dog picks up something they shouldn’t, swap it for a toy and praise them. Toys can also help a dog settle when left alone for a short time. If your dog is destructive or distressed every time you leave, though, it may be separation anxiety; talk to your vet or a qualified trainer. Our guide to understanding dog behavior has more on what’s behind common problems.

Toys on the go

Pack one or two familiar toys and a long-lasting chew when you travel. They help your dog settle in a hotel room or at a rest stop. Our road trip checklist covers the rest of the packing list.

Our picks

For tuggers

The Stuey Sock Monkey Natural Rope Knottie Dog Toy is a 19-inch sock monkey hand-knotted from 9mm cotton and hemp rope, with sueded leather accents and plant-based dyes. It has no squeaker. Use it for supervised tug and fetch games.

For sniffers

The Pet Sniffing Pad hides kibble or treats in its fabric folds so your dog has to sniff them out. It’s a calm, low-energy game for dogs and cats.

For slow, focused licking

The Lighthouse eMat Enrichment Lick Mat has a textured pattern to spread with wet food, yogurt or xylitol-free peanut butter. It’s freezer safe for a longer-lasting treat.

Dog toy gift ideas

Shopping for a dog this holiday season? A good gift matches the dog’s play style. Tuggers love a sturdy rope toy, sniffers love a snuffle mat, and almost every dog appreciates a lick mat for quiet time. Add a note on toy safety for the owner if it’s a puppy.

FAQ

How many toys does a dog need?

There’s no magic number, but a few of each type your dog enjoys, rotated every few days, keeps them interested.

Are rope toys safe?

They’re great for tug when you’re there, but some dogs chew off and swallow strands. Supervise, and throw rope toys away when they start to fray.

Why does my dog destroy every toy?

Some dogs are simply power chewers. Choose tough rubber toys made for strong chewers, supervise play, and make sure your dog gets enough exercise and mental work.