If you’re anything like me, you probably have a growing collection of dog toys.
But how do you choose the right toys for dogs?
It comes down to being intentional about what you buy and why you are using it. The right dog toys should be safe, suited to your dog, and chosen with a clear purpose in mind.
Not all dog toys are equal. And the wrong toy can actually interfere with your dog’s learning, confidence, and even your relationship.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through the exact considerations I use before I buy a toy, so you can choose dog toys that truly work for your dog.
And if you’re looking for examples of toys I personally use and recommend, you can find them on my favorites page.
Why Choosing the Right Dog Toys Matters
Most people choose dog toys based on what looks fun or what is convenient.
But there is more to it than that.
A toy can influence how your dog learns. It can affect how clearly your dog understands what you want, and how successful they are when you train.
So before you add another toy to your cart, it’s worth asking one simple question:
Will this toy help my dog learn and engage with me?
My Checklist for Choosing Toys for Dogs
Here are the key things I consider every time I evaluate a toy.
1. Cost Matters, But It Is Not Everything
Cost is often the first thing people look at.
You can buy very cheap dog toys, but I would be cautious. There have been findings of high toxicity in some low-cost toys. That alone is enough reason for me to avoid them.
At the same time, expensive does not always mean better. I have trained dogs with toys that cost nothing at all.
2. What Is It Made Of
Materials are one of the most important considerations.
- Is it toxic?
- Can parts fall off?
- Will my dog ingest anything from it?
If I am choosing something like a rubber toy, I want food-grade quality. That matters when it is going in my dog’s mouth.
3. Is It Attractive to My Dog
You need to know your dog.
One of my dogs loved holding rubber toys. Another preferred something completely different.
Some dogs want squeaky toys. Others prefer crinkly textures or toys that move in a certain way.
If the toy is not attractive to your dog, it is not going to be useful no matter how good it looks.
4. Consider Your Dog’s Power
You need to think about how your dog plays.
Some dogs are gentle. Others are not.
I had a Border Collie who would take a tug toy and immediately move it to his back teeth. Those teeth are designed to shred. He could destroy almost anything.
So before buying dog toys, consider your dog’s jaw strength and how they interact with toys.
5. Consider Your Own Limitations
This is something many people overlook.
How will you use this toy?
If you have a strong dog and physical limitations, certain types of play may not be appropriate. That does not mean you cannot play. It means you choose toys that suit your situation.
I’ve worked with people who adapted play in ways that suited them. I remember one student in a wheelchair who would toss toys and teach his dog to bring them right back and drop them into his lap. That became their game.
6. Can You Clean It
Dog toys need to be cleaned.
If I cannot put it in the washing machine or dishwasher, I question whether I want it at all.
Toys get carried, dropped, stored, and reused. Toys sitting in a bag and going back into your dog’s mouth can build up bacteria, so cleaning them matters.
7. What Does Your Dog Actually Like
This is worth repeating because it matters so much.
I had a dog whose favorite toy was a rock.
I remember coming out of an agility ring and telling her to get her rock. She picked one up, then saw a full hot dog on the ground. She grabbed the hot dog, paused, then dropped it to go back to her rock.
As a safety note, rocks are not appropriate toys for dogs. They can damage teeth and may pose a risk if pieces break or are swallowed. This example is not about the toy itself, but about how strong a dog’s preferences can be when it comes to play.
If you know what your dog loves, you can use that to your advantage in training.
8. How Will You Feel About the Noise
Some toys make noise.
That might seem fun at first. But you need to ask yourself how you will feel about that sound after a few days.
Because your dog may love it just as much on day ten as they did on day one.
9. The Color of the Toy
This is something most people do not think about.
Dogs do not see color the same way we do.
A toy that looks bright to you may not stand out to your dog at all. For example, a red toy on grass can be surprisingly difficult for your dog to see, even though it looks obvious to us. A blue toy, on the other hand, is much easier for dogs to distinguish.
This can affect games like retrieving, especially outdoors, where visibility matters.
There is even an app called Dog Vision that lets you see how colors appear from your dog’s perspective, which can be very eye-opening.
Choosing a color your dog can see more easily can make learning clearer and less frustrating.
10. What Is the Purpose
Every toy should have a purpose.
I group my dog toys into six categories.
- Engagement
- Exercise
- Education
- Enrichment
- Entertainment
- Eating
Not every toy fits all categories, but every toy I use fits at least one.
Before buying a toy, I ask myself what role it will play.
The Big Picture
We all want to have fun with our dogs.
Toys are a big part of that.
But when you choose toys for dogs with intention, you get more than fun. You get more out of your training and your time together.
The toy itself is not the goal. What you do with it is what matters.
Today I Am Grateful
Today I am grateful for the clarity our dogs give us when it comes to play.
The way they show us what they value, simply by what they choose and how they engage with it.
I’m grateful that something as simple as a toy can guide us, if we are willing to notice. It gives us feedback on what builds confidence and what helps our dogs feel comfortable and engaged.
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