In this article we\u2019ll tell you all about :-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- What makes a great puppy toy and what you should be looking for<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Our favorite puppy toys and why we love them so much<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Off we go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/edge2edge-media-C2Yxp5iINn4-unsplash-1024x731.jpg\")
Photo by Edge2Edge Media<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What makes a great puppy toy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So you\u2019ve decided on a puppy toy shopping spree, but where do you start with the hundreds of different toys to choose from! Here\u2019s a few things to know that will help you make the best choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ask yourself \u2018is it safe for my puppy to chew\u2019 because they will chew it, puppies don\u2019t treasure their toys like we would hope, they really just want to rip them to bits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Does it have sharp edges when chewed? (We avoid rawhide chews for this reason!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can it be chewed and broken very easily?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What is it made from? Is it safe if my puppy ingests parts of it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Is it size appropriate for my puppy? Too small and it might be swallowed, too big and your puppy might hurt themselves flinging it around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Hard or soft?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Different puppies have different needs, some prefer a gentle and soft plush toy whereas others prefer a harder toy especially when they\u2019re teething. Have a variety and learn what your pup likes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dogs’ mouths are shaped differently, depending on what they are bred to do, or hunt! A Whippet has a jaw that\u2019s long and thin, ready to grab small prey and shake, whereas a Labrador has a wide cavernous jaw, designed to bring back a bird that\u2019s already been killed, not damaging the meat on the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, a whippet is going to prefer thinner toys, and the labrador larger more ball like shapes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noisy or not?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some dogs will go crazy for a crinkly sounding toy, whereas others go mad for something squeaky. Of course, for some humans this noise will drive them up the wall, so it\u2019s ok to prefer non squeaky toys if you\u2019d rather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One player or two player toys?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are toys that you leave with puppies to play with by themselves, toys that need two people to play with (like tug toys) and toys which are best played with together, at least at first such as the puzzle and enrichment toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/joe-caione-qO-PIF84Vxg-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Joe Caione<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The best puppy toys<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve compiled some of our favorite puppy toys below, why we like them and also made it super easy for you to click \u2018add to basket\u2019 when you\u2019re ready to buy! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nylabone Puppy Teething Keys<\/a> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A firm favorite in the Zigzag office, not only are these safe for puppies to chew (and potentially ingest) as they\u2019re made from nylon, they also remind us of a baby\u2019s teething ring. Awrr cute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ddxcjz<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coffee Wood Root Chew<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Puppies love the \u2018give\u2019 that chewing on wood provides, it\u2019s extra soothing on their gums too – see skirting boards and dining chairs across the land. Real wood splinters so make sure you get them appropriate wood root chews like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3DbEbEk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buffalo Horn Chew Toy<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Buffalo horn is made up of keratin so is softer than bone and will last a long time which is perfect for a chewing puppy – these ones can be stuffed just like a Kong<\/a> or West Paw Toppl<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3lu65oU<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tug-E-Nuff Chaser Tug<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In our opinion, these are the best tug toys out there, and are wonderful at getting bitey puppies away from your hands and redirected onto a toy. Don\u2019t leave them with your puppy though, I promise your puppy will find them irresistible and will shred them. One for the \u2018two player\u2019 toy box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Ekdcb5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
K9 Connectables Puzzle Pack<\/a> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These connectable enrichment toys make an interesting puzzle for puppies to solve in order to get the food out, and will appeal to the Meccano or Lego enthusiast owners too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3pp5ZQu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharples and Grant Lickimat<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lickimats are a favorite of ours, well our dogs anyway. They’re so easy to use and to clean, and really slow down feeding. We also suggest using them if you need to groom or wash your puppy as it gives them something to do while you work on the rest of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ofpEDc<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nina Ottosson Dog Brick<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Nina Ottosson is one of the original \u2018Puzzle toy\u2019 manufacturers and her toys are now sold worldwide, they are brilliant at getting dogs to problem solve and are easily washed. You\u2019ll probably get a bit addicted to buying all of the different ones for your puppies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3GbRkPo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dogs seem to go mad for pulling out the squirrels of this toy, perhaps it goes with the \u2018dissect\u2019 part of their hunting sequence. One to play with your puppy and encourage them to seek out the squirrels. Oh and yes, the squirrels squeak of course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rvGb84<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
West Paw Toppl<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These are reasonably new on the market and are a great toy for teething puppies or for stuffing with your dog\u2019s meal. They have a wide opening so are less frustrating than other stuffable chew toys but dogs still seem to really love them. Bonus points from us is that they are happy to go in the dishwasher too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3oeMaMD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kong Knots Fox<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cute colors, fun to fling around and gentle on older or younger gums, the Kong range of soft toys are also very durable and harder to dissect than most soft puppy toys. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3G7WFrg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
SPOT Ethical Pets Fox Mini Skinneeez <\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Skinneez Are probably the original makers of stuffingless dog toys, and provide a good quality toy that can’t easily be dissected but also made of safe materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Dlue7c<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mad about pets – Mallard empty toy<\/a> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Not only is this duck toy empty so your puppy won\u2019t be able to dissect the same as other soft toys, but it still has an excellent squeaker! Hours of fun. P.S you could of course choose the \u2018Honking Duck\u2019<\/a> or \u2018Squeaky Pheasant\u2019<\/a> variant, but these guys have stuffing in, just to warn you! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buy from Amazon here: https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dfbX0Y<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best puppy toys according to your pet\u2019s needs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Puppy chewing toys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Puppies chew a lot, in their first chewing phase when teething, and then later on for jaw strength. Check out our article here<\/a> all about puppy teething.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our favorite toys to help with puppy chewing are the West Paw Toppl<\/a> and Nylabone Puppy Teething Keys<\/a>. They\u2019re safe for puppies of all ages and can be washed easily too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppy training toys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Puppies love to play so use toys like the Tug-e-Nuff range to teach them to fetch, drop, and tug, as well as work on self control while you\u2019re playing. Why not try the Tug-E-Nuff Chaser Tug<\/a> and see what you can teach your puppy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppy soft toy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For those times your puppy just wants to cuddle up and play with their soft toys we recommend the SPOT Ethical Pets Fox Mini Skinneeez<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/andrew-pons-oH9AuO20kbk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Andrew Pons<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n So there you have it, our recommended puppy toys. Of course, you don\u2019t have to spend a bunch of money, for some puppies a tennis ball in an old sock tied in a knot is all they need, remember you are the thing they want the most, so get on the floor and play with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to learn more? We have a tonne of DIY dog toy instructions in the Zigzag puppy training app, as well as training games for you to play. Stuck for ideas? Contact our Puppy Expert Support team<\/a>, they\u2019d love to talk to you about puppy play! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"