Rubber chew toy or plush?
Updated 16 September 2026
Rubber is bought to last and to be chewed. Plush is bought to be carried, shaken and paraded round the house. Most dogs want both, and each has its moment.
Dog chew toys and plush toys do two different jobs. A rubber chew is an outlet for chewing that can be stuffed with food and frozen. A plush toy is prey, something to shake, carry to the sofa and parade round the house.
The useful part is knowing which one goes with an unsupervised dog and which one is a game you play together. Rubber suits the first, plush suits the second, and most toy boxes end up with both.
Side by side
Rubber chew toy
Solid natural rubber, usually hollow so it can be stuffed with food and frozen.
Suits
- Dogs left alone, in a crate or settling at night
- Hard chewers who need a tough toy
- Teething puppies, in the softer puppy compound
Ones we like
KONG
Classic, medium
A hollow rubber chew toy you can stuff with food to turn dinner into a proper job.
Fill it and freeze it, and a restless dog has something to get on with for half an hour.
KONG
Extreme, large
The black rubber chew toy built for power chewers, with the same stuffable hollow centre.
Size up from the chart if your dog is a determined chewer, and it will last longer still.
KONG
Puppy, teething
A softer rubber chew toy made for milk teeth and stuffing with treats.
Freeze it during teething and a puppy has something cold to settle with.
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Plush toy
Soft fabric with a squeaker inside, made for carrying and shaking.
Suits
- Dogs that carry a toy about the house
- Gentle players and small mouths
- Games with you in the room
Ones we like
Petface
Orla the Octopus, large
A large plush toy with eight legs to grab, shake and carry around the house.
One for carrying round the house and for games with you in the room.
Petface
Planet Carlos the Crocodile
A plush crocodile made from recycled bottles, with a squeaker and room for a bottle.
The plush to pick when you would rather the fabric came from recycled bottles than new plastic.
Petface
Foodie Faces Fluffy Carrot
A small squeaky plush carrot, sized for little dogs and young puppies.
The right size for a small mouth, and an easy first toy for a new puppy.
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Common questions
When should my dog play with a plush toy?
When you are in the room. Plush toys are made for the shaking and carrying a dog does in a game with you, so bring one out for playtime and put it away after. That keeps it fresh for the next game.
How do I keep my dog interested in toys?
Rotate them. Three toys out and the rest put away means each one feels new when it comes back round, and a dog that is still curious plays with what it has.
When should I replace a dog toy?
Swap in a fresh one when pieces start to come away, when a squeaker shows through, or when rubber has thinned with use. A quick look over the toy box each week keeps the good ones in play.