Our current picks of dog toys
14 picks, updated 16 September 2026
A box of dog toys wants three things in it, something to chew, something to chase and something to think about. Most dogs end up with a dozen and two favourites, and the favourites are the ones that do a job.
These toys made our list, with what each one is for and the dog it suits. Between them they cover chewing, fetching, thinking and carrying, which is most of what a dog asks of a toy box.
Our picks
- 1
KONG
Classic, medium
Why we picked it
Empty, it is a bouncy chew toy. Stuffed with wet food or a scraped out portion of dinner, it keeps a dog busy long enough for you to get something done. KONG say the natural red rubber satisfies instinctive needs and gives mental engagement, which covers chewing, teething and crate training. The rubber holds up to daily use and it goes in the dishwasher.
- Type
- Stuffable chew
- Best for
- Boredom and crate time
- Price band
- £
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- 2
Chuckit!
Ultra Ball, medium, two pack
Why we picked it
Thick natural rubber, high bounce and it floats, which covers fetch in a field and fetch in a river. Chuckit say the orange and blue makes it easy to spot in long grass. It fits the standard launchers, so you can throw further than your shoulder allows, and the smooth surface rinses clean.
- Type
- Fetch ball
- Best for
- Dogs mad for fetch
- Price band
- ££
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- 3
Outward Hound
Nina Ottosson Puzzle, level 1
Why we picked it
A first puzzle wants to be easy enough to solve, so the dog finishes it and comes back for more. Outward Hound pitch this level 1 design by Nina Ottosson at puppies and novice dogs. You fill it with treats and they paw and nudge the rewards out. It turns a quiet afternoon into something for the brain to do.
- Type
- Puzzle toy
- Best for
- A dog's first puzzle
- Price band
- £
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- 4
KONG
Extreme, large
Why we picked it
Same shape, harder compound. KONG call this their most durable natural rubber, made for power chewing dogs and recommended by vets and trainers. The hollow inside still takes kibble or peanut butter, and the erratic bounce keeps a big dog interested in a game. It is the version to choose for a dog that chews with real commitment.
- Type
- Stuffable chew
- Best for
- Dogs that chew hard
- Price band
- £££
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- 5
KONG
SqueakAir Tennis Balls, six pack
Why we picked it
KONG make these with their own non-abrasive tennis material, which the maker lists as softer on teeth. The squeaker is the part most dogs care about, and it keeps a dog coming back for the next throw. Six in a box means there is always another one in the bag for the next walk.
- Type
- Tennis ball
- Best for
- Ball-mad dogs
- Price band
- £££
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- 6
KONG
Puppy, teething
Why we picked it
KONG make this in a softer natural rubber, developed to be gentle on the 28 baby teeth a puppy is growing. Stuff it with kibble or paste, freeze it, and a teething mouth gets something soothing and legal to work on. It bounces too, so the same toy covers early games of fetch and crate training.
- Type
- Stuffable chew
- Best for
- Puppies who are teething
- Price band
- £
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- 7
Chuckit!
Max Glow Ball, medium, two pack
Why we picked it
Winter walks happen in the dark, and this one keeps the game going once the light has gone. Chuckit say five minutes under any bright light gives 20 to 30 minutes of glow, with no batteries to think about. The thick rubber and grippy texture are built for fetch, and it works with the same launchers.
- Type
- Fetch ball
- Best for
- Dark winter walks
- Price band
- ££
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- 8
Outward Hound
Nina Ottosson Puzzle, level 2
Why we picked it
Level 2 asks for a sequence. Outward Hound describe sliding layers that a dog works through to uncover hidden treats, and it doubles as a slow feeder. Ten minutes of that satisfies a busy dog as much as another lap of the park, which is handy on a wet day or a rest day.
- Type
- Puzzle toy
- Best for
- Clever, busy dogs
- Price band
- £££
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- 9
Petface
Orla the Octopus, large
Why we picked it
Plush toys are about the shaking and the carrying, and eight long legs give a dog plenty to grab. Petface make this one large and soft with a squeaker inside, which suits a bigger dog that likes to snuggle with a toy as much as play with it. It works indoors or out in the garden.
- Type
- Plush toy
- Best for
- Shakers and carriers
- Price band
- ££
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- 10
Petface
Planet Carlos the Crocodile
Why we picked it
Petface make Planet Carlos from recycled plastic bottles, and you can slide an empty bottle inside for the crackle dogs love. There is a squeaker built in as well, so the toy gives a dog two sounds to chase. The long body is light enough for a medium dog to run about with.
- Type
- Plush toy
- Best for
- Gentle players and medium dogs
- Price band
- ££
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- 11
Rosewood
Squeaky Tennis Balls, three pack
Why we picked it
Three bright balls with built in squeakers, in the standard tennis ball size that fits most launchers. Rosewood make them light and bouncy for fetch in the garden or the park, and the colours are easy to pick out in grass. A good pack to keep in the car for throwing sessions.
- Type
- Tennis ball
- Best for
- Park throwing in long grass
- Price band
- £
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- 12
Petface
Foodie Faces Fluffy Carrot
Why we picked it
Plenty of plush toys are sized for a labrador, and this one is made small and soft for a terrier or a puppy. Petface build a squeaker in, which is the part that gets a little dog playing. It works as a first toy, and as something light to carry about the house.
- Type
- Plush toy
- Best for
- Small dogs and puppies
- Price band
- £
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- 13
Chuckit!
Ball launcher, Sport 14, 36 cm
Why we picked it
This dog ball launcher is the 36 cm Sport 14, the size Chuckit build for small dogs. The long plastic handle extends your reach, and Chuckit say it throws a ball three times further than by hand. It takes the small 2 inch Chuckit balls, so it suits terriers and other little dogs who want a proper run.
- Type
- Ball launcher
- Best for
- Small dogs who live for fetch
- Price band
- £
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- 14
KONG
Treat dispensing rubber bone, small
Why we picked it
This treat dispensing dog bone is made from KONG's Classic natural red rubber, the formula the brand has built toys around since 1976. It is the small size, listed for adult small dogs, and the range also runs to medium and large. The bone measures 13.08 by 4.83 by 3.18 cm and weighs 80 g. KONG make it in the USA.
- Type
- Stuffable chew
- Best for
- Small dogs who like stuffed chews
- Price band
- £
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Side by side
| # | Pick | Type | Best for | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KONG Classic, medium | Stuffable chew | Boredom and crate time | £ |
| 2 | Chuckit! Ultra Ball, medium, two pack | Fetch ball | Dogs mad for fetch | ££ |
| 3 | Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Puzzle, level 1 | Puzzle toy | A dog's first puzzle | £ |
| 4 | KONG Extreme, large | Stuffable chew | Dogs that chew hard | £££ |
| 5 | KONG SqueakAir Tennis Balls, six pack | Tennis ball | Ball-mad dogs | £££ |
| 6 | KONG Puppy, teething | Stuffable chew | Puppies who are teething | £ |
| 7 | Chuckit! Max Glow Ball, medium, two pack | Fetch ball | Dark winter walks | ££ |
| 8 | Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Puzzle, level 2 | Puzzle toy | Clever, busy dogs | £££ |
| 9 | Petface Orla the Octopus, large | Plush toy | Shakers and carriers | ££ |
| 10 | Petface Planet Carlos the Crocodile | Plush toy | Gentle players and medium dogs | ££ |
| 11 | Rosewood Squeaky Tennis Balls, three pack | Tennis ball | Park throwing in long grass | £ |
| 12 | Petface Foodie Faces Fluffy Carrot | Plush toy | Small dogs and puppies | £ |
| 13 | Chuckit! Ball launcher, Sport 14, 36 cm | Ball launcher | Small dogs who live for fetch | £ |
| 14 | KONG Treat dispensing rubber bone, small | Stuffable chew | Small dogs who like stuffed chews | £ |
Questions people ask
How many toys does a dog need?
Three or four out at a time is plenty. Keep the rest away and rotate them weekly, because a toy that has been out of sight for a week comes back as good as new.
Which dog toys can I leave with my dog alone?
Solid rubber in the right size is the one to leave. Stuff it, freeze it, and a dog settles with it in a crate or at bedtime. Plush toys and puzzles are for games with you in the room.
What size dog toy should I buy?
Big enough that it stays in front of the back teeth. Sizing charts run on weight, so take the size up if your dog chews with commitment, and the toy has more to give.