Puppy Toys: How to Choose the Best, Safest Toys for Your Dog

A puppy needs a small mix of toys rather than a big pile: something to chew, a food puzzle to work at, a soft toy for supervised cuddles, and a tug or fetch toy you play with together. The safest puppy toys are made for dogs, too big to fit fully in your puppy's mouth, soft enough to dent with a fingernail, and checked often for damage. Cooked bones, rawhide, sticks and small balls are best left out.

What are the best puppy toys? The types every puppy needs

Puppies chew to explore, to ease sore gums and to burn off energy, so toys are not a luxury. The right dog toy gives your puppy a better outlet than your shoes, furniture or hands, and play helps relieve boredom and lets dogs chase and pounce in a safe way. Different toys do different jobs, and a good starter set covers each one.

Dogs Trust suggests offering a variety of materials, such as rope, rubber and soft toys, and noticing which ones your puppy prefers. Most puppies have firm favourites, and knowing them helps you redirect chewing quickly. PDSA also suggests choosing games to suit your dog's breed and personality.

Puppy chew toys: what to look for

Chew toys are the toys your puppy will use most, so they need to stand up to the job. No toy is truly indestructible, whatever the label says, so the tests below matter more than marketing. PDSA's guidance gives a useful set of tests to help you select a chew toy:

• Designed for chewing. Soft toys, tug ropes, tennis balls and frisbees are play toys, not chew toys, and are meant for supervised play only.
• The fingernail test. The toy should be soft enough to dent with your fingernail. Anything harder can fracture teeth or damage gums.
• Too big to swallow. It should not fit fully inside your puppy's mouth.
• No long rope strands or loose stuffing. Both can cause blockages in the gut if swallowed.

Edible chews follow similar rules. They should pass the same fingernail test, come from a trusted source, contain nothing harmful to dogs, and be given only occasionally, with your puppy's daily food reduced to allow for the extra calories. If your puppy gulps chews whole rather than gnawing them, a durable dog toy is the better choice. If your puppy turns out to be an aggressive chewer, choose tough toys that still pass the fingernail test, and supervise closely.

Puppy teething toys: what helps while puppies teethe

Puppies have their baby teeth by around four weeks old, before they leave their mum. These start to fall out at around 12 weeks, and the adult teeth have usually all come through by about seven months, although the timing varies with size and other factors. Chewing helps soothe sore gums while puppies teethe, so expect plenty of it. Some dogs also go through a second chewing phase around their first birthday.

The best teething toys are simply good chew toys with a bit of variety: a rubber toy, one of your rope toys for supervised play and a dog-safe chew give your puppy different textures to work on. A chew toy can help alleviate the urge to gnaw on furniture at the same time. Keep them in more than one room so there is always one within reach when your puppy starts mouthing. Our guide to puppy teething covers sore gums, retained baby teeth and what is normal in more detail.

Hold off on very hard frozen treats for now. Blue Cross says its homemade ice licks are not suitable for puppies under seven months who still have their baby teeth.

Puppy puzzle toys and food-dispensing toys

Food toys turn part of a meal into a job, and they stimulate your puppy's brain as well as their jaws. Stuffable food toys, licking mats and puzzle feeders give your puppy something to chew and problem-solve, and they are especially useful for helping a puppy settle after an exciting play session. A snuffle mat, where kibble is hidden among fabric strips, can be used for a whole meal.

Tips for using food toys well:

• Use part of your puppy's daily food allowance rather than adding extra treats, so they don't put on weight.
• Start easy so your puppy succeeds quickly, then make it harder as they get the idea.
• Reward your puppy when they engage with the toy.
• If you use peanut butter, choose one that is free from xylitol.
• Supervise, particularly with fabric toys such as snuffle mats that could be torn and swallowed.

Feeding puzzles and snuffle mats are a good source of mental stimulation, which PDSA recommends alongside physical activity. They entertain a puppy without overexciting them, and are one of the easiest ways to keep dogs entertained for a few minutes while you get on with something else.

Soft, plush and squeaky toys

Many puppies love a plush toy to carry around, shake or curl up with, and some settle better with a familiar cuddle toy or blanket nearby. Treat these as supervised toys rather than something to leave in the crate overnight, because loose stuffing can be pulled out and swallowed. If your puppy enjoys ripping out stuffing, a toy made specifically for that kind of play is a safer outlet than a general cuddly toy. Replace soft toys as soon as they are damaged, so torn pieces can't cause a blockage. Squeaky toys need the same care: once the fabric splits, the squeaker is exactly the kind of small part that can be chewed off and swallowed.

Tug and rope toys: how to play tug of war safely

Tug of war is a great game for building a bond and teaching your puppy to let go on cue. Use a proper tug toy, such as a rope or ragger, rather than an old sock or a sleeve. Blue Cross sets out a simple method:

1. Invite your puppy to grab the toy with a cue such as "take it".
2. Move the toy gently at first, as over-excitement makes it harder for your puppy to focus.
3. After about 30 seconds, stop moving the toy, hold it still against you and stay quiet.
4. When your puppy lets go, praise them and start the game again straight away.
5. Once they let go reliably, add a word such as "out" or "off".
6. Let your puppy win the toy regularly so they stay interested.

If teeth land on skin, pause the game. Dogs Trust warns that puppies can grab a hand or arm instead of the toy during tug, so keep the toy long enough to keep your hands well away from their mouth. If nipping during play is becoming a pattern, our guide to puppy biting explains how to redirect it.

Fetch toys: ball games and growing joints

Fetch is fun, but it is hard on joints that are still developing. PDSA advises avoiding throwing games for dogs that are still growing, because the quick starts and sudden stops strain their joints, and to avoid slippery or uneven surfaces too. For a young puppy, rolling a ball a short distance along the floor is plenty of playtime.

When you do play fetch:

• Choose a ball on a rope or a toy too large to swallow. Blue Cross advises against tennis balls and loose balls, which can lodge in the throat or cause a blockage if chewed.
• Throw low and along the ground, never upwards, so your puppy doesn't land awkwardly.
• Keep sessions short, as dogs often overdo repetitive chasing.
• Never throw sticks. They can splinter, lodge in the throat or stick in the ground and injure your dog.

How to choose a safe dog toy for your puppy

Whatever the type, run through this checklist before you choose a toy or put a new one in the toy box:

• Made for dogs, not a child's toy or household item, which may not survive play and can be dangerous
• Big enough that your puppy can carry it without the whole thing fitting in their mouth
• Soft enough to dent with a fingernail if it is a chew toy
• Dog-safe materials with no small parts or batteries
• No long loose rope strands or exposed stuffing
• Easy to clean, so you can keep on top of hygiene
• Swapped for a bigger size as your puppy grows, since a toy that fitted safely at first can become a choking risk

Size matters for every breed. Toys sold for small dogs and toy breeds, or mini versions of bigger toys, can be easy for a larger puppy to swallow, so judge the toy against your own pup's mouth rather than the label. Then keep checking. Look over toys regularly and throw away anything with parts that could be bitten off and swallowed. Only leave your puppy alone with toys you are sure they can't destroy or swallow, and put the others away when you can't supervise. A puppy playpen set up with one or two safe chew toys gives your puppy somewhere secure to play when you need to step away.

Toys and chews to avoid

Some popular items, including chews sold in pet shops, carry real risks for puppies. These are the ones UK animal charities warn about.

PDSA's warning applies to bones in general, not just cooked ones, so a dog-safe chew toy is the simpler choice for a puppy.

How many toys does a puppy need? Rotating toys

You don't need an endless supply, just a small selection. Dogs Trust suggests keeping three or four toys out at a time and swapping them every couple of days, so they feel new again. Rotation also gives you a natural moment to check each toy for wear before it goes back into circulation, and to notice which ones your puppy seems to prefer.

A simple routine:

If you are still preparing for your puppy's arrival, add a few of each type to your new puppy checklist so you can rotate from the first week.

Playing together: interactive games

Toys work best when you are part of the game, and interactive play is how your new pup learns the rules. Short, frequent sessions suit puppies far better than long ones. Dogs Trust recommends activities of roughly ten minutes with downtime afterwards, and reminds owners that puppies need around 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day. An overtired puppy is more likely to get the zoomies and mouth at hands, which is a good sign it is time for a nap rather than another game.

Good habits from day one:

• Set play rules early. No mouthing hands, and no feet used as toys. Everyone in the household should follow the same rules.
• Offer a toy before the mouthing starts. If your puppy starts bouncing, pouncing or batting a paw at you, get a toy out to encourage the right kind of play.
• Praise good choices. When your puppy brings you a toy or chews the right thing, notice it.
• Try different games. Hide-and-seek with a toy or treats, gentle tug and short retrieves suit different personalities.
• Never force play. Let your puppy choose to join in.
• Supervise children. Ask them not to run or shout around the puppy, and stay close during play.

When to call your vet

Seek veterinary advice straight away if your puppy has swallowed part of a toy, a bone or any other non-food item, or if they are choking, retching, struggling to breathe or in obvious distress. Don't wait to see whether the item passes.

Call your vet for advice if:

• your puppy keeps eating non-food items, which can sometimes point to a health problem
• their chewing habits change suddenly, as chewing can also be linked to stress, separation anxiety or a medical problem
• you notice a broken tooth, bleeding gums or a sore mouth after chewing
• you are worried about anything else

Frequently asked questions

What are the best toys for puppies?

The best toys for puppies are a mix of types: a durable chew toy, a food puzzle, a soft toy for supervised play and a tug or fetch toy to use with you. Choose dog-specific toys that are too big to swallow and soft enough to dent with a fingernail.

Are tennis balls safe for puppies?

Blue Cross advises against tennis balls and balls without a rope, as they can lodge in the throat or cause a blockage if chewed. A ball on a rope is a safer option for fetch.

Can puppies have rawhide chews?

PDSA advises against rawhide, as it can splinter or break into pieces small enough to swallow, and may contain bacteria or unsafe chemicals, especially if imported.

Should I leave toys in my puppy's crate?

Only leave toys you are confident your puppy cannot destroy or swallow. Soft toys and tug ropes are for supervised play.

When do puppies stop teething?

Most puppies have all their adult teeth by around seven months, although timing varies, and some dogs have a second chewing phase around their first birthday.