Dog Toys

Hundreds of dog toys in one collection, grouped by what the toy is for rather than what it looks like: hard-wearing chew toys, fetch balls and launchers, tug and rope toys, plush and squeaker toys, treat-dispensing and puzzle toys, snuffle and lick mats, and softer teething toys for puppies. Most dogs want two or three of these categories, not one.

Match the toy to the chewer

Chew strength decides more than size does. Heavy chewers need solid rubber or nylon — KONG Classic and Extreme, West Paw's Zogoflex range and Nylabone Power Chew are built for that job. Moderate chewers do well with stuffing-free plush, rope and crinkle toys from Zippy Paws, Charming Pet and Spunky Pup. Puppies in teething should be on softer, purpose-made toys such as the KONG Puppy or Nylabone's teething keys, not on adult power chews. Whatever the toy, check it regularly and retire it once it splits — no chew toy is indestructible, and all chewing should be supervised.

Enrichment, not just entertainment

Treat-dispensing and puzzle toys slow a dog down and give it something to solve, which is why they are the usual answer to boredom and to bolting food. They come in rough tiers: simple stuffables and rollers such as the KONG Wobbler, West Paw Toppl and Planet Dog Snoop; sliding and lifting puzzles from Nina Ottosson, graded Level 1 through Level 4 so you can move up as your dog works them out; and foraging surfaces such as Buster snuffle mats and LickiMat pads that stretch a meal or a spoon of paste over several minutes. Start easier than you think and make it harder once the dog is confident.

Brands in this collection

KONG, West Paw, Zippy Paws, Nylabone, Nina Ottosson, Planet Dog, Spunky Pup, Nerf, Tonka, Happy Staffy Co, Charming Pet, Starmark, Buster, LickiMat, All for Paws, FurKidz, Rosewood and M-Pets.

• KONG dog toys
• Zippy Paws
• West Paw
• Nina Ottosson puzzles
• Nylabone chews
• Dog treats for stuffing and training

Shop tough rubber toys

• Petopia ultra tough dog toys — 18 shapes in 100% natural rubber with no glue or paint, and every one doubles as a treat dispenser. Sizing varies by shape, so check the individual product.