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There’s a misconception out there that small dogs don’t need as much enrichment as their larger friends—but that’s rarely the case, especially when it comes to Boston Terriers. Boston Terriers are smart, hardy dogs that love to play.
As trainer Audrey Folsom Nett of Just Love the Dog explains, “Toy and small dogs have very similar training needs to larger dogs. Most toy breeds have a very high drive depending on what they were bred for, so they need play that gives them enrichment in that area. Many of the small dogs I have worked with are some of the smartest!”
So what’s the best toy for a Boston Terrier? Nett says their style is similar to that of other bully breeds, which means lots of tug and chew—with plenty of room for grunts, huffs, and snorts. With her help, we’ve rounded up our favorites.
Best Boston Terrier Ball Toy: Chuckit AirFetch
These lightweight ball toys are especially great for smoosh-faced dogs (aka brachycephalic dogs) like Boston Terriers, with construction that allows for good airflow and better breathing as your dog runs and fetches. It’s a good outdoor ball that’s compatible with the Chuckit! ball launcher (more on that one below) if you’d like a little extra throwing power. They also float for swimmers.
Key Features:
- Unique construction allows for easier gripping and breathing as your dog runs
- 2 inches; compatible with small Chuckit! ball launcher
- Can also be used to hide treats in for a fun puzzle game
- Comes in a two-pack
Best Ball Thrower: Chuckit! Sport Small Launcher
- Nett recommends two to three play sessions daily with your Boston Terrier. The classic Chuckit! launcher dog toy can help you get there while giving your arm a rest; it remains one of the best and most-recognizable throwers on the market. The Sport model in size small fits the small 2-inch balls and allows you to get some range when you’re in an intense ball-throwing session outside.
Key Features:
- Size small is 14 inches long
- Fits 2 inch balls (like these Chuckit! brand small balls)
Best Chew Dog Toy for Boston Terriers: Benebone Wishbone
Chewing is another enriching activity—here’s one of the best dog toys that your super-chewing Boston Terrier can’t destroy on first bite. Firm but with enough satisfying give, it comes in enticing flavors like chicken, bacon, and peanut butter. The curved shape makes it easy for pups to grasp, and it’s available in five sizes, including the tiny for dogs under 15 pounds and a small for dogs under 30 pounds.
Enthusiastic Rover testers loved the Benebone Wishbone, especially the durability of the natural nylon. Benebone also has a handy guide to show you when to replace it for safety.
Key Features:
- Durable nylon with a little give
- Alternative to sticks and real bones
- Infused with chicken, bacon, and peanut butter flavors
- Available in two small sizes
Best Puzzle Toy: Nina Ottosson Hide ‘n’ Slide Puzzle Toy
Puzzle toys are a great option for Boston Terriers, whose dexterous paws and dainty noses often excel at skillful manipulation. This dog toy is an intermediate brain teaser (there are additional levels, from one to four). Hide treats in the round blocks; your Boston will need to flip the fins and then slide the block to get their reward.
Hiding different kinds of treats can help to heighten interest or to draw them through challenging parts, and you can make it easier by first flipping the fins open and having them slide the block only.
Key Features:
- Can be set at a couple of difficulty levels
- No removable parts
- Made from a food-safe plastic and wood composite—BPA, PVC, and phthalate-free
- Non-slip bottom
Best Squeaky Toy: Outward Hound Hide a Squirrel
This is a wildly popular hide-and-seek squirrel toy, one of the best for stimulating your Boston Terrier’s “find it” instinct. The plush burrow hides three squeaky squirrels for your pup to pull out and play toss and fetch with. You can up the ante by stashing a treat or two inside the log with the squirrels.
It comes in multiple sizes, but the junior is likely a good fit for smaller dogs—the next size up could work as well, since the squirrels themselves are small-dog-sized. The best part? You can buy replacement squirrels if your dog likes to de-squeak or destroy them, like some dogs we know.
Key Features:
- Smallest junior sized log burrow is 4 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches
- Comes with three squeaky squirrels to put inside; you can get additional squirrels too
Best Fetch Toy for Boston Terriers: KONG Ring Toy
We’ve got Rover pup-tested proof of this little ring’s endurance. The nubs offer variety and a little bit of teeth-cleaning; it works as a fetch, chew, and tug toy for your Boston Terrier dog, and the price is hard to beat. It can also be frozen for teething youngsters.
Key Features:
- Small/medium is 3.5 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick; the next size up is 4.25 inches
- Varying nubs help clean teeth and are interesting to chew for your dog
Best Rope Toy: Mammoth Braidys Two-Knot Rope
Nett says that Bostons often love to tug and chew. Rope toys are among the best toys for those rough-and-tumble games, and Mammoth makes cotton rope toys in a variety of sizes and styles, like this classic option. As your dog tugs and chews, the cotton fibers get in between their teeth to give them a little teeth cleaning action too. The small size is perfect for small puppers, at 11 inches long and 1.5 inches thick.
Key Features:
- Available in small, medium, and large—small is 11 inches long
- Cotton rope helps floss teeth as it comes apart during chew sessions
Best Stuffing-Free Toy: Skinny Peltz
For your Boston who can’t resist a squeak, Skinny Peltz by Zippypaws are a super fun plush toy for a rip-and-shaking good time. They’re blissfully stuffing-free, include multiple squeakers, and hold up to a lot of indoor play.
Key Features:
- No stuffing
- Each toy contains two squeakers
- Comes in a pack of three
Best Treat Dispensing Toy: West Paw Toppl
This treat-dispensing toy is one of Nett’s top toy recommendations, and it’s something that can work when a pet parent can’t be home too. Fill a Toppl with different kinds of treats that your Boston Terrier can work on fishing out (you can freeze treats in them for extra fun in warm seasons), or get two to interlock them and make the food puzzle just a little bit tougher.
It wobbles and has grips on the inside to create a challenge for your dog and keep them busy. If your dog is a speed-eater, you can use it as a slow feeder to add a challenge to your dog’s regular meals.
Key Features:
- Three sizes available; each can interlock with next size up or down
- West Paw toys are recyclable—send old toys back to the company, and they will make new toys from the material
- Non-toxic and top-rack dishwasher safe
- Usable without food too—it floats and bounces
Toughest Ring Toy: Goughnuts
Just because Boston Terriers are small doesn’t mean they can’t be powerful chewers. For pups who love to tug and chew with abandon, the extra tough GoughNuts line of toys can help. And if your pup finally manages to destroy it? You can return it to the company for a free replacement any time.
Key Features:
- Guaranteed—if your dog chews through to the red center indicator, GoughNuts will replace it
- Multiple toughness levels, from orange (softest) to black (toughest)
- Natural rubber
- For chewing, rolling, and floating
Best for Boston Terrier Puppies: Wild Knots Bear
Teethy Boston Terrier puppies will appreciate the many textures and sounds in these tough plushies with a rope skeleton and internal squeakers. It’s made with less stuffing than your average toy, so there’s less mess, while the knotty rope is a satisfying texture variety for those growing teeth and gums. Plus floppy limbs make for a satisfying shake.
Key Features:
- Four sizes, including extra-small and small/medium
- Has squeakers and a rope inside for texture and sound interest
- Rope helps make this a durable tug toy
Best Dog Toy for Boston Terriers to Chase: Outward Hound Tail Teaser
Nett likes flirt poles for smaller dogs to chase: “It can be easier on the human as well since there is a size difference,” she says. This Outward Hound model is affordable, lightweight, and includes two faux-fur squeaky attachments. We found the Tail Teaser durable enough for our medium-sized and highly prey-driven test pup Roo.
Constructed out of sturdy plastic and reinforced with a layer of nylon cord, the Tail Teaser’s rod held up well to Roo’s energetic play. It was also compact enough to take to the park and use for training on the go.
Key Features:
- Lightweight and easy to hold, 7.2 ounces
- 52-inch rope length
- Affordable price point
- Comes with two plush squeaky attachments
Best Automatic Dog Toy for Boston Terriers: iFetch
If your Boston Terrier loves balls (and most seem to), automatic ball launchers offer them lots of opportunities for fetching, plus a learning challenge: you can train them to load the launcher themselves. iFetch has several automatic throwers to suit different dogs and situations. The original iFetch is made for smaller dogs and includes three small tennis balls measuring 1.6 inches in diameter.
We’ve tested the larger model, the iFetch Too, and it’s become a favorite in our testers’ household. It’s a very engaging tool to exercise an energetic dog. It’s weather resistant, has a long-lasting battery, and is lightweight and easy to move around.
There’s an indoor version for small dogs too, the non-electronic iFetch Frenzy. With this one, you or your dog drops the ball in the top and waits for it to roll out of one of three openings.
Key Features:
- Ideal for small dogs
- Offers three modes: 10, 20, and 30 feet
- Uses 1.6 inch balls
- Weather resistant and lightweight
- For indoor or outdoor play
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with trainer Audrey Folsom Nett of Just Love the Dog. We prioritized toys that are well-made from reputable brands that have durability and interest. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
