- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If you’re looking for the best toys for French bulldogs, look no further. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites, with a little of everything to match the temperaments of these grunty, playful pups and their unique anatomy.
Good French bulldog toys share features with other high-quality dog toys, such as durability and safe construction. However, the best Frenchie toys are designed with the breed in mind. That’s why we focused on toys that work well for flat-faced dogs. Formally known as brachycephalic breeds, these pups can have issues carrying toys and breathing through their mouths with ease.
And speaking of mouths—we’ve avoided overly plush toys, given the Frenchie’s tendency to drool. We stuck with washable options for the same reason.
Because French bulldogs love to gnaw, we picked a few favorite toys for chewers, including teething toy options for French bulldog puppies. Last, we considered the Frenchie’s smart, stubborn nature. Puzzle toys or foraging toys can add mental stimulation to playtime and help with training.
The 13 Best Toys for French Bulldogs
Our favorite toys for Frenchies include tugs, balls, puzzles, and sturdy plush dog toys, with options for aggressive chewers and for indoor and outdoor play.
- Best Slow-Feeder Toy: Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
- Best Teething Toy: Busy Buddy Bristle Bone
- Best Soft Puzzle Toy: Hide-a-Squirrel Foraging Toy
- Best Ball Toy: ChuckIt Breathe Right Balls
- Best Rope Toy: Redline K9 Jute Rope Toy
- Best Plush Toy: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz
- Best for Tug-of-War: Outward Hound Invincible Snake
- Best Kong Toy: Kong Floppy Knots
- Best Puppy Toy: Nylabone Triple Pack
- Best Boredom Buster: Trixie Mini Mover Interactive Strategy Game
- Best Treat Dispenser: Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball
- Best for Aggressive Chewers: Buck Bone Organics Whole Antlers and Goughnuts Rubber Dog Chew Toy
Best Slow-Feeder Toy: Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball
A combination of ball and puzzle toy, the Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball can also replace a feeding dish at mealtime. The concept: stuff it with treats to encourage your dog to chase, sniff, and pursue their prize.
When used to dispense kibble, it can help slow down an overeager pup, encouraging better digestion. It’s especially important for French bulldogs and other brachycephalic dogs to maintain a healthy weight to prevent breathing issues.
This smallest size of this popular treat dispenser is about equivalent to a softball, so it’s easy for Frenchie puppies to maneuver. Size up as your dog grows.
Key Takeaways:
- Stuff with treats or kibble to extend play or feeding
- Pliable vinyl for easy gripping
- Comes in three sizes
- Might be too easy for some dogs as treats fall out quickly
Best Teething Toy: Busy Buddy Bristle Bone Chew Toy
This fun and interactive toy contains layers of rings of nylon bristles with treats, giving your pooch lots of nooks and crannies to explore. Designed for heavy chewers, this chew toy is a good choice for Frenchie puppies who might be teething.
The nubs and bristles can help keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy, though no toy replaces regular teeth cleaning for any dog breed. (The good news? You can get a dog-friendly toothbrush to tackle that tartar!) If your dog gets bored with a Nylabone or KONG, toss ’em a Bristle Bone to change things up.
The Bristle Bone comes with four treat ring refills, and you can buy replacements later as needed. As with all chew toys, keep an eye on your pup while they play to make sure the toy is a good fit for their jaw power.
Key Takeaways:
- Nylon bristles can be filled with treats
- Variety of textures help with teeth cleaning
- Treat rings are refillable and replaceable
Best Soft Puzzle Toy: Hide-a-Squirrel Foraging Toy
Does your Frenchie have a high prey drive? Give them something to hunt!
Once these toy squirrels have been pulled out, played with, and ripped up, you can buy replacements to re-stuff the trunk. Outward Hound’s Hide-a-Squirrel is one of the most universally praised dog toys out there, popular for its mental stimulation and cuddle-worthiness.
Play with the Hide-a-Squirrel with your dog at first to provide guidance. Make sure they know what to do with it (find the squirrels!) and what not to do (rip the tree to pieces!).
Once they’ve got the hang of it, this toy works well for solo play. Like other plush toys on this list, it may not stand up to power chewing.
Key Takeaways:
- Comes in four sizes from small to jumbo
- Encourages problem-solving for mental stimulation
- Squeaky and plush
- Squirrels are replaceable
- Not ideal for aggressive chewers
Best Ball Toy for French Bulldogs: Chuckit Breathe Right Balls
If you’ve seen a French Bulldog trying to hold a tennis ball, you know it can be difficult for them. That’s because their flat faces make it harder to breathe while gripping something between their teeth.
Thankfully, if your Frenchie loves a game of fetch, ChuckIt has the solution. Their Breathe-Right balls are a genius design for pups with smooshy faces. The vented ball allows for easier breathing while your Frenchie plays.
They come in a two-pack in various sizes; the medium is three inches around and likely the best fit for a French bulldog.
Key Takeaways:
- Design increases airflow for easier breathing during play
- Durable rubber construction
- Available in a variety of sizes
Best Rope Toy for French Bulldogs: Redline K9 Jute Tug Toy
We love these toys for outdoor interactive games of tug. This jute and nylon combination is a safer alternative to a traditional rope toy as it’s less likely to shred between your dog’s teeth.
Not only that, but the jute is also easier to clean after a tug-of-war session. This slimmer model of Redline’s larger-sized original toy is ideal for smaller breeds like the French bulldog.
Note that it’s designed for interactive play, not as a chew toy. The handle is not as tough as the cylinder, so you don’t want to leave your pup alone with it.
Key Takeaways:
- Slim size works well for smaller breeds
- Jute and nylon less likely to shred than rope
- Not ideal for solo chewing
Best Plush Toy: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz
Multiple squeakers? Check. Stuffing everywhere? Nope! These adorable critters come in packs of three and are blissfully stuffing-free for when they’re chewed open.
Though they’re not designed for tough chewing, these toys make great snuggle buddies. The Skinny Peltz are softer and fuzzier than the similar-looking Outward Hound Invincibles line, and so they’re ideal for Frenchies who like to cuddle. We’ve met a few.
Key Takeaways:
- Fuzzy and soft to the touch
- No stuffing or other fillers
- Comes in affordable three-pack
- Difficult to clean
Best for Tug-of-War: Outward Hound Invincible Snake
Outward Hound Invincibles are a classic for a reason—they’re pretty darn tough for a plush toy. What’s more, they’re extra-fun for tug-of-war thanks to their length.
Affordable, durable, and stuffed with squeakers, this line of toys is easy for Frenchies to grab and tug. Stock up on a couple of different styles for variety, from the pictured snake to the gecko or the alligator.
If your chew-happy pooch manages to tear this toy, there’s no stuffing to fly all over the floor. That’s a win for you and your vacuum cleaner.
We have found, though, that Outward Hound Invincibles are great for tug—and tug alone. They’re a little difficult to throw, and they’re not designed for outdoor play.
Key Takeaways:
- Stuffed with squeakers
- Comes in three sizes and variety of colors
- Double seams and Dura-Tuff lining for reinforcement
- Not designed for outdoor play
Best KONG Toy for French Bulldogs: KONG Floppy Knots
Squeaky toys might annoy some dog parents, but they sure have their canine fans. If you can put up with the noise, we believe this is among the cutest tug toys ever made. Each charming animal design sports plenty of knots and squeakers to encourage continued play.
A Floppy Knots toy offers a bit more variety for curious chewers than a standard bone-shaped chew, given its sounds and textures. It’s more fun to shake around than the rope or tug toys, too.
We trust KONG products for their quality. This softer toy isn’t constructed of the same durable rubber as Kong’s namesake dog toy, but it should withstand active chewing. Also, it’s stuffing-less, making cleanup easier if your pet breaks through the outside layer.
Key Takeaways:
- Choose from four animal shapes and two sizes
- Variety of textures and squeakers
- If torn, internal knotted rope is still safe to chew
Best Toy for French Bulldog Puppies: Nylabone Triple Pack Dog Chew
Nylabone chews are a safer, well-known alternative to the classic rawhide. Aggressive chewers can go to town on chews that come in peanut butter, chicken, and bacon flavors.
Frenchie puppies, in particular, may benefit from a ready supply of chews. Otherwise, their need to gnaw can spell trouble for your favorite shoes or furniture.
We find Nylabones to be long-lasting, though no dog chew toy is 100% safe from aggressive chewers, and it’s important to assess the risk any chew poses to your particular pup. Check your dog’s Nylabone for signs of cracking, chipping, or sharp edges; that’s when it’s time to give them a new chew.
Key Takeaways:
- Variety of dog-friendly flavors
- Made in the USA
- “Power” style designed for serious chewers
- Small and puppy sizes for dogs up to 25 lbs
- Must replace if cracked or chipped
Best Boredom Buster: Trixie Mini Mover Interactive Strategy Game
This small dog puzzle will keep your determined Frenchie busy (for a little while, at least!). Puzzle toys motivate your dog to use strategy as they try to uncover the hidden treats. The concept might seem simple, but if you haven’t tried a puzzle toy with your pooch, you might be surprised by how engaging it is.
A good rainy day activity, the Mini Mover is best done with supervision. It’s more of a bonding activity than the treat dispensing balls that your pet can play with solo.
Pro tip: Remove the toy after your dog finds the treats to discourage chewing or slobbering on the puzzle itself.
Key Takeaways:
- Fill hidden compartments with treats to encourage problem-solving
- Four levels: lift, slide, move, and pull
- Users also recommend for curious cats
- Not designed for solo play
Best Treat Dispenser: Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball
Like other dog puzzle toys, this treat dispenser provides mental stimulation by giving your pet a challenge to solve.
Open the cap, fill the internal maze with treats or kibble, and put it back together so that your dog has to nudge and manipulate the toy to release the goodies. We like that you can adjust the cap for small or large treats, which changes up the difficulty.
This type of puzzle toy is typically best for indoor play, as the plastic can crack on pavement. By the same token, it might not stand up to eager dogs who knock it against walls—though hopefully that doesn’t happen unless your pup is truly hangry!
Key Takeaways:
- Open cap to stuff with treats or kibble
- Adjustable cap for changing difficulty level
- Plastic can crack with rough play
Best for Aggressive Chewers
It’s a tie! Both of these options are tried-and-true for busy chewers. Your dog may prefer one over the other for texture.
Buck Bone Organics Whole Deer Antlers Dog Chews
Frenchies might be the smallest of the bulldog breeds, but they’re just as game to chew, and chew, and chew. If your French Bulldog can shred most dog chew toys, you might be interested in natural antler chews.
While more expensive than other chews, antlers can last for hours, days, or even weeks with aggressive chewers. This organic set from Buck Bone is for smaller breeds like French bulldogs and offers a variety of textures.
A big plus: they’re odor-free, unlike other natural chews that can get, well, pretty stinky (bully sticks, anyone?).
Antler chews are among the hardest dog chews out there, so it’s important to weigh the risks and monitor 1) the antler, to make sure sharp bits aren’t splintering off, and 2) your pup’s mouth, to make sure they aren’t hurting their teeth or gums.
Key Takeaways:
- Real, organic antlers for heavy-duty gnawing
- No odor when chewed
- Comes in a variety of sizes for different breeds
- Carefully supervise determined chewers
Goughnuts Rubber Dog Chew Toy
The USA-made Goughnut toys are designed for persistent chewers, who often include the bully breeds. This tough toy comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
Small should work best for a French Bulldog, as it’s designed for dogs up to 40 pounds.
The simple ring shape is perfect for long sessions of solo play; Goughnut also makes a tug toy version for interactive playtime in a figure-eight shape. Both types work well outside and clean up easily.
Key Takeaways:
- Durable rubber construction
- Small size best for dogs up to 40 pounds
- Ring shape for solo play; figure-eight for tug-of-war
- Made in the USA