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Fetch. Tug. Chew. These are the classic dog-toy functions, and don’t get us wrong, they’re great. But on occasion, we want more from our dogs’ toys. We want our dogs to have more fun, more novelty, and more stimulation. We want dog toys that move.
They may be electronic, robotic toys that help keep your dog distracted while you work from home, or self-moving toys to keep your pup engaged and entertained on rainy days. Whatever their features, the best moving dog toys are safe, easy to use, and actually keep dogs entertained. They should stand up to moderate play—though it’s worth noting that most aren’t designed for aggressive chewers.
With this in mind, we’ve rounded up our favorite dog toys that move in a range of sizes and types.
- Best Self-Moving Dog Ball: Cheerble Wicked Ball
- Best Self-Moving Plush Toy: Hyper Pet Doggie Tail
- Best Light-Up Dog Toy: Pet Qwerks Babble Ball
- Best Electronic Squeaky Toys: NEILDEN Upgrade Interactive Squeaky Dog Toys
- Best Programmable Dog Toy: Wickedbone Smart Bone
- Best for Puppies: goDog Action Plush Pet Toys
- Best Flopper Toy: The Potaroma Flopping Fish
- Best Electronic Treat Dispenser: Arf Pets Dog Treat Dispenser With Remote Button
- Best Automatic Ball Launcher: iFetch Too Ball Launcher
Best Self-Moving Dog Ball: Cheerble Wicked Ball
Charge it up, and the automatic, self-moving Cheerble Wicked Ball will roll and even bounce randomly around the floor for playtime. It comes with a tough outer shell for indoor or outdoor play. This versatility is an unusual feature among high-tech moving dog toys.
We like that this toy doesn’t require extra gadgets or an app on your phone. The ball simply begins to move when your pet pushes or nudges it.
The Wicked Ball will stop moving after 10 minutes of active play and start up again after 30 minutes of rest. This “intelligent companion” feature is designed for dogs who may lose interest—or who need an enforced break.
Note that the Wicked Ball may not work as well on carpet shag or deep-pile carpet, which can slow its roll.
Features:
- Automatic and self-moving
- Gentle, normal, and active modes
- USB-rechargeable
- Charge lasts up to four hours
- Waterproof outer shell can be replaced
Worth watching:
- More expensive than many dog toys
- Not for chewing or rough play
- Bouncing “active mode” can get a bit noisy
Best Self-Moving Plush Toy: Hyper Pet Doggie Tail
Popularly known as the “moving squirrel toy,” the Hyper Pet Doggie Tail is ideal for dogs with a strong prey drive. The fuzzy, crinkly tail moves on its own when shaken, rolled, or thrown.
And not only does this toy move, but it barks and squeaks to entice pets to play.
An automatic shutoff feature helps save the battery. The toy will shake, wiggle, and make noise for about eight seconds. If your dog wanders off at that point, the toy won’t keep moving.
Pet parents will appreciate the on/off button and the removable, washable cover. The cover is easy to replace if chewed up, too, making this a longer-lasting option than similar moving toys. Choose from traditional squirrel, unicorn, and other cute designs.
Features:
- Moves, wiggles, squeaks, and barks
- Battery-operated (requires 3 AAA batteries)
- Washable, removable cover
- Automatic shutoff feature after eight seconds
Worth watching:
- Not for heavy chewers
- Noises may scare some dogs
Best Light-Up Dog Toy: Pet Qwerks Babble Ball
These interactive dog toys have a lot of fans among pet parents, thanks to how much they surprise and delight active pets. They light up and make noise upon vibration, so your dog need only walk by the ball for it to start talking.
Reviewers with blind or older dogs are especially enthusiastic about these toys because their dogs can interact with them easily.
The Babble Ball comes in three sizes for breeds from Yorkies to Retrievers. Three versions offer different sounds: “Animal Sounds” recreate the wild; the “Blinky” sings, barks, and growls; and the “Talking” version tells jokes.
The Babble Ball is noted for being tougher and longer-lasting than rubber or soft plastic interactive balls. Because of its strength, it should only roll on the ground. No throwing, bouncing, or tossing for this dog ball.
Features:
- Noisy interactive dog ball makes dozens of sounds
- Comes in three sizes from small to large
- Hard plastic is designed for high impact
- Batteries are replaceable
Worth watching:
- Cannot be bounced or thrown
- Loud noises can startle both dogs and their people
Best Electronic Squeaky Toys: NEILDEN Upgrade Interactive Squeaky Dog Toys
The NEILDEN squeaky dog balls have two main parts: an internal electronic ball houses the battery, while a soft plush cover entices dogs to play. The toys shake and squeak when your dog grabs them.
With plenty of funny characters to choose from, these plush toys make for a good photo op—if you can get them away from your pup. Their small size also makes them a perfect companion for smaller dog breeds.
The soft outer material is easy to wash and comes with two covers, so your pet can play with one while the other gets de-slobbered.
A sturdy hook-and-loop keeps the cover in place, but it won’t stand up to heavy chewing. This toy is best for small breeds under 12 or so pounds, as many reviewers attest.
Features:
- Squeaks and vibrates
- New design comes with a charging cable
- Replaceable, washable covers in fun designs
Worth watching:
- Not designed for heavy chewing
- If the cover tears, remove the toy for safety
Best Programmable Dog Toy: Wickedbone Smart Bone (Verified Review)
The Wickedbone Smart Bone is made by the same company behind the popular self-moving Wicked Ball. It takes their technology to the next level, with an app for programming the toy’s antics.
Downloading the app turns your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone into a remote for the toy. The five-minute automatic mode puts it through a series of movements from rolls to bounces. Or choose to control your dog’s favorite motions manually—like controlling a race car with your phone as the remote.
The bone works on a variety of surfaces, with modes for hardwoods, carpet, and more. We’ve tested the WickedBone ourselves and had a blast.
Features:
- Robotic dog toy that moves on its own
- Programmable via an app on your phone
- Rubber parts are replaceable if punctured
Worth watching:
- Best with supervision
- Needs to be charged before play
- Pricier than an average dog toy
Best for Puppies: goDog Action Plush Pet Toys
Soft, adorable, and safe, these bite-activated plush toys don’t require cords or batteries. We like them for puppies who want to snuggle and play at the same time.
Choose from a range of cute animal characters, from a lobster to a pheasant to the pictured lizard. Each toy moves a body part (such as a tail) when your dog bites down for added interest.
An internal squeaker adds to the fun. Chew-resistant construction stands up to moderate, puppy-level chewing.
Features:
- Bite-activated motion
- Several fun animal designs
- Soft yet sturdy
- Battery-free
Worth watching:
- Not for heavy chewers
- Motion is limited
Best Flopper Toy: The Potaroma Flopping Fish (Verified Review)
The Potaroma flopping fish toys are all the rage with cat parents—and some dogs of our acquaintance! They’re not strong enough for aggressive chewers or pups with a strong prey drive, but we’ve seen small dogs and sedate senior pups who thought themselves too wise for games sit up and take notice.
This soft, moving pet toy looks like real fish. Built-in motion sensors make it move every time it’s played with, and the toy charges via USB cable—so there’s no need to replace the batteries.
Features:
- Four designs: carp, clownfish, rainbow trout, red carp
- USB-chargeable
- 2022 upgrade promises increased battery life
Worth watching:
- Not a chew toy
- Too fragile for dogs who play rough
Best Electronic Treat Dispenser: Arf Pets Dog Treat Dispenser With Remote Button (Verified Review)
This electronic treat dispenser is a winner for food-motivated doggos and puzzle-savvy pups. Dogs learn to press the button to get treats to pop out of the dispenser—while pet parents can make the game tricker by moving or hiding the button.
While it’s a simple concept, this puzzle toy helps strengthen your dog’s memory skills and provides a form of enriching play through exercise.
The toy also features built-in sounds that are supposed to help encourage your pet to continue playing with the toy, even after the treats are dished out. Though, as one of our Rover writers found out when testing the electronic toy, pet parents will need to be in charge of when playtime is over, since there’s no timer.
Features:
- Includes additional attachments to make it easier to train your dog to use the dispenser
- Designed with an adjustable sliding panel that lets you control the number of treats dispensed
- Powered by batteries (four C batteries and three AAA batteries)
Worth Watching:
- Button pressing can be a tricky skill to learn—pet parents should expect to invest some training time
- May need to use smaller-sized treats to prevent clogging the dispenser
Best Automatic Ball Launcher: iFetch Too Ball Launcher (Verified Review)
If your pup never tires of a game of fetch, automatic ball launchers are an excellent toy to entertain a pup and give human arms a break.
We’ve found the iFetch is an easy way to give a high-energy dog 10 to 15-minute bursts of exercise throughout the day. It’s even possible to train your pooch to drop the ball into the launcher by themselves—but make sure to provide constant supervision when in use to prevent any accidents.
The iFetch Too is designed with three adjustable distance settings, and can also be randomized to keep your dog guessing how far they need to run.
Features:
- Available in two sizes: one for small to medium dogs and one for medium to large dogs
- Three distance settings
- Indoor/outdoor toy
Worth Watching:
- Make sure to supervise your pet the entire time when playing with this to prevent any accidents
- Pricey, so the best bet is buying for dogs that you know love a game of fetch
Pro Tip
If your dog isn’t used to a toy moving on its own, start slowly. A moving toy may alarm your dog at first. That doesn’t mean they won’t learn to love it! Introduce the new toy by playing with it together. Add plenty of treats to sweeten the deal.
How We Chose
The self-moving and electronic dog toys featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized toys that appealed to dog senses with lights, sounds, movement styles, and compelling textures, as well as safety mechanisms and convenient power systems.
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.
