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On hot days, there’s nothing better than a trip to the freezer. That rush of cold air helps keep us cool—not to mention the ice cubes, ice cream, and popsicles we find inside. It’s the same for our dogs, too. But instead of offering your pup sweet treats, opt for a frozen dog toy instead.
Along with their cooling properties, frozen dog toys provide additional benefits like aiding in dental care and providing extra hydration. They’re a step up from ice cubes, which can cause dental damage in some pups, especially smaller breeds. Not just any dog toy can be frozen—standard toys might shatter or break from the cold. That’s why you’ll want to select dog toys intentionally designed to withstand your freezer’s frigid temps.
To help you safely keep your dog cool this summer, we’ve rounded up some of the best freezable dog toys on the pet market and listed them down below.
- Best Overall: PetSafe Chilly Penguin
- Best Puzzle Toy: West Paw Zogoflex Toppl
- Best for Small Dogs: Nylabone Chill and Chew
- Best for Big Dogs: Chew King Chill Fill Dog Toy
- Best for Anxiety: HyperPet Licking Mat
- Best for Boredom: Woof Pupsicle Frozen Treat Dog Toy
- Best for Dental Care: ZNOKA Arctic Freeze Chew Toy
- Best for Puppies: Nylabone Puppy Chew Teething Bone
- Best Squeaking Freezer Toy: NOUGAT Crocodile Squeaky Chew Toy
- Most Durable: Kong Extreme Dog Chew Toy
Best Overall: PetSafe Chilly Penguin
Like many of the choices in our roundup, this popular penguin toy from PetSafe is made of rubber, offering both durability and pliability when frozen. The star-shaped opening in the middle can be filled with water or broth, and the large holding capacity is great for dogs who need a little extra hydration. The rounded edges make the toy wobble as your dog enjoys it, turning snack time into an engaging challenge. Plus, its flat shape stacks nicely in the freezer.
Key features:
- Two sizes: small for dogs up to 30 pounds, medium/large for dogs up to 80 pounds
- Rubber is durable and tooth-friendly
- Large capacity provides extra hydration
- Stackable design makes for easy freezing
Best Puzzle Toy: West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Dog Toy
This interactive puzzle toy delivers both enrichment and exercise with its bobble design. The cup-like shape has a large open interior, making it great for adding larger quantities of spreadable treats or even fully frozen meals.
Rubber teeth protrude from the bottom, slowing down your pup and adding an extra mental challenge. And while it might be tough to fill with water or other liquids because of the opening on the side, your pup’s favorite spreads should freeze just fine.
Key features:
- Comes in three sizes: small, large, and X-large
- Design favors spreadable treats and wet food
- Interactive puzzle challenge and slow feeder
- Teeth-friendly rubber intended for moderate chewers
Best for Small Dogs: Nylabone Chill and Chew
Nylabone is well-known for its signature chew toys, and this freezable option is a top choice for cooling down hot pups. Holding up against the needle-like teeth of small breeds, it’s still soft and bendy enough to prevent injuring your pup’s mouth. Pet parents like the ribbed design for its dental health benefits. But the best part by far? You can fill it with liquid before freezing it—making for a long-lasting chill that comes in tasty flavors like peanut butter, chicken, or lamb and apple.
Key features:
- Recommended for dogs up to 35 pounds
- Strong nylon that offers enough give for safety
- Fillable pockets can hold frozen liquid for a longer-lasting cool
- Ribbed texture promotes dental health
Best for Big Dogs: Chew King Chill Fill Dog Toy
Holding up to one cup of frozen goodness, this Chew King freezable toy comes in an extra-large size that’s ideal for cooling down big breeds. The natural rubber design provides soft edges that are gentle on teeth but still strong enough to hold up to large, strong jaws.
Pet parents like to add kibble or treats, fill the toy with water, and then freeze it—the secret is to tape off the hole in the bottom, according to reviewers. This toy also comes in large and medium sizes, so smaller dogs can enjoy frozen treats in it, too.
Key features:
- Soft rubber is gentle on teeth
- Large interior capacity
- Strong enough for large jaws
- Three sizes: medium (1/3 cup); large (1/2 cup); and extra-large (1 cup)
Best for Anxiety: HyperPet Licking Mat (Verified Review)
If your dog is more of a licker than a chewer, a frozen treat mat might be the ticket for hot days. Designed with closely knit patterns, the raised textures help clean your pup’s teeth. Not to mention that licking can provide a soothing distraction in scary situations. In fact, several Rover test pups use Hyper Pet mats to help with situational anxiety around things like thunderstorms and visitors.
Just smear your dog’s favorite food onto the mat, then pop it in the freezer overnight for extra licking power.
Key features:
- Great for spreadable treats and slow feeding
- Popular distraction toy
- Promotes dental health
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Best for Boredom: Woof Pupsicle Frozen Treat Dog Toy (Verified Review)
Got a hot and bored pup on your hands? The Woof Pupsicle can help keep them entertained. In our testing, we found the design to be simple but effective, providing long-lasting playtime for our test pup Olive the Boston Terrier.
Opening in the middle, this frozen dog toy is easy to fill and clean. The kit also comes with a freezing tray for molds that fit perfectly into the toy. Stuff it with frozen peanut butter, wet food, bone broth, or yogurt—most pet parents find it keeps their pups occupied for about 20 to 30 minutes. (Pro tip: Add kibble or crunchy treats to the filling to extend the toy’s playtime.)
Key features:
- Simple but long-lasting treat dispenser
- Kit includes a freezing tray with four molds
- Two sizes: small (for dogs 5 to 25 pounds) and large (for dogs over 25 pounds)
- Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
Best for Dental Care: ZNOKA Arctic Freeze Chew Toy
Providing cool relief, this Arctic Freeze toy has raised nubs that help clean your dog’s teeth. The raised textures are also great for massaging sore gums if you have a teething puppy on your hands. An X-shaped compartment doubles as a dental holder toy—just insert a dental stick for a bonus treat!
An added plus? This frozen dog toy floats, which can be great for introducing water and bathtime in a fun way.
Key features:
- Raised nubs help clean teeth and massage sore gums
- Does double-duty as a dental treat holder
- Also floats for fun water play
Best for Puppies: Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Teething Dog Bone
Offering two different textures that can be dipped in water and frozen, this Nylabone toy gets high marks for helping teething puppies. The bone at the top has soft bristles that massage sore gums, while the chilly cloth at the bottom gives puppies something soft and soothing to chew. Pet parents like that the materials are both durable and gentle on their pup’s tiny chompers.
While puppies up to 25 pounds will find this teething toy a good fit, larger pups will need something in a bigger size.
Key features:
- Two-part teething toy for puppies
- Soft bristles massage sore gums; cool cloth soothes small teeth
- Good for puppies up to 25 pounds
- Offers the same three flavors as the adult frozen bone
Best Squeaking Freezer Toy: NOUGAT Crocodile Tough and Squeaky Chew
This crocodile toy offers a nice frozen alternative for pups with a low food drive or who are more play-motivated. The fun squeaky sound engages your dog’s natural hunting instincts, while the rubber texture offers a safe outlet for chewing. Lots of ridges along the sides also promote dental health. In fact, you can even spread your dog’s toothpaste on these ridges as an easy way to brush your pup’s teeth.
Without a frozen filling, this toy may not hold the cold as well as some of the others on our list, but it’s favored by pet parents who want a quick cool down without the mess of a spreadable treat or melting broth.
Key features:
- Ridges promote dental health
- Squeaker activates prey drive
- No food or liquid required
- Great for play-motivated dogs or pups with a low food drive
Most Durable: KONG Extreme Dog Chew Toy
While not technically a frozen dog toy, the KONG is one of the most popular chew toys out there. Many pet parents also like to stuff and freeze their KONGs to give their pups a cool and long-lasting treat. The Kong Extreme offers the most durable rubber out of their entire line, making it a solid pick for power chewers.
Available in five sizes, the KONG Extreme is great for dogs of all shapes and sizes, from 8 to 80+ pounds.
Key features:
- Durable rubber can be stuffed and frozen
- Tough enough for large jaws and power chewers
- Available in five sizes: from small to XX-large
What Kind of Frozen Dog Toy Is Best for Your Dog?
The best freezable toy for your dog depends on your pup and what you want to prioritize.
If you’re looking for a cooling or hydration tool to help your hot pup out in warm weather, you’ll want to prioritize capacity and a good well for the water, bone broth, or other liquid.
If your dog isn’t particularly interested in frozen food, a freezable squeaker toy might do the trick by appealing to your pup’s prey drive.
Some frozen toys also have added benefits like promoting dental health. To keep your dog’s teeth clean, look for a freezable toy with lots of nubs and ridges that can help scrape off plaque as they chew.
The cold also numbs painful gums and reduces swelling. So for teething puppies, you’ll want a frozen toy with a deep reservoir to hold the liquid. Frozen material distributed at the toy’s core will help it stay cool longer.
How We Chose
The frozen dog toys 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 veterinary experts. We prioritized texture, durability, and capacity. 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.
Further Reading
- Do Frozen Dog Toys Really Help Teething Puppies and Hot Dogs?
- The Best Dog Floaties for Summer Swimming
- Two-Ingredient Watermelon Ice Cream Is An Easy Summer Treat for Your Dog
- 8 Homemade Frozen Dog Treats
- Summer Safety: Protect Your Dog as the Temperature Rises
