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Congratulations! It’s time to bring your new best friend home. While welcoming a puppy into your life is an exciting time, it can also be a bit overwhelming thinking about everything you’ll need for a smooth transition.
Not only are toys for puppies a fun addition to your puppy starter kit, but they’re also an important part of your pup’s development. Puppies have different needs depending on their age, breed size, and preferred activities. For example, a teething puppy will be drawn to toys that let them chew and soothe their gums, whereas a puzzle toy may be more enticing to an older pup who needs more mental stimulation.
We’ve gathered our favorite toys for puppies based on life stage, toy type, and activity. Whether your puppy loves to chew, tug, or fetch, we’ve got you covered.
- Best for Teething Puppies: Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Bone
- Best Puppy Chew Toy: KONG Puppy Toy
- Best Puppy Toy Bone: Benebone Puppy Wishbone
- Best Puppy Puzzle Ball: JW Hol-ee Roller Treat Dispenser Ball
- Best Toy for New Puppies (0 to 6 months): Snuggle Puppy Starter Kit
- Best Toy for Puppies 6-12 Months: West Paw Zogoflex Tux Toy
- Best Toy for Puppies 1 Year and Up: Nina Ottosson Tornado Puzzle Toy
- Best Training Toy for Puppies: Outward Hound Tail Teaser
- Best Toy to Keep Puppies Busy: LickiMat Classic Dog Slow Feeders
- Best Rope Toy for Puppies: Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Tug
- Best Treat-Dispensing Toy for Puppies: Starmark Bob-a-Lot
- Best Fetch Toy for Puppies: KONG Classic Flyer
- Best Ball Toy for Puppies: Chuckit! Soft Fetch Ball
- Best Plush Toy for Puppies: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz
- Best Indestructible Toy for Puppies: Goughnuts Ring
Best for Teething Puppies: Nylabone Puppy Chew Freezer Dog Bone
Surviving the puppy teething stage can be a challenge. That’s why having some solid teething toys on hand is important. This Nylabone puppy toy offers two different textures that can be dipped in water and frozen. Great for teething puppies, the bone at the top has soft bristles that massage sore gums, and the chilly cloth at the bottom gives puppies something soft and soothing to chew.
While pups up to 25 pounds will find this teething toy a good fit, larger puppies will need something in a bigger size.
Key features:
- The puppy version of Nylabone’s popular Chill and Chew toy
- Soft bristles massage sore gums; cool cloth soothes small teeth
- Come in various flavors
- Suitable for puppies up to 25 pounds
Best Puppy Chew Toy: KONG Puppy Toy
Made to accommodate growing chompers, this puppy version of KONG’s classic chew toy uses the gentlest natural rubber out of the entire line. It’s also a great introduction to mental enrichment and puzzle toys—stuff the KONG with some of your puppy’s food or a few treats to keep them entertained.
For an extra-long-lasting distraction, fill the toy with dog-safe peanut butter or pureed pumpkin and freeze it. Your pup will have something to work on to keep them busy, and the cold can help soothe their inflamed gums as they chew.
Key features:
- Uses the gentlest rubber in KONG’s classic line
- A great introduction to puzzle toys
- Can be frozen for longer-lasting entertainment
- Can be used for crate training and working on intentional separation
Best Puppy Toy Bone: Benebone Puppy Wishbone
If your pup is a dedicated chewer and needs something a little harder than the puppy KONG toy, this Benebone Puppy Wishbone is a good level-up. Pet parents like that it’s durable and firm but still has some give for that “gnawability” that teething pups love. The toy’s curved wishbone design also makes it easy for puppies to hold while they chew and work on their motor skills.
Available in different flavors like bacon and maple wood, this toy bone comes in various sizes to suit a wide range of breeds.
Key features:
- Durable and firm toy bone but with a gentle give
- The wishbone shape makes it easy for pups to hold
- Available in different sizes and flavors
Best Puppy Puzzle Ball: JW Hol-ee Roller Treat Dispenser Ball
As your puppy grows, more challenging puzzle toys are a great way to engage their brain. While still at a beginner level, the JW Hol-ee Roller takes things up a notch from the KONG, encouraging your pup to problem-solve a bit more. Stuff the insides with different treats, chews, or smaller toys and watch your puppy roll, chew, tug, and work to get them out.
Crafted from stretchy, non-toxic rubber, this puzzle ball is gentle on sensitive puppy mouths and growing teeth (though not recommended for super chewers).
Key features:
- A puzzle ball that can be stuffed with treats or toys
- Soft, non-toxic rubber is easy on puppy teeth
- Comes in four sizes, from a 3-inch mini to a 7.5-inch jumbo
- Dishwasher-safe
Best Toy for New Puppies (0 to 6 months): Snuggle Puppy New Puppy Starter Kit
If you’re welcoming a puppy under six months into your home, you’ll find that a young dog can be quite sensitive during their first stage of life. Gentle and comforting toys are essential, and options like the Snuggle Puppy kit can help your puppy feel more secure in their first nights, weeks, and months with you.
This kit contains a plush heartbeat toy with an insertable pulsing device and three heat packs, all of which recreate the feeling of sleeping with a mother or littermates. The pack includes a snuggly blanket, a puppy toy, and a teething aid.
Note that plush toys aren’t the sturdiest companions for destructo-pups, so if you have a confident young chewer on your hands, consider prioritizing tougher enrichment toys over soothing soft things.
Key Features:
- Kit designed to help puppies transition to their new homes
- The heartbeat dog toy and heat packs are designed to facilitate sleep
- A blanket and two additional toys are included
Best toy for Puppies 6-12 Months: West Paw Zogoflex Tux Toy
After six months, most puppies will have adult teeth and can expand their realm to a wider variety of fun chew toys. The West Paw Tux Toy offers a durable option for heavy chewers while adding a bouncy quality that gives it a great feel. Unlike heavier options, we like that it’s easy to toss and doesn’t make too much noise when it lands.
It also doubles as a puzzle toy. Tuck a treat inside, and your dog will stay busy trying to remove it.
Key features:
- Durable construction from recycled materials
- Easy to grasp and hold between paws
- Puzzle toy that can be stuffed with treats
- Bouncy quality gives it a great feel
Best Toy for Puppies 1 Year and Up: Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Puzzle Toy
By a year old, your puppy has come a long way! They’re more independent, and their brains are ready for a greater challenge. Enter the puzzle collection line by Nina Ottosson. These toys are high quality, get great reviews from dog parents, and are an all-around puzzle toy go-to.
The Tornado puzzle toy in particular marks the beginning of the intermediate level for many pups. It’s ideal for dogs who are ready to advance to a higher level of difficulty, since it introduces two obstacles between your puppy and their reward. It’s also a great first step toward puzzle boards and more complicated toys in the line.
Key Features:
- Four spinning layers
- Bone blocks increase the difficulty
- Good for dogs of different sizes
Best Training Toy for Puppies: Outward Hound Tail Teaser (Verified Review)
Like a cat teaser, dog flirt poles are a fun way for puppies to burn off excess energy. They’re also an effective training tool for practicing patience and stimulus control. And the best part? You don’t need much space—great for those quarantine periods while your pup gets all their vaccinations.
With its simple, lightweight design and affordable price point, the Outward Hound Tail Teaser offers a great entry point into the world of flirt poles. Coming with two plush lures, the wand offers pretty impressive durability (though no match for super strong canine jaws). In fact, we found it to withstand Rover test pup Roo’s wild teenage antics and hunty chompers.
Key Features:
- Lightweight and easy to hold (7.2 ounces)
- Longer rope length (52 inches)
- Affordable price point
- Great for engaging and training high-energy pups
Best Toy To Keep Puppies Busy: LickiMat Classic Dog Slow Feeders
Dog lick mats can help keep puppies busy when introducing them to new things, like car rides, vet visits, and baths. A popular lick mat brand, LickiMat offers a variety of sizes and textures to suit your particular need. Pet parents give the mats high marks for their distraction power, saying it tends to keep their pups busy for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on whether or not they freeze the treats on top.
Made from food-grade rubber, these mats are handwash only. You’ll also want to keep a close eye on your puppy, especially if they’re teething, as these mats won’t hold up to determined chewing.
Key Features:
- Easy to transport tool to keep your pup busy in a variety of situations
- Comes in a variety of sizes and textures
- Made from food-grade rubber
Best Rope Toy for Puppies: Mammoth Flossy Chews Rope Tug
The great thing about a rope toy is its versatility. Not only are they great for exercise, but they promote dental health, help build the pet-human bond through play, and redirect nippy puppies who like to bite and chew on unwanted items.
Mammoth makes high-quality ropes known for their durability and for helping clean teeth. We like that they come with beefy knots that pups love to chew. They’re also available in a wide range of sizes, including two options (a small and a mini) that are ideal for puppies.
Key features:
- Made from non-toxic materials
- Two puppy-friendly sizes: 15 inches and 10 inches
- Both small sizes come with three beefy knots
- Helps promote dental health
Best Treat-Dispensing Toy for Puppies: Starmark Bob-a-Lot (Verified Review)
Treat-dispensing toys can be lifesavers during puppyhood, helping to bust boredom and slowing down chowhounds during mealtime. Highly rated, the Bob-a-Lot has a weighted, anti-slip bottom that makes for unpredictable movements that pups love. We like its ability to give high-energy pups exercise and mental stimulation, with adjustable valves that make it easy to increase or decrease the difficulty.
While the heavier design is known to take knocks from zealous puppies, it can be quite loud. Something to consider if you’re an apartment dweller or sensitive to noise, as our own rambunctious pups have helped us discover.
Key features:
- Two chambers for slow feeding
- Durable with a weighted bottom so puppies can bop it around the floor
- Adjustable openings to increase or decrease the challenge
- Comes in two sizes: small fits 1.5 cups of kibble; large fits 3 cups
Best Fetch Toy for Puppies: KONG Classic Flyer
KONG’s take on the Frisbee is a gentle choice for puppies who are into playing fetch. Made with dog-safe materials, the natural rubber of this flyer makes for softer catches (or bonks if your puppy misses).
Pet parents like that it’s easy to clean and say it does well for multi-purpose play like catching, tugging, dragging, and pawing. The bendy design is also easy to fold up and transport without losing its shape.
Key features:
- Made from the same soft natural rubber as KONG’s classic dog toys
- Available in two sizes: small (7-inch diameter) and large (9-inch diameter)
- Provides a soft catch while still being durable
- Easy to rinse off and clean
Best Ball Toy for Puppies: Chuckit! Soft Fetch Ball (Verified Review)
If you have a puppy who loves to play fetch, this soft Chuckit! ball is easy to pick up and gentle on small mouths. It’s also ideal for indoor play when your pup can’t make it outside. The lightweight design protects indoor surfaces while still having the characteristic bounce that drives dogs wild. In fact, our tester found the ball did an excellent job of not marking up their walls.
Keep in mind, however, that this ball isn’t the most durable choice for super chewers.
Key features:
- Designed with textured chenille fabric that’s gently on puppy mouths
- Lightweight and soft for indoor play
- Softball size makes it large enough for a game of tug
- Rolls and bounces for fun play
Best Plush Toy for Puppies: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz
Not only is this three-pack of plushies super cute, but each woodland friend comes without stuffing, so there’s less mess to deal with. Each toy also has multiple squeakers evenly distributed throughout. Their long designs are available in 18 inches or 11 inches, making for a great game of tug or fetch.
While reviewers like that the trio is stuffing-free, they point out that the toys are quite flat, which can make the squeakers easier to puncture.
Key features:
- Great value with three toys for the price of one
- Long design, available in 18 inches or 11 inches
- Comes with multiple squeakers
- Each toy is stuffing-free
Best Indestructible Toy for Puppies: Goughnuts Ring
Pet parents rave about the indestructibility of Goughnuts toys, saying they hold up to some of the toughest chewers, like German Shepherds and Rottweilers. The original rubber rings, particularly, get high marks for their durability.
The rings have a few different sizes and rubber options from which to choose, so you can find the best one for your puppy’s weight and chew strength. An added plus? The family-owned company guarantees its toys for a lifetime.
Key features:
- Comes in four sizes for dogs as small as 10 pounds
- Multiple “rubber recipes” are available to pick the best chew-strength
- Lifetime warranty: Goughnuts will replace the toy if your dog damages it
How We Chose
The puppy 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 expert input from members of Rover’s Dog People Panel. We prioritized toys that are suitable for puppy mouths, teething pups, and a range of puppy stages and breeds, with dog-safe materials for enriching play.
As always, we’re 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
- The New Puppy Checklist: Essentials for New Pet Parents
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? How To Know If It’s a Good Deal for Your Puppy
- The 18 Best Puppy Puzzle Toys To Keep Them Busy
- The Best Puppy-Safe Chew Toys That Will Save Your Shoes
- How To Pick the Right Dog Toy for Your Pup
- Dangerous Dog Toys: What to Avoid, From Toxic Materials to Unsafe Designs