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If you’ve ever seen a Yorkie trying to tackle a jumbo KONG, you know that smaller dogs need some special considerations when it comes to toys. And you also know that small mouths do not necessarily mean small teeth! So in addition to being appropriately sized, that perfect small dog toy may need to withstand little super chewers and destructo-geniuses.
The small-breed dog toys we’ve highlighted here hit a range of sweet spots and play styles. All are sized to fit smaller mouths and shorter legs without sacrificing durability or engagement. There are small dog toys with squeakers, crinkles, and other sounds to activate that “search and destroy” drive; texture for dogs who really enjoy a chew session; and puzzles for mental stimulation. We also have a handy guide to choosing the right dog toys if you’d like additional tips.
- Best Tough Plush Toy for Small Dogs: GoDog Just For Me
- Best Disc for Fetch: Chuckit! Zipflight
- Best Rubber Toy for Small Dogs: Goughnuts Lite Small Chew Ring
- Best Easy Puzzle Toy: West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Treat Dispensing Toy
- Best Advanced Puzzle Toy: Trixie Mini Mover
- Best Rope Toy for Small Dogs: KONG Floppy Knots
- Best Balls for Small Dogs with Short Snouts: Chuckit! Breathe Right Small Dog Fetch Ball
- Best Tug Toy for Dogs Up to 20 Pounds: Jolly Pets Turtle Tug Toy
- Best Dog Toy for Power Chewers: Benebone
- Best Automated Toy: iFetch Automatic Mini Ball Launcher
- More Toys
Best Tough Plush Toy for Small Dogs: GoDog Just For Me
Looking for an adorable, cuddle-able, reinforced plush dog toy that can stand up to small dog destructo-teeth? GoDog’s Just For Me plushies include Bruto the dino and Checkers the flying pig, among others. They’re reinforced throughout and at the seams, sized for small mouths and paws, and come with a big squeak. Bruto comes in a three-pack on Amazon, or as singles on Chewy.
Key features:
- Double-stitched, enforced seams
- An additional liner adds durability
- Soft for cuddling, squeaky for playing
Best Disc for Fetch: Chuckit! Zipflight
This is not your grandparents’ frisbee. Chuckit! reigns over dog toys great and small that can be, er, chucked. This disc is light and easy to throw, so a rogue toss won’t hurt your little pup or innocent bystanders. At six inches across, these donut-shaped frisbees are sized for your small dog’s mouth and a breeze to carry, catch, and pick up off the ground.
Key features:
- Lightweight and just six inches across
- Floats
- Donut shape makes it easier to pick up off the ground
Best Rubber Toy for Small Dogs: Goughnuts Lite Small Chew Ring
Need a chew toy that will hold up to those tiny but fierce teeth? Consider the tough, bouncy, and rollable rubber Goughnut. It’s fun for heavy little chewers (we’re looking at you, Terriers). These sturdy rings are designed to fit a variety of dog sizes and chewing styles—the small is made for a 10- to 40-pound dog. There’s even a different color rubber on the inside; if your dog chews through to that part, the company will replace the toy.
Key features:
- Reinforced natural rubber
- Range of sizes and toughnesses—pick the one that suits your little chewer best
- Lifetime replacement guarantee
- Made in the U.S.
Best Easy Puzzle Toy: West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Treat Dispensing Toy (Verified Review)
This treat-hunting puzzle toy is simple, durable, and one of our favorites for entertaining a dog who will do anything, even a puzzle, for a treat. Much like the classic KONG, you can put anything from kibble to peanut butter in this toy to keep your small dog busy. Need more? Get another one the next size up and lock the two pieces together with treats inside.
Key features:
- Durable
- Mentally stimulating; increase difficulty level by interlocking it with the next size up
- Non-toxic, recyclable, dishwasher safe
- Made in the U.S.
Best Advanced Puzzle Toy: Trixie Mini Mover
Is your small dog smart as a fox? Enrichment games like this advanced puzzle toy are a great way to mix up their daily activities. Hide treats or kibble in this toy’s compartments and have your dog sniff them out. There are four levels of game play available on this toy, so you can change it up as your dog figures out how to get to their rewards.
Key features:
- Can be used at different levels
- Scaled smaller than some other puzzle toys; this one is made with minis and smaller dogs in mind
Best Rope Toy for Small Dogs: KONG Floppy Knots
A bestseller on Chewy, this fantastic little fox has a ton of little knots for your tiny dog’s jaws and paws to grab onto. It’s good for games of tug, chewing, wrestling, and shaking. Multiple textures, floppy arms and legs, and a squeaker keep your dog interested, and reviewers give it high marks for classic KONG durability.
Key features:
- The rope, plushie surface, and internal squeaker combine to keep small dogs interested
- Minimal stuffing
- Washable
Best Balls for Small Dogs with Short Snouts: Chuckit! Breathe Right Small Dog Fetch Ball
At last, a ball that will allow smoosh-faced dogs to be the adorable mouth breathers they are! The genius that designed these balls made them to allow your little French Bulldog or Pekingese to enjoy games of keep-away and fetch with better airflow through the ball and an easier surface to grip.
Key features:
- Special design allows better airflow so dogs can grip this ball and breathe easy
- Floats
- Classic Chuckit! bounce and ball quality
Best Tug Toy for Dogs Up to 20 Pounds: Jolly Pets Turtle Tug Toy
This little turtle (it also comes in other animal options) makes for an extra-rousing game of tug between you and your small dog or between two dog buddies. The middle squeaks when the handle-shaped ends are tugged. The rings make for a comfortable grip for human and dog.
This toy isn’t for super-chewers, but it’s a solid (and adorable) choice with multiple small-dog sizes—not something you can say about a lot of tug toys that seem aimed at larger animals.
Key features:
- Small for dogs up to 10 pounds, medium for dogs 10–20 pounds
- Center squeaker sounds when you play tug
- Durable and comfortable to hold and tug
- Not for power chewers
- Floats
Best Small Dog Toy for Power Chewers: Benebone
The Benebone is a firmer alternative to that other well-known plastic chew on our list, Nylabone. This toy comes in two small-dog sizes: the extra-small for dogs under 15 pounds, and the small for those under 30. While it contains good smells and flavors, it’s not messy like other treat sticks. It’s also ergonomically designed for grasping with small doggy paws.
As with all chews, it’s important to keep an eye on your pup while they work—and read up on chew risks to watch out for.
Key features:
- Four flavors available
- Wishbone shape is easy to grip
- Extra durable for serious chewers
- Made in the U.S.
Best Automated Toy: iFetch Automatic Mini Ball Launcher (Verified Review)
We’ve reviewed some of the top ball launchers available for dogs, and for the wee pups, the iFetch is where it’s at. This launcher comes with three small—1.6-inch—tennis balls, which the machine can toss 10, 20, or 30 feet. It’s a fantastic interactive small dog toy that’s fun for pet parents too.
The ultimate goal is to try to teach your dog how to fetch the balls and load the launcher themselves. It may not happen, but it’s sure fun to try! Either way, 15 minutes of fetch with this toy is likely to get your pup good and tired.
Key features:
- Comes with three 1.6-inch diameter tennis balls made for small dogs
- Vigorous exercise: ball launches keep dogs chasing and jumping
- Mental stimulation: you can train your dog to drop balls in
- Can be used inside or outside
Best Interactive Toy for Small Dogs: Wobble Wag Giggle Ball
This one’s for the small dogs who love big sound. At 5.5 inches around, it works well for dogs of a variety of sizes. The more your dog rolls this ball around, the more noise it makes—via tubes inside, not batteries and wiring. Some dogs love the goofy “giggles,” plus the holes built into the ball make it easier to pick up. For use indoors or out.
Key features:
- Made of phthalate-free vinyl
- Unusual sounds make it stand out from traditional squeaky toys
- “Pockets” make it easier to pick up
Best Hunting Game for Small Dogs: Outward Hound Hide-a-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Toy (Verified Review)
This may be the most universally praised toy we’ve seen: a hunting game for those little ones with a healthy prey drive. It’s available in multiple sizes, including a junior/small. Each squirrel has a squeaker, and you can buy additional packs of squirrels, as well as other critters, to keep the fun going.
Key features:
- It’s multiple toys in one
- Squirrels each have a squeaker; you can buy additional critters to fill the stump
- Feeds natural hunting and herding instincts
Best Toy for Teeth Cleaning: Busy Buddy Small Dog Bristle Bone Toy (Verified Review)
This popular, interactive cutie will keep your little buddy busy and improve dental health, too, with its nylon bristles and rubber nubs to get in between those chompers. This toy comes in multiple small sizes that will fit into your 25-pound-and-under dog’s mouth and allows them to easily handle it with their paws.
Our tester’s only watchout? Keep a close eye on the nylon bristles to make sure your dog isn’t pulling them loose—those aren’t good for eating!
Key features:
- Nylon and rubber bristles clean teeth while your small dog chews
- Rawhide rings make it extra appealing
- Two small sizes: small and extra-small cover dogs 25 pounds and under
- Dishwasher safe
Best Affordable Small Plush Toys: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz No-Stuffing Squeakies
For your pipsqueak that loves a squeaker, these Skinny Peltz by ZippyPaws critters are a must-have. Not only are they blissfully stuffing-free, but they also include multiple squeakers—and there may be nothing more adorable than a little dog trotting proudly with one of these long floppy plushies in its mouth.
Key features:
- No stuffing means less mess
- Multiple squeakers in each toy
- Comes as a three-pack
Best Tennis Ball: Chuckit! Small Ultra Rubber Ball Toy
This one’s for those small dogs that love a good chase session. Chuckit! makes variations of its popular ball toy, including this smaller version, which can be lobbed on its own or loaded into a Chuckit! small ball launcher for extra throwing power.
This is a big upgrade from your average tennis ball, and the toxin-free rubber holds up well. Sized appropriately for your dog’s small mouth, these are also strong enough to withstand enthusiastic chompers.
Key features:
- Rubber is toxin-free and stands up to some chewing
- Better bounce than a tennis ball
- Floats
- Comes as a two-pack
Best Treat-Dispensing Toy: KONG Classic Small
The Classic KONG remains a favorite vehicle for delivering the best-loved treat of so many dogs: peanut butter. It’s incredibly versatile: use it to slow down a fast eater and provide mental stimulation by serving meals in it, or fill it with goodies and freeze for a boredom-busting activity. This toy is made in the U.S. and available in sizes for both small and toy dog breeds.
Key features:
- Works as a puzzle toy and a slow feeder
- There are multiple small sizes for different small pups
- Durable
- Easy to clean—dishwasher safe
Best Toy for Dogs Up to 15 Pounds: Nylabone FlexiChew
Not just for teething puppies, Nylabones are a classic no-mess alternative to edible stick treats (such as bully sticks) that help redirect destructive chewing habits and support canine dental health. This triple pack comes in three flavors: bacon, peanut butter, and beef. These chew toys are specially sized for small mouths and designed for moderate chewers.
Key features:
- Durable and with a little flexibility, rated for moderate chewers
- Two small sizes available
- Three bones are infused with three different flavors
- Made in the U.S.
Best Fuzzy Plush Toy: West Paw Rowdy Squeaky
This happy little monster will double as your dog’s favorite pillow. Designed to be shaken, rattled, and rolled, this soft but durable friend is made with reinforced mesh HardyTex and contains a squeaker and specially designed “chew zones” for maximum tooth appeal. It’s ideal for a rousing game of fetch or a snuggle.
Peet is pricey—but West Paw’s “Love It” guarantee helps, since they’ll often refund you if the toy doesn’t live up to your pup’s expectations.
Key features:
- Made in the U.S. by a certified B Corporation
- Machine washable
- West Paw’s Love It Guarantee means a one-time replacement or refund if your dog isn’t happy
How We Chose Our Small Dog Toys
The small 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 evaluated sizing, durability, texture, and ability to engage. 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.