The 6 Best Dog Toys With a Heartbeat To Soothe an Anxious Pup

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Plush dog toys with heartbeats are an increasingly popular tool in a pet parent’s anti-anxiety toolkit. Soft fur, a pulsing mechanical heartbeat, and a heated core replicate snuggling with a mother dog and litter mates, making them a strong choice for all kinds of stressful situations—including storms, crate training, and separation anxiety.

It’s still a relatively small market, but trainers and vets have been impressed by their effectiveness, and our test pups had largely positive experiences. To maximize your chances of soothing your anxious pup and help you find the right fit, we’ve rounded up the most popular styles out there, from plush toys to blankets and solo heartbeat devices.

Best Overall: Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy (Verified Review)

The Snuggle Puppy calls itself the “original” dog heartbeat toy, and it’s hard to dispute—it’s been on the market for over two decades, and its recipe for calming is certainly powerful. The soft, puppy-shaped plush has a Velcro slit in its belly that holds both a plastic disc “heart” powered by AAA batteries (included) and a disposable hand-warmer to generate gentle heat.

Two out of three of our anxious test pups saw substantial improvements in their ability to sleep peacefully in their crates at night. (The third was cheerful toy-destroyer Oscar, who proved that heartbeat toys probably aren’t for dedicated plush shredders.)

Our only caveat? Though the Snuggle Puppy’s heat pack is certainly longer-lasting than a lot of models’ out there, it does have to be replaced after 24 hours. Some pet parents may prefer a reusable microwave-safe option.

Key Features:

• The original heartbeat dog toy, it comes with a heartbeat device and disposable heat pack
• Heartbeat has two modes, eight hours and 24 hours
• AAA batteries included

Best Heartbeat Toy With Reusable Heat Pack: Pets Know Best Huggie Pup

The Huggie Pup is remarkably similar to the Snuggle Pup: a soft plush toy has a Velcro opening in the stomach, where pet parents can insert both a battery-powered heartbeat device and a heat pack. Unlike in many other dog heartbeat toys, however, the heat pack in the Huggie Pup is reusable—just reheat it in the microwave and tuck it back into the toy.

We like the machine-washable Huggie Pup for situational anxiety, though pet parents who are looking for a nighttime crate-training aid may prefer the Snuggle Pup, since its heat, though not reusable, is longer lasting.

Key Features:

• Reuseable heat pack goes in the microwave
• Machine washable
  Requires two AAA batteries

Best Pillow-Style Heartbeat Toy: K&H Pet Products Mother’s Heartbeat

If you have a plush shredder on your hands, a cushion- or pillow-style heartbeat pad may help foil their prey drive. This heartbeat cushion from K&H comes in three different sizes, all with different heartbeat speeds to match the differing beats of small and large breeds.

It comes in bone (Petco and Amazon) or heart shape (Chewy), with a neat zippered pocket for the AAA-powered heartbeat device. We like the sizing options for different breeds, though pups who like heat might want to hold out for a heartbeat toy with a warming device.

Key Features:

• Machine-washable; just remove the heartbeat device
• Three different heartbeat speeds
• Two different pillow styles

Best for Crate Training: Pet Fit for Life Heartbeat Insert

Pet parents who are trying to get their dogs acclimated to using a crate might prefer the flexibility of a heartbeat device without the plush toy. You can place this this 2.5- by 3-inch disc anywhere you want your pup to tuck in and get a soothing sleep—for example, zip it into their crate pad or under a blanket.

We especially like that it’s rechargeable, though because it’s not sewn in, a little extra caution is required from pet parents. We recommend securing it somewhere your pup can’t access directly.

Key Features:

• Rechargeable via USB port, 18 hours on a full charge
• Set it to run for two hours non-stop
• Put it anywhere you want your pet to curl up—in a dog bed, under a blanket, or in a toy

Best Blanket Style: Moropaky Heartbeat Blanket

Blanket-style heartbeat devices are popular for burrowers, snugglers, and pups who can’t be trusted with more traditional toys. This blanket with a heartbeat tucked into a pocket is sized well for small breeds and puppies. We especially like that it’s machine-washable once the heartbeat device is removed—though some reviewers report that it can take a little work to shake out and unclump the filling.

Key Features:

• At about 18 by 18 inches, this is sized for a puppy or smaller dog
• Non-slip bottom
  Two AAA batteries needed; not included

Best Heartbeat Alternative: Pet Acoustics Pet Tunes Bluetooth Speaker for Dogs (Verified Review)

If your dog can’t be trusted not to chew on plushes, blankets, or cushions, you’re not alone—and you’re also not out of options. This little Bluetooth speaker uses sounds to soothe your anxious pup, but it isn’t heartbeats—it’s music. It plays 90 minutes of a dog-specific sound mix that you can put on repeat. The speaker can operate wirelessly for up to eight hours on a full charge.

Key Features:

• 90 minutes of music for dogs
• Up to eight hours of wireless play
• Good for dogs who might be prone to chewing on plushies

How We Chose

We selected the heartbeat toys featured here 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 toys with reusable and rechargeable parts, secure seams and pouches, and a variety of styles for different pet needs.

We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pups, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• The 12 Best Dog Toys of 2021
• How to Buy a Quality Dog Toy (and Avoid a Dangerous Fake)
• 10 Best Puzzle Toys that Actually Help Bored Dogs
• The 11 Best Calming Dog Toys for Anxiety, According to Experts