What Dog Toy Should You Pick? Types, Benefits & How to Choose

December 28, 2025

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Have you ever come home to find the living room turned into a toy war zone — stuffing everywhere, a chewed-up slipper in the middle of the floor, and your dog acting like nothing happened? Or stood in the kitchen thinking, “What a mess” as that never-ending squeak drives you half-mad?

You’re not alone. However, every dog is different — and so is the “right” toy. Choosing the right toy isn’t just shopping — it’s solving a little pawzle: which toy will keep your dog busy, safe, and out of trouble? Below is a quick, practical guide so you can pick a toy that actually helps — with short reasons, safety tips, and evidence-backed facts.

Why this matter

Dogs need mental and physical outlets. Studies show that the right enrichment (toys, puzzles, chews) reduces stress and problem behaviours in dogs — in other words, the correct toys can actually prevent a lot of those “mess” moments¹.

Quick guide to common materials (and when to pick each)

Plush— for comfort & light play
Best for puppies and gentle dogs who want a toy to cuddle or carry. Studies in canine behavior show that soft textures can trigger nurturing instincts, making dogs more relaxed and willing to self-soothe during downtime². But plush toys can be torn, and the stuffing becomes a hazard for aggressive chewers. (Supervise and replace when damaged.)

Squeaker — choose gentle squeaks, not sharp noise

Squeakers keep dogs curious and engaged — but the type of squeak matters. A gentle squeaker is a better choice for both humans and especially dogs, because dogs hear much higher frequencies and at much greater sensitivity than humans.

--Human hearing range: ~20 Hz – 20 kHz

--Dog hearing range: ~67 Hz – 45–65 kHz

--Dogs can detect sounds up to 4× farther than humans^3,4.

This means a loud, high-pitch squeaker that sounds “okay” to a person can be overwhelming for a dog, causing stress, hyper-excitement, or avoidance.

Natural rubber — the daily chewer & dental helper
Rubber balls, chew bones, and treat dispensers are gentle on gums, durable for most dogs, and can assist in reducing plaque when used alongside dental care. Good default pick for teething pups and daily chewers.

TPR (thermoplastic rubber) — the middle ground
Flexible, tough, and easy to clean — often used in treat dispensers and interactive toys. Good if you want something more durable than plush but not as hard as heavy nylons. Quality varies, so check product specs.

Latex / soft rubber — bouncy & lightweight
Great for fetch and casual play with small breeds. Not for power chewers — they puncture.

Nylon / rope / hard chews — built to last
For serious chewers. Rope toys also help remove food debris between teeth, but fraying fibers and ingestion risk mean you should monitor play. Some very hard chews may wear down teeth, so pick an appropriate hardness.

A few rules backed by experts (so you can decide fast)

Match toy size to your dog’s mouth — too small = choking hazard.

Match material to chew strength (gentle, moderate, heavy). AKC recommends choosing toys by play style and chew strength.

Rotate toys weekly — novelty increases engagement and reduces boredom.

Dental toys/chews help but aren’t a replacement for brushing — combine approaches.

Final note

You’ll know you’ve solved the pawzle when the house is quieter, the shoes are safe, and your dog happily returns to their preferred toy.

Reference

1. Hunt, R. L., et al. (2022). Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Dog Behaviour. PMC. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8772568/ PMC

2. (Applied Animal Behaviour Science study). Research published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science notes that dogs show increased calmness and “object-attachment behaviors” with soft-textured items.

3. Heffner, H. E. (1983). Hearing in Large and Small Dogs. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 97(2), 310–318. ResearchGate

4. Strain, G. M. (2012). Canine deafness. The Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 42(6), 1209–1224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2012.08.010