13 best dog toys to entertain pups and banish boredom

This chew comes in small, large or extra large to suit dogs up to 50lbs. It’s chicken-flavoured but leaves no splinters, no grease and no stains and has plenty of textures to promote fresh breath and clean teeth, by controlling tartar and plaque build-up. Despite three testers giving it their best go, this toy lasts and lasts.

Advice is to rough up or scuff the smooth surfaces with a fork to release the flavour and when the testers were taking a break, it rinsed perfectly under warm water ready for another session. Nylabone also makes ergonomic chews in the same durable range, so dogs can hold their chew down while they give it a go. If you have an incessant chewer, this is the one for you.

Handmade from 100 per cent recycled cotton, unlike some others on the market, this tug toy is machine washable, biodegradable, compostable and recyclable. Its vibrant colour makes it a more attractive version of a popular style of toy and the recycled cotton isn’t as harsh on human hands as some other tug toys on the market. It also didn’t come undone or start to fray even after hours of play with three testers.

While our four-legged playmate’s might not care about the planet or “green” toys, as dog owners, being able to give them what they want without harming the environment is a huge plus.

Made from natural rubber and with three programmable settings and a light-up centre, not only is this one of the most stylish toys on the list, it gave our testers the perfect balance between rest and play. Safe for teeth and easy to clean with a rinse under a warm tap, this ball can be programmed to roll, bounce and jiggle and the light-up centre changes colour to attract their attention during the chase to retrieve it. It has automatic obstacle avoidance, so shouldn’t knock any vases off tables. It’s also silent when it’s on and charges fast.

While our testers took a while to figure out the fun of these bubbles, once they did, they enjoyed hours of chasing, leaping and trying to pop them. These are great for active dogs, but it’s one of the most interactive toys on the list, too. The bubbles really are peanut butter scented, vegan and don’t actually contain any nuts, so they’re suitable for anyone with a nut allergy, too.

Dr Zigs also supports children displaced by war, conflict or poverty across the globe with its #bubblesnotbombs programme, which has seen the brand send child-friendly bubble kits to Libya, Calais, Romania and orphanages in Delhi and Goa, so your pet is helping others while popping their bubbles.

This isn’t the cheapest option on the list but the bubble mixture comes concentrated and creates a litre of solution when mixed with water.

A toy and treat dispenser in one, this ball helps with mental stimulation, while the grooves help with dental care. The extra strong elastic rubber is bite-resistant and it comes in three sizes: 6cm x 6cm for puppies, 7cm x 7cm for medium-sized dogs and 8cm x 8cm for bigger breeds. The slits on the side fill with smaller treats and kibbles, while stick treats and chews fit into the hole in the centre.

Unlike a lot of other treat dispensers on the market, this is a ball, too – it throws really well and is lightweight. The 7cm size even fits into a ball-thrower, as long as there aren’t any chews sticking out of the middle. Our testers loved it and it washes with soap and warm water to come out as good as new.

Not only does this toy look beautiful, it’s also environmentally friendly. It’s handmade in Essex from recycled fabrics and you can even choose your colour scheme, so it can match even the swishest interiors. Our testers loved digging at this on its own, but they also really loved having their kibble poured into and onto it, for them to forage around for. The rubber mat stuck in place perfectly with excellent grip on varnished wood floors, too. Plus, you can send it back once it’s been ravaged and the kind people at Pup Suds will revamp it for you.

Made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles and with a natural rubber squeaker with no plastic, this is a perfect choice for the eco-friendly dog owner. This cuddly hawksbill turtle comes with a label explaining how they’re critically endangered, so there’s learning for dog owners as well as fun for their four-legged friends. It’s multi-layered and double-stitched for extra strength and even the packaging it’s attached to is printed on recycled paper.

Our testers loved the furry toy, while the hard-folded seams mean it’s lasted way beyond testing and is still washing well. It became a particular favourite for our testers to sleep with, too.

A list of the best dog toys wouldn’t be complete without at least one appearance from Kong. Synonymous with pet toys and famed for its durability, the confetti stick not only looks bright, glittery and fun, it’s also the only toy on the list that’ll continue to squeak even when it’s punctured – a must for owners whose dogs make a beeline to demolish anything with a squeaker. It comes in a choice of colours, including green, orange, purple and blue, and our testers proudly carried it around with them on walks for weeks.

While there’s a lot to be said for a toy with a squeaker, when it comes to relaxing and watching TV, the last thing any owner wants is the constant squeak of a toy your dog is definitely not going to relinquish without a game of “catch me if you can”. This is where the Cadbarks doggy milk fruit and mutt dog toy comes in. The whimsy faux chocolate bar is a crinkle toy rather than a squeaky one and made from a really durable fabric. This toy is sizeable enough for big breeds but squashy enough that smaller breeds can get joy out of it, too. It washed brilliantly and has become a firm favourite for our testers.

This treat toy for puppies from Kong didn’t disappoint. It’s perfect for fitting dog treats inside, and our testers had hours of fun chasing it and trying to get at their treats. We’re not sure it’d stand the test for hard, obsessive chewers, but for puppy teething and gentle biting, it’s perfect. It‘s recommended for beginner to light chewers and the treat inside offers mental stimulation, too, so there was lots of licking as well as chewing. It rinses perfectly and even went through the dishwasher OK.

Designed with restless dogs in mind, this tug toy is exceptionally hard-wearing, even after weeks of testing it didn’t yield at all or break. The striking block colour and bulky triangular design not only looked good but performed well during play. The experts at Pets At Home worked with dog behaviourists to design the toy, so it’s perfect for playing tug of war, fetch and for having a good old chew on. A diverse toy for all kinds of play.

Perfect for a long and exhausting game of fetch, while this toy looks like it wouldn’t be out of place in a live action Stick Man show, it crunches, squeaks and is ergonomic, so throws brilliantly. It went through the washing machine fine and while it didn’t last as long as some of the others on the list before starting to fail, our three testers’ ears pricked up every single time they caught sight or sound of it.

Her name might not be instantly recognisable but Nina certainly knows how to keep dogs busy. Her mantra “dogs have four legs and one head and all five need activity in different ways” rings true to any owner, and her lickin’ layers puzzle and feeder is fantastic. It kept our testers entertained for hours.

Whether it’s peanut butter spread on the layers or kibble in the compartments, this spinning feeder has more than 100 treat compartments in three layers that will take even the brightest mutt a while to get to. It separates and goes through the dishwasher and the colours are just as engaging as the activity – not to mention the fact it spins silently without a squeaker or crackle in earshot, so four-legged friends can entertain themselves even during the quiet parts of a movie.