How to Choose the Right Toy for Your Dog: A Complete Guide
Walk into any pet store—or scroll through one online—and you’ll find what feels like an endless selection of dog toys.
Plush toys. Rope toys. Balls. Tug toys. Interactive toys.
So how do you know which one your dog will actually enjoy?
The best dog toy isn’t necessarily the cutest one or the most expensive one. It’s one that fits your dog’s size, age, play style, chewing habits, and individual preferences.
Some dogs want to tug. Others love carrying a soft toy around the house. Some would happily chase a ball all afternoon, while others are far more interested in figuring out how to get a treat out of an interactive toy.
Here’s how to choose the right toy for your dog—and build a toy collection they’ll actually want to play with.
1. Start with your dog’s play style
Before looking at the toy, look at your dog.
How does your dog naturally like to play?
This is one of the easiest ways to narrow down your choices.
Does your dog love to tug?
Try rope and tug toys.
These toys are designed for interactive games between you and your dog and can be especially appealing to dogs that enjoy grabbing, pulling, and playing together.
Tug can also turn a toy into a shared activity rather than something your dog simply plays with alone.
Does your dog love to carry toys around?
A plush toy may be a good match.
Some dogs enjoy carrying, tossing, retrieving, or cuddling softer toys.
If your dog tends to tear plush toys apart quickly, however, closely supervise play and remove damaged toys before loose stuffing, fabric, or squeakers can be swallowed.
Does your dog love to chase?
Consider appropriately sized balls or fetch toys.
The toy should be large enough that your dog can’t accidentally swallow it, while still being comfortable for them to carry.
Does your dog love a challenge?
Try interactive or treat-dispensing toys.
These can add problem-solving to play by encouraging your dog to push, move, search, or manipulate the toy to reach a reward.
Does your dog get tired of toys quickly?
Don’t automatically assume you need to keep buying new ones.
Your dog may benefit from variety and toy rotation instead.
We’ll come back to this later.
2. Choose the right size toy
Size isn’t just about comfort. It’s also a safety consideration.
A toy that’s too large may be difficult for a smaller dog to use.
More importantly, a toy that’s too small for a larger dog can present a swallowing or choking hazard.
Choose toys according to the manufacturer’s sizing recommendations and consider your dog’s actual mouth size and chewing behavior—not simply their breed label.
This becomes especially important in homes with dogs of very different sizes.
A toy that works for the smallest dog may be too small to safely use around the largest dog.
3. Consider your dog’s chewing style
Dogs don’t all interact with toys in the same way.
One dog may gently carry a plush toy for months.
Another may immediately start trying to open it.
Think about your dog as roughly one of these:
Gentle player: Carries, licks, retrieves, or lightly chews toys.
Moderate player: Regularly chews and pulls toys but doesn’t usually destroy them immediately.
Enthusiastic chewer: Quickly damages toys, pulls at seams, or attempts to remove pieces.
Your dog’s behavior matters because no toy should be assumed to be indestructible.
Regularly inspect toys for damage and remove them when pieces begin breaking off, seams open, stuffing becomes exposed, or the toy becomes small enough to present a swallowing risk.
4. Think about what you want the toy to do
Not every toy needs to solve the same problem.
Instead of asking:
“What’s the best dog toy?”
Try asking:
“What kind of play do I want to encourage?”
For example:
For Interactive Play
Try:
- Rope toys
- Tug toys
- Fetch toys
These are useful when you want to actively participate in playtime.
For Mental Stimulation
Try:
- Interactive toys
- Treat-dispensing toys
- Search games
- Toys incorporated into scent activities
The toy becomes part of a challenge rather than simply an object to carry.
For Fetch
Try:
- Balls
- Soft fetch toys
- Appropriately sized retrieving toys
Always consider the environment you’re playing in and choose a size appropriate for your dog.
For Comfort and Gentle Play
Some dogs enjoy:
- Plush toys
- Soft toys
- Toys they can carry
Again, your dog’s individual behavior matters. Plush isn’t appropriate for unsupervised use if your dog immediately destroys and attempts to swallow pieces.
For Tug
Choose toys designed to give both you and your dog enough room to grip safely.
Rope and tug-style toys can make interactive play simple and engaging.
5. Consider your dog’s age
A dog’s toy preferences and needs can change throughout life.
Puppies
Puppies explore the world with their mouths and often chew frequently, especially while teething.
Choose age-appropriate toys, monitor them during play, and regularly inspect toys for damage.
Adult Dogs
For adult dogs, play style becomes particularly useful when choosing toys.
Some may love fetch.
Some prefer tug.
Some enjoy interactive challenges.
Others simply want a favorite plush companion.
Senior Dogs
Older dogs can still enjoy play and enrichment, but their preferences or physical abilities may change.
They may prefer shorter play sessions, gentler games, or toys that are easier to manipulate.
If your dog has dental issues, mobility limitations, pain, or another medical condition, ask your veterinarian which types of toys and activities are appropriate.
6. Don’t forget mental stimulation
A dog toy doesn’t have to provide only physical play.
You can use toys to encourage thinking too.
Hide a favorite toy and ask your dog to find it.
Use an appropriate treat-dispensing toy.
Turn a rope toy into the reward at the end of a search game.
Rotate toys so different options appear throughout the week.
Sometimes it’s not about buying a more complicated toy.
It’s about making play more interesting.
→ Related: How to Mentally Stimulate Your Dog at Home
7. Use toy rotation to keep play fresh
Imagine seeing every toy you own lying on the floor every single day.
Eventually, some of them may become background objects.
Instead, keep a smaller selection available and store the rest.
Then rotate them.
For example:
Monday: Plush + rope
Wednesday: Interactive toy + ball
Friday: Rope + different plush
A familiar toy returning after some time away may attract renewed interest.
This also makes it easier to offer different styles of play without constantly buying new toys.
→ Related: How Often Should You Rotate Your Dog’s Toys?
8. Build variety instead of looking for one “perfect” toy
There probably isn’t one toy that needs to do everything.
Think instead about creating a small play mix.
For example:
1 toy for interactive play
Rope or tug toy
1 toy for softer play
Plush toy
1 toy for mental engagement
Interactive or treat-dispensing toy
1 toy for movement
Ball or fetch toy
You don’t necessarily need all four.
The point is to choose toys that provide different play experiences rather than buying several toys that all serve exactly the same purpose.
Quick dog toy matching guide
Dog loves pulling
→ Rope or tug toy
Dog loves carrying things
→ Plush or soft toy
Dog loves chasing
→ Ball or fetch toy
Dog loves food and problem-solving
→ Interactive/treat-dispensing toy
Dog gets bored with the same toys
→ Toy rotation + different play styles
Dog destroys plush toys quickly
→ Consider more durable options and closely supervise play
Remember: these are starting points, not rigid rules. Individual dogs can have very different preferences.
How to know if your dog likes a toy
Sometimes the answer is simple: watch your dog.
Do they repeatedly return to the toy?
Bring it to you?
Carry it around?
Initiate play with it?
Stay engaged when you use it together?
Your dog’s behavior can tell you far more about their preferences than a label on a package.
Pay attention to which types of play consistently interest them.
Over time, you’ll start building a much clearer picture of what belongs in their toy collection.
Dog toy safety: What to check
Before giving your dog a toy, check:
- Is it appropriately sized?
- Are there pieces that could easily detach?
- Is it suitable for the way my dog chews and plays?
- Is it already ripped or damaged?
- Does the manufacturer provide specific play or supervision instructions?
Continue checking toys after purchase.
If a toy becomes damaged, develops loose pieces, or starts breaking apart, take it away.
Supervision is particularly important when you don’t yet know how your dog will interact with a new toy.
The right toy is the one that fits your dog
Choosing a dog toy doesn’t need to be complicated.
Start with your dog.
How do they play?
What keeps their attention?
How strongly do they chew?
What size toy can they use safely?
Then choose toys that support those preferences.
And instead of searching endlessly for one “perfect” toy, consider providing different kinds of play.
At Pawlipop, that’s exactly why we love variety.
Our individual toys, bundles, and themed toy boxes make it easier to introduce different play experiences and discover what gets your dog’s tail wagging.
And because every dog is different, you choose what works for yours.
No subscription needed.
Find your dog’s next favorite toy
Whether your dog loves to tug, carry, chase, or explore, discover Pawlipop toys designed to bring more variety and fun to playtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right toy for my dog?
Start with your dog’s size, age, chewing habits, and preferred style of play. A dog that loves pulling may enjoy a tug toy, while a dog that enjoys searching and problem-solving may prefer an interactive toy. Safety and appropriate sizing should always be considered.
What type of toy is best for my dog?
There isn’t one type that’s best for every dog. Choose according to what your dog enjoys doing and how they interact with toys. Many dogs benefit from having access to different types of play rather than several very similar toys.
How do I know what size dog toy to buy?
Follow the manufacturer’s sizing recommendations and consider your dog’s mouth size and chewing habits. Avoid toys small enough to be swallowed or become a choking hazard.
Are plush toys safe for dogs?
They can be appropriate for some dogs, particularly gentle players. Dogs that tear plush toys apart may expose or swallow fabric, stuffing, or squeakers, so supervise play and remove damaged toys.
Should dogs have different types of toys?
Different toy types can offer different play experiences. For example, tug toys encourage interactive play, while interactive toys can add problem-solving. Variety can also be created through toy rotation rather than leaving every toy available all the time.