Best Dog Toys UK: 10 Toy Types Every Dog Owner Needs

Key takeaways

• The best dog toys are fun, durable and safe.
• Owning a range of dog toys – including chew toys, puzzles, tug toys, plushies and squeaky toys – will enhance your pet’s emotional and physical health, while promoting instinctive behaviours such as foraging, hunting and problem-solving.
  
• You should choose toys suitable for your dog’s age and size, such as puppy teething chews or tough rope toys.
• Explore our new Minions dog toy collection, designed to be interactive and durable, just in time for the release of the Minions & Monsters film.

From rubber bones to rope toys and interactive puzzles, choosing the right dog toys can feel overwhelming – especially if you’re a new puppy owner or you have a dog that seems to chew through everything.

At Happy Pet, we know that the best dog toys combine fun, exercise and mental stimulation, which is why we’ve rounded up 10 toy types to keep your dog’s tail wagging through every age and stage.

Why play matters for dogs

Regular play is absolutely vital for dogs. The recommended type of play depends on your pet’s breed and stage of life, but all dogs need opportunities to connect with their humans and explore their instinctive behaviours. 

Active play releases endorphins, allows your dog to burn excess energy and helps them learn healthy habits. It can also correct destructive behaviours such as excessive barking and chewing, especially in energetic pups.

The 10 best dog toys every owner needs

The best dog toys are fun, durable and safe for your furry companion. While every dog has their own unique needs and play style, these are our 10 essentials for every toy basket.

Chew toys

Chew toys promote dental health, relieve stress and fulfill your dog’s natural instincts to chomp, saving your furniture from unwanted nibbling.

These toys are especially vital for puppies. Much like human babies, puppies experience sore gums when they are teething, so soft, rubbery chew toys like the BetterBone Soft can offer relief and encourage good chewing habits. They are also non-toxic, safe to ingest and available in two puppy-friendly flavours.

Rope toys

Rope toys promote interactive bonding through games like tug-of-war, while also providing stress relief through the repetitive action of chewing. 

Puppies and small dogs will benefit from softer fibres, while larger breeds will need something more durable, like the Extreme 2 Knot Tugger. 

Some toys combine rope with other stimulating features, such as the brand new Minion® Double Tug Kevin from our range of Minions dog toys. The Kevin toy features crinkly materials and a squeaker inside to keep your dog engaged, as well as a super-strong rope designed with enthusiastic play sessions in mind. 

Safety tip: Always make sure rope toys are appropriate for your dog’s size and dental health. Supervise their play, and remove the toy if it becomes damaged or frayed.

Puzzles & interactive toys

Puzzle toys can provide hours of enrichment and play for smart dogs while encouraging them to forage and problem-solve.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Treat Toy is colourful and interactive, designed to stimulate your dog’s natural play instincts through sound, texture and tasty surprises. The best interactive dog toys include board puzzles, stuffable chews, rolling and wobbling treat dispensers and Puzzle Feeders that slow down fast eaters.

Squeaky toys

Squeaky toys are great for dogs because they mimic the sound of prey, satisfying their natural hunting drive. The instant noise provides positive reinforcement for biting and chewing, while also helping to combat stress and boredom.

Toys like the Migrator Pheasant Soft Dog Toy are designed for both cuddling and squeaking and can be chewed, snuggled or used for games of fetch.

Safety tip: Always supervise your dog with squeaker toys to make sure they don’t accidentally swallow the squeaker, especially if they’re prone to tearing toys apart.

Fetch toys

Fetch toys help to strengthen the bond between you and your pet, provide essential physical exercise and satisfy their hunting and retrieving needs. 

Most dog toys – including rope toys, plushies and balls – can be used for fetch games. Tougher, more durable options include the Gaudy Game Mallard Tough Dog Toy or the Grubber Tough Rugby Ball Dog Toy, which are perfect for large dogs or enthusiastic chewers.

Tug toys

Games of tug of war help to build confidence, strengthen dog-to-human bonds and provide a healthy outlet for natural predatory drives. Even a short tug session can help your dog burn excess energy, leading to calmer indoor behavior.

The officially-licensed Minion® Gru Rope Scarf is perfect for tug of war because it’s reinforced with durable fabrics and built to last. 

Plush toys

Many dogs have that one toy that they carry from room to room and refuse to part with. Just like children form bonds with soft toys, plushies can provide comfort and security, while also offering a gentler play option for puppies or dogs with health issues. 

Some plush toys for dogs – like the Lamb Chop Dog Toy – also come with squeakers or other noise-making components for extra mental stimulation and fun.

Treat-dispensing toys

Treat-dispensing toys for dogs range from rubber stuffable chews to reward balls and play toys with hidden treat compartments (like The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ Treat Toy).

These toys help to stimulate your dog’s natural play instincts and improve their mental agility by making them work for a tasty treat.

Teething toys (for puppies)

Puppies need teething toys to relieve sore gums and soothe the discomfort of losing baby teeth as their adult teeth push through. Without proper teething support, many puppies will satisfy their urges by chewing things they shouldn’t – like your favourite shoes!

The teething process usually spans from 3 to 6 months of age. Specialised toys like freezable, rubber puppy chews can provide pain relief, gently dislodge baby teeth and scrape away early plaque buildup.

Safety tip: Always choose puppy-safe teething toys that are hypoallergenic and splinter-resistant to prevent allergies and injuries.

Durable dog toys (for heavy chewers)

Larger dogs and heavy chewers may need something a little longer-lasting than the average chew toy. Durable dog toys include hard chew toys like the nylon-free Better Bone Hard Dog Chew, strong rope toys and fetch toys made from extra durable materials.

Safety tip: Always supervise aggressive chewers when they’re playing with squeaker toys, plush toys or when there is a danger of parts coming loose.

How to choose the right dog toy

When choosing the best toy for your dog, you should consider their age, size, habits and favourite ways to play.

It also helps to rotate toys rather than leaving them all out at once to prevent your dog becoming overwhelmed or bored. Sometimes an old favourite feels new again after a week away from the toy basket.

For puppies, look for softer toys that are gentle on their growing teeth and gums. Enthusiastic chewers will benefit from tougher toys designed to withstand more determined play, while fetch and tug toys are vital for active dogs, helping them burn off energy and strengthening their muscles. For clever dogs who get bored easily, opt for interactive puzzle toys and treat dispensers.

Safety advice

Play time should be fun, but a little thought goes a long way when choosing dog toys. Here’s how to make safe choices when adding to your dog’s toy collection.

• Always follow age and size recommendations provided by the manufacturer.
  
• Check toys are certified non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals like BPA, lead or synthetic plastics.
  
• Make sure all soft toys are labelled pet-safe. Dogs should not be given plush toys filled with polystyrene beads or nutshells.
  
• Avoid standard tennis or sports balls for larger dogs, as they can be swallowed easily. Always use thick dog balls with air holes.
  
• Avoid toys with strings, ribbons or rubber bands, as these can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed.
  
• Check toys regularly for signs of wear and tear, and replace them if parts become damaged or heavily worn. Be careful of rope toys becoming unravelled or fraying rope fibres.
  
• Introduce new toys under supervision so you can check how your dog interacts with them.

Explore the collection 

For more than 20 years, Happy Pet has provided thoughtful, safety-tested pet toys for some of the UK’s leading retailers, including Pets at Home and Jollyes. Today, we’re bringing this same expertise directly to pet families. 

Every toy in our collection is designed by pet lovers, with real-life play, enrichment and everyday adventures in mind. Whether your dog loves to chew, chase or snuggle, you’ll find toys designed to bring a little more joy to everyday life.

Explore our full collection of dog toys, including our brand new Minions dog toy selection, and discover toys made for happy pets and the people who love them.

FAQS

What are the best dog toys for boredom?

The best dog toys for boredom included puzzles, treat dispensers, reward balls and interactive toys that stimulate your pet’s natural foraging and problem-solving instincts.

What are the best dog toys for puppies?

The best toys for puppies include soft teething chews, mental enrichment and puzzle toys, fetch and gentle tug toys, and comforting puppy-safe plushies.

How many toys should a dog have?

We recommend a collection of 10-15 different toys, including age-appropriate chews, plushies, chewables, breathable balls, tug toys and rope toys. You should rotate toys often, so your dog only has access to 3-4 at a time. This keeps them entertained while preventing overstimulation.

What are the safest dog toys?

The best dog toys in the UK are made from non-toxic materials and free from lead and phthalates, while also being durable and good for teeth and gums. Always make sure you buy appropriate toys for your dog’s age and breed, such as puppy chews for little ones or tougher toys made for larger dogs.