The 5 Best Interactive Dog Toys To Keep Dogs Busy While You’re At Work

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Interactive toys are great for all dogs regardless of its age or size. You can use them to stimulate your dog’s intelligence and it is a great way for your dog to entertain itself. If you don’t have time to play with it, or if you need the odd break, interactive toys may just do the trick.

Interactive toys for dogs come in myriad shapes and sizes. These toys often involve food, but can also include puzzles to complete (A two in one feature). These toys may also have weird sounds for your pet to have interest in.

Compare Best Interactive Dog Toys

OVERALL BEST 1. Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy View on Chewy Read Review	RUNNER UP 2. KONG Puppy Dog Toy View on Chewy Read Review	BEST INTERACTIVE TREAT DISPENSING DOG TOY 3. TRIXIE Pet Gambling Tower View on Chewy Read Review	BEST INTERACTIVE DOG TOY FOR SMALL DOGS 4. AFP Interactive Food Maze Dog Toy View on Amazon Read Review	BEST FOR BUDGET 5. Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Mazee Ball View on Chewy Read Review
Dimensions 13x 8x 7.5 inches	Dimensions 1.75x 1.75x 3 inches	Dimensions 9.75x 9.75x 10.5 inches	Dimensions 10.62 x 9.84 x 2.76 inches	Dimensions 5x 5x 5 inches
Weight 1.256 pounds	Weight 4.8 ounces	Weight 2.0 pounds	Weight 19 Ounces	Weight 10.08 ounces
Lifestage Adult	Lifestage Puppy	Lifestage Adult	Lifestage Adult	Lifestage Adult
Breed Size Large Breeds	Breed Size Small Breeds	Breed Size Medium Breeds	Breed Size All Breed Sizes	Breed Size Small Breeds
Toy Feature Squeaky, Training, Exercise	Toy Feature Teething	Toy Feature Training	Toy Feature Interactive Toy	Toy Feature Tough Chewer, Outdoor, Training, Exercise
Material Polyester	Material Rubber	Material Plastic	Material Non-toxic, Food grade safety	Material Plastic

These toys should let your dog have fun. These puzzles engage a dog mentally. Another benefit of interactive toys is that a busy dog is less likely to turn to destructive since these items will cure their boredom.

The brain is like a fifth leg for a dog and it requires regular exercise to maintain good physical health. Furthermore, you should remember that interactive toys also help to strengthen the bond between you and the dog.

This is because a lot of these items require you to be part of the fun. Fifteen minutes of mental exercise is the equivalent of running and a great way to calm hyperactivity.

Best Rated Interactive Dog Toys Reviewed

OVERALL BEST

1.

Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Dimensions: 13x 8x 7.5 inches
• Weight: 1.256 pounds
• Lifestage: Adult
• Breed Size: Large Breeds
• Toy Feature: Squeaky, Training, Exercise
• Material: Polyester

Pros

• Eliminates boredom
• Stimulates the brain
• It serves as a 2-in-1 toy

Cons

• Not suitable for aggressive chewers
• There are some breeds that just didn’t care for the toy

This toy is suitable for hyperactive dogs and it satisfies the natural need to hunt. The toy can hunt for the for the squeaky squirrels inside the plush trunk. This consequently gives the dog extra mental exercise. It is better than a regular plush that does not stimulate. You can also use the plushies inside the toy as a catch and fetch toy. In addition, the toy is available with different characters such as Hide-A-Bee and Hide-A-Bird.

RUNNER UP

2.

KONG Puppy Dog Toy

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Dimensions: 1.75x 1.75x 3 inches
• Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Lifestage: Puppy
• Breed Size: Small Breeds
• Toy Feature: Teething
• Material: Rubber

Pros

• Flexible and durable
• Made from natural rubber
• Non-Toxic

Cons

• Strong rubber scent
• Not suitable for intense chewers

This toy is unique and has a high rating. It is from natural, biodegradable safe rubber material. Furthermore. it can withstand constant chewing, although it is not guaranteed for tough bites. It is also has vanilla extract to make the toy smell good. You can stuff the ridges between the ball with peanut butter and treats.

BEST INTERACTIVE TREAT DISPENSING DOG TOY

3.

TRIXIE Pet Gambling Tower

View on Chewy

Product Info

• Dimensions: 9.75x 9.75x 10.5 inches
• Weight: 2.0 pounds
• Lifestage: Adult
• Breed Size: Medium Breeds
• Toy Feature: Training
• Material: Plastic

Pros

• Stimulates dog’s thinking abilities
• Enriches the dog’s mental health
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Heavy chewers may destroy toy
• Supervision a must
• Not suitable for larger breeds

This toy helps to stimulate dog’s brains and enhances its mental health. The gambling tower prevents boredom. Furthermore, it helps to occupy your dog’s attention through its design. The toy also keeps the dog distracted for long periods. One thing to remember, however, is that the toy is a bit fragile. So, many dog owners suggest that you should supervise your pet while it plays with it.

BEST INTERACTIVE DOG TOY FOR SMALL DOGS

4.

AFP Interactive Food Maze Dog Toy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Dimensions: 10.62 x 9.84 x 2.76 inches
• Weight: 19 Ounces
• Lifestage: Adult
• Breed Size: All Breed Sizes
• Toy Feature: Interactive Toy
• Material: Non-toxic, Food grade safety

Pros

• Can clean easily
• Helps to promote slow eating for quick eating dogs
• Made from safe non-toxic materials

Cons

• Slightly expensive
• Some owners say that the package came late

This toy is an interactive food maze which is quite similar to dog puzzle. It acts like a go-slow bowl for dogs. The toy prevents them from binging their food quickly. As a result, your dog is less likely to throw up or have stomach issues. Furthermore, the toy allows you to leave small treats or kibble in the crevices of the maze. Therefore, this may serve as a better alternative than most treat-dispensing items.

BEST FOR BUDGET

5.

Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Mazee Ball

View on Chewy

View on Amazon

Product Info

• Dimensions: 5x 5x 5 inches
• Weight: 10.08 ounces
• Lifestage: Adult
• Breed Size: Small Breeds
• Toy Feature: Tough Chewer, Outdoor, Training, Exercise
• Material: Plastic

Pros

• Non-toxic, BPA free
• Recyclable
• Can clean easily

Cons

• Some treats may not fit inside
• The rubber surface may collect dust and other dirt

This toy simulates your dog’s nose and sense of smell. There is an internal maze inside. Moreover, the toy rattles as little treats or kibble pieces roll around inside. It’s much more stimulating than a regular tennis ball. Furthermore, it will help to keep your pet occupied for hours, as it attempts to solve the puzzle. This toy also helps to improve mental stimulation.

Reasons Dog Need Interactive Toys

There are plenty of reasons why interactive dog toys need to be implemented in a dog’s daily life.

• They’re great for sensitive tummies – Toys these days dispense treats. They can even feed whole meals, effectively slowing down your dog’s impatient, rushing eating habits. These toys are excellent as they can prevent side effects like vomiting and stomach upset.
• They provide much-needed exercise – Depending on a dog’s age, size and health, they should get anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise each day. This can be difficult to provide when you are busy with life. With an interactive toy that is more independent, this is possible.
• They alleviate boredom – When you have to leave your house for a long period of time, an interactive toy keep a dog motivated in solving the puzzle for the hope of getting a delicious treat. Thus, these toys will help your dog will play for hours without getting bored.
• They help prevent anxiety – Interactive toys come as the perfect solution for helping separation anxiety. These puzzle toys help to keep your dog occupied, making it less focused on its loneliness and the lack of company.
• They keep puppies out of trouble – When it comes to exploring and keeping themselves occupied, dogs tend to destroy things without knowing what they are doing. In this case, an interactive toy is best.

Choosing An Interactive Dog Toys

When going out into the market to choose an indestructible toy, it is important to consider some of the following factors:

1. Safety – You must make sure that whatever the toy is, it is safe for the pet to chew on. Make sure that it is made for chewing and doesn’t have some weird protruding parts sticking out.

2. Durability – A toy should not break immediately. You want it to be last for a long time so you don’t have to keep exchanging products. Therefore, make sure that the toy is strong and durable.

3. Materials – This relates to safety, but make sure the toy is from a material that is safe for your pet to chew on. It also should be strong enough for your dog not to digest it, in case it breaks.
4. Stimulation – As an interactive toy, the item should stimulate your dog’s brain. An interactive makes your dog think and try to figure out a puzzle.

Best Interactive Dog Toys

Interactive toys are supposed to help stimulate your dog’s attention and mental capacity. It should do more than just sit still, but have some sort of extra functionality to it. For example, toys that have a food maze inside or require your dog to go through a puzzle can be an interactive toy. Furthermore, these type of items should also be something you can play with as well. One of the main points of interactive toys is so you can join in on the fun with your dog. Therefore, some of the items we mention below fulfill these requirements.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, as we discuss above, interactive toys are fairly important for dogs. They are very essential to strengthen the bond between the dog and owner. Thus, even if you are lazy sometimes, you should choose the best and most suitable toy for a dog that both you and him/her can have fun with. In the end, it is your responsibility to provide fun for the entire family.