Using the right toys can make or break your dog's play development!

When selecting toys, it's important to consider three factors - the size of your dog, their drive / aptitude for play, and the specific game that is being played. Using a toy that is too large or too hard, or a toy that is inappropriate for the game being played can turn off your dog's desire to engage in play. 

Toys that resemble prey, such as sheep skin tugs are a great place to start for all dogs. We like to start with a tug toy attached to a leash for a few reasons -

• It allows you to move the toy in a way that imitates the way small prey moves along the ground
• It allows you to create space away from your dog if they find competitive games intimidating
• It prevents your dog from running away from your with the toy and playing keep away

Once dogs understand the game of tug, we typically move on to a two-handled tug. This allows for a more controlled, refined game of tug and is compatible with merging obedience with play.

For the game of fetch, we like to start with soft, squeaky balls and then move to harder / bouncier balls as dogs progress and as puppies get older.

Balls on string and frisbees are both great options for combining both competitive and cooperative games as you can toss them out for your dog to retrieve AND play tug with them.  

Check out our recommendations below:

Our Favorite Tug Toys:

Redline K9 Sheep Skin Tug

Redline K9 Fuzzit Puppy Tug

Redline K9 Shaggy Bungee Tug

K9 Tug With 2 Handles

Redline K9 Soft Flat Leather Tug Toy

Our Favorite Balls & Balls On String:

Hartz DuraPlay Bacon Ball

Chuckit Ultra Squeaker Ball

Chuckit Ultra Tug & Fetch Toy

Starmark Everlasting Fun Ball On Rope

Starmark Swing 'n Fling DuraFoam Ball On Rope

Our Favorite Frisbees:

Chuckit Zipflight Flying Disc

Hartz DuraPlay Bacon Frisbee

Looking for more? Check out our full list of recommended toys and tools!

Want to master the art of playing with your dog? Whether you want to dive into in-person lessons, invest in a board-and-train program, or train your dog yourself from the comfort of your home, we offer training packages and online courses for every learning style!