Best dog toys for treats, chewing and play – with our top picks

What would a best dog toy list be without this rubber toy by KONG? The ever-so-popular KONG - Classic Dog Toy has been a hit with dogs and their owners for years. Not only is it super durable and fun to chew, but you can also pack it with their favourite treats or soft pastes, so your dog will spend hours trying to get to their treats. Also, the rubber toy can be cleaned in the dishwasher to keep it hygienic.

The Classic Kong is available in a range of colours and sizes. Modified versions of the toy are available for puppies, seniors, and powerful chewers.

Customers praise this Kong toy for being extremely durable. When filled with treats, it provides a stimulating challenge for dogs and is great for chewers. Additionally, some owners freeze it, with treats inside, for a soothing teething aid.

Plenty is going on with this PawsOnlyUK Treat Dispenser Dog Toy Ball to prevent any signs of boredom with your dog. The clever design of the ball with side slits and a hollow centre allows you to put snacks and treats in it. The rubber nodules also help to clean your pooch's teeth and gums as they attempt to get the treats out and it even has a light mint scent to freshen their breath.

If your dog tends to wolf down its food, this treat-dispensing ball is an effective way to slow down their eating, which in turn can prevent digestive issues. Additionally, it provides mental stimulation and lessens separation anxiety by giving a stress-relieving activity.

This Amazon's Choice recommended toy is available in three sizes. Reviews comment that when the toy is filled with treats, it can provide an entertaining challenge. However, there is mixed opinion on its durability. Larger dogs will need the 8cm version of this toy.

If your pooch just can't get enough of a classic ball game, we think they'll love this ultra-durable, bouncy ball for your games of fetch. With an extra-thick natural rubber core, these tough ChuckIt! Ultra Ball Dog Toys are designed for long-term use and float, so you won't have to worry about them losing it in water. Additionally, use a Chuckit! Launcher to fling the ball even further.

Customer reviews praise Chuckit! for being durable and just the right level of firmness to withstand chewing—not too hard. Comments indicate that the ball has good longevity, though a minority of customers comment that the ball split at the seams.

There's nothing better than a simple tennis ball to entertain a dog. It is £8 well spent for this pack of 12 Petface Super Tennis Balls For Dogs that you can use to perfect outdoor training exercises and keep your dog fit and active. The Petface tennis ball measures 6.35cm in diameter, so should fit in most dog ball launchers to save your throwing arm.

Our review by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "My cocker spaniel has an overflowing box of toys, yet he won't go anywhere without his beloved tennis ball. A pack of 12 is definitely worth it because it means he has three for the house, two for outside, one for the car and any that get lost can be quickly replaced. Of course, because he carries it around so much, the felt can get pretty smelly and dirty, but they can survive a couple of washing machine trips before they fall apart."

This is as much of a toy for you as it is for your dog, and it will save your arms from constantly throwing and playing fetch. All you need to do is load one of the balls into the spring action and press the trigger to blast it over 50ft in the air, and watch your dog tire out after a few rounds. It's also got a clever hands-free pick-up system, simply place the gun over the ball, and it will 'grab' it.

Our review by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "This Nerf blaster provides endless hours of fun and was really handy in lockdown when our arms grew tired of throwing his balls. The hands-free pick-up means you don't need to bend right down to the ground, which is often because my dog doesn't bring the ball close enough to me on return! It also has a ball holder for a second backup ball, so you can keep firing without stopping and waiting."

The PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher Dog Toy is very popular for large dogs. This interactive launcher has nine distance settings and six ball angle settings, and it throws between 2.5 m and 9m. You can train your dog to retrieve the ball and place it back in the launcher.

It has motion sensors to detect and protect people and pets in front of the launch area. After 15 minutes, it goes into automatic rest mode for safe play time and training features.

Customers praise the ball launcher for being great for energetic dogs. However, not all dogs master putting the ball back in the launcher. This is not the best toy for dogs who are nervous, as reviews indicate it's bit loud and can be startling when the ball launches.

This AWOOF Snuffle Feeding Mat is super fun for your dog. It allows you to hide small treats and toys deep inside the mat, and your dog will go wild over trying to find what you've hidden. The toy is portable, so you can easily take it with you and play hide-and-seek on the go. It trains your dog's smell, consumes their energy and keeps them occupied.

The snuffle mat is multi-functional. With the sides raised, it can be used as a slow feeder, where your dog can sniff out treats. This physical and mental stimulation helps release pent-up energy and relieve stress.

Customers praise the snuffler mat for engaging their dog's attention and enjoying sniffing out their treats. However, it doesn't have the greatest longevity and may not be the ideal toy for dogs who play rough.

It's all about strategy with this interactive Trixie Dog Activity Flip Board. This puzzle toy contains things your dog needs to flip, switch or lift to reveal their treats. You may need to guide your dog on the first go, but after that, the simple board game will keep them distracted for a brief while until all the treats disappear. It's dishwasher safe, so you can keep it clean and hygienic… if you can prise it away from your doggo.

Suitable for dogs of all sizes, this vet-approved enrichment toy is designed to keep your pet's mind occupied and engage its senses. And when your pooch gets really good at moving the sliders, flipping the levers and lifting the lids, there is a Level 3 Advanced toy to progress to.

Trixie is a hugely popular pet brand and is Amazon's Choice recommended. Reviews praise the concept of this puzzle toy, but while it's the perfect size for small dogs, it is too small for large breeds because their muzzle is too big for the parts.

This Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Interactive Treat Maze Dog Toy is great to give to your pup when they're in need of a little distraction. The treats are placed in the top hole, and your dog will need to flip it to move along the treats to pop out the other end. Can be quite a noisy game but will entertain them for at least 10-20 minutes. In addition, there is a huge range of Outward Hound interactive toys to provide mental stimulation and progress your dog's problem-solving skills.

Our review by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "My cocker spaniel Dash is always entertained by this toy. It does tend to end up at the other side of the room quite quickly as he flips it and shoves it with his paw and snout because he can't quite hold it in his mouth, but he will always succeed in getting those treats! I only tend to pop in three or five small pieces of his food as any more, and they fall out before you get to give it to the dog to play with."

Fingers crossed, your pooch doesn't get too overexcited with this soft toy and destroy it within minutes. Best for smaller dogs and puppies, this plush Outward Hound Hide A Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Puzzle features three mini squirrels that you can hide and your dog needs to pull out. Or turn it into a game of fetch if you're not busy and throw the squirrels for your pooch to bring back.

This toy is available in medium, large, and XL versions for bigger dogs. Replacement squirrels can also be purchased.

Customer reviews are positive, saying the toy withstands rough play and can be played with in several ways. The tree trunk is ideal for hiding treats for dogs to sniff out, and the squirrels are great for hide-and-seek. Still, err on the side of caution if your dog is particularly aggressive with their play or a voracious chewer, as one reviewer commented that they were concerned the squirrels could be a choking hazard for a large dog.

A little bit different to the Classic Lickimat Buddy, the Lickimat Slomo version has deeper pockets to take whole treats as well as wet food or paste. There are a variety of textured surfaces for your pooch to explore, and it's great for dental health too. The plastic is extremely durable, but overzealous dogs will still no doubt manage to chew it in one way or another!

Our review by Commercial Content Editor, Natalie Corner: "My dog's last Lickimat lasted a good couple of years, but he loves to chew the edges, and in his attempts to lick every last morsel of food from it, the tiny nodules slowly disappeared where he'd managed to pull the tiny bits off. This is our second Lickimat, and he enjoys eating a mixture of food from it, but we just have to remember to take it off him when he's finished otherwise,e he starts chewing the corners!"

Ideal for playing fetch with a larger dog, this CHIWAVA 6" Squeaky Toy Rugby Ball is made from natural latex rubber and makes a squeaky sound when squeezed. CHIWAVA offers many balls for dogs of all sizes, but we particularly like that they've catered for large breed dogs with this pack of two chew toys.

Customers say that their dogs love this toy, but the longevity of the squeaker isn't the best. The ball itself is solid and durable, making it ideal for tossing and fetch.