Let’s talk toys! One of the best parts of sharing your life with a dog is playing with him and watching him play with his doggy friends or his favorite toys. Just like with a child, you will probably buy more toys for your dog than any other item, apart from food. There is a vast variety of toys available for our dogs ranging from simple chews and good old-fashioned balls to interactive brain training puzzles.
There are toys for you to enjoy with your dog and toys to keep your dog entertained when you can’t. All Goldendoodles are different and there will be plenty of choice whether your dog is a chewer, a chaser, a wrestler, or a thinker so in this article we have brought you some of our favorites to save you some leg work.
Keep reading to get a full overview of each of our picks but if you’re in a rush, here are our winners at a glance.
Table of Contents
Best Overall
Kong – Extreme Dog Toy
Our best overall toy is one that most dog owners are familiar with. It has been around for years and is even at risk of appearing a little boring to the human eye, but the good old-fashioned Kong really is unbeatable. Made of the toughest natural rubber, this beehive shaped toy is so versatile and an absolute favorite with all dogs be them large, small, old, or young.
The Kong can be used in several ways and satisfies your Goldendoodle’s physical and mental needs. When used as a throwing toy the Kong’s unique shape means it bounces it unpredictable directions so really keeps your Doodle on his toes!
The Kong can also be used simply as a chew or teething toy as even the most determined power chewer won’t be able to munch through this bad boy. Another huge plus point is that the Kong can be stuffed with your dogs’ favorite treats and even popped in the freezer to keep him mentally stimulated for even longer. Great for when you need to leave your dog alone or simply want him to lay down and entertain himself for a while. You can buy purpose-made filler paste to go with the Kong or fill yourself with your dog’s treat of choice.
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Best Budget
Outward Hound Invincibles Dog Toy
What Doodle doesn’t love a squeaky toy and our budget choice is this stuffing-less squeaky plush snake. The squeaker in this toy keeps squeaking even if it’s punctured making it suitable even for our most aggressive chewers.
The lack of stuffing means no messy innards to end up all over the floor as happens so often with plush cuddly toys and no choking hazard for your beloved pooch. This colorful critter is ideal for playing tug with your dog, toss and shake (I love watching my own Doodles chase each other around the garden with these), or simply for lying down and chewing on.
The shakeable snake also comes in a variety of sizes including extra large which is packed with 12 invincible squeakers so is suitable for pups right through to adulthood. What’s not to love about this toy and at a great price too.
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Best Runner Up
Studio 21 Graphix Snuffle Mat
Our runner up has narrowly missed being best overall to the versatile Kong. The snuffle mat is a great way to keep your dog entertained and use up excess energy. Did you know that one hour spent snuffling for treats uses the same amount of energy as one hour spent running? Unbelievable and perfect for those rainy days when outside exercise needs to be kept to a minimum.
This clever mat is made from eco-friendly non-toxic material which is tough enough to avoid being torn to pieces and can simply be popped into the washing machine to keep it as good as new. The mat can also be used as a bowl for kibble fed dogs and is highly recommended for greedy dogs that eat fast as by hiding the kibble in the folds of this clever toy, your Doodle will have to hunt for his dinner in order to eat it satisfying his natural instincts as well as feeding him.
Another bonus is that this mat comes with a three month no questions asked refund guarantee! Quite impressive I think you’ll agree.
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Best Under $15
Camtoa Dog Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers
This dog chew toy really is a great buy. Featuring a bouncing ball that can be filled with treats on a tough rope attached to a strong suction cup you can fill the ball with treats, stick the cup to the floor, either indoors or out in the yard and watch your Goldendoodle entertain himself!
Made of food-grade non-toxic durable rubber, this toy allows your Doodle to use his bite force, entertain himself (and you, you’ll certainly laugh while watching him), and even helps to keep his teeth clean due to the textured nodules. Another bonus is that the ball won’t keep rolling under the furniture for you to retrieve.
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Zippy Paws Woodland Friends Burrow
The ZippyPaws hide and seek plush den is a slightly different take on the interactive food-based toys we have looked at. This plush toy is great for those Doodles that are not so food motivated or for dogs who are watching their weight.
This time the reward is the toy itself. Simply push the squeaky chipmunks through the holes into the plush burrow and watch your Doodle dig them out. You can even train him to bring the squirrels to you for you to stuff them back inside. When he’s tired of digging for squirrels your dog can take them to bed to snuggle up to.
As well as looking cute, this toy is well made with tough seams and stitched on, rather than stuck on, eyes. The Woodland Friends Burrow is much tougher than its cute looks imply.
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Best Under $30
Jolly Pets Tug-N-Toss Dog Ball Toy with Handle
This jumbo-sized ball is simple and does what it says on the tin. Nice and sturdy and featuring an iconic integrated handle, this ball is ideal for throwing, rolling, tugging, and carrying.
Most Goldendoodles love a ball and the danger with smaller balls is that they could be swallowed. The problem with larger balls is they can be difficult for your pooch to pick up, so this effective design combines the best of both.
Too large to swallow yet easily picked up by the handle, the ball is designed not to deflate even if it is punctured and it also floats! We all know Goldendoodles love water and this fabulous ball can be thrown into the water for him to retrieve and bring back to you.
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SPOT Ethical Pet Interactive Seek-A-Treat Shuffle Bone Toy Puzzle
This sturdy wooden training toy will really test your dog’s IQ and improve his cognitive skills too. The puzzle provides mental stimulation and entertainment by really making him work for his training treats.
Goldendoodles are very intelligent dogs and this toy allows your dog to show off just how clever he is by making him think about how to get his treats. The beauty of puzzle toys is that your dog will learn to think before he acts, a great lesson that can be carried forward into all aspects of his training.
Simply hide the treats in the holes, cover with the sliding discs, and challenge your dog to work out how to slide the discs to find and receive the treats inside. This toy is designed to be used under supervision only so provides a novel way of spending quality time with your dog. You can also show off your dogs’ skills to your friends and who wouldn’t be impressed by a puzzle-solving Doodle.
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Best Under $50
Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy
This time we’ve gone for something different. Rather than a toy to stimulate your dog we have chosen something for those calmer moments. This behavioral aid dog toy is really good for bedtime, times when you want your Doodle to chill out, and can even help with separation anxiety, something that Goldendoodles occasionally suffer from.
With a removable and replaceable heat pack and a real feel pulsing heartbeat, this cute plush puppy can become your dogs’ best friend. Place the snuggle puppy in your dogs’ bed and watch him cuddle up. The heartbeat can be switched on and off and the puppy is machine washable (with batteries removed of course). This toy is not only cute but can be a valuable aid when settling a pup into a new home, traveling, or for occasions such as when fireworks may be going off and your pet may need extra comfort.
Click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
Squishy Face Flirt Pole V2
The flirt pole is a fun way to exercise and play with your dog while training him to use his natural prey drive. Ideal for use in the garden or on any grass surface, the flirt pole comes with one regular lure, an extra lure, and a tug toy.
Simply throw the lure, hold onto the pole, and encourage your dog to chase, catch, and bring the lure back to you. This is also a useful training aid as you can progress to asking your Doodle to sit or lie and wait for the command to fetch the lure.
The lure can also be used to play tug and to teach your Doodle (if he is over one year old) to jump and catch. If you fancy some exercise yourself, you can run and let him chase you to catch the lure too!
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Best Premium (Over $50)
All for Paws Automatic Interactive Ball Launcher
Does your Doodle love to play fetch for hours? Mine do and would quite happily chase and bring back a tennis ball all day if I could keep throwing it. This launcher will throw the ball for you. With an adjustable launch distance, this will provide hours of fun and exercise for your dog but take care not to over do it.
The launcher does not require a power supply as comes with an A/C but also works off 6’C’ size batteries (not included) which means you can even take it on picnics or days out with your dog. Best of all you can even teach your Doodle to put the balls back into the holes and load the launcher himself. Perfect for budding flyball competitors!
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WickedBone Smart Bone
Do you fancy something high tech and interactive for your dog? Then look no further, this toy is like something from the future! The WickedBone is literally gaming for your dog. With twelve emotion-based modes, this toy adapts to your dog’s mood.
If he wants to play chase this bone can not only be chased but it can chase him back! You can operate it from an app on your phone or pop it into interactive play mode where it will act according to your dog’s mood.
Cleverly designed to attract your dog and actually interact with it, the WickedBone can also teach your dog to chase and catch moving objects. Safe and durable, the bone is made from food-grade polycarbonate and has detachable covers that can be taken off and cleaned. The WickedBone can also dispense treats and in ‘sound mode’ can help to de-sensitize your Doodle to unusual noises.
Click here to see the latest price on Amazon.
So you see, there really is a smorgasbord of dog toys out there with many options to suit every dog, every owner, and every budget. Just be sure to look for toys that are safe with no parts that can be swallowed and that are tough enough to withstand chewing from an enthusiastic hound. Whether you need toys to help you train your Doodle, help to entertain him, or even calm him down, I hope that you will find something in our selection to fit the bill.
Remember not to leave your Doodle alone with toys that are designed to be used under supervision and to check for wear and tear regularly. Lastly, make sure you rotate his toys often as a toy that he hasn’t seen for a few weeks is just as good as a new toy to your Goldendoodle.