The Best Interactive Dog Toys to Keep Your Pooch Busy (2021)

Sounds and giggles are emitted from the Wobble Wag every time your pooch gives it a push, for a bit of additional audio stimulation. It is also designed to be easy for your dog to pick up in its mouth since there are already built-in clutch pockets for your pup’s teeth to latch on to. Forget your tennis ball for a while and use the Wobble Wag instead.

Each compartment has a small puzzle that needs to be solved in order for your dog to get to the tasty treats inside, a great mini-test for your dog’s IQ. Not only is this one of the best interactive dog toys because of the complexity of the puzzle, but it also comes in two additional difficulty levels. So if your dog is just too brainy, you can push their puzzle-solving skills further by purchasing the more advanced version.

Not only does its shape help to make it more challenging for your pup, but it also adds a fun movement style that makes it less predictable. This means your dog will be more engaged in chasing it around the room as it shifts direction unexpectedly. The extremely durable exterior also makes it a great toy for heavy chewers and teething puppies.

Of course, you can also throw or toss the squirrels so your pooch can go and fetch them for you. Both the tree stump and the squirrel toys of Outward Hound are made of safe materials so even if your hound does decide to keep it in its mouth, you’d still feel safe. Read the in-depth review here.

It is a particularly appealing design for hyperactive dogs, as the movement and sound can match their energy levels. Pet owners that have purchased this toy in the past have remarked that it is an easy toy to set up initially and that the battery pack is easy to access, which is ideal with these types of interactive puppy toys.

Though the hard casing can be quite harsh on hardwood floors, it is otherwise one of the best interactive dog toys for active pups. It can even be used as a fetch toy by rolling it along the ground and have your dog retrieve it. The loud and bright nature of this ball makes it a great interactive dog toy for canines with vision problems or hearing loss.

Not only does it work to keep your dog entertained, but at the same time, it helps you to train your dog in agility, obedience, and test your dog’s IQ. Your dog has to learn to collect the ball within a 60-second window and deposit it back into the chute in order to have it throw out again. It can also be programmed to three different distances. However, make sure your dog doesn’t stand in front of the toy when it launches, as the ball comes out pretty quick.

Fortunately, this treat ball is easy to disassemble by simply twisting it in half, which makes it especially easy to clean. It has also proven to keep a dog’s attention for a good amount of time owing to the use of food as an incentive. The only thing to bear in mind with a toy design like this is that it is not made to withstand heavy chewing, nor will it take being excessively thrown around. It is not made for fetch, it is made to be rolled along the ground.

The remote has a 1,000-foot range and allows you to reward your pet when you’re not even in their vicinity. This is especially helpful with dogs that struggle with separation anxiety, as it can help them to accept that your absence is not always so terrible. It comes with a handy step-by-step training guide and helps to improve focus and awareness. However, make sure you pack biscuits into the hopper that will actually fit through the treat dispenser hole. Otherwise, you’re just going to cause frustration for both your pooch and yourself.

The Zogoflex Tux is one of the best interactive dog toys for tough chewers thanks to the combination of puzzle elements (similar to an IQ treat ball) and durability. Your furry friend will need to manipulate the nodules around the edge of the toy in order to widen the treat dispensing hole and release the tasty treat. It’s perfect for water-related activities too, as the Zogoflex Tux is highly buoyant.

By smearing peanut butter, pate, cream cheese, banana, or any other number of spreadable goodies onto the mat and laying it down for your dog, you can keep them focused and engaged on a single task. By doing this they are distracted from the cause of their anxiety and able to soothe themselves and calm down. Single focus tasks are a technique often used for anxiety management in humans, and so it makes sense that it can help dogs as well.

Previous customers have said that the customer service is extremely responsive to any concerns you may have regarding your Wicked Ball. Additionally, multiple dog owners have mentioned how attaching a toy tale to the ball helps add an extra element to these fantastic interactive puppy toys. Though near in mind that the bounce mode – whilst exciting – can be quite noisy on the hard floor, as the ball is not made from soft material.

The air-filled lightweight design makes it a great choice for trips to the beach or lake, as you can throw it into the water and let your dog take a dip whilst retrieving it. It is also a much safer water toy, thanks to the easy grab tabs making it simple to retrieve. Though some owners have felt that the size of the ball is not ideal for especially big dogs, as they are naturally more heavy-handed than smaller dogs and more likely to damage it.

It is programmed to encourage moments and activity much like the varram pet fitness robot. That encouragement means it is well suited to pups that may struggle with their weight as it uses exciting movements to entice them as opposed to treats. It also caters to your dog’s natural instinct to chase. Though a downside to this dog toy is that it does not function well on deep carpet.

It makes a fun squeaky sound to keep your dog interested for longer, and provides a pleasant array of textures for them to enjoy. Additionally, it is made from an extremely durable natural rubber, meaning it can take a beating. However, the teeth are not indestructible due to them being smaller and so this would not be advised for super-chewers.

The sticky cups prevent the mat from shifting whilst your dog is licking away their treat, which makes it especially useful for larger breeds that put more force behind their licks. It is ideal for soothing anxious pups in stressful situations, such as loud environments or separation. Additionally, you get three to a pack! so you will always have a spare if one is waiting to be cleaned.

An excellent detail is that this Snuffle Mat is made of up-cycled fabric making it a sustainable material and more eco-friendly than many other interactive dog toys of a similar design. This is an excellent training tool for sniffer dogs, as well as something any dog can simply enjoy. And as a fun little side-note – if you happen to have a pot-bellied pig around, they’d also enjoy PAWS Snuffle Mat!

The Pet Arena snuffle mat is fantastic for that exact natural urge. And you can even add a little extra entertainment for your pup by from in some dry biscuits for them to dig out. This particle mat can be closed up into a bag and easily stored, additionally that same bag in a non-slip base for the mat when it is fully opened. Just remember that once opened it can take up a good chunk of floor space. Additionally, it is not suitable for flat-nosed dogs or destructive ones.

By slowing your dog down when they eat, their digestive system is giving a chance to catch up and process food properly. The Dr. Catch puzzle feeder is made using non-toxic PVC, so it’s not the end of the world if your dog has a nibble at it, however, you’ll want to monitor them so that they don’t try to break it. You should also note that this particular interactive toy is better suited to small dog breeds and puppies.

Many owners find that a toy like this makes the perfect positive reinforcement treat. This is owing to the fact that your dog will not only get some fun out of it, but it provides them with delicious snacks too. It is especially durable which makes it a great toy for heavy chewers, as well as being available in five fun colors to help you pick the color to suit your pup!

Your dog’s job is to learn to flip the tubes so that the treats will slide through the holes. There are several lid designs that provide varying difficulty levels once your dog has gotten the hang of the basic tub flipping technique (which is best learned with the lid off). The Mad Scientist is durably constructed and has a stable base so that your furry friend is only tipping the tubes and not the entire toy!

It has a rob toy aspect for your dog to gnaw and pull at, along with a squeaky element to entice them to place with the ball itself. The more your pup plays with the ball, the cleaner their teeth will be. Though the fun doesn’t stop there. It also includes a “food spilling” design, in which food can fall from the opening as your dog applies pressure to various areas of the ball, making it a great feeding tool for fast eaters.

By using the Chuckit ball launcher you can cover tremendous distances much easier, meaning your speed pooch can get their daily exercise in a much shorter amount of time. This is an especially helpful tool for puppy parents looking to agility train their dog, as it will encourage them to cover large distances as quickly as possible. It is comfortable to hold and available in a range of sizes, though keep in mind that you should avoid letting your dog chew on the ball between uses.

The small teeth made to hold the biscuits in place also work to help massage your pup’s gums and care for their teeth. Whilst the heavy-duty design makes it an excellent ball for playing fetch, as it is capable of flying a good distance thanks to the added weight. The min negative to this toy seems to be that especially intelligent dogs tend to figure it out quite quickly and stop showing much interest in it shortly after.