Fetch, tug, and chew. Even while we’d love to play with and lavish all of our attention on our pets 24/7, we just cannot. So we want these toys to do the heavy lifting so that our daily walks don’t also turn into an endless series of squats.
This is where interactive dog toys come in. They may be electronic (yeah, technology) or they may rely on your dog’s natural instincts to sway wildly. They provide a ton of entertainment for your dog and a little more rest in the dog park or in your home.
Keep your dog occupied!
Does your dog get bored easily, act out when it doesn’t have anything to do, or worry when you’re not around? Even though we’d love to play with our dogs all the time and give them all the attention and mental stimulation they need, we can’t always be there.
Our canine companions adore toys. Toys can help stop your pet from chewing things up and barking too much while also keeping them entertained.
Ordinary toys are classified into two categories:
- chew toys – certain dogs will adore these toys, while others will dislike them because they’re boring.
- tennis balls – to appreciate these toys, you must play with them.
Usually, when you’re busy, your dog wants to play. Fortunately, there are interactive dog toys.
Whichever type you choose, interactive dog toys will keep your dog occupied while you do other stuff.
The majority of dogs take pleasure in chasing moving toys. Moving toys are ideal for dogs that exhibit undesirable behavior when left alone.
Pick a moving toy for your dog with caution. Consider the size and design. Toys that are too large for tiny dogs should be avoided. If your dog chews, invest in a sturdy toy.
The Benefits of Moving Dog Toys
These toys are not solely for entertainment purposes; they also have the following benefits:
- Ease boredom
- Exercise
- Brain Stimulation
- Improved health through exercise
- Weight control
- Decrease anxiety
- Very enjoyable to interact with and play with
- Enhances your dog’s natural propensity for prey
Mental and physical exercise are equally necessary for your dog’s pleasure and health. You can achieve it by utilizing moving dog toys.
Additionally, a moving dog toy might act as a deterrent. Use the toy to distract your dog from attacking another pet or chewing on the bed pillows.
The Best Interactive Dog Toys
Interactive Electronic Toys
It doesn’t matter what kind of electronic dog toy you buy, because they all make your dog happy. Let your dog play, “Simon says,” with a laser pointer. Many electronic toys have extra features or abilities that make them even better.
You can also take a picture of your pet as he plays with some electronic interactive toys. Others have two-way speakers, which let you talk to your dog while he’s having fun.
Treat-Dropping Interactive Toys
These toys give your dog a treat when he plays with them or does what you want him to do. You will find a KONG toy, snuffle mats, and other things that make your dog “work” for a tasty treat in this category.
Others are stuffed with treats that are randomly released while your dog plays.
Interactive Ball-Launching Toys
Ball-launching toys are meant to throw a tennis ball at your dog. However, they are very different in a lot of other ways.
Dogs put the ball in a ball hopper and either push a button or wait for it to launch on its own with certain ball-launching toys. Think about your dog running around the kitchen with his ball (or backyard).
You can play many games with clever ball-launching toys that connect to your phone. Many models let you change the distance or angle the ball is thrown, and some can even throw multiple balls simultaneously. It means you don’t have to go back and get balls that your dog doesn’t have or can’t get to.
Interactive Toys with Hidden Components
These toys come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, but they always have a hidden treat or high-value toy that your dog can’t get.
Some of these toys are soft, plush “boxes” that hold smaller toys (frequently including a squeaker). The next thing your dog needs to do is use its intelligence and snout to try to get them.
Snuffle mats have a lot of places to hide food. Your dog will be in charge of sniffing for hidden treasure. A few hidden-goodie toys make your dog want to dig for the tasty treats that are hidden inside.
Interactive Tension Toys
Tension dog toys are ideal for dogs who enjoy tugging toys and tug-of-war competitions with their owners.
They’re pretty simple devices, consisting of an enticing toy on one end, a strong anchor on the other end, and a large spring (or something similar) in between.
Mount or position the toy, teach your dog how to use it, and then move aside.
The springs help the toy “react” to your dog’s tugs, twists, and canine contortions. Different tension toys can be configured in various ways to give your dog a variety of play settings.
Not all dogs appreciate these toys, but some typically enjoy playing with them.
Moving Dog Toys To Keep Your Dog Entertained
Weazel Ball Motorized Ball Pet Toy
It is a toy that will maintain your dog’s interest long after the batteries run out. Your dog is almost sure to be fascinated by the motorized ball attached to a plush weasel.
When engaged, the ball will roll on its own, allowing your dog to chase it. This toy is appropriate for dogs of nearly any size. The gadget requires only one battery and is well constructed to provide hours of amusement.
Petony Dog Food Treat Ball Toys with Holes Dispenser
Dogs adore receiving goodies, so this dog food treat ball is sure to become a favorite with your canine buddy.
Although the toy is not battery-operated, its shape resembles an egg, allowing it to roll and move when your dog plays with it.
You can incorporate your dog’s favorite foods into the toy to keep his interest.
Due to the toy’s robust and high-quality plastic construction, it is unlikely to be destroyed by your dog. It could be an excellent toy for anyone looking for a way to engage their dog while they are left alone.
Tumbo Tugger Tug-Of-War Toy
The Tumbo Tugger is comparable to a tug-of-war toy, except that your dog may use it independently!
Tie the toy to a solid tree limb outside or to the ceiling if used indoors, and let your dog go wild! He can then grasp and tug freely on the attached rope ball.
The Tumbo Tugger was adored by the majority of dogs and their owners. Many claimed that it would keep their dog active and happy for far longer than they imagined. It also appears to be quite durable, as owners contended that they had used it for years.
Kong Wobbler
The Kong Wobbler is a sturdy, approximately pear-shaped dog toy that features a hollow inside and access holes on both ends.
Stuff the toy with treats or any pet-safe food and allow your dog to figure out how to get to the delectable reward inside.
Most dogs appeared to like playing with the Kong Wobbler, and the difficulty level seemed appropriate for most canines. A dog owner said that it was simple to load and clean, and the toy appeared to engage most dogs for an extended time.
Babble Ball
Apart from backyard wood, balls are the most rudimentary dog toys known to man. The Babble Ball modernizes this classic toy by adding flashing lights and music to the fun!
The Babble Ball is a fantastic tool for providing additional brain stimulation to your dog. It is simple to use and appealing to canines.
Its low price is one of its best characteristics. The toy piqued the interest of most dogs, and numerous owners noted that it lasted a long time despite their power-chewing dogs.
Floppy Fish Dog Toy
Dog and cat owners are crazy about the interactive Floppy Fish Dog Toy. Its realistic flopping and flipping motion, like a fish out of water, can keep your dog entertained for a long time. It changes how fast it flaps by sensing the movement around it. When left alone, it will slow down and stop moving. It also has a long-lasting battery that can be charged with the USB cord that comes with it.
Wicked bone Smart Bone
You can use the virtual joystick in the mobile app to control Cheerble’s Wickedbone Smart Bone like a remote control or set it to interactive play mode. It has nine different ways to play, and it can automatically change how it acts based on how your dog plays with it (chasing, teasing, avoiding, etc.).
In interactive mode, the battery can last for four hours before it needs to be charged again. The bad things about this toy? It won’t last long if a dog chews on it too hard, and it’s too big for a small dog.
Wicked Ball
Cheerble’s Wicked Ball can keep your dog busy and entertained by moving in different ways on its own. To get your dog to play, this busy ball lights up, rolls, spins, and bounces around the room. It has a sensor built in to avoid obstacles and a battery that can be charged and lasts for a long time.
The older model is 3 inches, while the newer SE model is only 2.2 inches. Even though the natural rubber shell on the SE version is more durable than the one on the original, neither is good for very aggressive chewers. A lot of people with dogs say that their dogs love this ball.
Nina Ottosson By Outward Hound Dog Brick Puzzle
Your dog has to figure out how to remove, flip, and slide the plastic bricks to get to his treats in this fun, interactive puzzle. This puzzle gives your dog a lot of mental stimulation because it has three different problems to solve.
Related Question
Why are dogs so adamant about dragging their toys?
According to some experts, this instinctive behavior evolved from when dogs desired to conceal their scent (by smelling as little like a dog as possible) to sneak up on potential prey. The smell is everything to them, and rolling around in anything stinky lets them enjoy the aroma.