Retrievist / Reviews / Toys / 10 Boredom-Busting Interactive Dog Toys | Best Interactive Dog Toys
10 Boredom-Busting Interactive Dog Toys | Best Interactive Dog Toys
When you’re running errands or at work, your dog is alone at home. Left to their own devices, some dogs destroy furniture and shoes out of boredom. Interactive dog toys distract our pups from boredom, sate their curiosity, and boost their mental and physical abilities.
To help you find the perfect interactive dog toy for your pooch, we’ve researched and analyzed Amazon reviews and searched for the most unique and innovative designs. Here are our top picks.
Overall Best Interactive Dog Toy
- Durable
- Interactive shape
- Multiple play games
- made in the U.S.
- nontoxic
- recyclable
What dog doesn't love a rousing game of tug-of-war? Made in the United States and backed by a lifetime warranty, the Zogoflex Bumi is seamlessly tough and gentle, as well as nearly indestructible -- and it won’t harm your pup's mouth. The S-shaped tug-of-war toy is easy for people and dogs to hold onto, especially as it stretches to twice its length during...
With more than 2,800 reviews on Amazon, the Bumi has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Getting the full attention of their humans while they play tug together with this rugged toy.
What Humans Love:This is an extremely well-made and durable dog toy that should last for years to come.
What dog doesn't love a rousing game of tug-of-war? Made in the United States and backed by a lifetime warranty, the Zog...
With more than 2,800 reviews on Amazon, the Bumi has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Best Budget Interactive Dog Toy
- Three different ways to play and find treats
- Easy-to-clean
- Multiple treat compartments
Your dog will have to learn how to flip and slide open these compartments to retrieve favorite kibble or treats. Dogs are challenged with 20 treat compartments, 8 slidable/openable covers, and 4 removable bones. As a part of the Nina Ottosson game collection, this puzzle offers a level 2 challenge of mental stimulation. The plastic puzzle must be hand-washed...
Nearly 2,300 Amazon reviewers gave the product an average rating of 4.5 stars.
- Easy-to-clean
- Multiple treat compartments
- Three different ways to play and find treats
Your dog will have to learn how to flip and slide open these compartments to retrieve favorite kibble or treats. Dogs ar...
Nearly 2,300 Amazon reviewers gave the product an average rating of 4.5 stars.
Most Durable Interactive Dog Toy
- super durable
- great for tug-of-war
- safe and durable material
- easy-to-clean
If you're on the hunt for a nearly indestructible, interactive dog toy for your large dog, it's time to invest in the Goughnuts TuG MAXX. This black toy will last and works as a tug-of-war toy. It’s designed for interactive play rather than constant chewing. It's 11 inches long and 6 inches wide.
About 80 percent of 600 reviewers on Amazon g...
About 80 percent of 600 reviewers on Amazon gave this toy a 5-star rating. Dog owners rave tht even dogs that relentlessly destroy toys had no hope of tearing this one apart.
This is the ideal toy for long games of tug, which many dogs enjoy immensely.
What Humans Love:Even dogs who are tough on their toys won't be able to destroy this one easily.
If you're on the hunt for a nearly indestructible, interactive dog toy for your large dog, it's time to invest in the Go...
About 80 percent of 600 reviewers on Amazon gave this toy a 5-star rating. Dog owners rave tht even dogs that relentlessly destroy toys had no hope of tearing this one apart.
Our Other Favorite
- Challenging knobs
- Cones
- Sliding discs
- Durable
- Varying levels of difficulty
If you're in the market for something to slow down your small dog, this flip board is designed for maximum mental and physical stimulation. Flip knobs, liftable cones, and side-to-side sliding discs create an intricate challenge. Owners can change the level of difficulty by varying the placement and number of treats.
More than 10,000 Amazon cu...
More than 10,000 Amazon customers gave this blue and white toy an average rating of 4.2-out-of-5 stars.
- Durable
- Varying levels of difficulty
- Challenging knobs
- Cones
- Sliding discs
If you're in the market for something to slow down your small dog, this flip board is designed for maximum mental and ph...
More than 10,000 Amazon customers gave this blue and white toy an average rating of 4.2-out-of-5 stars.
- Treat-dispensing
- Challenging
- Fun
- Adjustable difficulty level
- Slow feeding
- Easy-to-clean
The OurPets IQ Treat Ball is specifically designed to slow your dog's eating speed down while making him work for his food and keep moving. Made from hard plastic, this nontoxic ball challenges your dog as he taps and rolls the ball to get his meal. If you want to create a more difficult challenge, turn up the difficulty level with adjustable interior discs....
Nearly 8,100 Amazon customers gave this treat ball an average rating of 4.1 stars.
- Adjustable difficulty level
- Slow feeding
- Easy-to-clean
- Treat-dispensing
- Challenging
- Fun
The OurPets IQ Treat Ball is specifically designed to slow your dog's eating speed down while making him work for his fo...
Nearly 8,100 Amazon customers gave this treat ball an average rating of 4.1 stars.
- Three squeaky squirrels
- Soft material
- Affordabe
- Durable
- Works for different sized dogs
Your dog will love tugging these soft and squeaky plush squirrels out of their hideaways inside a plush tree trunk. This adorable woodland puzzle toy is perfect for large dogs, but will also work for small and medium dogs. The 14-by-6-inch trunk provides three hideaways for squirrels to sink into.
Nearly 80 percent of more than 4,400 Amazon cu...
Nearly 80 percent of more than 4,400 Amazon customer reviews gave this burrow a perfect 5-star rating.
It's fun to search for the plush animals inside the hive, log, or similar.
What Humans Love:This is a great toy to engage your dog's brain and offer some mental stimulation.
Your dog will love tugging these soft and squeaky plush squirrels out of their hideaways inside a plush tree trunk. This...
Nearly 80 percent of more than 4,400 Amazon customer reviews gave this burrow a perfect 5-star rating.
- Discovering treats
- Floatable
- Dishwasher-safe
- Phthalates-free
- Sturdy
Made with FDA-approved material that's free of phthalates, vinyl, and latex, this durable dog treat toy is constructed to withstand even the toughest chewers. With a unique design, this bright green pickle allows small treats and kibble to be placed in three small compartments. As your dog plays with the pickle to extract the treats, the toy may bounce aroun...
The Starmark treat toy has an average rating of 4.4 stars on Amazon.
- Dishwasher-safe
- Phthalates-free
- Sturdy
- Discovering treats
- Floatable
Made with FDA-approved material that's free of phthalates, vinyl, and latex, this durable dog treat toy is constructed t...
The Starmark treat toy has an average rating of 4.4 stars on Amazon.
- Three different ways to play and find treats
- Easy-to-clean
- Multiple treat compartments
Your dog will have to learn how to flip and slide open these compartments to retrieve favorite kibble or treats. Dogs are challenged with 20 treat compartments, 8 slidable/openable covers, and 4 removable bones. As a part of the Nina Ottosson game collection, this puzzle offers a level 2 challenge of mental stimulation. The plastic puzzle must be hand-washed...
Nearly 2,300 Amazon reviewers gave the product an average rating of 4.5 stars.
- Easy-to-clean
- Multiple treat compartments
- Three different ways to play and find treats
Your dog will have to learn how to flip and slide open these compartments to retrieve favorite kibble or treats. Dogs ar...
Nearly 2,300 Amazon reviewers gave the product an average rating of 4.5 stars.
- Durable
- Filled with treats
- Challenging
- Made in the U.S.
- Recyclable and guarantee
- Dishwasher-safe
Made in the U.S., this Zogoflex Qwizl is guaranteed against even the most aggressive chewers. This treat dispenser has a fun swivel shape that fits treats in strips, sticks, and slices. It comes in two sizes (small and large) and three colors (blue, green, and orange). It even floats, so it's great for water adventures.
More than 1,800 Amazon ...
More than 1,800 Amazon reviewers gave an average rating of 4.5 stars.
- Made in the U.S.
- Recyclable and guarantee
- Dishwasher-safe
- Durable
- Filled with treats
- Challenging
Made in the U.S., this Zogoflex Qwizl is guaranteed against even the most aggressive chewers. This treat dispenser has a...
More than 1,800 Amazon reviewers gave an average rating of 4.5 stars.
- Fun wobble movement
- Adventurous mealtime activity
- Different levels of difficulty
- Two sizes
- Won’t hurt floors
This boredom buster gets your dog moving during dinnertime. Dogs will roll, nudge, and spin the Bob-A-Lot to knock kibble out. A weighted bottom ensures the toy wobbles, creating a more difficult challenge for dogs without dissuading them from playing. You can even adjust the bottom to increase the difficulty level. Just drop a meal into the large chamber an...
More than 6,700 Amazon customers gave this product an average rating of 4.3-out-of-5 stars.
- Different levels of difficulty
- Two sizes
- Won’t hurt floors
- Fun wobble movement
- Adventurous mealtime activity
This boredom buster gets your dog moving during dinnertime. Dogs will roll, nudge, and spin the Bob-A-Lot to knock kibbl...
More than 6,700 Amazon customers gave this product an average rating of 4.3-out-of-5 stars.
What Is an Interactive Dog Toy?
An interactive dog toy is an item that keeps dogs mentally and physically stimulated. These toys are perfect for entertaining your dog when you're away or when they are bored. Interactive dog toys are typically games or puzzles made from plastic, rubber, or wood. They can be used alone or with humans and other dogs.
You can make your own interactive dog toy at home. Old t-shirts can be stretched and braided into chew toys. Cutting small holes into soda bottles or PVC pipes can create treat dispensers.
Treat dispensers slow feeding by making dogs figure out how to get their food. Puzzle toys, like flip boards or hidden puzzles, also bust boredom. They can also serve as a good reward for training sessions.
Just like humans, dogs get bored. Some dogs can even develop separation anxiety or bad behaviors such as barking or destructive chewing. Interactive dog toys can circumvent these issues.
Exercising your dog through daily walks or playtime is fantastic, but that's not enough for all dogs. They also need mental stimulation. Interactive dog toys are the perfect solution as they encourage mental and physical stimulation.
