The best puppy toys that keep them busy are food-dispensing toys: stuffed rubber toys, treat balls and puzzle feeders. Add soft rubber teething toys for chewing and a rope or plush toy for supervised play. Rotate toys weekly so they stay interesting, pick sizes too big to swallow, and toss anything that starts to break apart.
Quick takeaways
- Stuffed rubber toys and puzzle feeders hold a puppy’s attention longest.
- Pick toys too big to swallow, and inspect them often.
- Supervise squeaky, rope and plush toys, which can be torn apart and swallowed.
- Rotate a few toys at a time so old toys feel new again.
- Toys help, but puppies still need play, training and naps with you.
In this guide
- Why do puppies need busy toys?
- What are the best puppy toys that keep them busy?
- How do you choose safe puppy toys?
- How many toys should a puppy have?
- How do you keep a puppy busy while working from home?
- How do you keep a puppy busy while you’re at work?
- What winter games keep a puppy busy indoors?
- Can toys replace time with you?
- Frequently asked questions
A bored puppy finds its own entertainment, and that usually means your shoes, baseboards or charging cables. The right toys give those little teeth and busy brains something better to do. Here’s which puppy toys that keep them busy actually work, how to use them safely, and how to keep a puppy occupied on a workday.
Why do puppies need busy toys?
Puppies explore with their mouths, and they have a lot of energy packed into short bursts. According to Humane World for Animals, toys help fight boredom when you leave your dog at home, offer comfort when a dog is nervous and can even help prevent some problem behaviors.
Teething adds to the urge. Humane World notes that from about 12 weeks to 6 months, as baby teeth fall out and adult teeth come in, puppies want to chew everything.
What are the best puppy toys that keep them busy?
Food-dispensing rubber toys
These are the champions. Humane World says Kong-type toys, especially filled with broken-up treats, can keep a puppy busy for hours. Ideas for stuffing:
- Part of your puppy’s regular kibble, soaked in water
- A little plain canned puppy food
- Small bits of puppy-safe treats
- Plain peanut butter only if your vet says it’s OK, and never one sweetened with xylitol, which is toxic to dogs
Freeze a stuffed toy overnight to make it last longer.
Puzzle feeders and treat balls
Humane World describes “feeder” toys as rubber shapes your dog moves with nose and paws to get treats out. They’re also a good way to slow down puppies who gulp their food.
Snuffle mats and scatter feeding
Hide kibble in a snuffle mat or toss it in clean grass. Sniffing is hard mental work for a dog.
Teething and chew toys
Choose soft rubber teething toys made for puppies. A clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M’s veterinary college notes that soft rubber toys are often safer than hard toys for puppies, since very firm toys can damage teeth. Some teething toys are designed to be chilled, which can feel good on sore gums.
Rope and tug toys
Great for interactive play with you. Texas A&M warns that rope toys are often shredded and the pieces can be swallowed, so put them away after the game.
Plush and squeaky toys
Many puppies love to carry or “kill” soft toys. Humane World advises supervising squeaky toy play, because some dogs try to find and destroy the squeaker and may swallow it.
How do you choose safe puppy toys?
Toy safety is a big part of keeping a puppy busy. From the Humane World and Texas A&M guidance:
- Size matters. A toy shouldn’t be small enough to swallow or fit entirely into the mouth, but it should be easy to chew.
- Check often. Throw out toys that are torn or breaking into pieces.
- Remove extras. Cut off ribbons, strings, eyes and other parts that could be chewed off.
- Watch the stuffing. Stuffing, squeakers and rope fibers can all cause a blockage if swallowed.
- Skip cooked bones. They can splinter. Ask your vet before offering rawhide, and supervise if you do.
- Retire chewed tennis balls, which can become a choking hazard.
- Dog-proof the house. Pick up string, rubber bands, kids’ toys and socks.
Call your vet if you think your puppy swallowed part of a toy. Texas A&M notes that even a small amount of stuffing can cause trouble in a small breed puppy.
How many toys should a puppy have?
Fewer than you might think, at least at one time. Humane World suggests rotating toys weekly and keeping only a few out at a time, with variety: something to carry, something to shake, something to roll and something for comfort. Texas A&M suggests giving one or two toys at a time instead of a whole basket so you can spot missing or broken pieces.
A simple rotation:
- Week 1: stuffed rubber toy, rope toy, plush toy
- Week 2: treat ball, teething ring, crinkle toy
- Week 3: puzzle feeder, tug toy, a different plush
Leave a favorite comfort toy out all the time if your puppy has one.
How do you keep a puppy busy while working from home?
Working from home with a puppy takes planning. This kind of schedule works for many people:
- Before work: potty break, a short walk or play session, breakfast in a puzzle feeder.
- First meeting: a frozen stuffed toy in a pen. Our puppy playpen setup guide shows how to make the area safe.
- Mid-morning: potty trip and a two-minute training game.
- Nap: most young puppies sleep a lot. Use this for focus work.
- Lunch: a walk, sniff time or scatter feeding.
- Afternoon: repeat the pattern of play, potty, toy, nap.
How do you keep a puppy busy while you’re at work?
A young puppy can’t spend a full workday alone with toys. Humane World advises against crating puppies younger than 6 months for more than 3 to 4 hours at a time. Plan for a midday visit from a friend, neighbor, pet sitter or dog walker, or look into puppy daycare once your vet says it’s safe.
When you’re gone, leave a durable stuffed food toy in a puppy-proof pen with water and a comfy bed. Skip toys that can be shredded when no one is watching.
What winter games keep a puppy busy indoors?
On cold or icy days, try:
- Hide-and-seek with treats or a toy, which Humane World calls a good rainy-day game
- Short training sessions for sit, down and come
- A cardboard box “dig box” filled with crumpled paper and a few treats
- Gentle fetch down a hallway
When you do go out, wipe your puppy’s paws after walks on salted sidewalks. See our guide on ice melt and dog paws.
Can toys replace time with you?
No toy replaces you. Humane World notes that interactive play builds the bond between you and your dog. Toys fill gaps, but puppies still need daily play, training, walks and cuddles. For a full daily routine, read our guide on how to take care of a puppy.
Frequently asked questions
How do you keep a puppy busy?
Mix short training sessions, play, sniffing games and food puzzles through the day, with naps in between. Give part of each meal in a stuffed rubber toy or puzzle feeder, and rotate toys weekly. Puppies also need lots of sleep, so a busy puppy schedule includes plenty of downtime in a crate or pen.
How do you keep a puppy busy while working from home?
Plan your day around breaks. Do a walk or play session before your first meeting, give a stuffed food toy in a pen or crate during calls, and use short breaks for potty trips and two-minute training. Young puppies nap a lot, so schedule focus work around nap times.
How do you keep a puppy busy during the day?
Break the day into blocks: potty break, play or training, a food toy, then a nap. Repeat. A predictable routine helps puppies settle. Snuffle games, scatter feeding on grass and short car or carrier outings also add variety.
How do you keep a puppy busy while at work?
Toys alone can’t cover a full workday for a young puppy. Humane World for Animals advises against crating puppies under 6 months for more than 3 to 4 hours. Arrange a midday visit from a friend, neighbor, dog walker or daycare, and leave a safe food toy in a puppy-proof pen.
How do you keep a puppy busy all day?
You don’t need to. Puppies need lots of sleep, and an overtired puppy often gets bitey and wild. Aim for a rhythm of activity followed by rest, with toys and food puzzles filling the awake gaps.
Vet note: This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own veterinarian. If your puppy is having trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure or may have eaten something toxic, call your vet or the nearest emergency animal hospital right away. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435 (a fee may apply).
