Best Dog Toy 2027
What’s the best dog toy of 2027? A flirt pole, and the one I’d buy is the Whimsy Stick Rugged XL for dogs 30 lbs and up, or the Standard if your dog’s under 30. It’s the only toy I know of that lets a dog run the whole hunt, the stalk, the chase, the catch and the win, while you’re on the other end of it setting the rules, and that’s the part most toys skip. I hold every toy to five things, it has to actually do something for the dog, help with behavior, be worth the money, bring you two closer and keep him healthy, and nothing else in the aisle checks all five.
Ordering now? The Rugged XL is on pre-order. This Christmas batch is 350 poles and ships by December 10, and 650 more are coming right behind it for the new year. All of it ships free in the US with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The Standard is in stock and usually ships within 2 days. See all models.
By Christopher Lee Moran, working dog trainer, about 10 years and around 400 client dogs. No certifications or vet credentials, I learned by doing the work. I make the Whimsy Stick, so I’m biased, and this ranking is my opinion, not a lab test.
Why the toy bin doesn’t work
Most dog toys are made for a dog to hold or chew, and what a lot of dogs really want is something to chase down and win, so the bin fills up and the dog still goes after the couch.
It just lies there
A toy that doesn’t move stops being interesting pretty fast. It gets chewed for a minute and then ignored, and you’re back at the store.
The game never finishes
Fetch gets the chase going and then the dog hands the prize back, and a puzzle works the nose but not the legs. When the hunt never gets finished that energy has to land somewhere, and it’s usually somewhere you didn’t want it.
You’re not part of it
The AKC’s dog toy guide says that most of all, dogs prefer any toy that also involves you, cause they’re social animals and get a lot more excited when you play too. That’s the part a toy bin can’t give them.
What changed going into 2027
My pick is the same as last year’s, but the pole you get going into 2027 isn’t exactly the same one, and a few things are better.
The line ties straight on
The 800-lb Dyneema line comes already tied on, and the lure goes on with a quick-swap loop. When your dog shreds a lure, and he’s gonna, a new one just loops right on.
Five different lures in the Pro Kit
The Pro Kit now comes with five different lures, a Meerkat, Rabbit, Fox, Coyote and Sloth, plus a spare line. Different lures keep it new for the dog, and you’ve always got a backup when one wears out.
A free 30-day plan comes with every pole
Every Whimsy Stick now comes with a free 30-day plan on whimsystick.com/plan. It’s one short session a day and a quick check-in every week, and it goes at your pace, so if you miss a few days it just picks up where you left off. If you’re thinking about a New Year’s resolution for your dog, that’s a pretty easy one to keep.
How one session goes
It’s the same four parts every time, and the flirt pole training guide walks through each one in more detail.
Stalk
Pull the lure along the grass low and slow and let your dog lock on. You decide when it moves, so you’re the one running it from the start.
Chase
Now it takes off, wide arcs and changes of direction with the lure staying on the ground, kind of like real prey would move. A ball can only go in a straight line.
Catch
Let the lure stop and let him get it. That catch is the finish most toys never give a dog, and it’s a big part of why this works.
Win and wind down
Let him hold it a minute, trade him for it, say all done and hand him a chew, so the game has a clear end and he can settle.
What makes the best dog toy in 2027?
Before I rank anything this is what every toy gets held to, and it’s the same five things I graded last year’s pick on.
1. It does something for the dog
A lot of toys keep a dog busy kind of the way scrolling keeps us busy, time goes by and nothing really changes. The good ones give him something he actually needs, and for most dogs that’s getting to hunt.
2. It helps with behavior
The best toy is a training tool too. You can work a wait before the chase and a drop it after the catch while he’s all fired up, and that’s the hardest time for a dog to listen, so it’s the best time to practice.
3. It’s worth the money
Worth it means you stop buying a new toy every few weeks. One pole where you just replace a $12.95 lure when it wears out costs a lot less over a year than a pile of shredded plush.
4. It brings you closer
A toy he plays with alone leaves you out, and a ball launcher kind of does too. A toy you run puts you right in the middle of the best part of his day.
5. It keeps him healthy
Real running and turning, with the lure kept low and on the ground and wide arcs instead of sharp ones, and you stop while he still wants more. The page on whether a flirt pole is safe covers the rest.
Best dog toys of 2027, graded by a trainer
These grades are my opinion, held up against the five things above and three simple questions I ask about any toy: does it tire the dog out, does it hold up, and does he still care about it on day four.
| Rank | Toy | Tires the dog | Holds up | Still interesting on day 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flirt pole | A+ | A | A+ |
| 2 | Tug with rules | B+ | B | A |
| 3 | Long-lasting chews | C+ | B- | B+ |
| 4 | Snuffle mats | C | B | B+ |
| 5 | Puzzle feeders | C- | C | C |
| 6 | Treat-dispensing balls | C | B- | C- |
| 7 | Balls and launchers | B- | B | C+ |
| 8 | Plush and squeaky toys | D | D | D+ |
| 9 | Electronic and motorized toys | D+ | D | D |
1. Flirt pole
My pick again for 2027 and it’s still not close. A person is moving the lure, so it never moves the same way twice, and the dog gets the whole hunt with a win at the end. The catch is you have to be out there with it, which is exactly why it works.
2. Tug with rules
Tug is a good game you play together, and with a start word and a clean drop it gives a mouthy dog somewhere to put it. It skips the stalk and the chase though, and with a big strong dog it can turn into a pulling contest.
3. Long-lasting chews
Chewing helps a dog settle, which is why I like to end a session with a chew. A chew is great for a dog that already ran, and it just keeps busy a dog that didn’t.
4. Snuffle mats
Sniffing is good for dogs and a lot of people don’t use it enough. It’s more calming than tiring though, so it’s a wind-down after real exercise, not the exercise.
5. Puzzle feeders
Most of them have one answer, and a smart dog figures it out quick and then carries it around the kitchen. Fine for breakfast, but they don’t do much for the drive that’s going after your shoes.
6. Treat-dispensing balls
Pretty much a slow food bowl that rolls. Some dogs like knocking it around, but there’s no hunt in it and the treats add up.
7. Balls and launchers
Fetch works the legs and that’s about it. The ball goes in a straight line with no stalk, the dog gives the prize back so you can throw it again, and a lot of dogs are still wound up when you come back inside.
8. Plush and squeaky toys
Good for about one attack, then the squeaker’s dead and the stuffing’s all over the floor. Fine for a gentle dog, but for most it’s confetti by lunch.
9. Electronic and motorized toys
New and exciting for a day, then ignored, and a lot of them don’t hold up to a big dog. It’s about the most expensive way to not tire a dog out.
How to pick a safe dog toy in 2027
Whatever you buy, flirt pole or not, run it past these before it goes in the bin. They’re from vet and breed-club guidance I’ve read, not my own rules.
Too small is a choking risk
VCA Animal Hospitals says a toy should never be so small it can easily fit entirely in your dog’s mouth, and it shouldn’t have ribbons, eyes or other parts that come off and get swallowed.
Too hard can break a tooth
VCA also says chews should be soft enough to dent with your fingernail, and that toys that are too hard, like bones, cow hooves, pig ears, hard rawhides and big ice cubes, can chip or even fracture a dog’s teeth.
Heavy chewers need tougher stuff
The AKC says if your dog’s a heavy chewer, pick a toy that’s durable and won’t break into small pieces. My toys for power chewers page goes through it by how your dog chews.
Put the pole away after
A flirt pole is a game you play with your dog, not a toy you leave out. Put it up when you’re done, cause a dog alone with any flirt pole is gonna chew it.
What owners say
The Whimsy Stick has 60 product reviews averaging 4.9, and they’re all real, including the one that isn’t five stars. They’re all on the reviews page.
“It’s so much better than the heavier, bulkier, or telescoping ones I’ve tried. I’m so glad a company has come out and made a lightweight one that’s so easy to use.” Jake K., website review, January 2026
Which one to get
Go by size and bite, not price. Dogs under 30 lbs full grown get the Standard, and dogs 30 lbs and up, or any dog that grabs and shakes hard, get the Rugged XL. If he’s right at 30, go XL, and if it’s a puppy, buy for the dog he’s gonna be.
Rugged XL + 3 Lures
- Dogs 30 lbs and up · one-piece 46-inch fiberglass pole · 800-lb Dyneema line
- Free US shipping · pre-order, ships by December 10
Rugged XL Pro Kit
- Same pole, five different lures (Meerkat, Rabbit, Fox, Coyote and Sloth) and a spare 800-lb line
- Free US shipping · pre-order, ships by December 10
Rugged XL
- Same pole and line, 1 lure
- Free US shipping · pre-order, ships by December 10
The Standard
- Dogs under 30 lbs · 1 lure · 450-lb Kevlar line, no bungee
- $20 US shipping · usually ships within 2 days
Try the 2027 pick for 30 days
Give it 30 days. If it isn’t working for your dog, email me and I’ll refund you, and you pay the return shipping unless the pole failed. I’m a one-man company and I’d rather work it out with you than have you stuck with something you don’t use.
What you read here is from my own experience training dogs, not veterinary or behavioral medical advice. See the exercise disclaimer.
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Best dog toy 2027 questions
What is the best dog toy for 2027?
My vote’s a flirt pole, cause it’s the only one where your dog gets to chase something down and actually win it. The Rugged XL if he’s 30 lbs or more, the Standard if he’s smaller.
Is it the same pick as 2026?
Same pick, yeah. The pole got a few upgrades for the new year though, a line that comes tied on with a quick-swap loop, five lures in the Pro Kit and the free 30-day plan. Last year’s write-up is still up at best dog toy 2026.
What’s a good dog toy for a big dog that destroys everything?
Honestly, one he can’t run off with and chew. You hold the pole and the lures take the bites, and when one’s done you loop on a new one. There’s more on that in the large dog toy ranking.
Will it work for a high-energy dog?
Yeah, I tested it on high-drive client dogs for years before I ever sold one. A lot of high-energy dogs stay wound up cause their games never really end, and the high-energy dog guide goes into how to run it for them.
Can a puppy use one?
Yep, just keep it short and slow with the lure on the ground and his paws staying down, and ask your vet before you let him go full speed. There’s a whole page on using a flirt pole with a puppy.
Does it make a good gift?
It’s a good one for a dog that already has a pile of toys he ignores. The Christmas batch ships by December 10, and the Christmas gift guide has more ideas.
How do I know which flirt pole to buy?
I make one, so take that into account. The flirt pole ranking grades mine next to other designs, and the short version is one piece beats joints and a line that doesn’t stretch beats a bungee.
Make 2027 the year the toy bin gets smaller
One toy you actually use beats a dozen he ignores, and you’ve got 30 days to try it.
Pre-order the Rugged XL + 3 Lures, $94.95Under 30 lbs? See the Standard, $55.95
Based on my own experience training dogs. Not veterinary or behavioral medical advice. Exercise disclaimer.
