TL;DR
Buy for the stage the puppy is in, not for how cute the toy is. Young puppies need comfort and easy wins, teething puppies need something safe to chew on, and teenagers need games with rules so they learn some impulse control. Chase play can work for some growing puppies, but it depends on the puppy. If you try it, keep the lure on the ground and the sessions short, and don’t ask the puppy to jump.
This is the puppy part of the ultimate guide to interactive dog toys. It goes over what to buy at each age, what to skip, and how to run chase play safely.
Who This Is For
- New owners with a bin full of toys the puppy ignores or destroys
- Anyone with a teething puppy chewing hands, shoes, and chair legs
- Owners asking if a flirt pole is safe for a growing puppy
- Large-breed puppy families deciding between the Standard and the Rugged XL
- People who want brain games, not just more running
Best Puppy Toys by Need
Start with what your puppy’s doing, not just how old it is. PetMD says to think about the puppy’s age, breed, size and personality, and it splits puppy toys into distraction toys for downtime, action toys for active puppies and comfort toys for shy or anxious ones. These are the types I’d look at, what each one’s good for and the thing I’d check before buying.
| Toy type | Good for | Check before you buy | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy rubber chew | Teething, sore gums | Sized for your puppy’s breed and weight, dents with a fingernail | Chunks coming off, too small for the mouth |
| Stuffable rubber food toy | Crate time, alone time, slowing down meals | Puppy formula rubber, easy to clean, can go in the freezer | A small one handed to a big puppy |
| Food puzzle or snuffle mat | Brain work, mealtime | Easy enough that the puppy wins early | Pieces it can chew off, frustration |
| Soft plush | Comfort, puppies under 12 weeks, shy puppies | No ribbons, tags or loose plastic eyes, machine washable | Squeakers and bells, stuffing showing |
| Tug toy | Play with you, a game with rules | Long enough that a re-grip doesn’t get your hand | Pulling hard on a young puppy, fraying |
| Fetch ball | Active play | Sized so it can’t fit all the way in the mouth | Chewing it apart, tossing it straight up |
| Flirt pole | Supervised chase you control, older puppies | Pole sized to the dog, lure the puppy can grab | Not a chew toy, never left out with the puppy |
These are toy types, not brands. On a phone you can scroll the table sideways.
If I were setting up a new puppy
One puppy rubber chew, one stuffable food toy, one soft toy that passes the checks above, and a tug for when you’re playing together. That covers chewing, alone time, comfort and play. A flirt pole can come later if your puppy likes to chase and you want to use that for training, but it’s an extra, it doesn’t replace any of those.
Puppy Toys by Age: The Short Version
Age tells you what to focus on, it isn’t a list of the only toys allowed. The types overlap and every puppy’s different. At 8 to 12 weeks I’m thinking about confidence. From 3 to 6 months it’s sore gums and something legal to chew. From 6 to 12 months it’s a teenager learning to settle down when it’s worked up, so the chewing goes somewhere better than your shoes.
| Age | Main focus | Safe choices | Skip at this age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-12 weeks | Confidence and easy wins | Soft plush, simple food puzzles, a snuffle mat | Hard chews, hard tug, toys sized for adult dogs |
| 3-6 months | Teething relief and a legal target for the mouth | Frozen stuffed rubber toys, chews that dent with a fingernail | Bones, antlers, anything that fits fully in the mouth |
| 6-12 months | Impulse control under excitement | Tug with rules, puppy-safe chews, puzzles a step harder, low chase if your puppy is ready | Repeated jumping, long runs on pavement |
The ages are just a guide, and size, breed and what your vet says come first. On a phone you can scroll the table sideways.
8 to 12 Weeks: Comfort and Confidence
When a puppy first comes home I’m not looking for toys that can take a beating, I want stuff that makes it feel brave. The American Kennel Club says the socialization period in the first three months will permanently shape a puppy’s future personality, so I’d make every new toy an easy little win for them. PetMD also points out most puppies under 12 weeks don’t need teething toys yet, and those tiny teeth are sharp but not strong, so a toy made for an older dog can damage them.
What I’d give a brand-new puppy
I’d start with soft plush. PetMD calls soft plush toys ideal for younger puppies that haven’t grown into their full chewing yet. I like adding an easy food puzzle or a snuffle mat too, so dinner turns into a little problem they get to figure out. Before a plush toy goes in the crate, check it the way PetMD says to: no dangling ribbons, tags or loose plastic parts, and something you can throw in the washing machine, cause it’s gonna get dirty during house training.
What I’d skip for now
I’d hold off on rope toys and real tug. PetMD saves rope for older puppies whose permanent teeth have come in, and says puppies under 12 weeks are more likely to hurt their teeth, jaws and neck if tug gets too rough. Toys with a squeaker or bell need checking for damage regularly, cause those parts can get swallowed and cause a blockage. If a new toy spooks the puppy, put it down and let them go up to it on their own time, and if it’s happening with everything, read fear periods in dogs.
3 to 6 Months: Teething Relief
From about 3 to 6 months it’s all about teething, and giving that busy mouth something it’s allowed to chew. According to PetMD the worst of it is somewhere around 12 to 24 weeks, when the baby teeth come out and the permanent ones come in. Let’s be honest, a puppy with sore gums is gonna chew on something, so you might as well hand it the right thing before it finds your fingers or the couch.
What helps a teething puppy
The thing I’d grab first is a puppy rubber toy stuffed with food and frozen, PetMD says the cold numbs and soothes sore gums. Skip handing over plain ice cubes though, VCA puts large ice cubes on its too-hard list. For how hard a chew should be, I go by the VCA rule, if you can’t dent it with your fingernail it’s too hard. And get it big enough, VCA says a toy should never fit all the way inside the dog’s mouth. Puppy toys usually come sized by breed or weight, and PetMD warns against giving a small one to a bigger puppy that might swallow it. PetMD also says most puppies are mostly done teething around 24 weeks.
What not to give a teething puppy
The big mistake I’d watch out for here is hard chews. PetMD says antlers, bones and natural chews can fracture teeth, puncture the mouth and, if a piece gets swallowed, block or tear the gut. VCA adds cow hooves, pig ears and hard rawhides to the too-hard list. If the puppy keeps getting its teeth on your skin instead of the toys, that’s a training thing, not a harder-toy thing, and how I’d handle it is in stop puppy biting.
6 to 12 Months: Impulse Control
From 6 to 12 months I’d lean on games with rules. The AKC says adolescence may start around eight months and can last until two years. Teenage dogs can act like they forgot all their training. The AKC suggests teaching “leave it” and “drop it” for self-control, and a toy game is a good place to practice both.
What I’d hand a 6 to 12 month old
Tug with rules is my main toy for this age. The dog bites when you invite it, lets go on cue, and the game stops if teeth touch skin. The AKC tug-of-war article says there should only be light resistance with young puppies, and to pick a tug with some length so a re-grip doesn’t land on your hand. Add puzzles a step harder and, if your puppy’s ready, short, easy chase with the lure on the ground. Keep puppy-safe chews around too. The AKC says there’s a second chewing phase around 8 to 10 months while the adult teeth settle in.
What to stay away from at this age
Stay away from games that pay off grabbing with no release, like keep-away with your shoes. The AKC also says never chase your dog when it runs off with the toy, that teaches it not to listen and can make it possessive. If your teenager has quit listening in general, start with why an adolescent dog won’t listen and then build the off switch with impulse control drills.
Safe Chase Play for Growing Puppies
Low, controlled chase can be fine for some growing puppies, but it depends on the dog, how hard you play, the footing and how far along it is. In an AKC article on puppy exercise, trainer Laurie Williams lists chasing a flirt pole next to tugging a toy with you, hide-and-seek and tag. The same article says to limit repeated jumping, like tossing a ball straight up, cause that can hurt a puppy’s back.
Why growth plates change the rules
The AKC says to hold off on jogging or running with a puppy on a leash until it’s mature, which it puts at about 6 to 8 months for small breeds, 12 months for medium, 12 to 18 months for large and 18 to 24 months for giant breeds. It says the bones and ligaments need time to mature and the soft plates on the bones need time to harden. A separate AKC article on jumping says growth plates aren’t closed until at least 12 months, says to limit jumping on beds, over baby gates and out of the car, and goes by “low and slow”. If you’ve got any concerns about what your puppy can handle, it says to talk to your vet.
Low, short, and on grass
Warm up
Walk or sniff around on the grass for a few minutes, nice and easy.
Drag it low
Pull the lure along the ground in wide, slow curves and don’t ever lift it.
Let them win
Let the puppy catch it a lot, then trade it for a treat.
Stop early
Quit while the puppy still wants more. My own number is 3 to 5 minutes.
My puppy chase rules
- My own rule is to wait until about 6 months before any flirt pole chase, and start with real short, easy sessions. That’s my call, not a vet number, and no age proves a puppy is ready, so ask your vet. It’s the same line I draw in how to tire out a puppy.
- Keep the lure on the ground. A lure up in the air gets them leaping, and that’s the jumping AKC says to limit.
- Pick soft footing. For puppy walks the AKC names grass and packed sand as the best surfaces to start on, and I’d use the same for chase.
- Save full-speed sessions for when your vet says your puppy’s done growing.
- Put the pole away after. It’s for play with you, not a chew toy, so it never stays out with the puppy.
Is a flirt pole right for your puppy?
Not always. It’s not a teething toy or a comfort toy, and it won’t do the job of a food toy. I’d skip it for now if the puppy’s under about 6 months, keeps leaping and twisting after the lure no matter how low you keep it, gets so wound up it can’t stop, or has anything going on with its joints that your vet’s watching. Tug, food puzzles and sniffing games are plenty until then. Where it does fit is a puppy that loves to chase, cause you control the lure, keep it low and can stop the game whenever you want.
Never used a flirt pole? Read how to introduce a flirt pole to a dog before the first session.
Standard or Rugged XL for a Large-Breed Puppy?
Pick the pole by how much your puppy weighs and how hard it pulls right now. The Standard is for dogs under 30 lbs and the Rugged XL is for 30 lbs and up. A puppy that’s gonna stay under 30 lbs can keep the Standard for life, but a large-breed puppy will probably outgrow it. The line rating is what the line holds, it’s not a reason to play harder, so the puppy rules don’t change with the pole.
| Your puppy | Pole | Line | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 lbs and staying small | Standard | 450-lb Kevlar | $55.95 + $20 shipping |
| Under 30 lbs today, headed well past 30 | Standard now, Rugged XL once the puppy hits 30 lbs | 450-lb Kevlar, then 800-lb Dyneema | $55.95 + $20 shipping, then from $74.95 |
| 30 lbs or more, or already pulling hard | Rugged XL | 800-lb Dyneema | $74.95 base, $94.95 3-lure bundle, free US shipping |
The honest trade-off
If your large-breed puppy is still well under 30 lbs, the Standard fits the puppy you’ve got today, and you’re probably gonna buy a Rugged XL later. That’s two poles, I know. The Rugged XL is for dogs 30 lbs and up, so I wouldn’t hand it to a puppy that’s not there yet. Either way the puppy rules above stay the same, you keep the lure low and the sessions short.
Whimsy Stick Standard
- Built for dogs under 30 lbs
- 450-lb Kevlar line
- Built by a working dog trainer
- 30-day money-back guarantee (you pay return shipping unless the pole failed)
- Breaks in normal play, I replace it. Chewed up while left alone, I don’t.
4.9 stars on 38 product reviews. The 306 reviews across 7 platforms count those 38 plus 268 reviews of my training work.
For a mouthy teenager, a jute tug gives it something it’s allowed to bite between chase rounds. Get one long enough that your hands stay well away from the teeth, keep the pull light, and end every game with a drop you’ve trained.
Toys small enough to swallow. VCA says a toy should never fit all the way in the dog’s mouth.
Frayed or broken toys. VCA says to toss a toy once the rope frays, the rubber breaks or the stuffing shows.
Unsupervised chewing. Stay close and take the toy away as soon as the puppy starts biting chunks off. VCA says swallowed chunks of toy can get stuck in the stomach and need surgery.
Too-hard chews. Bones, antlers, cow hooves, pig ears, hard rawhides and big ice cubes, per VCA and PetMD.
Tennis balls as chew toys. VCA says chewing the fuzzy surface over and over can wear teeth down, and PetMD says tennis balls should only be played with while you’re watching.
More Guides for Puppy Owners
Puppy Toys: FAQ
What are the best toys for puppies?
A puppy rubber chew, a toy you can stuff with food, a soft toy and a tug cover most of it. Then you adjust for age. Soft and easy under 12 weeks, chews you can dent with a fingernail through teething, and tug with rules from about 6 months. Size every toy to your puppy so it can’t fit all the way in the mouth.
What are the best interactive toys for puppies?
The ones where you’re on the other end. Tug with a release cue. A food puzzle you set up with them. Later on, if your pup’s a chaser, a flirt pole dragged low on the ground. You’re teaching rules while you play, and that’s worth more than just running it ragged.
What toys are safe for a teething puppy?
Puppy rubber chews, and rubber toys you’ve stuffed and frozen. Size them for your puppy, and if your fingernail can’t dent it, it’s too hard. VCA’s line is a toy should never fit all the way in the mouth. Antlers, bones, hooves, pig ears, hard rawhide, I’d pass on all of it. Once chunks start coming off, that toy’s done.
Are flirt poles good for puppies?
For some puppies, with puppy rules. Trainer Laurie Williams, in an AKC article on puppy exercise, lists chasing a flirt pole as a good activity. My own rule is about 6 months before real chase, the lure on the ground, a few minutes at a time, and no jumping, cause the AKC says to limit repeated jumping while a puppy grows. It’s a toy for play with you, not one to leave out.
At what age can a puppy use a flirt pole?
My own rule is about 6 months for easy sessions on the ground, 3 to 5 minutes. That’s my call, not a vet rule. For context, the AKC says to wait on leash running until a puppy is mature, about 12 to 18 months for large breeds, and its jumping article says growth plates aren’t closed until at least 12 months. Your vet knows your puppy, so run it by them.
Which flirt pole should I get for a large-breed puppy?
Weight first, then how hard it pulls. Under 30 lbs gets the Standard, $55.95 plus $20 shipping. Thirty and up is the Rugged XL, from $74.95 with free US shipping. So a big-breed puppy that’s still little starts on the Standard and moves up once it hits 30.
Are rope toys safe for puppies?
Not for the little ones. PetMD holds rope off till the permanent teeth are in, and frayed strands can get swallowed and block the gut, or even wrap around the base of the tongue. If you do use rope, get it tightly braided, stay right there with them, and toss it when it starts fraying like VCA says.
Can puppies play tug of war?
Yep, just go easy. The AKC tug article says to keep it to light resistance with young puppies. Hold it low, let the pup do the pulling, and get a release cue going early so tug’s a game with rules from day one.
What are good brain games for puppies?
Food puzzles, a snuffle mat for dinner, hide-and-seek, a couple minutes of tricks. Laurie Williams, a trainer quoted in that AKC exercise piece, calls food puzzles and new tricks mental exercise. She’s got a scavenger box idea too, treats hid in an egg carton or a rolled-up dish towel or some crumpled paper. Thinking counts as work for a puppy.
What toys should I avoid giving a puppy?
Anything it could swallow. Chews that fail the fingernail test. Frayed rope, plush with loose bits, squeakers nobody’s checking on. Tennis balls are fine while you’re watching, just not as a chew. And hold off on a lot of jumping till your pup’s done growing.
What toys should I buy before bringing a puppy home?
Don’t go crazy. A puppy rubber chew, a stuffable food toy, a soft toy with no loose parts, and a tug you’ll use down the road. Buy them sized for the breed and weight. Pretty quick you’ll see how hard your puppy chews, and that decides the next toy.
Which puppy toys are OK to leave with a puppy alone?
PetMD says food-holding rubber toys are good for puppies with downtime while you’re gone. It also says not to let puppies chew for long with nobody watching, and that’s any toy. So if you’ve gotta leave one, make it your toughest rubber toy that’s sized right, look it over every time, and don’t ever leave a flirt pole, rope or a plush with loose parts in there with them.
What should I do if my puppy chews a toy apart?
Take it and throw it out. VCA’s rule is a toy’s retired once stuffing shows, rope frays or rubber breaks, cause swallowed chunks can mean surgery. A shredder needs a tougher rubber toy sized for it. Think a piece went down? Call your vet.
Sources I used
- PetMD, Puppy Teething Toys: Pick the Best Chew Toys for Puppies: teething, frozen toys, sizing, rope, plush
- VCA Animal Hospitals, How to choose the best chew toy for your dog: the fingernail test and when to toss a toy
- AKC, How Much Mental and Physical Exercise Do Puppies Need?: running ages, jumping, games
- AKC, Is It Safe for Puppies to Jump?: growth plates
- AKC, Should You Play Tug-of-War With Your Dog?: tug with young puppies
- AKC, Adolescent Puppy Changes: the teenage stretch
- AKC, Puppy Socialization: the first three months
I make and sell the Whimsy Stick, so take my flirt pole notes with that in mind. This comes from training dogs, it is not vet advice. Talk to your vet before you start chase with a growing puppy, big and giant breeds especially.
