Now that you’ve chosen the best dog crate for your new puppy, you need to pick out some outstanding crate toys that will occupy your furbaby while he’s crated.
So, what are the safest crate toys for puppies? And are real bones a good idea for aggressive chewers?
To save you the legwork, we’ve taken time out to hunt down the best crate toys for puppies. Keep reading to discover them!
What Crate Toys Are Safe For Puppies?
Any dog toy that you choose for your furry friend must be safe for him to play with. There are lots of crate toys out there on the market, so which are safe for puppies? Also be sure to read what else to put in your puppy crate here.
Stuffed Animals
Very young puppies can suffer from stress when they first arrive in their new homes. After all, your baby dog has had the security of his mom and siblings’ company taken away, and he’s all alone. That problem is exacerbated when you leave your puppy alone in his crate.
Stuffed animal toys can provide your puppy with a comforter, especially if you choose one that has a heartbeat to soothe your furbaby.
If your puppy is a strong chewer, avoid giving him stuffed toys with separately stitched eyes, noses, etc, as there’s a danger that your puppy could choke if the individual pieces come off.
Also, check to be sure that the toy doesn’t have any sharp pieces that could harm your puppy.
Rope Toys
Rope toys make a safe crate toy for your dog. Also, you can save yourself some cash by taking the DIY route and upcycling some unwanted clothes and using them to make a rope toy for your pet.
Treat Balls
Treat balls make excellent, entertaining toys for dogs in crates. There are lots of different designs to choose from, but all of them work in the same basic way. You fill the toy with treats, and the dog has to work out how to get at the tasty snacks hidden inside the balls.
Traditional tennis balls are best avoided if you have a dog that chews, as the fluffy outer covering of the ball can present a choking hazard. Also, if the ball becomes wedged in the dog’s throat, there’s a danger of suffocation.
Black Kongs
Black Kongs, (other colors are available) and similar rubber toys make excellent safe crate toys, especially for dogs that exhibit aggressive chewing behavior.
These toys come in different sizes to suit dogs of all breeds. You can fill the toy with treats or pack it with peanut butter and moistened kibble and freeze the whole thing. The frozen Kong provides your puppy with hours of entertainment, as he works at getting the treats out of the toy.
Also, the ice-cold toy can help to soothe sore gums when the puppy is teething.
Our Top 5 Crate Toys For Puppies
Now that you know more about what to look for in an excellent, safe crate toy for your puppy or dog, let’s take a look at 19 of the very best crate toys out there on the market!
1. Kong Extreme Dog Toy
The KONG Extreme dog toy is perfect for puppies that are going through the adolescent chewing stage.
This is an extremely durable, all-natural rubber toy that’s designed with the most aggressive chewers in mind. Also, the toy has an erratic bounce that pups love to chase!
When your puppy is crated, stuff the toy with peanut butter and tempting morsels of kibble or KONG Snacks. Then, freeze the toy and present it to your puppy when he’s spending time in his crate. Your puppy will be kept occupied for hours, trying to get the treats from the toy while chewing the chilled rubber soothes gums that are sore from teething.
2. PetSafe Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug Meal-Dispensing Dog Toy
The Busy Buddy Tug-A-Jug interactive dog toy is designed to provide multi-sensory stimulation to keep your pet amused and busy for longer.
The materials used to make the toy are non-toxic for safety and are super-durable to withstand prolonged chewing and tugging without breaking. As your puppy chews, the textured natural rubber wrap helps to remove plaque from your pup’s teeth and gums, preventing gingivitis and canine periodontal disease.
The toy can also be used to extend mealtimes and slow down greedy eaters that tend to bolt their food.
3. Pet Zone IQ Treat Dispenser Ball Dog Toy
This interactive dog toy really makes your puppy work to get his favorite treats and will keep him busy for hours. That can help to prevent boredom, destructive behaviors, and separation anxiety.
Fill the ball with treats, choose the difficulty level you want, and let your pet figure it out. The toy has adjustable difficulty levels, enabling you to keep increasing the challenge. The IQ Treat Dispenser Ball gives your dog plenty of mental and physical exercise while rewarding him with a tasty snack when he solves the puzzle. The toy also helps to slow the pace of eating, promote healthier digestion, and prevent weight gain.
To clean the toy, simply disassemble it and wash it thoroughly with dish soap and water.
4. Moropaky Puppy Toy with Heartbeat
A brand-new puppy can often suffer from separation anxiety when he first spends time in his crate, especially when you leave the room. That can lead to your furbaby crying in his crate and even becoming destructive and stressed.
This gorgeous plushy toy has a real heartbeat that’s designed to simulate the puppy’s mom. The pup can snuggle up to the toy to feel the heartbeat, reducing anxiety, and helping the little one to settle in his new environment. The toy is made from skin-friendly, comfy fabrics, and it’s machine washable too for easy cleanup.
5. West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy
The West Paw Zogoflex Toppl Tough toy is a tug-o-war toy that your puppy can enjoy chewing safely. This is a puzzle toy that traps kibble and treats with its cleverly designed inner ridges, tipping over to keep your puppy entertained. You can also interlock the two sizes of toy to make a more challenging puzzle. And the whole thing floats to create a fun water toy that your pup will love.
The toy is made in the US from 100% recyclable, BPA, and phthalate-free material that can be cleaned by placing it on the top shelf of your dishwasher.
Other Great Toys
6. Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball
The Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is a high-quality toy that’s virtually indestructible, making it ideal for even the most determined chewers.
You can use the treat ball for playing fetch in your backyard to give your pup plenty of exercise before you put him in his crate. Then, instead of using a food bowl, use the treat ball. You can even freeze the ball with treats inside it, which can help to ease the pain of teething in puppies. The ball is made from extremely durable material that’s soft and safe for your puppy’s gums and teeth.
To clean the toy, all you need to do is to pop it into your dishwasher.
Related: Crate games for dogs
7. Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude Treat Dispenser Tough Dog Chew Toy
Dogs love to chase things, and chasing a real squirrel is definitely fun. But what if that squirrel was stuffed full of delicious treats? The Busy Buddy Squirrel Dude toy is designed to bounce unpredictably to entertain your puppy outside of his crate, and it can be filled with treats or kibble to keep your furry friend amused when he’s spending time in his crate.
This toy is perfect for a dog that suffers from separation anxiety at times when your precious pet is left home alone. Simply pack the toy with lots of treats and leave your puppy to work out how to get at them. This interactive crate toy comes in lots of different sizes to suit every dog, from tiny puppies to fully-grown German Shepherds.
8. Benebone Real Bacon Durable Wishbone Dog Chew Toy
Benebones are designed with the most aggressive chewers in mind. These bone toys are tougher and safer than raw bones and will last your dog or puppy for weeks. Unlike real bones, these bones are made from a rubber-like material that won’t splinter or shatter, making this toy a safe choice for your pet.
Dogs simply love the 100% of real bacon flavor of this awesome bone toy! And to make it easy for your pup to keep a hold of the chew, the Wishbone is designed in a curved shape that provides a paw-friendly grip.
When you give your puppy this crate-safe toy, you have the peace of mind that this nice bone is USA-made from locally sourced materials.
9. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Ball Tough Dog Chew Toy
Even the toughest chewers won’t be able to destroy or damage this incredibly tough and resilient toy! The Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Ball has a textured finish and is made from the company’s Orbee-Tuff material for ultimate durability and resistance. You can use the ball for outdoor playtimes but it makes an excellent crate toy choice, too.
The Diamond Plate Ball is made in the USA and can be cleaned by simply washing it in warm water and dish soap or popping the ball into your dishwasher.
10. Nylabone Power Chew Dog Bones for Aggressive Chewers
The Nylabone Power Chew Dog Bone is the ideal crate toy choice for dogs that love to chew and can become destructive if not kept busy when crated for long periods of time. Dogs love the delicious peanut butter flavor of this chew bone, which pretty much guarantees that your pup won’t lose interest in the toy and chew his crate or bed instead.
The multi-textured crate toy is made from durable material that can keep dogs occupied for hours without sustaining any damage. The nubs and ridges that are incorporated into the chew’s design can help to ward off plaque and tartar accumulation on your dog’s teeth, which can cause gingivitis and stomatitis if left unchecked.
The toy is made in the USA from safe, non-toxic, BPA and phthalate-free material. This imitation bone chew toy will last your puppy for months, whereas a pup’s needle-like teeth will destroy a real bone in minutes.
11. Durable Hard Dog Toy
This heavy-duty chew toy has been successfully tested on some real power chewers, including Mastiffs and German Shepherds! Even so, if you’re not satisfied with the bone’s performance, there’s a 12-month guarantee for your peace of mind.
The bone’s rough surface helps to clean your dog’s teeth as he chews, promoting better oral health and easing the discomfort caused by teething. To encourage a reluctant chewer, add a thin layer of peanut butter into the grooves of the toy or choose from bacon, beef, and lemon flavors.
There are lots of different sizes of chew to choose from, so you’re sure to find something to suit your puppy or dog, whatever breed he is.
12. Ethical Pet Seek-A-Treat Flip N Slide Puzzle Dog Toy
This unique treat dispenser toy by Ethical Pet is an excellent boredom-breaker that can help to amuse your dog when he’s crated for longer periods of time.
The plastic toy is made from strong non-toxic materials that are safe for your dog. Load the toy’s multiple compartments with kibble or your dog’s favorite treats. Your furry friend must then use his nose and paws to work out how to “flip and slide” each compartment to reveal the tasty treats hidden beneath.
This crate toy is perfect for stimulating your dog’s brain and developing cognitive skills in puppies. Once your dog has mastered the level one puzzle, connect multiple puzzles together for the Mastermind challenge!
13. Benebone Bacon Flavor Dental Tough Dog Chew Toy
The Benebone Bacon Flavor Dental Tough Dog Chew Toy is an updated, improved design to provide your dog with even more enjoyment during crate time.
The chew is made in the USA and uses 100% real bacon flavoring to tempt your pet. The durable nylon chew has a dog-friendly, ergonomic curved design that enables your dog to adjust the chew so that he can get a better grip on one end. The chew features deep grooves that help to promote healthy teeth and gums.
Also, a percentage of all Benebone sales is donated to support animal charities.
14. Himalayan Sherpa Yak Dog Chews
For something a little bit different, you might want to try these Himalayan Sherpa Yak dog chews for your precious pet.
These delicious, long-lasting chew treats are made from only three 100% natural ingredients; free-range yak and cow’s milk, lime, and salt. The chews will keep your pet busy and out of mischief for the entire time he’s crated, while helping to clean your dog’s teeth as he chews.
The treats won’t stain your pet’s bedding, don’t have any unpleasant odor, contain no additives or preservatives, and they’re GMO and gluten-free. You can rest assured that these chews won’t shatter or splinter like real bones, so your puppy can enjoy chewing in safety.
15. Leaps & Bounds Chomp and Chew Latex Hippo Dog Toy
The Leaps and Bounds Chomp and Chew dod toy is made from a pliable material that your puppy will love to chew! The toy’s textured latex construction is intended to keep your puppy happy and occupied, regardless of whether he’s chewing or chasing.
The material is gentle on delicate puppy mouths, making this the perfect choice for a puppy that’s teething. For an even more fun time, the cute hippo character contains a squeaker to encourage active play.
DIY Dog Toys
In this section of our guide, we’ve included some ideas for DIY dog crate toys that you can make at home. Most of these toys can be made from upcycled everyday items that you have around your home.
16. Ring Dog Toy
This excellent two-tone ring dog toy can be made by combining two pieces of a basic four-strand crown knot. You can adjust the size of the toy to suit your dog by choosing a different gauge of rope.
Follow the clear instructional video to create this toy for your dog.
17. Pull Toy
You can make this tug-o-war toy using just some old T-shirts and old jeans.
Simply take a sharp pair of scissors, and cut your old clothes into ribbons. Bind the pieces of cloth to make a loose rope. The result is a strong dog-pull toy that your puppy can safely play with when he’s confined in his crate.
18. Plastic Bottle Treat Toy
This DIY dog toy uses an old plastic drink bottle, some old denim clothing, and a few chunks of rawhide treats to hide inside the toy.
This simple idea will keep your dog occupied for hours on end, making crate time a fun time for your puppy.
19. Ditto Squeaky Pet Toy
This is a simple toy to make, especially if you have some experience in crafting. The stuffed toy is made from felt and contains a squeaker. We think this toy is suitable for a dog that doesn’t destroy things, simply because there’s a danger that the squeaker could be swallowed. Also, you don’t want to see your hard work ripped to shreds in a matter of minutes!
You might also like reading our guide to:
- The Best Chew Proof Crate Mat & Pads
- The Best Dog Crate Water Bottles
- 7 Best Water Bowls for Dog Crates
In Conclusion
Did you enjoy our list of 19 crate toys for puppies? If you did, please take a few moments to share with other puppy owners.
When your dog or puppy is confined to his crate for a period of time, he can become bored. Boredom often leads to destructive behavior and barking, but you can prevent that by providing your dog with a toy to keep him amused.
Very young puppies often find it comforting to have a plushy toy that they can snuggle up to in their crate, while older pups that are teething appreciate a chilled chew toy. Older dogs that are going through their adolescent chewing stage will happily chow down on a robust nylon bone.
What crate toy did you choose for your furry friend? Did you have a go at making a DIY toy? Tell us in the comments box below.
