The best dog toys for small breeds are ones sized for a small mouth: light enough to carry, soft enough to bite down on, and small enough to shake, but not so small they can be swallowed. Small dogs do best with a mix of a plush toy for carrying and cuddling, a squeaky toy for play sessions, and a chew toy for teeth, rotated so nothing gets boring. Skip anything hard and heavy, and skip anything smaller than the dog's muzzle.
Our house is cats, so Ai and Dudu are our toy testers, but the small dogs we know are surprisingly similar: they want things they can carry around, pounce on, and squeak, and they ignore anything too big to get their teeth into. Here's what to look for, what to avoid, and how to keep a small dog interested.
What makes a toy right for a small dog?
- Size. The toy should be bigger than the dog's mouth so it can't be swallowed, but small enough that the dog can pick it up and carry it. A toy a small dog can't lift gets ignored.
- Weight. Light. A heavy rubber toy that a Labrador loves will just sit on the floor for a Chihuahua.
- Softness. Small dogs have small jaws. A toy that gives when bitten is more satisfying than a rock-hard one, and gentler on teeth.
- Something to grab. Ears, tails, tags, and limbs give a small dog a handle to shake and carry by.
- A sound. A squeak or crinkle keeps most small dogs engaged far longer than a silent toy.
What types of toys should a small dog have?
A small dog doesn't need a basket of thirty toys. Four or five, in the right categories, rotated weekly, does more:
- A plush "comfort" toy. The one they carry to bed and sleep with. It should be soft, seamed well, and small. Something like the soft plush animal pet toys is the right scale; small dogs pick one and adopt it.
- A squeaky toy for play. This is for fetch and tug with you, not for unsupervised chewing. The squeaky pet plush toy is light enough to toss across a room without bouncing off furniture.
- A chew toy. Small dogs get plaque fast and need to chew. A shaped plush with a chewable body like the dinosaur squeaky chew pet plush toy gives a small dog a limb to gnaw on. For heavy chewers, add a small dense rubber chew as well.
- A puzzle or treat toy. Small dogs are often smart and under-stimulated. A treat ball or a snuffle mat gives them a job.
- A rope or tug toy, sized thin. Good for teeth and for playing with you, but put it away when you're done so it doesn't become a fringe-eating project.
If you have a puppy, the mix shifts toward chew and cold toys for a few months. We covered that in best toys for teething puppies.
What toys should small dogs avoid?
- Anything smaller than the muzzle. Small balls, small squeakers loose from a torn toy, and "mini" chews that can be swallowed whole.
- Hard, heavy toys. Large rubber bones and dense nylon chews meant for big dogs can crack a small dog's teeth. If you can't dent it with a thumbnail, it's too hard.
- Tennis balls for heavy chewers. The fuzz is abrasive on teeth and the ball can be chewed into pieces. Fine for fetch, not for chewing.
- Toys with beads, buttons, or plastic eyes. They come off. Embroidered features are safer.
- Rawhide, which swells and can block a small dog's throat or gut. Ask your vet about safer chews.
- Cooked bones, which splinter. Never.
How do you keep a small dog interested in toys?
Small dogs get bored with a toy that's always available. A few habits help:
- Rotate. Keep three toys out and the rest in a drawer. Swap weekly. A toy that's been gone for two weeks is new again.
- Play with them. Most toys are more fun with you attached to the other end. Ten minutes of tug or fetch a day does more than a pile of toys on the floor.
- Hide treats in toys. A squeaky toy with a pocket, or a plush with a treat tucked in the seam, gives the dog a reason to work at it.
- Retire toys. A toy with the stuffing out or the squeaker exposed goes in the trash. Small dogs will eat stuffing.
- Match energy. A high-drive terrier needs tug and chase toys. A lap dog needs something soft to carry. Buy for the dog you have.
Are plush toys safe for small dogs?
For most small dogs, yes, with supervision. The risk with plush is stuffing and squeakers being pulled out and swallowed. Small dogs are less likely than big dogs to tear a plush toy open fast, but a determined one can do it over a few days. Check seams every time you pick the toy up, stitch small holes before they grow, and toss the toy once the inside is coming out. A small dog who destroys plush in minutes needs a tougher toy and plush only for supervised play.
FAQ
How many toys does a small dog need?
Four or five is plenty if they cover the categories: comfort, squeak, chew, puzzle, and tug. More than that, and the dog ignores most of them. Rotate rather than accumulate.
Why does my small dog carry a toy everywhere?
It's a comfort object, often a mix of nesting instinct and a substitute for a "prey" they've caught. It's normal and healthy. Just make sure the toy stays intact, since the dog will keep it in their mouth for hours.
What size toy should a small dog have?
Bigger than the dog's open mouth, so it can't be swallowed, and light enough to be carried. For a dog under 15 pounds, that usually means toys roughly the size of the dog's head or a bit smaller, but never smaller than a golf ball.
Quick recap
The best dog toys for small breeds are light, soft, sized to carry but not swallow, and rotated between a comfort plush, a squeaky play toy, a chew, and a puzzle. Avoid hard heavy chews and anything with parts that come off. Browse plush, squeaky, and chew toys in our toys collection. Orders over $75 ship free.
