Searching for the best toys for Goldendoodles that will make your pupper over-the-moon happy? Debating whether your Goldendoodle will destroy a dog toy faster than you can say “Doodle zoomies”? Wondering which toys will keep your Goldendoodle’s interest?
Then welcome to our pack! We’ve put together a list of the best toys for Goldendoodles that not only stand the test of time and are boredom busters, but bring the “happiness factor,” too.
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Best toys for Goldendoodles
In a hurry? Here are our top choices.
- 🐾 Nina Ottosson Dog Hide ‘n Slide Interactive Puzzle Toy by Outward Hound – This “hide and seek” style dog puzzle toy engages your Goldendoodle’s mind and battles dog boredom. In addition to regular playtime fun, you can swap out your dog’s food bowl and use the puzzle at mealtime to add a “search and hunt” element to eating. (This is especially helpful for those Doodles who are finicky eaters.)
- 🐾 Kong Classic Dog Toy – This wobbly toy with an erratic bounce is a classic. For food-motivated Doodles, you can fill the hollow interior with your dog’s favorite treats. Peanut butter (xylitol-free) is a popular choice for many pet parents. I like to use a peanut butter-filled Kong toy as a happy distraction when brushing and grooming my Goldendoodle.
- 🐾 Chuckit! Breathe Right Fetch Ball – This flexible ball has a unique “open weave” construction so air flows through it, which means your dog can breathe easier while running with it in his or her mouth. Since most Goldendoodles are energetic and many are natural retrievers, this ball is ideal for all those endless rounds of fetch you can play together.
- 🐾 West Paw Zisc Flying Disc – This frisbee is made from a durable yet soft material for gentle “catchability.” With a generous amount of floppiness, I think it makes those airborne catches softer on a Dood’s mouth.
- 🐾 Kong Wubba Comet Dog Toy – This toss-and-tug toy gets our paws up as the best toy we’ve found for two dogs who want to play together. The thick nylon tassels combined with the round body (think of an octopus) give dogs plenty of tugging action.
- 🐾 Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak Ball – This squeaky toy is a ball that’s made from a durable yet flexible material. Why is it a winner for Goldendoodles? The squeaker, of course. It’s squeak-a-licous for dogs, but the sound isn’t too annoying for us hoomans. 🤣
We’re your go-to team for dog toys that are “golden” for Doodles
When it comes to chasing down the best dog toys for my Goldendoodle, it’s a Goldilocks and the three bears scenario:
This dog toy is too hard. 😫
This dog toy is too soft. 😭
And a very, very few dog toys are just right! 🤩
Can you relate?
I don’t know how many times I’ve strolled down the pet store toy aisle with my Goldendoodle beside me, gotten excited over a new toy, and then debated whether my Dood would pick at the seams, pull at that one part that protrudes, or have it destroyed faster than I can say, “Doodle zoomies.”
So, when I do find a dog toy that lasts and is also loved by my Goldendoodle, it’s worth shouting from the wooftops! 🐶
Plus, as a dog mom who’s spent the last eight years researching all things Goldendoodle, not only have I learned a thing or two about Doodle dogs, but also my furry pal and I have chosen a lot of dog toys.
Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at judging what will bring the happiness factor to playtime and give my energetic, inquisitive dog much needed canine enrichment.
I hope you’ll think of us (dog mom and Dood) as your guides for discovering the best Goldendoodle toys to keep your pupper entertained. (And, if you’re searching for gift ideas for Doodle lovers, be sure to check out our list of 21 Goldendoodle gifts.)
6 best toys for Goldendoodles reviewed
Below is our review of the six best toys for Goldendoodles. You’ll find a variety of toys that satisfy a variety of canine behaviors or play patterns—fetch toys, puzzle toys, treat dispensers, and chew toys.
These are the ones that satisfy my adult Goldendoodle’s obsession with playtime. Plus, they meet my own “Golden” standards for my dear Doodle dog.
All the toys included in this list have been played with, loved on, and generally enjoyed by one very happy, inquisitive, chewy, and smart adult Goldendoodle.
As you’ll see in the photos below, these toys have been used! They’ve stood the test of time, and some have even been played with for years.
Let’s get started.
1. Nina Ottosson by Outward Hound Dog Hide n’ Slide Interactive Puzzle Toy
Best puzzle toy for Goldendoodles for cognitive enrichment
What it is: A hide-and-find dog puzzle toy that engages the dog’s mind and prevents boredom.
Goldendoodles, a hybrid of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle breeds, are typically very intelligent dogs. This means they need mental stimulation, or they’ll come up with their own ways to entertain themselves (i.e. chewing a shoe or a chair leg). That’s why I like puzzle toys that provide intellectual stimulation and sensory enrichment.
The Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Toy has been a staple in our home for over a year. Our Goldendoodle loves having to work for her food and I love that it stimulates her mind.
Why we both like it:
- I like using this interactive puzzle toy at mealtime as a substitution for a regular dog bowl. I place about half of my Doodle’s kibble in the puzzle at a time. First, I ask her to sit and stay. Then I say, Get it!” and she uses her nose to sniff out her food inside the puzzle toy. It turns mealtime into a “forage and hunt” for her, which she loves.
- For dogs who gobble their food, the slots and sliders slow mealtime down.
- It makes a great boredom buster. If you need an indoor activity that engages your dog’s mind, this one offers plenty of mental stimulation.
- The “hiders” slide easily so your dog can push them with his or her nose.
- The material is surprisingly durable and the construction is solid.
What could be better:
- This puzzle has a difficulty level of two. If your Goldendoodle has solved food puzzles before and needs more challenge, you may want to go up a difficulty level. In fact, I’m thinking about getting another puzzle and rotating them so that our Doodle gets an added challenge and more variety.
- In full transparency, we purchased two interactive puzzle toys from the Nina Ottosson brand. The one in the photo above was hands down our favorite—the quality of the material was much more durable.
- Keeping it real: If you’re looking for a toy that entertains your dog for hours, this is not the dog toy for you. Once the kibble or yummy treats are gone (or I’ve refilled the puzzle a couple of times), I put the toy away for the next time. If you look closely at the photo above, you can see a few teeth marks from a puppy who would chew the sliders if I didn’t pick it up as soon as the puzzle was solved (i.e. food was eaten).
2. Kong Classic Dog Toy
Best classic dog toy
What it is: A wobbly toy you can fill with treats.
We’ve seriously had the same red Kong dog toys around our home for years, which speaks to the durability of the Kong Classic Dog Toy.
My favorite way to use this toy is as a happy distraction during Goldendoodle grooming or at-home dog nail trims.
I have several Kong toys that I partially fill with peanut butter and pop in the freezer. (BTW…check the ingredient list on your peanut butter before giving it to your dog. Make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.)
Freezing makes licking all the yummy treats inside the Kong toy extra challenging for my dog.
Also, I “paint” or coat the inside walls of the Kong with peanut butter rather than completely filling the treat. This way, I’m not adding too many calories to her diet.
Why we both like it:
- The wobbly shape makes it more challenging for my Doodle to get to the yummy treats inside.
- It’s dishwasher safe, so cleaning all the sticky peanut butter slobbers off is easy.
- We’ve had both puppy Kong classics and the red Kong classics. In my opinion, the Kong toys for puppies (you’ll know them by their color—baby blue and baby pink) are just as durable as the Kong adult dog toys.
- The rubber material is durable yet easy on the teeth.
- Kong’s website has an easy sizing guide and memorable phrase, “Size up for safety” to help you determine what size to select for your dog.
What could be better:
- If you do wash it by hand, I find it hard to get all the ridges clean.
3. Chuckit! Breathe Right Fetch Ball
Best fetch ball for physical enrichment
What it is: A fetch ball that is hollow, flexible, and designed so dogs can breathe easier when the ball is in the mouth.
Fetch toys are some of my Goldendoodle dog’s favorite. (Even as a Goldendoodle puppy, she was a natural retriever.) But I have to admit that I was initially skeptical about the construction of this ball when I first received one at a dog writers’ conference.
Would it really hold up? Turns out…YES!
In fact, I’ve purchased more of these fetch balls because they’re always disappearing and reappearing around the house depending on which piece of furniture they’ve rolled under.
At last count, I think we have four Chuckit! Breathe Right Fetch Balls.
The other reason I keep several of these fetch balls on hand is because my Doodle and I can play “speed fetch.”
Basically, I use two balls for a game of fetch, and chuck one ball into the air just as my Goldendoodle is returning another one back to me.
It’s fast action, keeps her moving, and she can’t get enough of it.
Why we both like this fetch ball:
- The hollow and mesh-like construction allows air to flow through the ball, so my dog can “breathe right” while romping around with it her mouth.
- Since the ball is super lightweight, I know all those airborne catches will be gentle on her mouth.
- I like that it doesn’t wear down her teeth.
- My Goldendoodle likes the “squishiness.”
- Especially for our energetic Goldendoodle dogs, getting physical exercise is so important to their overall wellbeing. (A tired dog is a happy dog!) For us, these balls have stood the test of time and given us many joyful games of endless fetch.
What could be better:
- If you’re buying this online, searching out all the available sizes (and determining which size is best for your dog’s size) isn’t all that quick or easy. The ball comes in four sizes. My dog, a medium Goldendoodle, plays with the medium-sized balls.
- Some reviews mention dogs chewing and destroying this ball. While this hasn’t been the case for my dog, if your Dood is more power chewer than fetcher, it may not be suitable.
4. West Paw Zisc Flying Disc
Best dog frisbee for physical enrichment
What it is: A frisbee made for dogs that’s constructed from a flexible yet durable material.
Unlike traditional frisbees that are hard plastic, the West Paw Zisc Disc is flexible and constructed from a material that has “give” and stretch. I can throw it and know that my Doodle (who’s pretty decent at catching a frisbee in the air), won’t hurt her teeth or mouth.
Why we like it:
- It gives energetic Doodles plenty of physical exercise.
- It’s dishwasher safe, so it’s easy to get the dirt and slobbers off.
- The “tough yet squishy” construction is gentle on her mouth and won’t hurt her teeth.
What could be better:
- This is minor, but I’ve noticed that when the Zisc Disc lands “lip side” down on a hard surface, it’s harder for my dog to get a grip on it to pick it up.
- It feels a bit heavier than the average frisbee, so you may have to adjust the amount of fling you put into your toss.
Worth mentioning, we also have a Kong flying disc that our Goldendoodle plays with too. We use both frisbees and rotate them just to keep it interesting for her.
5. Kong Wubba Comet Toy
Best toy for two dogs for social enrichment
What it is: A toss and tug dog toy that’s a solid choice for two dogs. The thick nylon fabric strips or tassels dangle from the round body so there’s plenty of places for dogs to grab.
As with any toy, supervise during play. You know your dogs best—whether they can play nicely together and whether they are toy aggressive.
Why we like it:
- The Kong Wubba Comet Toy has stood up our to our puppy and adult Doodle dog’s play sessions.
- It’s one of the few toys I’ve found that our two dogs can actually play with together. They like to play chase games as well as play tug with each other.
- The snowman-shaped body is made of a material that’s flexible, so it’s not hard on teeth.
What could be better:
- No toy is indestructible. Eventually the tassels on this toy frayed from play and they started to pull away from the body. (Looking at the photo above, it’s easy to see why that could happen!) At this point, I put the toy up. However, I was satisfied that it lasted for many puppy playdates.
6. Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak Ball
Best dog squeak and chew toy for sensory enrichment
What it is: A squeaky ball that’s made from a soft yet durable material.
Honestly, this dog toy is so simple it’s easy to overlook its appeal—especially if you’re shopping online and can’t touch, feel, and squeeze it.
We’ve had the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Squeak Ball around our home for almost a year now, and it’s the one that our Goldendoodle still gets bouncy-bouncy excited about.
What’s the appeal for her? I think it’s the surprise squeak that’s inside the ball when she chews it just right.
Why we both like it:
- The durable material is tough, yet has enough “give” that it’s not hard on teeth.
- Multiple uses: It’s both a squeaky toy and a bouncy toy.
- My dog gets so excited over the squeak.
- For the hoomans, it’s squeaky but not obnoxiously so.
- BPA free.
- Made in the USA.
What could be better:
- It’s a little pricey, but it lasts!
For a complete list of dog toys and other products we have used and recommend please visit our Goldendoodle Supplies store.
What makes a good dog toy for Goldendoodles
Wondering what makes a good toy for a Goldendoodle? Here are three ways I evaluate which types of toys make it into our home.
1. Does the dog toy pass the “kneecap smack” test and/or the “thumbnail test”?
These are both standards that I first learned from integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby. Dogs can easily break a tooth chewing on a hard toy.
I’ve learned not to give my Goldendoodle a chew toy that I can’t press my thumbnail into or that would hurt if I smacked it on my kneecap.
If you’re interested in which dog toys are accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, read their list of VOHC accepted dog products.
2. Does the dog toy provide plenty of canine enrichment?
I try to keep a variety of dog toys around our home for physical, cognitive, and social play. These toys bring out a dog’s natural abilities—fetching, chewing, sniffing, chasing, or scavenging.
3. How safe is it?
One toy that you won’t find on my list of best toys for Goldendoodles are…rope toys. The American Association of Veterinary Hospitals (AAHA) has an informative infographic, Don’t Chew On This, that outlines which types of dog toys pose hazards such as intestinal blockages, vomiting, and broken teeth.
Rope toys are one type of dog toy that is included on AAHA’s list of “don’t chews” dog chew toys. If the strings from a rope toy are ingested, they can cause intestinal blockage. Be careful out there, Doods.
Finally, while these dog toys make my Goldendoodle happy, every Doodle dog is different.
As with all toys, please supervise your dog when playing. (Better yet, play along with him or her!) And if your dog starts to pick or chew or pull a toy apart, quickly remove it.
Safety first and happiness will follow!
Play happy. Play together.
Thank you for checking out our list! Whether you’re heading outside for a game of fetch or playing games indoors, we hope you enjoy spending time with your furry bestie.