Dont Encourage Bad Behavior
Sometimes, new puppy owners will have a good chuckle at their dogs bad behavior in the name of oh so cute! If your pup is ripping up the toilet paper and dragging it down the hallway and you find it hilarious and cute, you will have a difficult time commanding him not to chew your slippers!
Likewise, if you find it fun when your puppy sinks his razor-sharp teeth into your ankle and bites, Im sure you wont have a good giggle when his teeth are bigger and stronger and his jaws faster!
If you dont want your Golden Retriever biting or destroying everything he finds, you should always tell him no! Ignoring it once will only confuse your puppy and the expectation that you will forget it next time.
Instead, have a good selection of chew toys handy, and be ready to redirect your dogs unwanted behavior. Most pet stores have tons of choices regarding chewing and teething toys, or you can always find a great selection on Amazon. Ive always found the KONG range of chew toys to be the best as they keep your pooch entertained for ages, and they last forever! Choose something like the KONG Classic Toy.
How Old Is Your Golden Retriever
While all the toys we listed could be used by any age dog, some will likely suit certain age groups better. Puppies, for example, may be more likely to destroy their toys than an older dog, even those not meant to be chewed. Older Goldens may get less use out of the more active toys like the Chuckit or the Flying Disc.
Best Toys For Golden Retrievers Who Are Moderate Chewers
Best Toy Mild to Moderate Chewers
KONG Wubba Dog Toy Large
The Wubba from Kong is made of a sturdy material that is harder to chew through, but if your Golden is dedicated they will be able to chew through it. The good news is that inside the toy is a Kong toy so even after they remove the fabric, your pup will still have a great toy to play with. The Wubba is great because they can throw it around, play tug, or just carry it around the house. They do come smaller for young puppies.
Best Treat Toy for Moderate Chewers
Treat Dispensing Ball
Golden Retrievers are smart dogs and can get bored if they have nothing to do. These balls dispense treats or dog food and can hold up to some moderate chewing . It is about the size of a tennis ball, so it wont hold a whole meal unless you do it a bit at a time, but I recommend putting as much of a meal as you can in and let your Golden roll it around until they get it all out. My dogs love these types of toys.
Although, warning, if your dog gets really excited, make sure that you dont have breakable items laying around or on furniture, because this tends to cause them to bump the ball and themselves into things. Also make sure you give it in an area where it cant roll under items and get stuck. This will keep them entertained for a bit and the larger the pieces you put into it, the longer it takes them to get them out.
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Nylabone Power Chew Textured Dog Chew Ring Toy
Nylabone Power Chew Textured Dog Chew Ring Toy has a unique shape that tempts your Golden Retriever and satisfies its urge to chew. Further, it is a long-lasting chew toy that discourages destructive chewing and calms your pet. Besides this, it has ridges and nubs to prevent plaque and tartar buildup in your dogs teeth.
Moreover, this flavored chew toy combines all the favorite treats of your pal. And thus, these toys are best for your Golden Retriever.
Best Toys For Golden Retrievers
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link & purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Are you looking for the best toys for Golden Retrievers? Youve come to the right place! Being an owner of this wonderful breed myself, I know firsthand which toys are best suited for this breed.
Golden Retrievers just love to carry things in their mouths, and can usually be seen carrying a stick, tennis ball, or their favourite plush toy. They also have a natural love for the water, playing fetch, and retrieving.
The best toys for Golden Retrievers are ones that appeal to their characteristics. I have put together a list of 11 great finds that include soft toys for carrying, toys for fetching and toys that float on the water.
Golden Retrievers love to chew, and theyre also super smart, which is why this list couldnt be complete without chew toys and toys that keep their mind stimulated.
Find out below which 11 toys made the list, but first, read on to discover what to consider when picking the best toys for your Golden Retriever.
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Mammoth Flossy Chews Color Rope Tug
As its name suggests, Mammoth Flossy Chews Color Rope Tug is for playing tug of war with your pet. Further, the knotted rope of this toy makes it perfect for tossing, catching, and pulling. Moreover, this toy is safe, durable, and very tough.
Besides this, Mammoth chews have the fibers in the tugs that floss your pals teeth. Thus, these toys clean your Golden Retrievers teeth and gums. Therefore, it promotes oral and dental care of your pet.
Ifetch Too Interactive Ball Launcher
iFetch Too Interactive Ball Launcher is an interactive and automatic tennis ball launcher. Generally, this launcher can toss a standard-sized tennis ball 10,25, 40 inches away in just one touch. So, these toys are best for engaging larger dogs like Golden Retriever.
Besides this, these launchers are non-abrasive and rechargeable. Thus, your pal can enjoy this toy for a longer time. Moreover, this toy is very effective to strain the excess energy of your pal.
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Puppy Toys: How To Use Them Safely
Choking or swallowing your puppys toys are the two most dangerous things you can do with them.
As with choking on a toy, if a toy is ingested and causes a blockage in their stomach, it will very certainly need to be surgically removed.
So, how can you avoid these mishaps in the first place?
Supervision
When it comes to toys, always keep an eye on your dog, especially if theyre new.
Some toys will be shredded in minutes by your dog, leaving a slew of little fragments that must be removed before they are swallowed or choked on.
Choosing the Correct Toy Size
Puppies of golden retrievers arent precisely little, and they develop quickly.
Make sure the toy you offer your puppy is large enough to avoid becoming lodged in their teeth or being swallowed.
Choosing long-lasting toys
Toys that are cheap, have a lot of moving components. Or are soft are more likely to be broken or shredded into smaller pieces.
These are the toys that you should be extra cautious with because the smaller bits might cause choking or swallowing problems.
For more information on safety and toys, consult your veterinarian.
Mammoth Flossy Chews Cottonblend Color 3
This is a perfect toy for a golden retriever whos an aggressive chewer. The rope also serves as a great flossing tool for your dogs teeth as they chew. The cotton strands are safe for your dog and will be easily passed through your dogs digestive system if they are accidentally swallowed.
The rope toy is essentially used to play a game of tug of war with your dog. Its great fun to play this game with your dog, and it also helps them vent their pent-up energy, not to mention that it also gives both you and the dog a great opportunity to exercise and bond.
If youre playing outdoors, this multi-colored rope is easily visible from a distance. When not being used in a game of tug of war, golden retrievers love carrying it around in their mouths.
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Power Chew Bacon Dog Chew Toy
Check on amazon
If you are a pet lover, I believe that you know that dogs are chewers by nature. In fact, dogs need mental and physical stimulation which if not provided adequately, you are likely to note them creating it themselves by chewing your belonging. To avoid such destruction, here comes one of the best chew toys for Golden Retrievers Nylabone dura chew double bone.
Made using tough and durable nylon ends, the toy serves as an excellent choice for powerful chewers. In fact, you can expect it to withstand the challenge posed by aggressive chewers, which assures you of getting a chew toy that is designed to last.
Asides from keeping chewers busy, this toy plays a role in cleaning a dogs teeth. The reason is the raised bristles that help to clean the teeth while controlling tartar and plaque.
Nylabone Power Chew toy features a delicious bacon flavor that dogs love which means that you can be sure to have an easy time when introducing it to pets. This toy is medium-sized, and therefore suitable for use on dogs up to 35 pounds.
Goughnuts Ring Dog Toy
Best for Aggressive Chewers
No dog toy is indestructible, but GoughNuts toys come pretty close. There are several choices in the GoughNuts line, but the ring dog toy is a little more fun than a traditional ball shape. It comes in three sizes and four colors, so you can pick the one that works for you.
GoughNuts designed their toys for aggressive chewers. The dual-layer design creates a tougher, safer toy for your Golden Retriever. The outer layer is rubber and safe for your pup to chew on until the red inner ring appears. Once your furry friend exposes the inner red ring, its time to get a new toy!
There are two additional features with the GoughNuts that secured its spot on our list. Not only is it safe and durable, but this toy also floats on water, so its great for the beach or lake. Its also easy to clean with a little warm water.
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Chuckit Classic Dog Ball Launcher
Best Fetching Toy
We all love Golden Retrievers, but their boundless energy means hours of playing catch with slobbery balls. Put an end to store arms and bending over repeatedly with the Chuckit!
The Classic Ball Launcher is affordable and durable. While its a convenience for you, it makes fetch with your pup far more fun. And by far, we mean that ball can really travel with this neat little device.
The reviews are in on this nifty gadget, and theyre overwhelmingly positive. Some people noted that its tough to aim, but most people appreciate that they dont have to touch slobbery tennis balls anymore.
Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Dog Puzzle Toy
Nina Ottosson Outward Hound Dog Puzzle Toy*. This is a very clever idea that will keep your treat-loving golden retriever occupied for hours. The golden retriever is a highly intelligent breed and loves a challenge, making this the ideal toy.
You can also use the toy as part of a training regimen. Teach your dog to sit and wait before hes instructed to go ahead and search for the treats. The toy is made from tough, hard-wearing plastic that wont fall apart.
It should be noted that although this is one of the best golden retriever toys, it is only suitable for supervised play, as theres always a risk that your dog could try to swallow one of the blocks. Be especially careful when looking for the best toys for golden retriever puppies.
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Is Your Golden Retriever A Strong Chewer
Many of the toys we listed, even those designated as chew toys, are still vulnerable to destruction by aggressive chewers. Some dogs just cant help but try to destroy their toys. If your Golden Retriever is a strong chewer, it doesnt necessarily mean you cant purchase toys for them but you will need to supervise them more carefully.
Are Comfort Retrievers Low Shedders
Our Comfort Retrievers® are reduced shed, especially when compared to Golden Retrievers. Shed levels are individual to the dog, so while we hope that the majority of our dogs are low shedding, there are those who are moderate to heavy shedders.
There are many factors that influence shedding as well. Some of these include season changes, weather, stress, illness, and a puppy transitioning to its adult coat. For these reasons, we cant guarantee your dogs shedding wont change over time.
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Nina Ottosson By Outward Hound Twister Puzzle Game Dog Toy
Best Treat Dispenser Toy
When you have a smart, active dog like a Golden Retriever, you need toys that keep their interest and challenge them. Simply pop some treats in the puzzle and let your pup figure out how to unplug the blocks to retrieve the goodies. You can even increase the difficulty by locking individual blocks.
This isnt a chew toy, so make sure you monitor your pups playtime and take it away when they finish. However, its easy to clean and a true brain puzzle, so if your Golden needs a challenge, this may be the toy for you.
Outward Hound Puzzle Toy Best Overall
Our top pick for the best Golden Retriever toy is the Outward Hound Puzzle Toy. This challenging puzzle uses seven sets of slides that your pet can push around to find the treat below. This is a great option for stimulating their mental agility, plus creating a strong owner to pup bond.
Made to look like real wood, the Outward Hound is made of durable material that will last even through aggressive play. None of the pieces come apart, so there is no fear of your pet choking. Whats more, the entire toy is easy to clean.
This toy contains no BPA, PVC, or phthalates. Using this toy for 15 minutes a day can increase your pups alertness and have them excited to play every day. Overall, this is our favorite choice for your Golden Retriever.
If you are looking for a more affordable option for your pup, the Benebone Wishbone Dog Chew Toy is an option your pup will be happy about. This is an irregularly shaped bone that is designed for your Golden to hold within its paws.
The Benebone is made in the USA and contains real flavors dogs love. You can choose from either bacon, chicken, or peanut. The toy is also made with 100 percent real food flavoring through the entire bone.
This option is durable and can stand up to the most aggressive chewers. It can also be used by any size pup, plus it will not hurt their teeth. The only drawback to this toy is it can be hurtful if your pet gets hit with it accidentally. All in all, this is the best Golden Retriever toy for the money.
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Chew Toys As A Training Aid
Two of my favorite techniques to train using chew toys are:
Heres what doesnt work when it comes to educating your puppy not to chew on household items:
- Spraying goods with a foul-tasting liquid
- They are being punished.
What works is to get them to chew on other things and to teach them not to chew on things other than chew toys.
If your puppy starts chewing on your shoe, stop them with a clap or a Nope! and give them a tasty chew toy to chew on .
Praise them and tell them theyre doing a wonderful job after they start chewing on the chew toy instead of the shoe.
When they have the urge to chew, theyll quickly hunt for a chew toy that they know is safe to chew and that they enjoy chewing.
Durable chew toys are ideal for keeping dogs active in their crates during crate training.
Youll have a hard time getting them comfortable in the crate if theyre stressed up about being alone.
However, if theyre in the crate chewing on a chew toy and enjoying life, theyll quickly realize the crate isnt that horrible.
The Best Materials For Chew Toys
Not all materials were created equal when it comes to chew toys. Look out for these if you want quality:
Hard Rubber
Although theres no such thing as indestructible when it comes to chew toys, hard rubber is about as close as youre going to get.
Favorite brands like KONG and Goughnuts make some of the toughest and most durable chew toys on the planet, and they use special formulations of hard rubber to achieve this.
Golden retrievers and other heavy-chewing large dogs are the perfect customers for the hard rubber toys theyre tough enough to take a few rounds of power chewing while providing enough stimulation to keep them engaged.
Some of the best hard rubber chew toys can last for years if youre lucky!
Rope Toys
A close second to hard rubber is the huge balls of rope that many dogs love playing tug-of-war with. Their sheer thickness provides enough of a tough surface for retrievers to really get their teeth into and, if strands do start to come off, they are easily passed through your dogs digestive system .
Theyre also easy to wash and a brilliant interactive opportunity for you and your dog.
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Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys
Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys*. Another top industry brand and renowned maker of durable and safe chew toys is Nylabone.
Their Puppy Starter Packs Puppy Chew Toys contains three bone-shaped chews that are designed for different teething stages.
Theres a rubber bone with a textured, bobbly surface that your golden retriever puppy can chew in comfort. The bobbles help to remove plaque from your pups teeth, preventing the formation of tartar and keeping your puppys teeth clean and healthy.
Then theres a smooth bone thats temptingly flavored to encourage your pup to chew the toy and not your furnishings! The third bone is an edible hide treat, flavored with lamb and apple.