My Top 5 Interactive Toys for Dogs and Their Handlers
One of my favourite ways to build a better relationship with your dog is through play.
Play is not just about tiring your dog out or giving them something to do. The right interactive toy can help you build engagement, improve communication, practise impulse control and teach your dog that you are part of the fun.
There are hundreds of dog toys available these days but I tend to come back to a handful of favourites when I am working with clients.
Here are my top 5 interactive toys for dogs and their handlers.
1. Puller Tug Toy
A good tug toy is probably one of my favourite training tools.
Tug is a great way to teach your dog how to engage with you while also practising skills like taking the toy politely, releasing it, waiting for permission to start and switching between play and calm behaviour.
I particularly like puller tug toys because they give you a little more distance from your dog's mouth and make the game easier to move around along with easy to throw, and float!
The important thing is that tug should be a conversation between you and your dog rather than simply letting them grab a toy and run off.
You can use it to practise:
"Take it"
"Drop"
Waiting before starting
Re-engaging with you
Impulse control
Following movement
Switching from excitement back into calm behaviour
And contrary to some old-school advice, playing tug with your dog does not automatically make them dominant or aggressive.
Good play is about learning how to play together.
2. Flirt Poles
Flirt poles are fantastic for dogs who love movement and chasing.
They look a little like a giant cat toy with a long handle and a lure attached to the end. You can move the lure around the ground and allow your dog to chase it.
Used correctly, they can be a brilliant outlet for dogs who naturally love to chase and grab.
But the goal isn't just to make your dog run around until they are exhausted.
I like using flirt poles to teach dogs that the game has rules.
For example your dog might need to wait before the game starts. They can chase the lure when you release them and then practise dropping it or disengaging when the game finishes.
This makes the toy useful for working on arousal and impulse control while still giving your dog an outlet for natural behaviours.
Just make sure you use one in an appropriate space and avoid sudden sharp movements that could put unnecessary strain on your dog's body.
3. Dura Ball
Dura ball toys are another favourite of mine because dogs go crazy for them! They squeak and smell like bacon!
You can use them for:
Fetch
Training reward
Interactive play
I also love these for puppies. They are a quick way to build a dogs drive into fetch
4. Possum tail Tug toy
This one is my favourite for puppies or terriers! It gets their drive going crazy!
A possum tail tug gives you something really fun to do with your dog rather than simply giving them a toy to entertain themselves with. The texture and movement can be especially appealing to dogs who love chasing, grabbing and carrying things.
I love using it for building engagement with the handler because you can make yourself part of the game. You can move the toy around, let your dog chase it, practise a "take it" and "drop" and then restart the game again.
It is also a great way to introduce the idea that excitement doesn't always mean losing control.
Your dog can learn that they can get excited about the game and still listen to you, release the toy and come back into the game when asked.
For dogs who aren't naturally interested in toys, something with a really interesting texture like possum can also be a great way to encourage more interaction.
5. Ball on a Rope
This one sounds incredibly basic but it is one of my favourites.
A ball on a rope can become much more than a fetch toy when you use it as an interactive training tool.
You can practise your dog's recall by sending them out for the toy and then calling them back to you.
You can also work on waiting, releasing the toy, re-engaging with you and choosing to stay connected rather than immediately running off.
For dogs who love chasing a ball, this can become an incredibly powerful reward.
The biggest mistake I see is throwing the ball over and over again until the dog is completely obsessed and overstimulated.
Instead, think about quality over quantity.
Throw the ball. Let your dog get it. Bring them back into the game. Have a little interaction. Then finish while they are still enjoying it.
You want your dog thinking:
"That was fun. I want to play with you again."
The Best Toy Isn't Always the Most Expensive One
When choosing toys for your dog I would focus less on finding the "perfect" toy and more on finding something that suits your individual dog.
Some dogs love tug.
Some dogs would sell their soul for a tennis ball.
Some dogs would rather spend 20 minutes sniffing for tiny pieces of food.
And some dogs need help learning how to play with their handler in the first place.
The most valuable interactive toy is often the one that helps you and your dog communicate better.
My biggest tip
Don't just give your dog the toy.
Get involved.
Use play to practise communication. Teach your dog when the game starts and finishes. Reward engagement with you and make yourself part of the fun.
Because ultimately the goal isn't just to have a dog who loves their toys.
It's to have a dog who loves playing with you.