This Christmas, stick a few toys under the tree for your dog. We found 20 great gift ideas your pup will love, and might even give you a few minutes of peace. But then again, most of them have squeakers, so maybe not.
Regardless, let this list be your fun-filled, if slightly obnoxious, guide to the best stocking stuffers and Christmas tree surprises.
Frisco Holiday Wreath with Squeaky Fetch Balls
- Tennis ball wreath holds 8 squeaky balls
- The box doubles as storage
- Great for ball-loving pups
Squeaky tennis balls? Check! Start your day with a squeaking great game of fetch before everyone else gets up. The Frisco Holiday Wreath holds eight red, white, and green tennis balls that come packaged and ready for gift-giving in a wreath-shaped box perfect for Christmas morning.
Treat Puzzle Toys
Interactive puzzle games help occupy your dog’s mental energy.
©Sandor Gora/Shutterstock.com
You’re busy, your family is busy, but your dogs are bored! Puzzle toys encourage thinking and brainwork, helping your dog feel more mentally settled. Yes, even with the chaos surrounding Christmas.
Puzzle dog toys come in a wide variety, from the relatively simple Kong toys you can stuff with treats to complex puzzles like the KADTC Puzzle Toy or the Pupzle Dog Puzzle, all available on Amazon.
Also fun for smart pups are toys with doors, latches, and drawers to make dogs think through the challenge of getting their treats. You’ll find many options, and most are affordable enough for you to buy several different puzzle toys and rotate through them.
Flourish Pets 2-in-1 Christmas Dog Chew 3-Pack
- Double stitched for durability
- BPA-Free Rubber inside
- Whimsical holiday design
Squeaky chews. Yes, your dog needs these. The description says they’re for aggressive chewers, but you’ll still need to supervise your rough-and-tumble pups while they play.
However, these Christmas-themed whimsical toys are a combination of chew toy and balls that most ball-loving or chew toy-loving dogs will love. Enjoy!
Raw Meaty Bones
The best raw bones are appropriately sized for the dog and are non-weight-bearing.
©iStock.com/Zontica
Yes. Bones can be dangerous, and should only be offered under supervision. However, you can argue the same thing about toys. But a good raw beef bone loaded with meat can keep a dog happy for at least five minutes.
There are always concerns with bones of any type. Some are valid — broken teeth when you give the wrong type of bone for the dog’s size. Others are probably inflated, like the risk of pathogens. As long as you take care of the bones like you would any other raw piece of meat, it should be fine. Dog’s digestive systems evolved to take care of minor exposures. Of course, dogs with pre-existing health concerns may need to be limited.
Weight-bearing bones can wear dogs’ teeth down faster than otherwise. So, beef leg bones are probably best left in the stew. However, the ribs are nice, and the neckbones aren’t bad either.
Check with your vet to decide which raw bones are ideal for your pooch. However, many people have great success with non-weight-bearing beef and lamb bones, turkey, and chicken necks.
Rope Toys for Aggressive Chewers
Tug toys are an awesome game to play with your dogs.
©iStock.com/Ksenia Raykova
For some dogs, tug toys are life. It also seems that those same dogs are big chewers! Tug toys are perennial favorites for a reason: dogs love them!
These tugs are dog-safe ropes and big enough for medium and large dogs to get a good grip on, chewing and tugging to their hearts’ content. The Rope Toys for Medium and Large Dogs would look great under the tree for your dogs this Christmas.
You can make your dog’s tug toy from cotton rope and tie a few knots along the length or buy a tug. But, either way, your dog will thank you.
Christmas Dog Tug Toys
- Stretches from 36 to 48 inches during play
- Faux fur adds a fun texture
- Sturdy handle for you to hold
Dogs love tug toys and some behaviorists believe that it isn’t the competitive sport many of us always assumed. How? Imagine two wolves, trying to pull apart a kill for easier eating. Perhaps tug has more cooperative roots than we imagined.
Of course, some dogs do become possessive of their toys, and if your pooch doesn’t share well that’s something to consider. However, a good game of tug can also be an opportunity to practice a “drop it” cue.
The stretchy tug has a plenty of give, going from 36 to 48 inches long during play to reduce the shock to your shoulder. This red tug’s white faux fur accents make it a bright and merry surprise under the tree, even if the faux fur and color are oddly reminiscent of dog behavior’s ancestral roots.
Chew King Treat Toy
- Durable natural rubber
- Hollow shape is great for stuffing
- Terrific for dogs who need a little distraction
These tough natural rubber toys are fun for fetch because they bounce unpredictably, plus you can fill it with peanut butter or cheese when the fetch game is over. Chew King Treat Toys are fabulous for dogs who need to calm down a little before bedtime on Christmas Eve.
Kong Floppy Knots
- Tough fabric and rope inside the fox make it stronger
- Squeaker adds to the fun
- Comes with two bouncy balls
If your dog enjoys ripping things apart, a plush toy may not be the best choice. However, if you don’t mind picking up stuffing, plush toys with squeakers make many dogs happy.
These Kong Floppy Knots toys are a little more durable. They’re going to endure your dog’s loving tooth hugs a little longer. Stick one of these toys in your dog’s Christmas stocking and see their little faces light up!
ChuckIt! Ball Launcher
Does a ball equal life for your dog? We have the answer! Stick a ChuckIt Classic Ball Launcher under the Christmas tree this year.
Our favorite thing is using the ball as a reward, so you can turn a game of fetch into a training session — it’s a win-win!
Can-Shaped Plush Squeaker Toys
![Aimacro Christmas Dog Toys [2 Pack],Cute Funny Plush Parody Dog Toys with Squeaker](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51T0bqiQNNL._SL500_.jpg)
- Plush "cans" with squeakers
- Funny Christmas gift
- Soft fabric texture is easy on teeth
Cute can-shaped plush squeakers will thrill your dog this Christmas. Santa and Rudolph graphics add to the fun (for us), but these soft, easy-on-the-teeth squeakers are great gifts. Even if they don’t last very long!
Reindeer Christmas Toy with Squeaker
Dogs love toys too and squeakers are some of their favorites.
©Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com
Stick this adorable reindeer under the tree this Christmas. Your dog will love the five built-in squeakers and crinkle paper in the tail. Enjoy a not-so-quiet Christmas morning when your dog finds a new Reindeer Christmas Toy waiting for them.
Hide and Seek Puzzle Toys
It won’t take long for your dog to figure out this game, but they’ll have fun! The little plush squeaker Santa toys fit snugly into the plush tree. Best for small to medium dogs or puppies, hide and seek toys like the Christmas Squeaky Dog Toy Four-Pack make a great surprise for your dogs.
Snuffle Mat
Snuffle mats allow you to tuck treats and kibble into little nooks and folds for your dog to sniff out.
©Ryan Brix/Shutterstock.com
Another Christmas goodie for your pup may be a snuffle mat. Letting them use that naturally fantastic sense of smell is a satisfying diversion. Plus, it’s great mental work. If you can tire them out mentally, they’ll rest easier and get into less trouble.
Try the SNiFFiz SmellyMatty or the Papaba Sunflower Snuffle Mat — they’ll keep most dogs happily sniffing out their food.
Holiday Goody Box
- Dog-Friendly toys and treats
- Great gifts for young and old dogs.
- Excellent variety!
Goody Boxes are fun bundles of treats and toys. You can get them for different-sized dogs and even for cats. Chewy offers them year-round and changes the theme from season to season. The winter Goody Box is full of Christmas-themed fun and includes three toys and two holiday treats.
Monthly Toy Subscription
Subscription boxes ensure you always have fresh toys and treats for your pups.
©Javier Brosch/Shutterstock.com
Several companies offer subscription boxes, so it’s a matter of deciding which one suits your dog. Subscription boxes are a terrific way to find new toys and treats without spending a bundle and save time by not going shopping.
- Pawstruck sends a box of natural chews every month.
- Barkbox sends treats and toys.
- The Ruff-N-Tuff Box is just for aggressive chewers.
Puptily Christmas Dog Toy Set
Super cute and Santa-themed, the Christmas Dog Toy Set from Puptily will give your dog plenty to choose from! Tugs, plush squeaker toys, rope tugs, and a ball combine for Christmas fun.
Frisco Holiday Polar Bear Friends Squeaky Dog Toy
- Plush squeaky toys in different sizes
- Adorable holiday theme
Christmas Soccer Ball with Carry Straps
- Great soccer ball is easy to kick
- Built-in tabs let your dog carry it
- Adorable Christmas design
What’s more satisfying than kicking a ball into the middle of a field? Watching your dog run at full speed to retrieve it, of course! The ball’s diameter is about six inches and the built-in tabs allow you and your dog to play a game of tug and fetch. It’s a win-win.
Reindeer Tug Toy with Squeaker
- Crinkle paper and squeakers
- Stretchy to reduce shock
- Sturdy handle makes tugging easier
A squeaky, crinkly, Christmas reindeer tug toy may be just what the doggo ordered this Christmas!
This tug has a sturdy handle at one end and a reindeer head at the other. It’s plush and soft with squeaker and crinkle paper for extra fun. Enjoy tugging while you giggle at your dog’s antics, when they discover the crinkly, squeaky sounds this one makes.
Giant Tennis Ball
- Giant tennis ball is great fun for ball-loving dogs
- Comes with inflation needle
- More similar to soccer ball than tennis ball, great for kicking.
Yes, it’s really this big. Despite its appearance, it’s closer in structure to a soccer ball than tennis ball. Regardless, let your dog figure out how to move the thing. On the bright side, it’ll be fun for a giggle, and you may also discover your dog loves it and treibball is their next sport.
But what self-respecting ball-loving pooch wouldn’t love to get this for Christmas? The giant tennis ball is about nine inches in diameter and comes with an inflating needle. All you have to do is pump it up.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Firn/Shutterstock.com
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