The best type of toys for a Chihuahua are dog toys that cater to their natural traits and personality. Although being considered a companion dog they are quite high energy to the point of being hyper. They are also a smart little dog that needs to keep their mind busy. They also enjoy a good chase so love to play games such as fetch.
The best type of toys for a Chihuahua help to burn energy, cater to their natural chase instinct. and provide mental stimulation and challenge.
The Chihuahua is an energetic dog and requires daily exercise to release pent-up energy. Failure to provide adequate exercise and keep them occupied can result in behavior issues. This can include nuisance barking, destructive behavior, and even escaping. For a guide to Chihuahua exercise see here.
Here are our recommendations for the best toys for Chihuahuas.
What type of toys do Chihuahuas like
Chihuahuas are playful and smart. They love toys that are engaging. This may include toys that move or make sounds or that provide a mental challenge. Chihuahuas also love to do anything that involves you in the game.
Must have toy for Chihuahuas
Kong Classic
If you don’t know what a Kong for dogs is it is a tough rubber dog toy with a hole in the center so you can stuff it with treats or even flavored paste. The Kong is actually three dog toys in one.
- Food and treat stuffing puzzle toy. You can even freeze the Kong for a hot weather treat.
- Chew toy – made of safe near-indestructible rubber
- Fetch toy – due to its unique shape it bounces in unpredictable directions making a game of fetch more fun.
They come in a range of sizes from XS to XL. For a Chihuahua, I recommend using the medium Kong as the smaller sizes don’t hold as much food or treats as you would think.
For a Chihuahua puppy, you should choose the Puppy Kong. These are made of softer more flexible rubber so they don’t do damage to their young and developing teeth and jaw. See Puppy Kongs on Amazon here.
To learn more about how to use a Kong for dogs see here. If your Chihuahua doesn’t have a Kong, get them one or even two. See the Kong Classic on Amazon here.
Exercise toys for Chihuahuas
Regular exercise is important for a busy little dog like a Chihuahua. In addition to daily walks, toys are a great way to provide exercise. Moving dog toys are very engaging for your Chihuahua and encourage exercise.
iFetch
Chihuahuas love a good game of fetch. An automatic ball launcher enables your Chihuahua to play fetch with themselves.
The king of the automatic ball thrower market is the iFetch, which only hit the marketplace in 2014 and has already built up a rabid fan base. Dog owners love the fact that the iFetch shoots balls far, the device looks cool, and the machine itself is sturdy. It’s also flexible enough to be either an indoor or outdoor product.
The iFetch can either be plugged into the wall or operated on battery power. The C batteries (not included) will provide up to 30 hours of machine life, which means you can potentially go several months without needing to replace the batteries.
The iFetch uses small, soft blue balls that won’t hurt your dog. They are the perfect size for a Chihuahua to fetch.
Petgeek Playbone
The Petgeek Playbone is an automatic chase toy for dogs. You simply turn it on, give it a tap, and away it goes with your Chihuahua chasing it around. The Playbone goes into rest mode after a period of inactivity. As soon as your dog interacts with it, off it goes again. There are other similar toys available that have more features such as smartphone apps or built-in treat dispensers. Obviously, there is a price difference. To learn more about dog toys that move see here.
Mental stimulation toys for Chihuahuas
Mental stimulation and enrichment are important for a smart little dog like the Chihuahua. It not only helps to prevent boredom. Mental stimulation can tire a dog just as much as physical activity.
These are some recommended puzzles and interactive toys for Chihuahuas. For more puzzle toys for dogs see here.
Tornado Puzzle
The Tornado puzzle has three layers that spin with four compartments on each level. It also comes with bone puzzle pieces you can place over the treats to add an extra level of difficulty.
The constant movement and spinning action keep your dog engaged. This puzzle is also great to feed your dog their dry kibble to slow them down. Especially if they are fast eaters or to make mealtime last longer if they are on a diet.
Busy Buddy Tug a Jug
The Tug a Jug is not just a puzzle toy as it has a dental gum massaging top and rope. Even without treats in it is a fun toy for dogs anyway.
This is one for smart dogs that solve most puzzle toys quickly. Your dog has to work out that they need to pull the rope in a precise way to get the treats to come out.
Although it looks like it may not be very durable it is, in fact, reasonably strong and can take pretty rough treatment. Also, it can hold a lot of food so it can be used at mealtime to slow that speed eater down.
Snuffe Rug
A Snuffe Mat is another great way to provide for your dog’s natural digging instinct and to provide mental stimulation and relieve boredom. A Snuffe mat is a mat that is made of fleece and you can hide dry food or treats into it. If you are someone that is good at crafts you can try to make one yourself or check out the range of Snuffle Mats at Amazon.
Best chew toys for Chihuahuas
Chewing a natural behavior for dogs and has numerous benefits. It not only keeps your Chihuahua occupied and helps with dental health. When a dog chews they release endorphins to their brains. This has a calming effect and gives them a feel-good sensation. Here are some chew toys for Chihuahuas.
Petstages Dental Chew toys
These are an ideal inexpensive option for small dogs like a Chihuahua. They come in a set of three toys. The ropes remove soft tartar for dental health.
View Petstages Chew Toys on Amazon.
Nylabone FlexiChew Small Dog Dental Pack
Another pack of three dental chew toy options for little dogs like Chihuahua. Nylabone is one of the best-known brands in dog chew toys. Delicious bacon and allergen-free peanut butter flavors to encourage your Chihuahua to chew.
View Nylabone Flexichew on Amazon.
Edible dog chews
Natural edible dog chews are highly appealing to dogs as they are food. a great way to add some variety to your dog’s diet. These include ears, antlers, bones, and bully sticks.
View Edible Chews on Amazon.
Best toys for Chihuahua puppies
When selecting the best toys for a Chihuahua puppy it is important to consider several things. Firstly, they should not be too hard and should have some give. This prevents damage to the jaw and the new teeth. It is also important that they do not shatter or break into small pieces. This is to prevent the risk of your puppy choking on any fragments that come off the toy.
Kong puppy chew toys
As mentioned at the top of this article, The Kong for dogs is a must-have. In addition to the classic shape Kong, there are other shapes available such as the Kong teething stick and the Kong Goodie Bone. These have grooves on the side so you can spread a little paste into them to make the toy more interesting than your shoes.
All these toys are suitable for a Chihuahua puppy who is teething.
Kong teething stick
Kong Puppy Goodie Bone
Tuffy Junior dog toys
For puppies that love plush toys but tend to pull apart normal plush toys like some Chihuahua puppies tend to, The Tuffy Junior range is ideal. They are more durable than other plush toys and are machine washable. These are for puppies mainly as an adult dog would be more than likely to be able to destroy them. They are available in a range of sizes to suit your puppy.
Nylabone puppy key ring
The Nylabone puppy teething keyring is a classic. These have been available for teething puppies ever since I can remember. These are soft enough for enjoyable chewing, yet strong enough to withstand it.
They have lots of moving parts that make a sound when shaken. Toys that make a sound are always more preferable and fun for a puppy. The irregular shape and texture provide choices of different surfaces and feelings while chewing and after some chewing, raised bristles are released that clean the teeth to help dental health.
Let us know in the comments if your Chihuahua has these toys or what their favorite toys are.
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