Best type of toys for Miniature Schnauzers

mini schnauzerThe best type of toys for Miniature Schnauzers are the ones that cater to their natural traits and personality. The Miniature Schnauzer is a playful high-energy dog and is very smart and curious. They also need toys that are tough and durable as they can often be rough on their toys. In addition, Miniature Schnauzers have a high prey instinct and like to chase.

The best type of toys for a Miniature Schanzauzer helps to burn energy, cater to their natural chase instinct. and provide mental stimulation and challenge.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a high-energy 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 exercise for a Miniature Schnauzer see here.

They also enjoy a good chew and would be categorized as a moderate to aggressive chewer. This means their chew toys need to be tough and durable.

Here are our recommendations for the best toys for Miniature Schnauzers.

The must-have toy for all Miniature Schnauzers

Kong Extreme

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.

Although the standard red Kong Classic would be fine for a Miniature Schnauzer I recommend using the black Kong Extreme. These are near indestructible and will last your dog’s lifetime.

Black Kong Chew Toy

They come in a range of sizes from XS to XL. For the Miniature Schnauzer, I recommend using the medium or large Kong as the smaller sizes don’t hold as much food or treats as you would think.

For a Miniature Schnauzer 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.

Kong Puppy Toy

To learn more about how to use a Kong for dogs see here. If your Miniature Schnauzer doesn’t have a Kong, get them one or even two. See the Kong Extreme on Amazon here.

Exercise toys for Miniature Schnauzers

Toys are a great way to provide additional exercise and energy-burning activity for your Miniature Schnauzer. Toys that involve chasing or fetching are ideal for this.

Wicked Ball

If your dog is ball mad then the Wicked Ball is the ultimate moving dog toy for them. The magic ball runs and bounces all by itself and the LED light adds another level of engagement for your dog. No App or remote controller required.

It has several settings such as the Intelligent Companion mode. In this mode, the Wicked ball has 10 minutes of play and 30 minutes of rest. If your dog pushes or hits the ball it starts the play cycle again. It also has three reaction modes (gentle, normal, active) so you can set it to suit your dog’s mood.  Due to its obstacle avoidance system (collision sensor), it doesn’t get stuck in tight spots.

The Wicked ball is durable and dog safe and is also waterproof so it can be played with when swimming. It also has a treat hole for dogs that are food motivated.

View the Wicked Ball on Amazon.

Flirt Pole

Flirt pole is like a giant cat tickler for dogs. It has a long handle with a bungy type rope with a lure or toy attached to the end. You simply move the lure along the ground around in circles or in different directions as your dog chases it.

This activity is ideal for a Miniature Schnauzer as it works directly with their natural prey instinct. Be sure they have a good “leave it” command and don’t allow them to destroy the toy. It is important that this be a controlled exercise. This is also a good training exercise for Miniature Schnauzers as it teaches impulse control. See the video for more. For a full guide to flirt pole exercise for dogs see here.

View Flirt Poles on Amazon

Varram Pet Robot

The Varram Pet Fitness Robot is the newest automatic chase toy for dogs and cats. This device is super smart and ideal to keep your dog active when home alone. Using an app on your iPhone or Android you can schedule when to activate or have it in sleep mode. It also can sense when your pet is near wanting to play. It also has an obstacle avoidance ability and can learn where obstacles are.

The Varram Pet Robot has a few more functions than the other smart chase toys shown below, and as a result, is a little more expensive. It has a built-in treat dispenser to reward your dog for playing. It also provides all the stats and reports on the smartphone app such as monitoring your dog’s activity and how many treats were dispensed.

View the Varram Pet Fitness Robot on Amazon.

In addition to the Varram Pet Robot, there are several other moving chase toys available. This includes the GoBone, the Wicked Bone or the Petgeek play bone. To learn more about these dog toys that move on their own see here.

Automatic Ball Launchers

Fetch is the favorite game of the majority of dogs. I am sure you have had the experience of your dog wanting you to throw the ball just a few more times. With an Automatic Ball Launcher, they can play fetch by all by themselves. This will require training them to put the ball in the funnel initially, but once they know what to do they are away and fetching. Read “Automatic Ball Launchers for Dogs” to learn more

Manual Ball Launchers

Handheld ball launchers are an excellent way to exercise your dog. Obviously, the further you can throw the ball the more your dog has to run.

They also make life easier for you as the long handle lets you pick up a ball without having to bend over to the ground. It also prevents you from having to touch a slobbery ball.

The best quality and well-known brand are the Chuckit.  These are also extremely inexpensive and well worth having. Check out the Chuckit ball thrower on Amazon.

Chew toys for Miniature Schnauzers

When it comes to getting the right chew dog toys for a moderate or aggressive chewer like a Miniature Schnauzer, it’s important to keep size in mind. Toys that are too small can easily be choked on.

The most ideal material for chew toys designed for aggressive chewers is rubber. Rubber is durable and virtually indestructible, so this material should be your first pick in a dog toy. Look for soft, malleable edges that are smooth and not sharp.

Here are recommended chew toys for Miniature Schnauzers;

Gough Nuts Indestructible Chew Toy

The Gough Nuts chew toys are my number one pick for aggressive power chewers. Extremely popular with people with power-strong dogs for their toughness.

Gough Nuts Maxx Chew Stick

Extremely tough and a good size and shape (11.75 inches long). Dogs like stick-shaped toys because they can hold them between their paws while they work on the end. Also great for a game of fetch.

View Gough Nuts Maxx Stick on Amazon

Gough Nuts Dog Chew Ring

The Gough Nuts ring is 5″ in diameter with a 1.75″ cross-section. Virtually Green Goughnut Chew Ringindestructible, guaranteed! If your pet can chew through the outer layer to expose the inner red layer, GoughNuts will replace your toy.

View Gough Nuts Chew Ring on Amazon

Deer Antlers

If you are wanting a more edible dog chew, deer antlers are one of the toughest and longest-lasting. These are available in a range of different sizes to suit your dog. Antlers are a source of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. And many dogs seem to really like the taste.

View Deer Antlers on Amazon.

For more chew toy recommendations see here.

Toys for Miniature Schnauzers that shred

Many Miniature Schnauzers like soft plush toys. However, most plush toys would be shredded in minutes by many Miniature Schnauzers. The key is to select plush toys that are tough and indestructible. These types of toys are also ideal for Miniature Schnauzer puppies.

Tuffy plush toy range

The Tuffy range is known as the toughest soft toy for dogs. Tuffy plush toy range combines durability with softness. This is accomplished with seven-layer stitching, multiple tough outer layers of material and a fleece inner lining. They are also machine washable and float.

Tuffy Ocean Creature Octopus      

Tuffy Ultimate Dog Toy                           

Tuffy Barnyard Dog Toy            

(available in a range of animal shapes)     

See the full range of Tuffy Plush Toys on Amazon            

For more suggested plush toys for shredders see here.

Mental stimulation toys for Miniature Schnauzers

Miniature Schnauzers are smart and are excellent at solving problems. When selecting puzzle toys for your Schnauzer it is important to choose toys that are challenging and not to easy to figure out.

iFetch Frenzy 

The iFetch Frenzy is the only dog puzzle toy that doesn’t use treats. The ball itself is the reward. Your dog drops the ball into the top and scrambles to find it as it randomly rolls from 6-12 feet out of 1 of 3 chutes at the base.

There’s no launching, like our other iFetch ball launchers. This product allows dogs to quickly return to the real challenge: the mental game of guessing where the ball will appear next.

View iFetch Frenzy on Amazon

Petgeek Automatic Rolling Treat Ball

This automatic rolling treat ball from Petgeek is activated by a soft touch from your dog and can last for up to 7 hours. It requires two AAA batteries and goes into sleep mode after a period of no activity.

It provides physical exercise and mental stimulation as they figure out how to release the treats.  Can hold up to 380ml of kibble or small treats(sized up to 0.3 inches). This is ideal for the home-alone dog also.

View the Petgeek Automatic Rolling Ball on Amazon.

For more puzzle toy recommendations see here.

Toys for Miniature Schnauzer puppies

When selecting the best toys for a Miniature Schnauzer 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.

Kong Puppy toyKong Classic for puppies 

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 Schnauzer 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.

Let us know if your Miniature Schnauzer uses any of these suggestions or what their favorite toys are.

Author

  • Joseph Coleman

    A lifelong writer and proud dog dad. Joseph started this blog dedicated to helping other dog owners find accurate information on how to keep their pets at their healthiest through exercise and nutrition. His passion for all things canine shines through in his writing, and he believes that every dog deserves the best possible care. If you're a dog owner looking for reliable advice on how to keep your pup healthy and happy, be sure to check out Joseph's work.