The 6 Best Types of Toys for a Poodle

Poodle with lots of toys

Overview

 If you think of dog toys as needing to serve as tools to meet a Poodle's needs, you may be surprised at how amazingly helpful they can be.

The right toys can help a great deal with everything from teething woes, to negative behavior associated with boredom... to destructive chewing, stress, and especially separation anxiety. In addition, toys can serve as a method of creating a closer bond with your Poodle, encourage activity in an otherwise sedentary dog, and even boost a Poodle's brain power. 

Here we will take a look at the 6 types of toys every Poodle should have to meet a wide variety of canine needs.

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#1 Teething Toys for Poodle Puppies

Poodle puppy with teething toys
Why these are needed:

The teething phase is not that much fun for owners, but is even worse for Poodle puppies. Teething begins by 3 to 4 months old and lasts until the 7 to 8 month mark.  During this time, there are incredible amounts of itching and most puppies feel some level of discomfort. This causes an overwhelming need to chew to soothe those teething woes.  For these reasons, one of the best things that you can do is find the right toys for your teething Poodle puppy. 
Qualities of effective teething toys:

The oral sensations that a puppy feels can move from moment to moment. Discomfort waxes and wanes.  And itching can come in waves. So, toys need to be very versatile. The best toys will have:
  • A variety of surface textures. Cloth, rope, and hard rubber should be available to meet chewing urges at any one particular time. Rope toys are especially helpful, as the twisted strands are good 'scratchers'. 
  • Small nubs. This is of particular importance; tiny nubs work to massage gums which helps the pup feel better. 
  • Flexibility. A puppy needs to be able to manipulate the toy into different parts of his mouth.
  • Proper sizing. This is most relevant to toy Poodles, since many dog teething toys are sized too big for a tiny toy's mouth. If a Poodle puppy cannot instantly find relief, he may move onto something else...  and that might be a non-toy item. 
For puppies that need extra encouragement to mouth their toys, you'll find that flavored chews (chicken, beef, bacon, even ham & cheese) can be just the thing to keep the puppy happy and focused.

Top Recommendations:

1) One of our favorite picks is the Petstages Cool Teething Stick For Dog. This is super budget-friendly and works wonderfully! It's a fabric 'stick' that you wet, freeze and then give to your Poodle. It works very well as a teether since the cold helps ease sore and itchy gums.

2) We also love the KONG Puppy Binkie, dogs just seem to love chewing on Kongs, and this one is shaped to please pups that have strong chewing urges.

3) And for something really fun, we like the KXK Fruit Shaped Puppy Chew Toys; this comes as a set of 3 safe rubber chew toys shaped as a banana, pear and apple. The textures on these make them excellent teething toys.

#2 Chew Toys for Enthusiastic, Aggressive Chewers

Poodle aggressive chewer toy
Why these are needed:

Some Poodles take on chewing as their favorite hobby and have become skilled masters at ripping things to shreds. And if this describes your Poodle, no doubt you have had a hard time finding the right toys that will stand up to aggressive chewing. 

A dog's urge to chew is not limited to toys; with this type of drive, nothing is off limits.  If a Poodle is not happy with his toys, one of two things will happen:  1) the dog will move on to other objects in the house, which is not only destructive but also unsafe or 2) the dog will become irritable and stressed as he's unable to satisfy his urges. 
Qualities of the best toys for strong chewers:

To meet your Poodle's needs, the goal will be to provide fun chew toys that are specifically designed to handle aggressive chewers. While no toy is literally indestructible, some come very close. The toy will need to:
  • Be able to stand up to high bite force.
  • Be safe - A great feature to look for is a color indicator that the toy has been chewed down too far. Some toys are guaranteed, meaning that if a color starts to show, you'll get a free replacement. 
  • Fun - If it does not have the right texture and pliability to feel good in a Poodle's mouth, it'll be of no use. 
Recommended toys for Poodles that are super aggressive chewers: 

1) Kong Chew Toys. The entire line of Kongs are great because they come in a wide range of sizes and strengths.

These are color coded, with pink and blue for puppies, red for 'normal' adult chewers, and black is reserved for the strongest chewers.  In other words, a puppy would never be able to bite down on a black Kong dog toy and an aggressive chewer could tear up a pink one. 

The 'classic' Kong is designed to be filled with treats or kibble, which draws a dog to it and encourages him to stay focused.  If your Poodle likes to chew, but has not shown a history of shredding toys to bits, you may find that the Kong 'minimally stuffed' chew toys are well received. These are also great because they come in all sizes from small to large. 

2) We also recommend Goughnuts; these are designed for extremely strong, aggressive chewers that have bite force from (140 PSI) to a whopping 180 PSI. 


What is great about these is that they are guaranteed. Each has red in the middle. If you see even a tiny spot of red, you may return the toy for just the cost of shipping out a new one. There are 3 sizes as well; but these will be a bit too large for most toy Poodles. The .75 is for dogs 10 to 40 lbs. and the original size is for dogs 30 to 65 lbs. 

#3 'Stay Busy' Toys to Combat Boredom

Poodle with Toy Duck that Talks
Why these are needed:
Dogs are not meant to just 'be there', but due to an owner's busy schedule and responsibilities, there may be lots of time windows throughout the day when a Poodle is essentially on his own to stay occupied.  And in this sense, thinking of toys as 'stay busy' tools can make a huge difference in your Poodle's happiness level. 

When a puppy or dog is just sitting around without anything to do, he will reach a limit where boredom turns into frustration. And where monotony turns into depression. 

If your Poodle has been too bored, you may not even realize it until you hand over a super-fun, interactive toy and see him perk up. Alternatively, some Poodles are very expressive about how they feel. Such behaviors as excessive barking, destructive chewing, pacing, and signs of irritability can all be traced back to being bored and/or not being able to release pent-up energy.

It must be noted that regular exercise plays a role in this as well. If your Poodle is not taken out twice per day for at least 20-minute sessions, even the best of toys may not fix his woes. So, a good balance of getting outside for walks and offering the right toys during down-time is the best fix. 
Qualities of the best toys to fix boredom and keep a Poodle occupied:
 You'll want toys that will be perfect for both when a Poodle is home alone and also when you are home but cannot interact with your Poodle at the moment. These toys should:
  • Allow a Poodle to play fully independently; you will not need to do anything else other than point out the toy (if you are there).
  • Call out to the puppy or dog. A huge aspect is that the toy interacts with the dog. In this way, playing is a two-way street. The dog noses the toy, the toy responds. The dog chews the toy, the toy reacts. This type of element can keep a dog busy for a long time, basically until he's completely tuckered out. 
Recommended 'stay busy' toys for Poodles:

1) The amusing Babble Ball toys are out of this world; these are super interactive toys that can keep a puppy or dog amused and busy for hours.  There are 3 sizes (small for toys, medium for minis, and large for standard Poodles). Also, there are two fun types. One lets out animal noises, with engaging sounds like pigs, frogs, bears, birds, even other dogs speak to him. There are 20 different animal sounds in all.


The other is just as wonderful. It lets out funny phrases such as 'Come here, puppy!' and 'Hot diggity dog!'. There are 20 amusing, encouraging phrases in all. For both of these, the toys automatically shut off when not in use, so the batteries do not run out. 

2) The Look Who's Taking line of toys, which includes the adorable Plush Duck Toy are super fun as well. There are over 15 different types of stuffed animals, and each one makes a corresponding animal noise. These are good sized quality toys that stand up to daily playing. The size of these toys range from 5" (the baby chick) to 7" (the cow) and a bunch in between. There is a parrot, frog, rooster, monkey, goat, lobster, and more. 

#4 Treat-Dispensing Toys

Poodle with licking mat toy
When this is needed:
This type of toy is a must for any Poodle that is home alone for 5+ hours. These serve two purposes in one swoop. 

1) It is a 'stay busy' toy as it takes a puppy or dog a while to release all of his treats. 2) And importantly, it also is a great way to offer a mid-day meal if you will not be home. 

As an added benefit, if you place your Poodle's food in this sort of toy on days that you are not home, it helps prevent bloat, a dangerous health condition (fast eating is a common trigger), which is a top concern for standard Poodles and is always something to be aware of no matter what type or size dog you have. 
Qualities of great treat-release toys:
There are a few aspects to keep in mind. For this type of toy to do its job, it should:
  • Hold in treats enough that they are not released too easily, but at the same time allow a Poodle to smell them in order to trigger a response. 
  • Be designed to work with a variety of different dog treats (so that you are not forced to purchase additional treats).
  • Be made with safe materials. 
  • Be durable to stand up to daily use.
  • Be easy to clean since you'll want to be able to rinse away food particles. 
  • Be sized correctly. It's not uncommon for owners of toy Poodles to have trouble finding treat dispensing toys for their tiny dogs, so for these Poodles, it must fit the needs of dogs 10 lbs. and under. 
There are some great options for all Poodles: 

1)The Lesipee Licking Mat for Dogs. Licking mats are easy to use and can keep a Poodle entertained for quite a while. This one is made of silicone and the gist is that you place peanut butter on it, which sticks in between all the grooves and makes a dog work for their treat!

2) The amusing The Bob-A-Lot Toy, which comes in both small and large sizes, so it is ideal for toy, mini and standard Poodles. This has a chamber that holds quite a bit of dry kibble, and its bright color and wobbly movements make eating fun. 

#5 Toys for When Home Alone

Poodle with Separation Anxiety Toy
We recommend both companion toys and webcam tossing toys (more below) These are for dogs that are home alone for any amount of time and have trouble dealing with being by themselves.  

Distress and even panicking when owners are away is referred to as separation anxiety, and this is not uncommon with dogs. In fact, it may be even more so with breeds like the Poodle due to their instinctive sensitivity and close human bonding. 

So, while all toys are important in their own way, perhaps the one type that can make the most dramatic impact on a Poodle is a companion toy. These will mimic a living creature to become an instant friend. With this, a dog is no longer alone. In addition, it would be remiss to not mention webcam devices that allow you to interact with your Poodle when you're not there. These are quite amazing, though are not fitting for those on a tight budget. 
Qualities of best companion toys:
A companion toy should be designed to mimic a living creature to act as your Poodle's friend and companion when they are home alone. You'll want it to be durable, easy to mouth, and soft enough to snuggle up to. 

Recommendation:  There's no competition here and there's no comparing. The Snuggle Puppy by SmartPetLove is amazing. It is a good-sized quality stuffed animal that emits a rhythmic, soothing heartbeat. This alone instantly swoops away heavy feelings of isolation. In addition, is an option to send out a comforting warmth. 


This is as close as you can get to giving your Poodle a companion without obtaining another dog, and these are just marvelous. 

Qualities of the best pet webcams with remote treat-tossing ability:

There's some truly amazing webcam devices that hold treats. You can be away from home, access the cam via your phone and toss a treat to your Poodle. there's some truly amazing devices. Do please note that there are NOT for those on a budget; treat-tossing cams that really work well are quite pricy. This said, the ones to look for:
  • Have two-way audio so that you can both speak to your Poodle and hear any barking in response.
  • Have a wide-angle view and night vision, so that you can clearly see your puppy or dog at all times and under any sort of lighting (though it is always recommended to keep lights on for a dog that's home alone). 
  • Easily sync to your smartphone
  • Hold a good number of treats, so that the interaction can be frequent and extended.
  • Toss treats out with a tap on your phone, and at a good distance to make it clear that you're playing with your Poodle. 

Recommendation: We really like the Furbo 360 Dog Cam with Treat-Tossing. It's a top rated choice for its reliability.

#5 Toys to Play Together with Your Poodle

Poodle playing fetch with tennis ball toy
The reason these are vital:
Dogs love nothing more than to have interaction with their humans. It's what they live for.  So, no matter how busy the day may get, the best thing you can do for your Poodle is to make time each day to play. It can be as little as 15 minutes, and it will mean the world.  And do not discount older adults and even seniors; the need to hold onto bonds is stronger than ever. 
Qualities of the best 'play together' toys:

For playing fetch, which is the quintessential owner & dog game of bonding, some Poodles are so enthusiastic, that just an old tennis ball will do. However, it's not uncommon for a Poodle to need something colorful and interesting to get really involved with a game of fetch. You'll want it to be durable and importantly the right size so that your Poodle can easily mouth it. 

Recommendations:

1) For toy Poodles, we really love the Zanie's Mini Tennis Balls, these are super-colorful and are sized for small dogs to easily mouth and have lots of fun. And it comes in a pack of 6, so you don't have to worry if one gets lost.

2) For minis and standards, there's so many good ones to choose from, but we have to go with the Chuckit Flying Squirrel; it's just so much fun.

Another option that is great to play on rainy days are puzzle games. With this, you work together as a teacher and student. You'll teach your Poodle how to nose levers and paw buttons to find hidden treats. For these, you'll want to pay attention to the level (typically 1,2 and 3 or beginner, intermediate, and advanced) so that the puzzle is doable.

Recommendation: You can't go wrong with Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Interactive Puzzle Toys. There are so many in this line, you'll find options for all levels and sized well for toy, mini and standard Poodles. 

See Also:

Poodle Intelligence - Where the Poodle ranks on intelligence levels compared to other dog breeds and the methods that were used to gauge this.