Chihuahuas are arguably some of the most adorable dogs out there. That being said, their diminutive size means that these dogs have more special needs when compared to many other dog breeds. This is why it isn’t so easy to find the best toys for Chihuahuas.
While their small size and amazing energy level mean they make great companions, you have to be extra careful when it comes to picking a source of entertainment for these pets.
What’s more, these toys shouldn’t only be the perfect size for this dog breed, but they should help foster their optimal mental and physical development.
Here’s all you need to know to find the most ideal source of entertainment for this amazing dog!
1. Toozey Puppy Toys for Small Dogs
Its high-quality materials not only keep your dog happy and occupied, but they help work on the oral health of these toy-sized breeds as well.
Since toys with squeakers generally attract the attention of pets faster, it’s easier to use these toys to draw in your Chihuahua and help them expend plenty of energy stored in their cute little bodies.
Since it helps your Chihuahua cultivate healthy dog chewing habits, it spares your furniture from dog bites and keeps your space tidier too.
The best part of the deal is that these toys are machine washable, meaning that you can further secure the dental health of your pet!
Things We Like
- Can comfortably hold the attention of your pet for long periods of time
- Highly durable
- Plush materials promote the dental health of your Chihuahua
- High-quality materials are completely safe, non-toxic, and easy to clean
Things We Don't Like
- Stuffed animals aren’t as durable as the rope toys
2. Nocciola 12 Pack Dog Squeaky Toys
The reason we think your dog can play with these toys even unsupervised is that the stuffed animals don’t actually contain any stuffing. As such, there’s minimal risk of your dog choking on the foam that typically fills most stuffed animals.
Also, these multi-textured, chewable toys offer your dog tons of fun thanks to the crinkles they can play with at the tail of each squeak toy.
What’s more, these toys are perfect for an exciting game of fetch, further ensuring your dog long-lasting entertainment.
Things We Like
- Perform well even with aggressive power chewers
- Don’t contain any stuffing
- Boasts a layer of material dedicated to maintaining your dog’s oral health
- Bright colors
- Large assortment of shapes and sizes
Things We Don't Like
- Stitching might come undone easily
- Some of the stuffed animals might have faulty squeakers
3. Jalousie 12 Pack Dog Squeaky Toys
As one of the best toys for Chihuahuas, each of the items in this pack features toys with bright colors and very attractive shapes. So, it doesn’t take long for your dog to get hooked.
These stuffed toys are also designed to give your puppy healthy teeth as they play with them. It also helps massage their gums and offers them a fair amount of stress relief.
However, while it’s made with high-quality materials, it can’t withstand tenacious chewing. Due to this, you shouldn’t get these types of toys for your dog if they are very aggressive chewers.
Things We Like
- Wide variety of colors available
- Can help work on soft tartar buildup in your dog’s mouth
Things We Don't Like
- Isn’t machine washable
- Not made for intense dog chewers
4. Rocket & Rex Dog Toy Pack
Specially designed with aggressive power chewers in mind, 3 of the six toys in this pack are made with knotted rope. However, the other 3 toys that aren’t made from knotted rope are still extra firm, durable, and capable of withstanding tenacious chewing without taking much damage.
Due to how firm these toys are, they can be used in an exciting game of fetch or included in dog training practice to help your Chihuahua develop healthy chewing habits.
Like all good chew toys, in addition to getting your dog long-lasting entertainment, they will work on the dental help and hygiene of the pup!
Things We Like
- Perfect for aggressive chewers
- Zero stuffing
- High-quality plush materials actively improve the oral health of your pet
Things We Don't Like
- People and pets allergic to latex might experience a negative reaction to the toys
5. ABTOR Puppy Teething Chew Toys
Boasting a variety of colors, these toys actively encourage interactive and exciting gameplay with your dog. This, in turn, helps foster mental stimulation and growth. Built with very powerful squeakers, don’t be surprised if your Chihuahua starts to spend more time with these toys than they do with you!
As you know, safety is key when choosing a chew toy, whether you intend to leave your dog unsupervised or not. These machine-washable toys aren’t only easy to clean, but they are made of non-toxic plush materials!
Its unique layer of materials coupled with the range of sizes each item offers means that you can even store them in your dogs’ backpacks or travel bags and successfully keep your dog happy and entertained for long periods of time!
Things We Like
- Provides optimal mental and physical stimulation
- Can withstand a fair amount of stress
- Perfect size for a Chihuahua
Things We Don't Like
- Knotted rope toys tend to last longer than the stuffed plush toys
Best Toys for Chihuahuas
While getting a good toy for your dog can be as simple as visiting any store and getting the first chew toy you see, doing this doesn’t ensure that you’re getting the best for your pet.
Outside getting a vet-recommended toy, picking the right play item for your Chihuahua demands that you know a little about this special breed of dogs first. Here are some noteworthy attributes of this dog breed!
Chihuahua Traits
This is a highly intelligent breed of dogs. They are highly receptive to positive reinforcement training techniques. While they might scare quite easily at times, they’ll usually maintain a “big dog” attitude most of the time.
Finally, Chihuahuas are typically very loyal to the people they love. However, it’s important that you let them socialize with other people and dogs. This is because they can become very aggressive or scared of others without proper socialization.
Types of Toys for Chihuahuas
Even though you can give your Chihuahua a broad range of toys to play with, they tend to be more partial to some. Here is a category of toys that Chihuahuas tend to favor!
Chew Toys
Since this breed of dogs tends to chew a lot, they naturally love materials that help them do this to the fullest. Items like chew rope toys can keep your pet occupied for hours on end.
In addition to being a good source of entertainment, these toys also help maintain your pet’s oral hygiene.
Lastly, these toys tend to lend themselves easily to a good game of fetch. Thanks to this, you can also use them to get good quality bonding time with your Chihuahua.
Treat Toys
These types of toys give your Chihuahua a mental and physical workout.
For example, a puzzle toy can use treats to induce a high level of mental stimulation that makes your dog smarter and healthier. Of course, it also helps that most of these toys bounce unpredictably so your dog has a field day chasing them!
Although using a treat-dispensing toy is great, you have to be careful not to let the dogs have too many of their favorite treats too quickly as this can lead to excess weight gain.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Toy for Your Pet
Size of Your Dog
This is all-important as your Chihuahua won’t be able to make the most of the toy if it isn’t the perfect size for it. So, make sure you always opt for a size-appropriate toy.
Ease of Cleaning
As you know, hygiene is essential with your pet. Consequently, the washability of the toy has to be considered as well. Know whether the toy is machine washable, dishwasher safe, or requires handwashing.
That way, you know how easy the toy will be for you to maintain.
Material of the Toy
The more durable the material of the toy is, the safer your pet will be. This is more so the case when you’re dealing with aggressive power chewers.
As such, you need to make sure that the toy is made of a material suited to your dog’s chewing habits.
FAQs
How Do I Choose the Right Toy for My Chihuahua?
One thing that might help here is to first highlight what you want the toy to achieve. If you’re focused on simply keeping the energy level of your dog in check, then any good chew toy will do.
However, if you plan on applying any number of positive reinforcement training techniques, then treat-dispensing toys might be the way to go.
Does Age Matter When Picking a Toy?
To an extent, yes it does.
Your dog is likely to be more interested in toys when it’s young and teething. However, older Chihuahuas might not care for toys at all, no matter how good or interesting the items appear.
Are There Toys That My Dog Should Avoid?
Yes, there are.
Try your best to keep your pet away from toys that have easily breakable pieces. While plush toys might be a safer bet, you also need to stay away from those with small, detachable parts like beads and so on.
Is There a Specific Toy My Chihuahua Is Sure to Love?
For the most part, there isn’t.
Most dogs tend to have unique preferences. To find a toy your Chihuahua is sure to love, you need to give them time to find what they like. That’ll give you a better idea of the type of toys to get in the future!
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s no shortage of the best toys for Chihuahuas to play with. The most important thing when making your selection is to choose one that keeps this small breed of dog happy both mentally and physically.
All the dog products on this list can help your Chihuahua stay in peak mental and physical form. The only thing left for you to do is pick the best one for your dog!