The 9 Best Toys For German Shepherds
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
German Shepherds are extremely recognizable. Their distinctive ears, muzzle, and color make them one of the most popular breeds of pups!
These pups were originally trained to herd sheep in the fields of Germany. Today, German Shepherds work in the military and police departments and are loving members of many households.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks For Best Toys For German Shepherds
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Compare Best Toys For German Shepherd
|
Best For Entertaining Dogs
6. As Seen on TV Wobble Wag Giggle Ball Dog Toy |
||||||||
|
Price range
Mid-high |
Price range
Low |
Price range
Low |
Price range
Mid-low |
Price range
Mid-high |
Price range
Low |
Price range
Low |
Price range
Low-mid |
Price range
Mid-high |
|
Material
Cotton |
Material
plastic launcher and rubber ball |
Material
Cotton and rubber |
Material
Canvas, rubber, foam |
Material
Natural rubber |
Material
Phthalate-free vinyl |
Material
Food grade TPR rubber |
Material
Plastic |
Material
Nylon and Bacon flavor |
|
Size
3.79 pounds |
Size
26 inches, 0.16 ounces |
Size
1.81 pounds |
Size
Available in small (2 inch), medium (2.5 inches), large (3 inches), x-large (3.5 inches) |
Size
Diameter is 7cm (size of a baseball) |
Size
5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches; 1.28 inches |
Size
7.4 ounces |
Size
1 pound |
Size
Available in small, medium, large, giant |
|
Made In
China |
Made In
United States |
Made In
USA |
Made In
Vietnam |
Made In
Malaysia |
Made In
China |
Made In
China |
Made In
China |
Made In
USA |
Characteristics Of German Shepherds
German Shepherds are very intelligent. This level of intelligence creates a pup that enjoys training, learning new things, and is very curious. These pups, like most Shepherds, need a lot of mental stimulation and can get bored very quickly.
Together with their high intelligence, German Shepherds have a very high drive, are energetic, and crave physical activity. They are also strong and always on alert. This means that German Shepherds have an inherent drive to guard their homes and protect their humans.
These characteristics make lovable, loyal, and protective pups that require a lot of stimulation.
Toys And Your German Shepherd
As a result of the German Shepherd’s drive and energy, being alone for long periods of time and stuck indoors can be a challenge. They need tons of physical and mental activity and can get anxious or bored easily.
Boredom and anxiety can lead to a depressed pup with mischievous behavior.
Finding the right type of toy is possible, with trial and error! We have a lot of experience with our 100lb pup, that loves chewing everything in sight!
We have purchased many toys over the years. While he has managed to destroy most of them, we have enjoyed watching him interact and play with the toys.
Types Of Toys We Considered:
There are many types of dog toys available. You should always consider your German Shepherd’s preferences for one type over another, material, price, and durability when researching and purchasing toys.
Because, after all, you know your German Shepherd the best!
- Fetch Toys – Your German Shepherd will get all the mental and physical stimulation needed while playing fetch! Keeping their eye on the ball, racing after it, and bringing it back will tire your dog out, both mentally and physically. You can play fetch with many different types of toys: rubber balls, plush balls, tennis balls, frisbees, sticks, and more.
- Chew Toys – Chew toys are a great and tasty way to keep your German Shepherd occupied. There are many different types of chew toys that you can buy. In fact, some chew toys can help improve dental hygiene. Before choosing the best chew toy for your German Shepherd, you should figure out what type of chewer your dog is. Does your dog destroy everything they get their paws on? That will help you figure out the type of chew toy you should get.
- Plush Toys – Plush toys can be really fun for your pup. Figuring out your pup’s ability and drive to destroy will help you determine if this kind of toy works for you and your dog. Plush toys are great for smaller dogs and dogs that aren’t active chewers. We tend to look for plush toys that don’t have stuffing and can be washed easily, so that clean up is always easy.
- Tug Toys – Tug and rope toys are great for indoor interactive and dependent play. Playing tug of war requires your German Shepherd to exert short and intense bursts of energy that will tire them out! These toys are typically very durable and are available in many shapes, sizes, types, and colors.
- Interactive Games – Interactive games are designed to keep your pup entertained and engaged with tasty treats. These toys target your pup’s mind, keeping them busy and happy, sometimes for hours. Interactive games are known to reduce boredom, separation anxiety, increase independent play time, and slow down your pup’s eating habits. There are many different types available, such as puzzles, treat dispensers and mazes, and more. Interactive games and toys are a great way to combine fun, training, and treats.
Safety Information For Dog Toys:
There are many different types of toys made by many different manufacturers. You should always take the time and do research on the toys because there are no guidelines on dog toy manufacturing.
New toys should always be introduced with supervision. As a rule, you should monitor your German Shepherd’s interaction with their new toys to ensure safety.
Some toys should always be played with under supervision, for example, chews or bones.
It is important to remember that no toy is completely indestructible. For that reason, you should periodically inspect your dog’s toys for signs of wear and tear.
Here are some guidelines to consider when conducting your own research on dog toys
- Size: You should always choose toys that fit your dog’s size. Small dogs may not want to play with large toys, and small toys may be dangerous for large dogs.
- Washability: Keeping your pup’s toys clean is very important. Always check to make sure that the toys can be machine washed, wiped down, dishwasher safe, or hand washed. This is critical in keeping your pup not only happy – but healthy!
- Material: The material of each toy is very important. You want to make sure that the toy is durable, especially if you have an active chewer, and that it is made with safe material for your pup to lick and enjoy.
You know your playful German Shepherd the best, and know what types of toys he or she will like most. Your dog’s activity level – both indoor and outdoor, their ability and drive to destroy toys, and the size of your German Shepherd will help you figure out the best toys for them.
How The Toys Were Tested:
- We used our own money to purchase all the toys. In other words, the toys were not purchased in exchange for positive reviews.
- Each toy was carefully chosen depending on quality, material, price range, and durability.
- We spent a few hours each day testing the toys
Our dog LOVED this experiment, he was able to play and interact with so many new toys to create this list.
Our Top Picks For The Best Toys For German Shepherd
We have put together this list of the 9 best toys for German shepherds. We hope that you and your pup enjoy these toys and give them 5 stars and barking reviews!
AMZpets Dog Toys for Aggressive Chewers
Product Info
- Price range: Mid-high
- Material: Cotton
- Size: 3.79 pounds
- Made In: China
- Veterinarian Approved
- 100% Cotton
- Safe to use
- Not recommended for overly aggressive chewers
- Nondurable
The ropes are made from high-quality chew toys and throwing ropes with knots. This is a safe, long-lasting dog toy that is great for games, fetch and play.
Chuckit! Classic Launcher Dog Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Low
- Material: plastic launcher and rubber ball
- Size: 26 inches, 0.16 ounces
- Made In: United States
- Lightweight and available in many sizes
- Keeps your hands clean from slobbery and muddy balls
- Regular tennis-sized balls fit in the launcher
- Balls are easily wiped down
- Can be used in water and outdoor playtime
- Increases your pup’s exercise time by catapulting the ball far
- The ball may be destroyed by active chewers
- Lightweight plastic material can also be destroyed by active chewers
This toy is great for pups and their humans who love being outdoors and playing games fetch. With this launcher your pup will be able to run far, search for the ball, catch it, and bring it back to you just in time for you to catapult the ball right back into the field! You and your pup will LOVE this toy!
Jolly Pets: Rope and Ball Tug Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Low
- Material: Cotton and rubber
- Size: 1.81 pounds
- Made In: USA
- All materials are recyclable and non-toxic
- The ball is made from puncture-resistant rubber
- Acts as playtime dental floss for your pup
- Great toy for tugging, chasing, and swimming activities!
- Frayed edges may be torn off
- The puncture-proof ball is heavy
This toy is great for German Shepherds that like to play rough. The rubber ball comes in many different sizes, ranging from 4.4 inches to 8 inches.
Because of the material and size of the 8 inch ball, it is over 1 pound! Our pup loves playing with this and swinging the ball around.
Chuckit! Kick Fetch Ball Dog Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Mid-low
- Material: Canvas, rubber, foam
- Size: Available in small (2 inch), medium (2.5 inches), large (3 inches), x-large (3.5 inches)
- Made In: Vietnam
- Lightweight but durable
- Floats in water
- Easy to clean with soap and warm water
- Groove allow for easy grip
- Colors are recognizable
- More durable than typical soccer balls
- Canvas can be chewed or punctured
This ball is made with canvas and rubber with a foam interior. The way that it has been constructed creates a ball that is very difficult to chew, take apart, or find a seam to rip. The rubber grooves gives your pup a secure grip.
Like most of ChuckIt! toys, this is made with water-lovers in mind and it floats! We purchased the large Kick Fetch, which is the same size as a regular soccer ball.
Now, we prefer this over regular soccer balls because of the lightweight construction, material, and the fun bounce!
Monster K9 Ultra Durable Solid Dog Ball
Product Info
- Price range: Mid-high
- Material: Natural rubber
- Size: Diameter is 7cm (size of a baseball)
- Made In: Malaysia
- Made from dense natural rubber, which means no seams, stuffing, or fabric
- Puncture resistant
- Designed and manufactured with aggressive chewers in mind
- Size of a baseball
- K9 Monster Dog Toys offers a refund if you are not satisfied with the ball
- Heavier than a tennis ball or baseball, making indoor play dangerous for household items
- Does not bounce
This ball is the size of a regular baseball (diameter is 7cm), making it easy to take it to the park or leave in the backyard. While it does not bounce very high, it can be thrown far making it perfect for various fetch games.
It is made from 100% safe, non-toxic, natural rubber and is solid. This means that no matter how hard your pup tries, he or she will not be able to puncture the ball!
K9 Monster Dog Toys also offers a refund if, for any reason, you are not satisfied with the ball. They believe in their product, and so do I!
As Seen on TV Wobble Wag Giggle Ball Dog Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Low
- Material: Phthalate-free vinyl
- Size: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches; 1.28 inches
- Made In: China
- The silly noises and rolling design will keep your pup engaged and active for long periods of time
- You will be entertained watching your dog with this toy
- The hard vinyl design creates a strong exterior
- Large size makes it hard to chew
- Can be used as a novelty or treat toy, only given under the supervision
- Enforces independent play
- Is not a bouncing ball that can be used for fetch
- Indoor only toy
- MUST be played with under supervision
- A medical emergency could occur if this toy is taken apart and ingested
There are three internal tubs that create the sounds, so you never know when and what sound will come out! You should always supervise your dog’s playtime with this ball because of the construction of the inner parts of the ball.
This toy is a great way to keep your pup engaged in independent play when you are at home and able to supervise their play. We suggest allowing your pup to play with this periodically, which will also allow you to keep an eye on any damages to the toy.
As with all toys, once this toy shows signs of damage you should dispose of it. Cleaning this toy is very easy. Because of the Phthalate-Free vinyl exterior, all you need is some warm water and a towel to wipe it down.
Lickimat Classic Playdate
Product Info
- Price range: Low
- Material: Food grade TPR rubber
- Size: 7.4 ounces
- Made In: China
- Promotes healthy tongues, gum, teeth, and breath
- Made from food-grade TPR rubber: Nontoxic, durable, PVC and BPA free, and freezable.
- Licking helps soothe and calm your dog
- Can reduce boredom and separation anxiety
- The ridges sometimes trap food
- Not dishwasher safe
The design of the mat means that your German Shepherd will be licking the peanut butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, or anything else you decided to use for hours – especially if you freeze it! Dogs often lick to ease their anxieties, this action can help calm your dog down, reduce boredom, and separation anxiety.
The ridges also stimulate saliva production, this promotes clean dog tongues, gum, teeth, and breath! We use the LickiMat every day, and our pup loves it!
Starmark Treat Dispensing Bob-a-Lot Dog Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Low-mid
- Material: Plastic
- Size: 1 pound
- Made In: China
- Food chamber holds up to 3 cups (depending on the food size and weight)
- Weighted bottom keeps pups engaged
- Openings are adjustable
- Exercises and feeds your dog at the same time
- Large dogs may try to chew on the top
- Cannot take the dispenser apart, making cleaning difficult
Food is released through two adjustable openings. This means, you can use different sizes of food and treats and adjust the level of difficulty. Cleaning is difficult because you can not reach the inside of the toy.
The company suggests rinsing with warm water. This type of treat dispenser can reduce boredom and separation anxiety. We love substituting our pup’s food bowl with the Bob-a-Lot!
Benebone Bacon Flavor Wishbone Tough Dog Chew Toy
Product Info
- Price range: Mid-high
- Material: Nylon and Bacon flavor
- Size: Available in small, medium, large, giant
- Made In: USA
- Durable and long lasting chew toy
- Made for pups that love to chew and have strong teeth
- Real Bacon flavors are used in production
- Design of the wishbone allows your pup to chew in a comfortable position
- Benebone donates products to shelters and rescues across the US
- Available in 3 flavors: Bacon, Peanut, Chicken
- Available in 4 sizes depending on the size of your pup
- This chew toy is not meant to be eaten, but slowly chewed overtime
- You should always supervise your pup’s playtime with this toy.
- No toy is completely indestructible, including this one.
Benebone is extremely transparent with the ingredients in the toy, and what pet parents can expect regarding the toy’s life expectancy. The wishbone chew toy is made with two ingredients: Nylon and Bacon!
Benebone also encourages pet parents to reach out with questions about their chew toys.
Made in the USA, Benebone manufactures all of their products in one factory. As someone who has direct experience with peanut allergies, I love that they explicitly write on their packaging and on the Amazon site that those with severe allergies to peanuts should not buy this product.
This is because Benebone also manufactures a toy with real peanuts and there may be cross-contamination.
Final Thoughts:
The best thing that we can do for our dogs is to challenge them, both physically and mentally, to keep them happy and healthy. I hope that you and your dog find this list of The 9 Best Dog Toys for German Shepherds helpful and fun!
