The Best Toys for German Shepherd Puppies! (2024)

Puppies are adorable little creatures, and German Shepherd puppies rank at the top of the list, at least in my book. They’re full of energy, fiercely loyal even at a young age, playful and loving. However, much of their energy and playfulness goes into chewing everything in sight, which is why it’s important they have some good toys to chew.

Reasons for Buying Your Puppy Toys

Your German Shepherd puppy will probably shower you with love if you buy him a new toy. While making your pup happy is a good reason to buy him toys, there are several other excellent reasons why buying your GS pup toys is a good idea.

For the dog’s safety

If the pup has safe toys to chew, he is less likely to chew on unsafe things.

For the pup’s development

Durable and high-quality toys help your puppy grow healthier and happier.

Toys support the pup’s working gene

German Shepherds are a working breed, and this desire to work or do something pops up at a young age and is satisfied with chewing or playing with toys.

Prevent destructive chewing

If puppies don’t have appropriate toys to chew, they’ll chew on other things…. things that you don’t want them to chew.

Toys You Should Avoid for Your German Shepherd Puppy

From the moment you bring your little bundle of fluff home, you’re going to want to fill his crate or space with toys and treats. As tempting as it can be to buy a bunch of toys, and it will be tempting, try to resist the temptation. Be selective with what you buy your GS puppy. Just because it’s a good buy doesn’t mean it’s a good toy for your pup.

There are certain kinds of puppy toys you should avoid buying for their own good. Here are some tips.

• Avoid toys with stuffing. They’ll try to eat it.
• Avoid squeaker toys. As much fun as they are, they pose a choking hazard. Not too mention, your German Shepherd will solve that problem in minutes.
• Avoid vinyl and latex toys. It won’t take your Shepherd long to demolish them.
• Always supervise your puppy when he gets a new toy.
• When a toy has “seen better days”, get rid of it so the pup doesn’t chew it to bits and swallow small parts.

Buying Appropriate Toys for Your German Shepherd Puppy

As much as you’ll be tempted to buy your little puppy toys and expect them to last forever that may not be the case. The American Kennel Club recommends buying dog toys that are not only breed-appropriate but also age- and size-appropriate. The pup will begin chewing on things almost as soon as he opens his eyes. His pointy little teeth will be sharp, so you’ll want to get him small puppy toys that will keep his mouth busy.

Once your GS puppy hits 3 or 4 months old and begins teething, he’ll hit a real frenzy and want to chew anything in sight. He’ll need toys that are a little bigger and present a little more of a challenge.

A German Shepherd is not going to have the same size mouth as a toy poodle. And, a 9-month old Shepherd may choke on a small toy meant for a 3-month Shepherd. Make sure to read the toy manufacturer’s warnings on the label. It’s very important that your GS puppy have appropriate toys.

Do Name Brands Matter?

German Shepherd puppies are hard on toys. It’s who they are and what they do. In addition to being a working dog with lots of energy, they also have a good energy drive. Unless you want to be buying your pup a new toy every day, your best bet is to buy high-quality toys.

I have never been a shopper who buys products because they’re a certain brand, but I also will buy products that are a certain brand if I know the company is known for high-quality durable products. With that said, here are some manufacturers known for providing high-quality dog toys.

• JW Pet Company
• West Paw Design
• KONG
• ROGZ
• GoughNuts
• Ethical Pets
• Outward Hound
• Mammoth Pet Products
• The Company of Animals: Tuffy

What makes some of these brands so good are not just because they make high-quality dog toys that are durable enough to last a long time, but the toys are also safe for dogs and puppies. Additionally, most of these companies have excellent warranties on the toys. Some even offer a lifetime warranty.

If you or your GS puppy doesn’t like the toy, they’ll replace it or refund your money. Ethical Pets, for instance, will replace the toy if your German Shepherd destroys the toy.

Some of the name brand toys might seem pricey at first, but you often get what you pay for. This is not to say that you won’t find many good puppy toys at a cheap price, but just beware of what you’re buying for your toy. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for recommendations.

Types of German Shepherd Toys

If this is your first puppy, what will probably amaze you the most is how many different types of dog toys are available. To say there’s almost a dog toy for every occasion or situation almost sums it up well.

Chew & tug toys

These sturdy toys are made to be gnawed on chewed, tugged or pulled.

Indestructible toys

These durable toys are will take a real beating and stand up to a lot of abuse from German Shepherd puppies.

Teething toys

These toys are specifically for the period when the puppy is losing his puppy teeth.

Training toys

These toys are used to build and enhance behavioral and obedience skills.

Interactive and puzzle toys

These toys will make the German Shepherd puppy use his brain and working drive to solve.

Squeaker toys

These toys have squeakers to make noise but lack the stuffing. You’ll also find a few examples of toys your German Shepherd puppy will like on this video. Head over to Amazon to pick up the ones you think they’ll love!

What Dog Toys are Best for My German Shepherd Puppy?

With so many dog toys on the market today and from so many different manufacturers, it can be extremely difficult choosing the right dog toy. Raising a German Shepherd dog will keep you busy enough, you shouldn’t have to spend time worrying about getting the right toys for the pup. To make your life a little easier, we’ve put together a list of what we consider the 5 best dog toys for German Shepherd puppies as long as a short review of each product.

Keep in mind that what works well for one puppy may not necessarily be the right choice for another pup. You may have to experiment a little to find what works best for your puppy and which toy the pup seems to prefer. Overall, though, these are a few of the best toys for German Shepherd puppies.

JW Pet Company Tanzanian Mountain Ball

The Tanzanian mountain ball typically provides GS puppies with hours of fun. Its unique ridges on the outer part of the ball give off whirring should when it’s thrown through the air. That in itself piques their interest! The ball’s light design allows it to go along way, which provides longer playtime as the pup continues to run and fetch. It has enough bounce to it to keep the pup interested and stimulated but not too much bounce that it would cause a problem.

This vanilla-scented ball has the combination of things puppies like: sound, texture and a great scent. Its size is slightly larger than a golf ball. This is a great toy if the puppy likes swimming or playing in the water because it floats. If you want to make your puppy a delicious treat for the hot summer months, you can put peanut butter inside the ball and in the ridges and freeze it.

Pros

• Toxin-free
• Dishwasher safe
• Made of natural, biodegradable rubber
• Floats
• 100% satisfaction guaranteed or they will replace it

Cons

• Not chewable
• Not good for puppies with a tendency to maul things
• Too small for larger German Shepherd puppies

West Paw Design Zogoflex Toppl Interactive Treat Dispensing Dog Puzzle Dog Treat

Zogoflex Toppl Interactive Treat Chew Toy is designed to keep your German shepherd puppy motivated and happy. It’s also a great way for pet owners to control what kind of treats your puppy is eating because you’re the one that’s stuffing it with treats. Your puppy shouldn’t lose interest in this toy because he’ll always remember the thrill of finding treats inside. It comes in two sizes and colors and can be filled with various items, including peanut butter, cucumbers, cheese, yogurt, dog kibble, carrots and more. 

Pros

• Toxin-free
• Made of recycled plastic
• Chewable
• Floats
• Dishwasher safe
• FDA-approved

Cons

• Not recommended for strong chewers. 
• Somewhat pricey
• Does not hold food in for long

ROGZ Pupz Da Bone Chew Toy

The ROGZ Pupz Da Bone is a bone-shaped toy that is very attractive to most puppies. It’s available in 3 different sizes, so puppies won’t outgrow it. It’s excellent and soft enough for German Shepherd puppies that are teething but sturdy enough that it helps build jaw strength and gives them something to chew on for hours. It comes in five different colors, which also make it easy to spot in the snow and even the grass.

Color choices are red, pink, lime green, orange and blue. The Pupz Da Bone has a hollow part in the center so you can stuff a few treats inside to keep your pup motivated and stimulated even longer. The unique design of the hollow center keeps the treats from easily falling out and also makes your puppy have to work a littler harder to get to the treat. It has the relaxing scent of baby powder, and who doesn’t enjoy the scent of baby powder? While it is possible to chew this toy up, it generally takes them a long time.

Pros

• Toxin-free
• Made of natural rubber
• Chewable
• Dishwasher safe

Cons

• Doesn’t float

KONG Puppy Tires

The KONG puppy tires are ideal for puppies up to 9 months of age (15 to 65 pounds). They’re made with naturally soft rubber that will help soothe the pain of teething. The tires come in either pink or blue. It’s a great toy for stimulation because you can stuff them with peanut butter, puppy snacks or some other healthy food your puppy enjoys.

The KONG puppy tires are used not just for teething purposes and playing fetch but also make great training aids. Many dog owners prefer the KONG puppy tires over any other German Shepherd dog toy. This could be because a German Shepherd owner created it for a German Shepherd. It comes in small, medium and large, so you can adjust the size and make it size appropriate as the dog grows.

Pros

• Toxin-free
• Made of natural rubber
• Chewable
• Dishwasher safe

Cons

• Doesn’t float
• Hard to get treats out
• Only a 30-day warranty
• Rough texture can cause bleeding gums in pups

West Paw Design Zogoflex Bumi Dog Toy

The West Paw Design Zogolfex Bumi is a fetch and tug S-shaped dog toy that will stimulate and amaze your German Shepherd pup because it’ll stretch to twice its length. Dogs love this toy for playing tug of war with other dogs or humans. The manufacturer guarantees it 100% against dog damage. Its bright colors make it easy to spot on the lawn or in the snow. They’re sturdy enough for a good chewing session yet soft enough to feel good on the puppy’s mouth. Dogs generally enjoy this dog toy at the beach.

Pros

• • Toxin-free
  • Made of recycled plastic
  • Chewable
  • Floats
  • Dishwasher safe
  • FDA-compliant (Phthalate and BPA-free)

Cons

• Customers claim it doesn’t last real long.
• Easy to chew off parts, which can pose choking hazard

And the Winner Is…..

Choosing a winner out of these five German Shepherd dog toys was tough. Well-known companies that are known for high-quality products make them all. I went by price, usability, durability and customer feedback. Based on these facts, I chose the ROGZ Pupz Da Bone Chew Toy because I felt it was everything German Shepherd owners look for in a dog toy. Dogs love it; it comes in various colors; it’s extremely durable, you’d probably have a hard time finding dog owners who didn’t like this product!

You can learn more about German Shepherds by watching “8 Things You Must Never Do to Your German Shepherd” down below:

Last update on 2024-04-26 at 01:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API