The Retriever Expert Expert Care Tips For Your Retriever
Golden Retrievers are known for their active and energetic personality. As puppies, they can be a handful if you don’t have the right tools and toys to occupy their time. With this, I rounded up five of the best toys for Golden Retrievers puppies that will surely keep your feisty pup busy.
These toys are tried and tested by thousands of pet owners all over the world. From treat dispensers, chew toys, anxiety-relieving plushies, and more, there’s something for your Golden here. Check which of these your doggo will find enjoyable.
PUPPY TOY | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! KONG Medium Teething Toy (4-Pack) |  | |
 | AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher Machine | | |
 | Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Plush Toy | | |
 | Tumbo Tugger Hanging Bungee Exercise Dog Toy |  | |
 | Outward Hound Hide- A-Squirrel Plush Toy |  |
5 Best Toys For Golden Retrievers Puppies
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: KONG Medium Teething Toy (4-Pack)
Product Name: KONG Medium Teething Toy (4-Pack)
Product Description: If this is your first time buying a toy for your new Golden Retriever puppy, you’ll never go wrong with the KONG Medium Teething Toy. This is a popular choice among pet owners, whatever breed they have. This specific set comes in a pack of four colorful toys to ease your pup’s sore gums. Each of these KONG toys has a hollow center where you can stuff treats. This will keep your puppy busy licking and chewing the hidden reward. You can also freeze it with treats to make it more appealing to your dog. It will also help relieve sore gums while cleaning their tiny puppy teeth.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
-
Material
-
Safety
-
Fun Factor
-
Value for Money
Overall
Summary
For the past 40 years, dog enthusiasts, trainers, and even veterinarians have recommended this KONG toy. Just make sure that you wash it after each playtime to prevent bad odor and bacteria from forming.
The good thing is that these toys are specifically designed for puppies. Also, I like that the material is soft but not easy to tear apart. This is a very helpful feature as Golden Retriever puppies can be notorious chewers, too.
Pros
Treat-dispensing design Not easy to tear apart Specifically designed for teething puppies
Cons
The hollow center isn’t easy to clean
RUNNERS-UP
AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher Machine
Does your Golden Retriever puppy love to play fetch? If so, you should get the AFP Automatic Dog Ball Launcher Machine. This dog toy fits mini tennis balls and launches it on different distances. You can adjust it to throw at 10, 20, and 30 feet. This is surely a great way to drain your pup’s excess energy, both indoors and outdoors.
Aside from that, the ball launcher already includes three tennis balls so that you can play with your pup right away. However, it doesn’t include the 6 C batteries needed to run the machine cordless. Nevertheless, you’ll get an AC adapter, so you can plug-and-play straight from the package.
The best thing about this toy is that AFP offers a 100% refund if you’re not happy with how the toy works. But based on my experience with my Goldies, you wouldn’t even need this guarantee.
The only gripe I have is that it only fits tennis balls that are 2-inch in diameter and not standard ones. That means you’d have to purchase the replacement balls from AFP. Other than that, my dogs and I are quite happy with this nifty ball thrower.
Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Plush Toy
Golden Retriever puppies are very prone to anxiety. In this case, the Snuggle Puppy Heartbeat Plush Toy would be a big help. This plush toy has a realistic pulsing heartbeat, thanks to the heart-shaped device stuffed in the toy’s belly pouch.
Aside from that, this toy comes with a heat pack to resemble the hug of another pet or person. This will help calm your puppy, especially if you’re leaving him alone to go to work.
This toy is safe, easy to use, and does not emit bad odors. The only challenge I see is if your pup is still teething and has chewing problems. Other than that, this would be a comforting toy that you can machine wash after removing the heart device.
Moreover, this has two modes that let you choose between 8-hour and 24-hour running times. You’ll also receive AAA batteries in the package, so you can get this toy running straight from the package.
I also like the certified safe materials that won’t pose harm to your puppy and children. Remember that the heat pack in the package only lasts for 24 hours and should be disposed of properly. You can purchase any replacement heat packs for a small price.
Tumbo Tugger Hanging Bungee Exercise Dog Toy
The Tumbo Tugger Hanging Bungee Toy will make the most out of your Golden Retriever’s outdoor playtime. This is an easy-to-hang tug toy that you can place on a tree or an elevated beam inside your home.
This is made of a durable and long bungee material with a strong outer cover. It prevents the inner bungee material from breaking or becoming brittle due to UV rays.
The package also includes a height adjustment rope, so you can tweak the height without having to tie knots. Lastly, you’ll get a cotton rope toy to tie on the end of the tugger. It’s gentle on your dog’s mouth and will also help clean its teeth. You can also replace it with other toys as you wish.
I really like this tug toy because they didn’t use any metal clips or springs. It’s safe, and it’s not prone to overpulling. Also, it doesn’t seem to rub the tree bark off our apple tree.
Overall, this is an excellent toy for both puppy and adult Golden Retrievers. It’s a very effective energy drainer, which helps a lot in preventing obesity.
Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Plush Toy
My last pick for this roundup is the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Plush Toy. This is a great choice for pet owners on a budget but still want to get a fun toy for their Golden Retriever puppies.
This has a plush trunk filled with squirrel toys. Your dog would have to snatch each squeaky squirrel from the hole. Each of the squirrels is made of soft material that’s gentle on the teeth and gums of Golden Retriever puppies.
Your puppy will surely spend hours playing with this squeaky toy. However, you should supervise your pet closely to prevent him from shredding the squirrels and swallowing the squeaker inside.
To make it more fun, you can play fetch with your dog using the squirrels. It’s a versatile toy for a low price. You can even get this in hedgehog, bird, bee, egg, rainbow, and holiday versions. It’s also available in small to XL sizes.
In case your dog destroyed the plush animals, you can purchase a replacement, so there’s no need to buy the entire set again.
Overall, my puppies love it, though one of them is obsessed with humping this toy.
How to choose toys for Golden Retriever puppies
There are a ton of dog toys in the market to choose from. If you’re quite undecided about what to buy, here are some of the things to consider to get the best toys for Golden Retrievers puppies:
✔️Type of toy
The first thing you should think of is the type of toy you’re going to get. It should match your Golden Retriever’s preference to ensure that you’ll get your money’s worth. Here are some of the most common types:
- Treat-dispensing. KONG toys are popular for this design. It combines playtime, feeding, and mental exercise in one simple toy. It’s suitable across ages, but make sure that you get the right size and stiffness.
- Tug toys. These toys are suitable for Golden Retriever puppies who love to pull and run. Just make sure that you supervise your dog to prevent accidents. Also, you should hang it at the right height.
- Balls. Goldies love playing fetch, so balls are always a big hit. Tennis balls can be thrown using a ball launcher device. Again, the right size is crucial here.
- Plush types. Depending on your puppy’s chewing habits, plush toys could work. These are soft and suitable for pups that are yet to reach the teething phase.
✔️Your dog’s age
Your dog’s age will dictate the type of toy you need to get. A soft plush toy will be a good choice for puppies that are still in their first four weeks of life. Meanwhile, older pups will thrive on treat-dispensing rubber toys and fetch toys. As your pup gets older, you can introduce stiffer toy options.
Also, it’s not wise to buy hordes of dog toys for your puppy. Golden Retrievers grow fast, and in just a few months, your dog would have outgrown its small toys.
✔️Size
You should always be particular about the toy size you’re going to get for your dog. Small dogs require small toys but make sure that it’s not easily a choking hazard. Also, once the toy is damaged or shredded, you should dispose of it right away.
✔️Material
The toy material should be guaranteed safe and non-toxic. If there’s any strong odor coming from the toy, you should wash and aerate it for several days. Such a strong odor can indicate a potentially dangerous chemical added to the material.
✔️Value for money
Lastly, consider if the dog toy you’re going to buy gives the best bang for the buck. There are many cheap toys on the market, but not all of them could last long. It’s all about finding the right balance between the price and durability of the toy to get the best toys for Golden Retrievers puppies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I keep my Golden Retriever entertained?
A: One of the best ways to keep your Golden Retriever entertained is by giving him engaging toys. The likes of KONG Toy, AFP Ball Launcher, Snuggle Puppy, Tumbo Tugger, and Hide-A-Squirrel are just some of the best options. Still, you should always supervise your dog during playtime to prevent any untoward incidents.
Q: How many toys should my Golden Retriever puppy have?
A: You should only give your Golden Retriever puppy one to two toys at a time. Never give all the toys, or your doggo will lose interest right away. Cycling the toys will also make playtime more enjoyable for your canine.
Q: Should Golden Retriever puppies have soft toys?
A: Puppies will love soft toys, but close supervision is necessary to prevent them from destroying them right away. When it comes to bones and chew toys, avoid stiff options, which will damage the pup’s teeth. In the end, you should match the softness of the toy with your dog’s personality and size.
Q: Should I leave my puppy’s toys out?
A: You should never leave your puppy’s toys out in the open. After each playtime, you should retrieve everything and hide it away from your pup’s reach. Still, you can leave your dog’s favorite toy, especially if it relieves its anxiety.
Q: Why do puppies rip the stuffing out of toys?
A: Almost all dogs have a prey drive, but it varies widely in terms of intensity. This is the reason why some will rip stuffed toys while others don’t. This is true even for Golden Retrievers. Supervision and the right choice of a toy are necessary to prevent this from happening.
Final words
The best toys for Golden Retrievers puppies are great ways to keep your pets busy and mentally stimulated. Just make sure that you pick the right size and material to keep your dog safe. Above all, supervision is necessary whatever toy you’re going to buy. Like children, Golden Retriever puppies may try to swallow, chew, and shred their playthings.
What do you think of these puppy toys? Share your thoughts below!
