German Shepherds are truly one of the most popular dog breeds of all time. They have been kept as family pets and used as working animals in the military, police, and other industries. German Shepherds make great pets for families with kids and active singles.
They are large breed dogs that can grow up to 90 pounds so they do best in houses with yards and rural areas where they have a lots of space to exercise. If they don't get the exercise they need, they may turn their attention to activities they shouldn’t - like ripping apart your favorite pair of shoes!
So it's crucial to select the toys that keep them mentally stimulated for long hours and can stop this kind of destructive behavior in its tracks.
So what toys best create that context for your German Shepherd pal?
Best German Shepherd Dog Toys
What makes these the best picks? Customers said these are the best for their dogs.
1. Best Dog Toy Overall: Jolly Pets Push-n-Play Dog Toy (14")
This colorful ball dog toy is highly durable, making it a great choice for German Shepherds that have a strong bite.
The Jolly Pets Push-n-Play Dog Toy is another sturdy and durable ball ideal for outdoor play and a favorite with super chewers like the GSD. Kick it, push it or let your pup nose it around for endless hours of play time.
This Jolly ball is made of hard plastic, 14" in diameter so your dog won't be able to wrap his mouth around it to chew it - which is a good thing and a challenge to your pup.
As a result, this toy has become an obsession for many German Shepherds earning it's well deserved 5 stars for endless hours of engaging fun.
2. Best Fetch/Tugging Toy: JW Pet Hol-ee Roller Dog Toy (Extreme)
For dogs that like to play fetch or tug-of-war, this dispensing dog toy will provide hours of entertainment!
JW Pet Hol-ee Roller Ball Dog Toy is super durable and double-molded and holds up well to constant chewing. Use it for playing fetch or tug in the yard. The ball can also be used as a "treat" dispensing toy to keep your pup entertained and occupied for a longer period of time.
It features openings you can easily slot in your pup's favorite dental treats, Milkbone treats, veggies, pieces of fruit or any treats that you can fit inside.
If your pup likes transparent dog food toys tough enough to stand up to constant chewing Hol-ee Roller Ball (Extreme) is a GSD favorite.
3. Budget Pick: Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball Dog Toy
Highly durable, yet soft in your dog's mouth, the Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is ideal for feeding your dog his meals or treats.
The Starmark Treat Dispensing Chew Ball is another German Shepherd favorite. It is incredibly durable yet soft to your dog's teeth and gums. It can be easily stuffed with treats or kibble that fall out via rolling the ball.
This toy can also be used to play fetch with or a tug of war as reduce anxiety and boredom behaviors. It's a great ball that holds up well to strong chewers like German Shepherds. You can also adjust the hole size to fit your pup's treats (see video below of a quick demonstration of how to properly use this treat dispensing chew ball).
If you're looking for a durable and long lasting chew toy for your pup, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this budget-priced yet effective toy.
4. Best Toy for Shepherd Puppies: Petlou Colossals Platypus Plush Dog Toy
Give your German Shepherd dog or puppy a colossal dose of cuddliness with the Petlou Colossals Platypus Plush Dog Toy.
Petlou Colossals Platypus 15" Plush Dog Toy is a great toy for your GSD puppy or the gentle playing adult German Shepherd. This plush toy is lightweight and has squeakers inside yet is made of puppy-safe materials. This platypus toy is a great cuddle toy perfect to snuggle up against it in his crate or to bring it along in car trips to help ease anxiety.
5. Best Toy for Hyper German Shepherds: Hyper Pet's Wildlife Critter Rabbit Dog Toy
The Hyper Pet Wildlife Critter dog toy is a realistic looking rabbit plush, squeaking toy to stimulate a dog's interest.
Hyper Pet's Wildlife Critter Rabbit Dog Toy is a realistic bunny made of premium soft plush that squeaks. This toy is built to endure plenty of play. If your pal is into squeakers - we recommend you check out this toy. It has squeakers to stimulate interest and entice your German Shepherd for hours at a time.
This toy will help keep your pal busy so they don’t chew on anything that they shouldn’t. This toy meets child toy safety standards, so you can feel confident about letting your pup play with it and not worry about toxic materials or other nasty stuff.
It also comes in other fun animal shapes. Hyper Pet having been making dog toys for over 30 years. So when it comes to safety and fun playtime for your dog, they have you covered.
6. Best Rope Toy: Mammoth Flossy Chews Cottonblend Color 3-Knot Rope Tug
The Mammoth Flossy chew toy is affordable and will provide your pup with tons of fun and mental stimulation along with keeping his teeth clean and fighting off plaque.
There are many super strong chew toys currently on the market specifically designed for large dogs and should last longer than one week and the Mammoth 3-knot rope toy is one of them!
If your German Shepherd is a hardcore chewer with jaws of mass destruction this 25-inch high-quality cotton rope toy made into the shape of a bone and made from rugged cotton is your go to toy. The fibers in this toy are good for your dog’s teeth and will clean them as they play. It's great for tug of war or just to chew on!
7. Best Enrichment Toy: KONG Extreme Dog Toy
The KONG Classic rubber chew toy helps satisfy dogs' instinctual needs and provides mental stimulation. The KONG Classic black (EXTREME) rubber formula is created for tough chewing dogs.
KONG Extreme and other tough rubber toys that let you hide treats and other food are ideal for German Shepherds dogs and puppies. The KONG Extreme Wobbler Dog Toy has been the gold dog toy for more than 30 years.
The most interesting feature of the dog toy is that it is extremely bouncy. Hence, the dogs will find the toy very interesting to play with.
These toys are tough enough to withstand large breed dogs like the GSD and keep them busy looking for the hidden treats inside!
Plus, they have no small parts and are easy to clean. They are perfect for stimulating games of fetch too and used for separation anxiety.
This toy has been recommended by veterinarians, dog trainers and dog enthusiasts across the world and its pretty much a guaranteed indestructible dog toy for your beloved German Shepherd.
German Shepherd Quick Breed Overview
German Shepherds are known for being faithful dogs that are protective of their families and devoted to their master. This is an intelligent and obedient breed that is easy to train if the owner establishes that they are the boss and uses positive reinforcement.
GSD's also make effective guard dogs if you teach them the difference between welcome and unwelcome visitors. Although German Shepherds can be very affectionate towards their families, their sheer size can be intimidating to strangers.
German Shepherds have strong, muscular bodies with an outer coat that sheds all year. These beautiful dogs come in various shades, including tan and black or red and black.
How Do German Shepherds Like to Play?
This breed is highly active and loves exercise, so they will be happy to keep up with any stimulating activities that you introduce to them. As a family or single owner, exercising with a German Shepherd is a great way to stay healthy and establish a strong bond with the pet.
German Shepherds should always be kept busy due to their intelligent and hardworking nature. Keep them occupied with tasks around the house throughout the day and have engaging dog toys around for when you are away. They generally enjoy Frisbee or ball games.
Having a German Shepherd who is always bored could lead to destructive behavior, so provide your dog with a box of chew toys that he can carry around and gnaw on – this will be much appreciated!
Take your German Shepherd on hikes, runs, and walks. Use the breed’s intelligence to play games that involve the senses. When playing with this breed, owners should keep in mind that they don’t always play nicely with smaller dogs and animals, so they should be kept on a leash in open areas.
Our suggestion is to invest in a few good quality, durable toys and frequently rotate them so your German Shepherd doesn't get bored!
Games You Can Play To Manage Their Energy Levels
Since GSD's are such a motivated and intelligent breed, games that involve agility and obedience are perfect. This could mean taking a German Shepherd to the agility track or do some obedience training, which can be done alone or in a local group.
In an agility track dogs follow courses that go over, under, around and through various obstacles, and can work up to competition level depending on your level of motivation.
To keep a German Shepherd occupied around the house you can get them to do little jobs that make them feel helpful, like putting their toys away in a bin or fetching the mail every day.
Those are a couple of games that can keep a German Shepherd occupied mentally, but owners should also focus on playing fetch and going for runs to make sure they are getting enough physical exercise too. Running beside you as you jog, cycle or roller-blade are also good aerobic exercises for dogs.
Aerobic exercise releases endorphins, which will have health benefits for your German Shepherd.
Toys to Avoid
Cheap Toys
Since German Shepherds are a large breed that can sometimes be known for aggressiveness, owners shouldn’t buy them soft toys that are too easy to rip apart. They might not last very long and squeaky toys can have small pieces inside that large dogs could choke on.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherds are amazing, loyal dogs that can make a great addition to many families.
They need a lot of attention, carefully selected nutrition, training or they could become destructive or aggressive, so they need experienced dog owners with time to take proper care of them. German Shepherd owners should make sure that their dog gets daily exercise and is kept busy with toys and other physical and mental activities to keep them happy and stimulated.
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So there you have it — 7 of the best, most durable dog toys for German Shepherds! Do you have more toys to add to the list? Share your favorite rough and tough dog toys in the comments below!
Also, be sure to check out our other articles about German Shepherds:
