Frozen dog toys are fairly less popular than they should be. Not only do they provide relief from the heat, but they also act as a good solution to several problems such as teething, chewing behaviors, and boredom for active dogs.
We have reviewed and chosen among the best dog toys that can be frozen– and have compiled all of our research here in this review along with key FAQs.
But before that, a quick detour that’s critical to determining the right frozen dog toy for your pup.
Why Your Dog Needs a Frozen Dog Toy
Let’s talk about the benefits of frozen dog toys for your pup!
Mental Exercising
Mainly, a frozen toy is a great way to stimulate an active dog.
It helps you avoid many of their misadventures arising out of boredom. It is also mentally healthier for dogs to stimulate their brain cells more often.
According to Karen London of The Wild West, dogs also love having to work for their food rather than eating out of a bowl.
Teething and Chewing
Teething and chewing are common issues all dog owners are familiar with. You might already know that a dog toy can help keep problems at bay, to some extent, as the dog will likely spare your new shoes. Needless to say, frozen dog toys double as normal toys and help keep teething and chewing at bay.
In fact, frozen dog toys help extensively in relieving discomfort in teeth and soothing sore gums in teething puppies.
Cooling in Hot Weather
Is your dog feeling hot even with plenty of fresh water and cooling?
Well, cooling that works for humans might not always work for dogs. They don’t sweat like us. Rather, they largely depend on blood vessel expansion and panting to cool their internal temperature down.
Some dogs are naturally bred for tropical climates and hot weather.
Features common to this set of dogs include long noses, short or no hair, a single coat, and so on.
But there is also a huge number of dog breeds specifically not meant for the hot, or those which don’t adapt to high temperatures that well.
These dogs are the ideal customers for frozen dog toys and other ways to keep them cool such as doggie pools, cooling pads and raised beds.
Additionally, certain out-of-control circumstances can also make a dog respond badly to a high temperature regardless of its breed:
- Heat stress can be caused by a rapid or unwarranted change to a significantly hotter climate.
- Very young or very old dogs are more prone to a heatstroke or heat stress.
- Medical disorders such as cardiac disease, laryngeal paralysis, and hypothyroidism can also contribute to a heatstroke.
Frozen dog toys help in all these situations.
The Top Five Frozen Dog Toys
Here are our top 5 picks after extensive research into countless products and reviews. All of these frozen dog toys are amazing for your dogs – but you might prefer one over the others depending on the other qualities they have.
#1. Classic Kong
The classic Kong is what you need. Fill it with your dog’s favorite food, add some water, and put the whole thing in the freezer (alternatively, you can put the whole thing inside a plastic bag or container, and then put that in the freezer to keep things a little neater).
Kong is not specifically meant for being frozen. That’s true. But it works nonetheless. We simply cannot recommend Kong’s dog puzzle toys enough. Great for chewers, amazing for teething puppies, and high-quality in general.
Once frozen, they come with all the additional benefits that we discussed in the previous section.
- What are the options? Kong classic comes in extra small, small, medium, large, extra-large, and XXL. It’s a classic dog chew toy used for a plethora of things, even including training and feeding.
- Does it work as a fetch toy? Yep, it absolutely does!
#2. Hydrofreeze Ball
The Hydrofreeze from Chuckit is a high-quality toy meant for freezing. Dogs that love to play ball are the best fit for this frozen dog toy. The Hydrofreeze ball is bouncy and great for exercising. Medium breeds will make the most use of this ball.
- What is it made of? The Chuckit! Hydrofreeze ball is made of thermoplastic rubber that is safe for chewing on.
- Is it durable? For smaller and medium breeds and dogs that are not aggressive chewers, this ball is a great fit. However, bigger dogs have a choking risk and aggressive chewers can rip apart the outer covering, which is the only thing that keeps water inside, so ripping the sleeve will make the toy unable to freeze any water.
#3. Benebone
Specifically developed for aggressive chewers, this bundle from Benebone includes real flavors in all four toys.
Different dogs will have different proclivities so this bundle makes for an amazing choice if you are getting a toy for your dog for the first time and don’t know what it will like the most.
Benebone’s flavored toys are known to offer great value for money. These toys are recommended for teething as well. In terms of flavor and durability, Benebone has done a commendable job by developing the most ergonomically advanced product set for dogs.
All items from this series are also known to last long.
You can also order separate pieces if you don’t want a bundle. Here are the options:
- Bacon-flavored Wishbone
- Jack salmon-flavored Fishbone
- Bacon-flavored Wishbone + Dental Tough
The flavors are all-natural and no artificial flavoring is used in Benebone toys. The grip is good and ergonomically tested for dogs. Puppies can also get a good grip. Made completely in the US, Benebone’s different dog toys offer trust that dog owners love.
- What is it made of? Benebone dog chew toys are made of durable nylon material.
- Are these products safe? Yes. The material, as well as the flavoring, are both safe.
#4. Chilly Penguin
PetSafe’s Chilly Penguin is among the best treat-holding freezable dog toys out there.
The thousands of positive ratings from dog owners are enough for us to claim that it’s great for all types of dog breeds, ages, and sizes.
- Is there a flavor in this? No, but there is a scent. The product is vanilla-scented.
- How does it work? The “snowflake” entry in the middle secures the treat (frozen). These points can be trimmed further for easier access for bigger dogs.
- Is it hard to clean? The Chilly Penguin is dishwasher-safe (top-rack only).
#5. Buster Food Cube Interactive Dog Toy
Buster cubes are made from ABS plastic and are known for (together with buster balls) activating dogs mentally.
OurPets’ Food Cube is one of the best options out there on the market right now. It allows you to provide mental stimulation, cooling in the summer months, and a puzzling way to reach food – which can keep adult dogs busy for longer and cater to the teething needs of puppies.
- How much food can it hold? The small one holds ¾ cup and the large one can hold 3 cups.
- How can I use it to dispense treats? This toy doesn’t dispense automatically. The toy can roll during playtime dispensing treats, however.
- Is it hard to clean? The center is removable, making it effortlessly easy to clean.
Are Frozen Dog Toys Safe?
Frozen dog toys are quite safe. Puppies have to be supervised especially if the toys are small but for the most part, there is no risk of choking on a frozen dog toy.
Time for some safety tips and general guidelines involving frozen dog toys.
- One thing to keep in mind is that ice cubes are harder than most dog toys, and can easily break weaker teeth.
- Another circumstance that can turn out to be a serious issue is a broken toy. If you make your choice carefully and only choose among the highest-quality dog toys (or better yet, limit your search to our top 5 picks), you can be sure that the toy won’t break.
Most high-quality and bestselling frozen dog toys aren’t just tested for safety and durability, but also tested by time and countless dog owners.
Consequently, you are in the clear as long as you don’t go for a cheap frozen dog toy.
