20 of the Best Interactive Dog Toys to Keep Your Pup Busy When You Need It Most

Made of natural cotton, this tail-waving shark toy is also great for teeth cleaning. Though safe and durable, if your pup happens to be an aggressive chewer, this is not made for them. For every other furry friend, it may just be a new favorite. "Sammi has only had this for a short while but he is obsessed with it — when I took it away to try to find the sound bladder he freaked out," wrote one reviewer. "Hasn't touched another toy since getting this."

Looking for a heavy-duty dog toy for your pup? This is the one you should run to pick up immediately. It has two modes — shaking with vibration mode and bouncing with rolling mode — and as many reviewers noted, dogs can't get enough of it.

Hide and seek is even better when it means uncovering a treat. This sliding puzzle will help slow down feeding while entertaining, plus "it's mentally stimulating, too," adds Coffiel.

The ability to adjust the difficulty on this easy-to-clean treat ball when your dog figures out how to roll it in order to get the treats out makes it both mentally and physically stimulating. According to Coffiel, it's "one of the best budget-friendly options around!"

Your smart little boy or girl will love playing with this interactive smart bone toy with or without you. Need to keep your pup busy while you're doing work? Set it to automatic. Ready to spend some quality time with your fur baby? Use the app to control it like an automatic car. With sound and a long battery life, it'll to keep any size breed busy for as long as you need. "The toy is fantastic for keeping your dog's attention and keeping focused on engaging play," one reviewer wrote. "I prefer to use the manual mode and make the bone jump, twist, run across the floor etc. with me controlling it watching how my dog reacts. She loves this toy. In fact, I purchased a second one as a back-up because this is one of her favorite toys."

Great for nose training and slowing down how quickly your pup eats, this feeding mat which encourages them to sniff out hidden treats is large, durable, and non-slip. "This is one of my favorite mats," said Coffiel. "It will keep your fur babies entertained and comfy when they're home alone."

It's no secret that dogs love to play with moving items and with this automatic rolling ball toy, they'll be able to do it all day long. Bonus: The rolling with bouncing mode and the active bouncing ball mode will attract them, too.

Every dog loves a squeaky toy and with more than 25,000 ratings on Amazon, this one that does that plus more is a definite add-to-cart. It wiggles, vibrates, and barks and is an ideal toy to increase exercise for small, medium, and large dogs of all ages. "It's the perfect toy for your dog," began one review. "It is not an annoying product. It only vibrates on and off when your dog plays with it and it's not too sensitive so you don't have to worry about over-exhausting your dog. The battery case needs a screw which it didn't come with, so when the toy falls the batteries get loose. overall, great product."

Perfect for medium to large dogs who aren't aggressive chewers, this is one toy that will grab their attention at first glance. "My puppy remains engaged playing with the bone, it’s rechargeable, and the customer support stands by its product," one reviewer wrote.

If your furry friend loves chasing squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits... pretty much anything with a tail, they'll adore this hide-and-seek toy. Both sturdy and durable — though not recommended for aggressive chewers — they'll finally get to "catch" their wild friends when they dig them out of the log.

Available in a variety of colors, this wobbling, giggling ball only takes a nudge of your small to medium-sized pup's nose to be activated. (There's also a version made for large dogs only.) Damage resistant and safe for habitual chewing, your dog will be rewarded with different types of laughter depending on the ball's rolling angles. As one reviewer noted, it'll definitely keep your pooch "happy and occupied."

Though it's meant for your pooch, these recordable dog buttons may become one for you, too. Available in both a 4- and 8-pack, each button allows you to record a short command (such as "Feed me" or "Let's play!" As your pet begins "talking" to you by pressing the buttons to express their needs, you'll create a deeper bond with your pet. They're durable for all dog sizes and breeds and according to a few Amazon reviewers, dogs will get the hang of them very quickly. "I got these to teach my dog basic button use. So far we are only using one of them for "outside" and they are very easy to use. Too easy sometimes, she has mastered the button and requests to go outside right after coming in!"

This plush playmate will keep your dog on its toes as it barks, shakes, and rolls in an unpredictable pattern. It works on many surface types including carpet, grass, and gravel so is great for keeping them busy at home or the park. One caveat: "If your dog likes to chew toys more than play then the plush covering may take a beating," wrote a reviewer.

This interactive treat mat will help satisfy your dog's natural inclination to dig. Equipped with loads of pockets to fill with treats or toys, it's guaranteed to give them a good time. "My two Dalmatians love this toy. They are large enough to throw it around a bit but so far it seems to be holding up. The mats can be removed for cleaning and to rearrange. Really happy with this purchase!" a reviewer wrote.

Have a dog that loves to play fetch? This automatic dog ball launcher is perfect for them. It comes with five balls that your dog can easily return to a wide-mouth ergo bucket, a remote control, and rechargeable batteries for loads of fun. The ball launches at high speeds, however, so you'll want to use this outside.

Available in both small and large sizing, this simple treat-dispensing toy will keep playful pups entertained. One reviewer said their two dogs "spend ages with them instead of trashing through the house whilst play fighting." It's ideal for average chewers of all breed sizes and is easy to fill with multiple sizes of treats.

Looking to slow down your pup's feeding time? This interactive dog toy is perfect for overly eager eaters. Made with textured natural material that cleans teeth and gums and durable non-toxic material for prolonged use, you'll be able to provide multi-sensory stimulation while keeping your 10-40 pound pup busy for as long as you need.

"I got it to slow my already large puppy, down when he eats. It’s great but make [sure] you're cleaning the inside regularly. Plastic is also sturdy. When my puppy gets annoyed with it he chews on the plastic and it’s held up well," one review read.

If you're one of the many people who love to look at their pup all day long, this wifi pet camera that doubles as a treat dispenser will be a treat for both of you. You'll be able to toss their treat in a short, medium, or long distance automatically all while telling them how much you love them through the screen. And, as reviewers have noted, setup is as easy as can be.

Using their natural desire to hunt, this cute turntable-shaped toy will make your dog use their nose to find treats. Additionally, it relieves stress, causes them to think independently, and helps them to develop problem-solving skills. Recommended for both indoor use and for dogs less than 22 pounds.

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Mid-size and larger breeds will love this automatic dog ball launcher and the best part is, it can be used both indoors or outdoors. It's operated by remote control and has multiple speed options that suit your dog's needs.