When your best friend starts to show signs of aging, it’s more important than ever for you to keep their bodies and minds active. Thankfully, there is an enormous assortment of toys specially designed for senior dogs.
Often, their sense of sight, hearing and smell begin to deteriorate, so it’s vital to get toys that have the following characteristics:
- High visibility
- Strong scented
- Animated
- Flavored
- Soft
Let’s share some of the best ones on today’s market.
Chuckit! Paraflight Dog Toy
The Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer has an aerodynamic design, similar to a Frisbee, but specifically crafted for dogs. Its lightness makes it drift on water making it best for ball games by the pool or the beach.
The Paraflight’s design consists of multi-layered strong nylon which makes it durable for longer playtimes with your dog. It has elevated rims and the edge is soft rubber making it easy for your dog to catch and carry.
The bright orange and blue color design helps both the owner and dog easily find the flyer in areas with tall grass or lots of sand. These colors are fitting for older dogs with impaired sight to spot quickly.
The Paraflight dog toy glides perfectly through the air and is easy to use. This is an ideal toy design to replace the traditional Frisbee.
While durable, the Chuckit! Paraflight Flyer doesn’t make for a good chew toy—your heavy chewers will rip it to shreds!
Pros
- Lightweight
- Floats on water
- Aerodynamic design
- Easy to use
- Comfortable design for catch and carry
- Bright colors
Cons
Not a chew toy
KONG Senior KONG Dog Toy, Purple
The KONG Senior Dog Toy is manufactured specifically for older dogs. It’s designed to physically entertain older dogs while stimulating their mental health.
Filling the KONG with treats makes for longer-lasting stimulation. Cleaning the KONG is easy because it is dishwasher safe.
This senior toy is made from rubber that is gentle on the gums and specifically designed for comfortable chewing. It’s a perfect chew toy for your dog’s dental health. However, it must be noted that the rubber develops an unpleasant smell after continued chomping.
The irregular shape of the KONG toy makes it bounce unpredictably, entertaining your dog for hours.
The KONG Senior is not recommended for younger dogs and aggressive chewers. If your dog falls into either category, you’ll be pleased to note that KONG has a variety of chew toys that are similar to this model but a little more durable.
Pros
- Stimulating
- Promotes dental health
- Dishwasher safe
- Soft on the gums
Cons
- Unpleasant smell from rubber
- Not for aggressive chewers
Pet Qwerks Talking Babble Ball
The Pet Qwerks Talking Babble Ball is an interesting dog toy that makes funny sounds and talks, making this the ultimate toy for your old pooch. The ball is motion activated and enters sleep mode when not played with.
With its sounds and smooth surface, this ball keeps your dog occupied and active. Healthy exercise for older dogs is important and this toy provides that easily.
Its bright design makes this toy suited towards dogs that have diminished eyesight. Also, the interactive sounds it omits help reduce separation anxiety.
Being able to replace the Babble Ball’s batteries makes it easy to keep the play time lasting longer. The manufacturer states that, because of its durable plastic design, should your dog activate the ball at least 100 times a day it will last four to six months.
Like many other dog toys, this model is not suitable for forceful chewers. And not all breeds enjoy the Babble Ball. Some dogs fear the sounds and withdraw when activated. Others chew the plastic, creating sharp edges that risk damaging their gums. So, monitor what your dog does when you first present the toy, and rather put it away when play time is over.
Pros
- Interactive
- Entertaining
- Perfect for blind dogs
- Replaceable batteries
- Durable plastic
Cons
- Not enjoyed by all dogs
- Not suited for forceful chewers
- Can damage gums
Outward Hound Squeaker Matz Squeaky Dog Toy
Squeaker Matz! has an assortment of soft dog toys that are perfect for older dogs. The interactive Cuddly Gator is guaranteed to turn into your dog’s new favorite toy.
The Cuddly Gator has multiple rows of squeakers inside that provide endless fun. The toy is tough enough to endure rough tug ‘o war games with old dogs.
The soft texture is soothing on the gums for older dogs and is not made for heavy chewers at all. This toy is made for indoor play only.
The Cuddly Gator is perfect for older dogs that are going blind and still require chewing on a toy.
Pros
- Interactive
- Noisy
- Entertaining
- Soft on the gums
- Durable
- Suitable for dogs that don’t see well
Cons
- Not for aggressive chewers
- Made only for indoor usage
StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy
The StarMark Bob-A-Lot Toy is a chew toy for older dogs and it feeds them a snack while they play. It can take up to three rations of food that you can insert through adjustable openings at the top and bottom.
This toy is great for older dogs as it provides them physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. It also helps dogs with dental care while they chew on it.
The modifiable voids on the Bob-A-Lot feature different difficulty levels for retrieving the food within. This is to a dog what a crossword puzzle is to a human—a fantastic brain game.
Thanks to its irregular shape, the toy bounces randomly and has a weighted surface at the bottom to help the entertainment last longer.
The Bob-A-Lot is an appropriate toy for older dogs but is not suitable for younger heavier chewers; they may bite the openings and widen the holes, thus ruining a challenging game.
Pros
- Suitable for older dogs
- Holds up to three cups of food
- Mentally and physically stimulating
- Good for dental care
- Adjustable opening to change difficulty levels
Cons
- Only suitable for older dogs and puppies
- Not for heavy chewers
- Not very durable
Conclusion
Playtime is much-needed in a dog’s day and getting older doesn’t change that. Dog toys still have a valid purpose in your dog’s life so choose one wisely and keep your best friend’s body active and their mind engaged. This is a good way to help them stay fit both intellectually and physically. Will you give your pooch the best, even in old age?
