Best Dog Toys for Dachshunds

One of the first things we learned after bringing home our dachshund was just how quickly they can destroy a toy. Even as a puppy, our boy was an aggressive chewer. Soft toys and anything with a squeaker didn’t stand a chance. Within five minutes, they were shredded, and stuffing was scattered everywhere.

After speaking with other dachshund owners, we discovered this wasn’t unusual. Dachshunds were bred to hunt, so they naturally have a strong prey drive. That instinct often gets directed at their toys, which means finding ones that can survive longer than a few minutes is a real challenge.

Choosing toys that can actually last has become a bit of a mission. It helps avoid frustration, reduces waste, and saves money, especially at a time when pet costs are rising for many households.

Our Experience with “Tough” Dog Toys

We’ve tested a wide range of toys over the years, including many from well-known brands like KONG. While KONG toys were great during the puppy stage, we found that as our dachshund got older and stronger, even their “extreme” toys could be chewed apart. In fact, we’ve got photos of him breaking through some of their toughest rubber toys within days.

This taught us that toy recommendations for power chewers don’t always apply to dachshunds. Their small but sharp teeth seem to find weak spots quickly. So we started paying more attention to materials, shapes, and how our dog interacted with each toy.

Rope Toys

Some of the most successful toys we’ve tried have been rope-based. These last longer than soft plush toys, and unlike rubber, they seem harder for our dachshund to tear apart on the first attempt.

Standard Rope Toys

Basic rope toys, especially the kind with knotted ends, can be a good choice for tug-of-war games and supervised chewing. However, we did notice our dachshund liked to unravel the ends, pulling out strands and eventually turning them into a bit of a mess. Still, they tended to last longer than anything soft or squeaky.

Fleece Rope Toys

One type of rope toy we didn’t expect to last at all ended up being one of the most successful: plaited fleece toys. At first glance, these toys look soft and quite delicate compared to traditional rope or rubber toys, so I assumed they would be torn apart in no time. However, they turned out to be far more durable than expected. The fleece is tightly braided, which seems to make it harder for teeth to catch and unravel. Despite regular tugging, chewing, and zoomies around the house with one firmly clamped in our dachshund’s mouth, they’ve held up incredibly well.

We’ve purchased several of these toys from a seller called DogDirect London on Amazon. They come in a wide variety of colours and sizes, and some even have built-in handles for better grip during tug-of-war games. So far, each one has lasted over a year in our house, which is a huge win compared to many other toys that only survive a few days. Considering how affordable they are and how much use they’ve had, I’d definitely say they’ve been worth the money.

Another fleece-based rope toy that has worked really well for us is the Equafleece Dog Not Fleece Dog Toy.

These toys are made using upcycled offcuts from the company’s range of dog jumpers and coats, which means they are not only practical but also a more environmentally friendly option. I really liked the idea of giving waste material a second life, and it’s nice to know that the toy is made from the same high-quality fleece as their well-known clothing range.

In terms of durability, it has held up impressively well. Our dachshund has put it through a lot of enthusiastic play, including tug-of-war sessions and solo chewing marathons, and it still hasn’t come apart. The fleece is soft enough to be gentle on his mouth but strong enough to resist fraying or tearing. It’s also lightweight and easy for him to carry around, which seems to make it one of his go-to toys during playtime. If you’re looking for a toy that’s both sustainable and long-lasting, this is definitely one worth trying.

Balls

Balls are always a popular toy, but not all of them are dachshund-proof. Over the years, we’ve tested many types, with very mixed results.

What to Avoid

• Tennis balls: Our dachshund loved them as a puppy, but now he quickly strips off the fuzzy outer layer and then chews through the rest.

• Hard rubber balls: These are often too heavy and tend to get chewed apart easily. Textured rubber balls, especially those with ridges, can also be quickly destroyed.

What Works Best

The most successful balls we’ve found are bouncy, squashable rubber balls. They’re soft enough to compress in the mouth but tough enough to resist tearing. We first picked some up from Pets at Home, and they’ve proven much more durable than standard tennis or solid rubber options. One example is the Sponge Ball Dog Toy which comes in multipacks and is very affordable. We’ve also had good luck with SPORTSPET rubber balls, which come in a variety of bright colours and can also be bought in multipacks from places like Amazon.

Another ball our dog loves and has yet to destroy is a Rubber Caged Ball which we also purchased at Pets at Home. Its soft rubber design and hollow cage structure make it harder to grip and tear apart, which seems to help it last longer.

Supervision is Always Important

No matter how tough the toy claims to be, it’s important to supervise your dog while they’re playing. Our dachshund has managed to damage even the most durable toys if left unsupervised for too long. Keeping an eye on them not only helps prevent mess but also avoids the risk of them swallowing or choking on small broken pieces.

We often rotate toys to keep things fresh and remove any that start showing signs of damage. It’s a simple way to get more use out of toys and avoid unnecessary risks.

Finding the Right Toys for Your Dachshund

Dachshunds can be surprisingly powerful chewers for their size, which makes finding the right toys a bit of a challenge. Over time, we’ve learned to focus on durability, avoid toys with obvious weak points like squeakers or fuzz, and always supervise play sessions when trying a new product.

While every dog is different, the toys that have lasted the longest in our house tend to be fleece rope toys and flexible rubber balls. These strike a good balance between being fun to play with and strong enough to handle rough chewing.

If you’re just starting out, try a few different materials and see what works best for your dog. And if you’ve found a toy your dachshund can’t destroy, we’d love to hear about it!