Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard
Looking after a lab puppy is a toy-intensive challenge so it’s worth knowing what’s the best toy for lab puppy – here are X amazing ideas. People often make the mistake of thinking that toys are just luxuries for dogs. That’s far from true. Instead, dog toys are a necessity both for your lab and for you.
Without the right assortment of toys, you can expect your lab to grow up chewing on your furniture as well as your limbs. Good lab puppy toys can also help you train your lab, teach it to eat more slowly, as well as prevent separation anxiety and all the issues that come with it.
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The Best Chew Toys For Lab Puppies Ages 2 To 3 Months
This is one of the most stressful periods in a pup’s life as it’s usually when they are separated from their litter and rehomed. It’s also when they need to start going through obedience training, house-breaking, socialization, anti-bark training, and more new and unfamiliar stuff. Add the fact that they are still just kids and the stress and uncertainty just keep piling up.
The main way young pups go to when they want to deal with all that is to just chew everything in their sight. So, if you don’t want their next chew toy to be your couch’s leg or your own leg, the best thing you can do is get your lab pup a chew toy. These can come in many different variants – we’ll list them below together with a few other types of toys that are also useful in this age range.
Rawhide Chews:
- Pet Factory Beefhide Dog Chews
- Retriever Roll All Natural Rawhide Chew
- Premium Thick Cut Rawhide Chips
- Pet Factory American Twist Sticks Beefhide Chews
- Pet ‘n Shape Chicken Wrapped Rawhide Twists
- Good’N’Fun Triple Flavored Rawhide Kabobs for Dogs
Strong Rope Toys:
- SHARLOVY Large Dog Rope Toy
- Pacific Pups Products Rope Toys Pack for Aggressive Chewers
- UPSKY Indestructible Rope Toys
- Mammoth Flossy Chews Color Rope Tug
- Bobosogo Dog Ball Rope Toy
Fetch Toys:
- Chuckit! Indoor Ball for Small Dogs and Puppies
- KONG Puppy Flyer With Teething Rubber
- SHARLOVY Squeaky Balls for Small Dogs and Puppies
- Chuckit! Ultra Fetch Stick Dog Toy
The Best Lab Puppy Toys For Teething Between 3 and 6 Months
This period in your pup’s life is especially characterized by teething. Your young lab should be accustomed to all the changes in its life at this point but the teething is going to drive the pup crazy. Chew toys are even more important now but they must also be larger and sturdier. Here are a few good suggestions:
- KONG Puppy Teething Stick
- Nylabone Puppy Chew Toy for Teething Puppies
- KONG Soft Rubber Puppy Tires
- ZNOKA Pet Products Arctic Freeze Fetch Food Cooling Teether
The Best Dog Toys For Labs Ages 6 To 9 Months
6-month-old labs are essentially “young adults”. With most of the early-age problems behind them, including teething and often even spraying/neutering, it’s time for more complex toys.
These should include thought-provoking toys that help your lab exercise and develop its mind. Labradors may be one of the smartest dog breeds out there but that’s just assuming that you give them some “education”. This can mean puzzle toys, games, learning tricks, and so on.
There are many toys and games that are designed for when you’re away from home too. These are crucial for your lab as these dogs are very prone to separation anxiety and the boredom, disobedience, and even depression that come with it.
Additionally, you can go for dog toys and games that simulate hunting and prey-finding. These toys often include treat rewards and are great for hunting dogs like the Labrador.
Treat-finding and Slow-eating Puzzle Toys:
- AWOOF Pet Snuffle Mat for Dogs
- SPOT Ethical Pet Interactive Seek-A-Treat Shuffle Bone Toy Puzzle
- Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Game Dog Toys
- Our Pets IQ Treat Activity Dog Rope Toy
- YOPETAYU Pet Snuffle feeding Mat for Dogs
Anti-anxiety and Boredom Toys:
- Lick Mat for Dogs, Boredom & Anxiety Reduction Tool
- Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Squeaky Puzzle Plush Dog Toy
- SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Toy
- Moropaky Heartbeat Toy for Dog Anxiety Relief Behavioral Training Aid Toy
- Z-vine Dog Toy Heartbeat Plush Toys for Dogs
- StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy
- HOFAM Natural Rubber Chewable Dog Toy for Aggressive Chewers
The Best Toy For Lab Puppy – What Should You Choose?
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that every dog is an individual. Some like certain toys others are bored by and vice versa. Some trial and error is to be expected here so don’t be surprised or annoyed if your dog just ignores a certain high-value toy. When that’s the case, the best thing to do usually is to give/sell the toy to another dog owner and get your pup something it’ll enjoy.
At the same time, we should also note that dogs can be moody and/or change their mind in time. It’s not uncommon for a dog to suddenly “rediscover” a dog it has ignored for months and fall in love with it.
Another keynote is that dogs tend to get bored with their toys over time or just outgrow them. Yes, it’s cute when they find a toy or item they deem as “their favorite” and love it forever, but that’s actually rare. Most of the time labs will grow tired of certain toys and leave them aside – just like human kids. And that’s not counting for the fact that most toys will get destroyed after a while anyway.
The point here is that you should expect to have to buy your lab new toys from time to time anyway. Even if they don’t get destroyed, if you see that your pup has grown bored with most of its toy, it’s important to introduce a couple more into the mix. This will keep your lab mentally engaged and happy which is the goal after all.
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